Page 23 of Country Contract

“I will definitely be back.” I offer him my own smile, standing and gathering my things.

“I’ll see you around, Harlow.”

“See you around, Silas.”

I stop by the Quick Mart on the way home to grab a few things to hold me over until I can do some more detailed grocery shopping. I don’t purchase a lot, just some essentials.

My drive back to the property seems longer than my ride into town, but it could be the weight of my fatigue. When my tires hit the long main drive, I let out a sigh of relief that I’m almost there. I see the main house is dark except for one light on the main floor and the porch lights. As I take the small side road, I contemplate going to Harrison’s place to greet him but think better of going to a stranger’s door after nine. I’m sure at some point during mystay I’ll run into him, especially if I want to get some riding in.

A random thought slices through me: asking Silas to join me for a ride sometime. Growing up in this town, he must know how to ride horses.

I should have asked for his number.

I park my car next to my little place and climb the few stairs. Once inside, I walk over to Cleo’s carrier and open the door, reaching in for her. She willingly snuggles into my arms, and I climb the stairs to our room. We go through our nightly routine: me washing my face and combing my hair, Cleo eating a treat at my feet, and us exchanging warmth.

I tuck myself into bed and open my phone.

Heath: Have you arrived safely?

Heath: Please let me know when you’re settled.

Heath: Goodnight, Harlow. I’ll call you in the morning.

A heavy weight sits on my chest, and it feels like a burden and a loss all at once. In just two months my life is likely to change.

Heath’s persistence doesn’t help. It will only push our parents and this arranged marriage further down my throat.

Frustration clings to me, and I try to let sleep take me, but it doesn’t come. The quiet night is deafening once again. I wait for a sound other than the ceiling fan to come, but there is nothing.

I open my phone, pull up a “green noise” clip on YouTube, and set a sleep timer to shut my phone off. It’s then I’m finally able to sleep and hope for an easier time with all this nothingness tomorrow.

Chapter 10

Harrison

Acold front has come through this morning, and I worry that my guest won’t be able to figure out the heat. There isn’t central air or heat in the bunkhouse, just small units throughout it.

Hopefully, she isn’t too cold. If that were the case, I’m sure she’d message me. I had given her my personal cell number in case she needed anything during her extended stay here.

No messages yet.

“How’s Silas’s place?” Hunter asks as he approaches me on horseback. I’m in the equipment pole barn doing some maintenance for the baler. Hunter mentioned she wasn’t running as smoothly as she usually does.

As he brings his horse to a halt, I look up to him from where I work. He looks good, carrying this happy glow I envy a little.

“All good. That door needed to be changed; shit was heavy as hell.” I stand and wipe a small amount of sweat off my brow with my arm. My hands are covered in grease, so I walk over to a shop table and grab a towel to clean up a bit.

“How was greeting the guest? She seem nice?” I ask while pulling a water bottle out of the small fridge. I offer Hunter one, but he shakes his head in reply as he dismounts his mare. Once she’s tied off, he leans against the open door.

“Nice enough. Cassidy will love her.” He looks out to the fields thoughtfully.

“City girl?” I ask, thinking of the girl from the bar yesterday. She’s too dark for Cassidy, too dreary, too wicked. Cassidy has a bite to her, but not the harpy type.

“I’m sure. Kind but I can tell she’s a stubborn one. She thought I was giving B a hard time and stood up for her, no hesitation.” I laugh at the idea of my brother giving his daughter a hard time. If I thought the man was whipped before with just his wife, it’s so much worse now that they have a kid. Cassidy can do no wrong, the woman walks on water in his eyes. Blake, she’s his angel. Mine, too. It makes it easier that she’s downright the coolest kid I’ve ever met and she’s only one.

“Oh yeah, Cassidy will like that.”

“She’s also an editor and came with a tote full of manuscripts.”

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