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Jackson listens as he eats. When Owen pauses, he jumps in. “Has anything happened between you and Hattie?”

I look at the wall, taking a gulp of coffee too fast. I start coughing and spluttering. Way to play it cool, Lincoln.

Jackson blows out a deep breath, and Owen releases a low whistle.

“So, you’re already in over your head, then?” Owen chuckles.

I sigh. “Afraid so. I tried to ignore her; I did…but I feel this inexplicable pull toward her. My eyes always look for her, always find her.” Resting an elbow on the table, I think about the connection I have with Hattie, the magnetism that seems to draw me in. “I’ve never met anyone like Hattie. She could spend all day with the horses. She’s good with them, too. Having that in common makes it seem like I’ve known her longer than I have.”

“Sounds like she’s kind of perfect for you,” Jackson muses.

“Except for the fact she doesn’t live here.” Bringing my mug to my lips, I take another drink.

“Every relationship is a risk, Linc,” Owen says. “You never know what the future holds, and you’ve got to put yourself out there and take a chance on getting hurt. It might be worth it, but you’ll never know, either way, unless you try.”

I study my friend, wondering when the hell he got so damn insightful. “But I have nothing to offer her. I work constantly, and when I’m home, I share an old farmhouse with my siblings and my nephew.” I huff a humorless laugh. “I’m not exactly bachelor of the year.”

Owen and Jackson chuckle.

“This isn’t something you can plan, my friend,” Jackson says. “This is one of those situations you take one day at a time. Figuring it out as you go.”

I groan. I enjoy having a plan; I like consistency…I enjoy protecting myself. Nothing in my life has gone according to my well-laid plans though…I was supposed to be living in my own home that my father and I had planned to build out on our property. I could picture myself getting married someday, having a couple of kids. Mom and Dad would watch their grandkids while my make-believe wife and I watched the stars from our back porch.

But here I am…my house was never built; my parents are gone. The life I pictured, and the life I’m living, are two parallel lines.

The three of us finish our breakfast, and Jackson takes off to open his clinic for the day. Owen and I leave a tip on the table for Becka, then linger outside of our pickups.

“Give this thing with Hattie a chance, okay? You deserve something good in your life, Linc,” he says with a tip of his hat.

I tip my hat back, watching him get into his pickup and drive away.

With a sigh, I slide into the driver’s seat of my vehicle and pull out of the parking spot. I drive a few feet before having to stop for Harry as he crosses the street. The damn badger is in no rush, staring at me before continuing across the road. I shake my head, wondering if that’s how I look, dragging my feet with Hattie, trying to resist her.

As I make the drive to Whispering Pines, my heart rate speeds up the closer I get. I’m looking forward to seeing Hattie, seeing where this goes.

I need to stop allowing fear to dictate my life.

CHAPTER 24

Hattie

Smoothing my hand down Dolly’s mane, I talk sweetly to the mare, buttering her up. “Okay, girl. We’re going to take a running start this time.” Dolly nickers softly. “You’re ready for this, you’re a star…let me say it again. You, Dolly, are a star.”

Dolly snuffs air through her nose, and I move my heels against her sides to get her started. She takes off, her trot moving into a canter. We draw close to the center of the paddock where the short jump stands. Dolly gets close, then easily leaps over it.

Applause and whistles of adoration come from the fence where Hank is sitting on top of the wooden fence and Otto is leaning against it. They’ve been watching for the past hour, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying the attention and how easily impressed they are. Loren, my trainer, would roll his eyes at their fanfare—so would my mother.

An ache builds in my chest. Would my life be different if my mother had been affectionate and encouraging? Or without her constantly pushing me to be better, would I never have made it to the Olympics?

I’ll never know. My life feels so complicated now, with warring feelings about my mother and whether I want to continue training.

And now, Lincoln is part of the whole equation.

I slide off Dolly, leading her toward Hank and Otto. “Isn’t she brilliant?”

When we reach the fence, Hank holds his hand out to the mare, and she immediately gobbles up the peppermint he’s holding.

“You give them too much sugar,” Otto says, shaking his head in dismay.