Page 90 of Heart & Hope

“Hey,” I say, running a thumb across the stream of tears that fall over her face. “Rubes, please don’t cry.”

She huffs a laugh, surprise claiming her face, and she kisses my forehead, my brows, nose, cheeks, jaw, and then finally my mouth.

How the hell am I supposed to live without this woman?

Chapter Twenty-Two

RUBY

Louisa’s arm is slung over my shoulder. But the nervous energy flinging around my body is making me dizzy. I’m trying to steady the breaths that leave my lungs and am failing miserably. The men and Addy are mounting up for the muster. And for the first time in my life, I wish I was as good on a horse as Adds. What I wouldn’t do to ride along with Reed, the only person in this world to make me feel everything.

But I can’t. And I’m leaving for two weeks.

Going home.

To the city. But the words don’t fit like they used to. With everything for R & R Ranch’s big debut organized and triple-checked, I have to go back and put in some office hours before my position at the firm is overrun by some rookie.

I wait on bated breath as Reed walks Magnet around inside the barn, then readjusts the saddle’s girth. When he swings up into the saddle in the doorway, I strangle a sob back, scrunching up my face to quell the tears that are filling up my eyes fast.

Louisa hugs my shoulders again, like she knows I’m falling apart. God, it’s so stupid; he will only be gone a week. I will only be away for fourteen days. I’ll be busy. He’ll be with Mack, and he’s done this a million times before. He will be fine.

But when I catch a glimpse of the rifle slung over his back...

My breath stutters out.

Fuck.

When did I become so attached to this man?

The envy I have for Adds riding along surges back to life. Magnet trots in my direction, and I wipe my face and plaster on the biggest smile I can muster.

“You two be alright without me?” Reed quips, a grin lighting up his cheeky face.

“We will be fine. You look after yourself, my boy.” Louisa releases her hold on me, and I step forward. Reed leans down in the saddle and dots a kiss to my forehead. I catch the way Louisa’s eyes light up and the way she purses her lips.

Not even subtle, Mama Rawlins.

“I will miss you, baby.” The words are so soft against the shell of my ear. A tingle shoots up my spine.

But I grab his face and press a kiss to his cheek. “See you in two weeks, Reedsy.”

He winks, sitting back up in the saddle. With a click of his tongue, Magnet is off at a trot toward the huddle of cowboys and horses. I wonder if guests would want this experience? Another tier? I can only imagine the insurance paperwork and waivers a trip like that would entail for a guest. But it would be an extraordinary adventure for them.

Making a mental note to ask Reed when he gets home, I shuffle closer to Lou and listen to Hudson giving out the orders. As he finishes, he beams at Adds with a smile that would melt a thousand suns. Envy has nothing on me today. Ugh.

“Alright, y’all. Let’s go!” Hudson yells.

Yahoos split the air, followed by thundering hooves as the men send their horses toward the mountains. Reed trots in a circle and comes back to where we stand. When he reaches us,he looks to his mother before meeting my gaze. He raises two fingers to his forehead under his hat and salutes me.

Automatically, I salute him back. The movement is slow as my heart thunders. His face scrunches, and I swear he sucks back a lungful before pushing Magnet into a lope and heading off after the others.

“Nothing like a man on a horse to melt a girl’s heart,” Lou says quietly beside me. I almost forgot she was there. Too bad mine is already liquefied.

I huff a laugh and turn to face her. “You need a hand with anything, Lou?”

She has been packing for the men for days, cooking up an absolute storm.

“No, darlin’, all under control. But we should sit and have some coffee before my legs give out. Every year, I wave them off. Every time is harder than the last, I swear.”

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