They’d all tried to encourage me to come over to Ryder and Charlie’s for an impromptu dinner and movie night, but I just wasn’t in the mood. Everything reminded me of her now. Every place on this ranch. The barn. Ryder and Charlie’s. My house. Her presence still lingered around here. I wondered how long that would last.
A pang of sadness shot through my soul, but I struggled to ignore it. An impossible feat.
Cash still lingered outside the barn as I walked out from getting Betty put away. Annoyance mingled with the sadness as I pegged him with a fierce glare. “Where the hell were you today?”
Cash feigned a shrug, but I saw right through the easy-going facade. Something dark lurked in his hazel eyes. Something I probably should be more worried about, but was too annoyed to press further at the moment. “Dad told you don’t worry ‘bout it.”
I blew out a breath through my nose, but didn’t press. In the end, it didn’t matter. If Bad had told him not to say anything then he wouldn’t budge. But a knot of worry welled to life in me all the same. Whatever they’d done, they’d done on my behalf, of that I was certain.
“You sure you don’t wanna come to Charlie and Ryder’s?” he asked.
I shook my head, some of the annoyance leaving me, a deep hollowness replacing it. I was tired. Soul tired. The type of tired that no amount of rest or sleep could fix. I wished I knew what could stop it.
Something told me that whatever it was had wild blonde curls and eyes the color of gemstones.
“I just need some time alone,” I finally managed to say.
Cash nodded, lacking any of his usual flare. “I can drive you home.”
“Nah… I wanna walk. The fresh air helps clear my head.”
Another nod from him, followed by a sigh. “I’ll come check on you later.”
I didn’t bother arguing. It would do no good. Cash did what Cash wanted. So, with a loud exhale, I nodded and waved him off as I started my slow, lonely trudge back to the house.
I walked in silence, the night sky covered in a thick layer of clouds. A storm was rolling in, I could feel it. Even the air seemed like it was holding its breath. The chill, winter wind bit at my skin, but I welcomed it. Anything to replace the hurt in my heart. A heavy mist started falling down halfway to the house, soaking through my clothes within a moment. I couldn’t even bring myself to care about my felt hat getting wet.
I didn’t care much about anything.
How had I lost her? How could I have let her go? Maybe I could still go after her? But where the hell did I even start looking?
A single, sharp bark pierced the night, causing my steps to falter. I frowned, glancing up at the sound of footsteps. A red cattle dog raced toward me, another bark escaping it—this one bordering on a happy yip.
I frowned, pausing fully as I took in the dog. “Brandy?”
My heart leapt as she barreled into my legs, rubbing herself up against me, her tongue lolling out of her mouth as she begged for pets. How was she—
My gaze snapped up toward the house. A familiar truck sat beside mine in the driveway. And hopping down off the tailgate, looking like some angel from the glare of the porchlight silhouetting her appearance, was Cheyenne.
I tore off down the road toward her, gravel and dirt flying around me. Each step sent a jolt of answering pain reverberating through my fingers and up through my hand and wrist but I ignored it easily, hope and adrenaline driving my feet forward.
She was here. She was back.
I skidded to a stop just before her, my arms pulling her in and drawing her close. I clung to her like my life depended on it, while my heart beat like hummingbird wings against my ribcage.
“You came back.” The words left my lips in a broken whisper. I could barely speak, let alone breathe as I pulled back, gazing down into those beautiful turquoise eyes.
God, she was gorgeous.
Tears welled in her gaze, a single droplet slipping down her cheek, but she smiled through it, a choked laugh escaping her. “I sure did, cowboy.”
Cradling her face in my hands, my pain all but forgotten, I pressed the softest kiss to her lips. Tentative, hesitant—so as not to scare her away again. She leaned into the touch, kissing me back.
“What made you change your mind?” I asked, pulling back just enough to rest my forehead against her own.
She pressed her hands to my chest. “You…and Charlie. She called and talked some sense into me. But the thought of leavin’ you… The thought of givin’ up on us…” She glanced down at her belly before looking at me once more, her gemstone eyes shining brightly. “The thought of our baby not gettin’ to grow up with her daddy…well, I just couldn’t give up on that.”
My breath hitched in my chest, tears pricking in my eyes.
