Page 58 of Cheyenne

One of the Stone family women caught up with her. She thought it was Liberty, Trent’s wife. “Sweetie, let’s get you settled in. This way.”

The next morning,Cheyenne woke with a jolt. She had cried herself to sleep, but today was a new day. If she was proud of anything, it was that she knew how to handle hardship. After her father had passed away and her life had been in such commotion, she’d learned to persevere.

She got up and took a shower. All of her things had been brought to her room while she slept. The smell of pancakes drifted upstairs, and her stomach rumbled in response. She cautiously descended the stairs, half-afraid of who would be there.

Micah was the only one in the kitchen. He grinned at her and flipped a pancake. “I was hoping you would be up first. I wanted a few minutes with you.”

“Where is everyone?”

He shrugged. “Sleeping, I guess. They were up late.”

She felt tentative and raw. “Okay.”

He slid pancakes onto two plates. “I was thinking we could sit out on the deck.”

Part of Cheyenne wanted to go to him, put her arms around him and kiss his cheek, but it felt like he was out of sorts thismorning. Though he was making her pancakes, something felt off.

She took her plate, along with the silverware and a water bottle, and followed him out onto the deck. He closed the porch door behind them, and they got seated.

“Should we say grace?”

“Of course,” she said.

Was he about to break up with her? Her hands started shaking, and she clasped them together to hide it.

He finished grace, and then he looked up at her. Compassion filled his eyes, and he reached for her hand. “What’s wrong?”

She pulled her hand out of his. “You’re breaking up with me, aren’t you?”

His face went somber.

“You’re breaking up with me,” she accused again in a softer tone. She’d had a bad dream about this. They’d been in Vegas, and an Elvis impersonator had been marrying them. Before he could say ‘I do,’ he’d suddenly been wearing the SEAL uniform and holding a gun.

Micah stood, pushing his chair back. “Maybe we should walk on the beach.”

Hollowness overtook her. “Fine,” she agreed. The beach was as good a place as any to break her heart.

They spent a few minutes walking, and she stewed in silence. After everything that had happened, what were they supposed to do? Ride off into the sunset like in a Louis L’Amour novel? She let out a soft, sad laugh.

Micah glanced at her. “What?”

“I was remembering how Chance reads Louis L’Amour novels, and it made me think about how in Westerns, people fall in love and just ride off into the sunset. We don’t know what happens to them, but we know they’re together.”

Micah took her hand. At first she resisted, but he was persistent. “I want to ride off into the sunset with you,” he said.

She glanced up at him, hating the tears in her eyes. “Is that even possible?”

Micah stopped and pulled her into a hug. He held her for a long time, and she clung to him, letting her tears come.

Micah pulled back, and there were tears on his face. Carefully, he wiped hers with his thumb. “I’m sorry, Chey. I couldn’t sleep last night. I don’t know what to do. This is such a mess.”

She pushed him hard in the chest. “Don’t you dare do that. I caused this. I’m the one who wanted you along on this treasure hunt. This isn’t on you.”

“Don’t you get it?” He shook his head. “I fell for you the minute I saw you in Eli’s arms.”

Her heart thrummed.

He sniffed. “You think it was your choice? That I just followed you? No, something shifted in me after that moment. I would have followed you anywhere. You understand that? I’m in love with you. It was like a bolt of lightning, and now I’m forever changed.”

---