Page 89 of Country Charm

Chapter Forty-Two

Hunter

She’s stunning. I watch her casually sway from side to side in another man’s arms. Her long chestnut hair is loosely curled, and half pulled up with a few strands framing her face. It glints in the light offered by the string lanterns. Her deep red wine dress is long with spaghetti straps and the neckline dips deeper than I like for her to wear when she’s with someone who’s not me.

Then again, I don’t have a say. I love her the way she is, and that means she can dress as she damn well pleases. My jealousy comes from the fact that the arms holding her aren’t my own. It comes from the fact that at the end of the night, her chosen company may not be me.

I pulled up to the farm just a short bit ago thinking things would be winding down, but the music could be heard over a mile out. This party is going strong, and everyone is enjoying themselves. Cassidy and her best friends were all bopping around the dance floor with wide smiles until this slow number came on and they all went their own way.

Cassidy, of course, didn’t have a partner and just as she was walking off the floor, a man caught her.

I wish it had been me.

She smiled and joined him without argument and a knife twisted in my chest.

Maybe she didn’t come alone.

I walk in the shadows along the tent and watch her dance with her partner. They talk and look around the space. Easy smiles on their faces. As they dance, they make their way closer to me and I slip behind a large tree. I don’t want to ruin her evening. I don’t want a repeat of Mary’s bachelorette party.

“I will ride my own horse off into the sunset and start a new kingdom. I will take on any challenges that cross my path with a veracity that no one can match. I will build a castle with a great big library. I will dance under the sun to my own music.” She says proudly.

He stops dancing and looks at her intently “You’re your own knight in shining armor?”

“Damn right.” She stands as tall as she can. I look at her from head to toe. The wind passes through the tent for a moment and blows her hair.

She’s captivating. This guy doesn’t realize what he holds in his arms at this moment. I’ve never been so starstruck in my life. What I would do to be able to tell her just that.

The wind continues and they pick their dance back up, saying a few more words before the song ends. She makes her departure, and he watches her every move. I don’t know if he is thinking of making another attempt to catch her attention or if he is just admiring her.

Their words replay in my mind. Cassidy is literally her own knight in shining armor. She has every quality a knightwould want and more. This could be why she loves a novel with a strong lead, especially female.

She leads her own story, each side character offering support in their own way but they have no say in her final decisions. I feel this on a personal level since I have already played the side character in her story.

I refuse for my part or chapter to be over. I want to show her that she still gets to be the leading character even if it means taking on a partner. I want to show her that by entrusting me, she can blossom and grow into the person that she wants to be.

I won’t stifle her fire but fan her flames. If she fails, she will rise from the ashes. I’ll make sure of it.

Cassidy rejoins her friends, and they continue their evening with large, heartfelt smiles across their faces. I continue to watch from the sidelines and debate on if I should make a move to tell Cassidy how I feel. Will it just be out of my own selfish need to express myself?

Will it create negative memories for her at the end of her best friend’s perfect day?

My mind goes on and on, never stopping, so I still my body and wait until I know for sure what I want to do.

Over time the crowd thins to just the wedding party and a few stragglers. The DJ calls the last dance and I watch Cassidy dance with Lynn, as her husband sits in a chair watching them with their child asleep on his chest.

It’s the perfect end to this evening, it shows Cassidy there is still room for her within her group. The song is about halfway through when she breaks away from Lynn and makes her way to her husband. She scoops the small one up into her arms like she’s done it a million times and sways her back to sleep when she begins to rouse. Onceshe’s comfortable, Cassidy settles herself in the chair and sends the couple on their way.

I watch her intently. She gently strokes her niece’s face, with a loving look that is deeper than I’ve ever seen before. Cassidy brushes the messy hair away from her face and then kisses the top of her head. My heart has never ached so terribly as it does right now.

She doesn’t realize how perfect she looks in this moment. I look at her now and I see love, but I see more than that. I see her fear, it’s almost tangible from twenty feet away.

The song ends and everyone gathers in gentle, loving laughter as they make their way to the front of the farm where the shuttles have been grabbing guests and bringing them safely to their lodging.

Cassidy walks with them, the sleeping child in her arms. Lynn’s husband attempts to take her, but Cassidy has none of it. The group leaves the tent and heads to the front, while I stay stock still. I watch her walk away, little arms wrapped around her neck and all.

I watch the first love of my life walk out of it without her even knowing.

Chapter Forty-Three

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