Page 83 of Country Contract

I nod again.

“So, when I’m fooling around with you, or we spend time together how does that help?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I just feel more at ease than I ever have. I feel creative and free. I enjoyed my actual job more than I ever have. And trust me, when I first started my job, I really fucking loved it.”

“Do you think you’ll always want to be the editor and never the writer?”

She rolls her neck from side to side as Uma kills another opponent in a bloody mess. I squeeze her feet harder letting her know she's in a safe space.

“Yes, I do. I think I’m always going to want to edit books. I love getting the first look. I love cheering on my writers. I love helping get a book into other people’s hands and watching them enjoy it.” She smiles softly at the gorefest in front of us. “I like writing for me.”

“Well, I like readin’ it, so when you go back home . . . make sure you send me your stuff.”

“Only if you share your drawings with me, too.”

We sit there looking at each other, the screams of men and women in the background. I’m not a horror or gore fanatic, but they don’t bother me. If they are done right with a good story and effects, I think they hold a lot of weight in the film world.

“For—” I’m interrupted by Harlow’s phone. It buzzes in front of us on the table next to the pages I had put back down.

Heath

I read the name and look over to Harlow; it only takes a moment for me to realize this is the guy she was talking about. Her brows pinch together, and she bites the inside of her cheek. She looks over at me, and I offer her what I think is a supportive smile.

“Don’t avoid answering on my account, take it if you need to. I don’t want you to have to deal with any drama later.” Harlow’s eyes squeeze shut as if I had hit the nail on the head. Pulling her feet off my lap and standing, she picks up her phone before walking over and taking a seat on the stairs. It’s not far from me, but with the movie on, it’s enough.

I hear murmurs and short, clipped responses. I can make out that she’ll be back soon and the weather’s perfect, but not much else. Saying that I’m not trying to hear would be a lie, and somehow that makes the movie that much louder. I decide that I should do the right thing and pay attention to the movie again. I forgot that there is an animated scene in this movie, which is just as gory as therest of the film.

When Harlow joins me back on the couch, we settle into each other the way we always do. Maybe everyone is right. After going through something like this, I will be able to tell when I meet the one because spending time with Harlow is as easy as breathing. Damn, that’s cheesy—it’s more like it’s as easy as knowing I prefer fall over spring. It’s as easy as knowing that the first dip in our family pond every summer will be refreshing. It’s as easy as getting into the saddle on Star. It’s just easy.

When I meet the one, it will have to feel perfect after weeks like this with her.

Chapter 34

Harlow

It’s amazing outside. The weather has been cooler the last few days, but the sun is high in the sky. With a gentle breeze and scarce clouds, fifty degrees feel warmer. Harrison and I leave in two days for our trip to another farm. He mentioned that they got their hands on a horse he has an interest in.

Today I’m taking Star over to the south end of the property. Harrison took a quad out to refill a feeder that some deer tore up. He doesn’t know I’m riding out there, but I felt like seeing how his day is going.

With weather like this, I want to take advantage while I can. Plus, I only have so much time left, and I want to spend some of it with Star. She’s such a perfect girl, I wish I could take her back with me. After this, I know I’ll get a horse of my own.

The fields are gold and there is a lot of noise coming from the east. Harrison said that most of the hands were working hard finishing up clearing the fields.

As I ride past, I see Hunter sitting on a tractor, looking at the young stable hand I always see him with. They talkand smile with ease. I watch as Hunter takes Jake’s hat off and tosses it like a frisbee away from them. His head is thrown back in laughter as Jake scowls and chases after it.

This community is so tight, and I’m a little jealous that I’ll lose sight of them all when I go back home. I know I can come back and visit, which I plan to, but it’s still hard.

I nudge Star, and we make the rest of the way over to the south lot. Harrison is done unloading the trailer he had attached to the quad, and now he’s just sitting on the back of it.

It’s pretty idyllic. Harrison is sitting backward on his four-wheeler, his feet propped up on the trailer behind it. His elbows are resting on his knees, and he looks over to the tree line. The same one that he’s been sketching for his future home.

The trees are deep greens, oranges, reds, and yellows, all mixed and lovely. The wind blows, and Harrison takes hold of his Stetson before it gets blown right off his head. He’s wearing that lined jacket I love and dark jeans over his usual boots. I watch him for a while, enjoying being able to witness him in a quiet moment.

“Harrison!” I call as I kick Star and head down to him.

His head whips around to look over, and the smile I’ve been granted is brighter than the sun itself. He hops off the back and waves me over.

“Hey, witch,” he greets me, rubbing a hand up my thigh.

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