Page 135 of Branded Betrayal

If you’re building a new life here or somewhere else, giving it your all, and creating a home, then I’m proud of you. That’s all I ever wanted for you. To be happy and settled.

But if you’re hiding, if you’re waiting for life to feel safe before you start living again, if you keep telling yourself “someday” while the years slip by . . . Savvie, it’ll never feel safe enough. You have to choose it anyway.

I’m not telling you what to do. You’re a grown woman who makes her own choices. I’m just asking you to think about what you’re running from and whether it’s worth losing what you could build.

Your parents are buried in Whiskey Creek. Nash is there, the only family you have left. If you chose to stay, then you have acres of possibility to do with as you wish. Somewhere in all the uncertainty is your life. The one you get to build. The one you get to choose.

Don’t let fear steal that from you, Savannah. Don’t let doubt or hurt keep you from claiming the life you want. You’re stronger than that. You always have been.

Whatever you decide, know that I love you. I’m so proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished. And Red Rock will always be yours in spirit, even if someone else holds the deed.

All my love, Aunt Marg

PS—If you sold the ranch to some developer who’s turning it into condos, I will haunt you for the rest of your life. Just so you know.

I fight a losing battle with my tears. They stream down my cheeks, dripping onto the paper I read twice, and then a third time.

Her message hits me with the force of a brick hurled at my chest.

She’s right. I am running. Just like I did six years ago, from the same misery and loss I feel right now. I’m hiding in Denver, dating a man I don’t see a future with, and building a life that I thought would be perfect but instead feels empty.

I’m not living. I’m existing. Going through the motions. Waiting for the pain to fade so I can go back to being the person I was before everything crumbled. Before my world shattered.

Except that person is gone. I’m not the same. And I’ll never be again.

Maybe that’s my real problem. I’m not running from Whiskey Creek or Blaze. I’m running from the fact that I can’t go back to who I was, not after all that’s happened. I can only go forward as the woman I am now.

But I’m terrified she won’t be enough.

So I keep running because I just don’t know how to stop.

And part of me is too afraid to try.

Chapter Forty-One

Blaze

“You think I’m crazy, don’t you?”

Starlight huffs and nudges my shoulder, no doubt waiting for the apple I usually bring.

I take it from my pocket and hold it out for her.

“Is this what you want?”

She takes a bite, keeping her eyes on me while she chews, like it’s okay for me to keep talking. Like she knows I need a friend right now.

I run my hand down her neck, checking the spot where she pulled a muscle last week. The knot is almost gone. Knowing she won’t be able to ride anymore tugs at my heart strings. But it’s dangerous because of her older age, and I can’t bear to see her in pain.

Starlight takes another bite of the apple.

“The guys say I need to move on. To stop waiting for someone who’s not coming back.”

Another huff.

“I know, girl. I know what you’re thinking. It’s about time I smartened up, right?” I lean my forehead against her warm neck. “It’s been months. She’s been dating some guy in Denver the whole time I’ve been here fixing this place up. Pretty pathetic, right?”

I think I like coming out here so much because I can talk to Starlight, knowing she can’t respond. She doesn’t judge me for my actions. She doesn’t tell me what I need to do or not do, how to live, how to survive. She just welcomes me and loves me unconditionally. Well, as long as I bring her apples.