Page 8 of Heart & Hope

If Ma knew what I did when I am “getting out,” I doubt she would approve. Huddo is too caught up in his head and his horses to make time for women. Well, usually, that is... Addy, the new vet, certainly has his attention. And to everyone’s surprise, even Charlie the evil hound-dog likes her. From what we can tell, he’s keeping their relationship strictly professional.

Sucks for Huddo.

“I’ll see you in the morning,” Ma says, pushing off the corner and walking back down the hall.

“Yeah, night, Ma.”

I pull the drawer open and dig into the pot roast with maple veggies. My favorite. Guilt pangs at my gut for missing dinner. But it was worth it for a glimpse of the prettiest girl god ever made. I chew and savor the flavor, running her face and the swaying of her hips through my mind one more time.

Yep, that’s goin’ to keep me entertained for months.

Sweet Jesus, now I’m fucking hard.

Urgh, thank god Ma’s not still here.

I shove my dirty plate and cutlery in the sink and run the water over it. Pulling my shirt over my head, I head down the hall to my room. Still living with my parents. World’s biggest loser, right here. Don’t let the shiny, fancy truck fool you, folks—this man doesnothave his shit together.

Not even close.

If I could be half the person my mother is in this life, I’d die happy.

Plans for the future?

Nope.

Marriage and kids?

Nada.

Career and savings . . .

Say what?

Floundering in my own cesspool, that’s me. Reed James Rawlins, six feet of muscled, cheeky, live-wire, good-hearted (so I have been told), dark blond, and unintentional facial hair—a hunk of useless burden. All because I can’t pick a trade or find a path that excites me. And I’m definitely not a rancher.

Not a willing one, at least.

I lay on my unmade bed and push my boots off with my toes. The duvet doesn’t even bother putting up a fight when I toss it aside to get inside the warmth that calls my name. As my eyelids droop, her beautiful face fills my drowsy mind over and over.

The woman that is the makings of a man. His captain. Pa’s words. Always tossing them around when one of us relents to listen. A man could do anything with a captain like her. I could man up for someone like her.

Or live the rest of my days in a fantasy that will eventually break my heart.

Fuckin’ hell.

A girl like her ain’t never goin’ to want a wanderer like me.

I roll over and shove my face in my hands.

Fuck this bullshit.

Chapter Three

RUBY

Sitting on Addy’s front step of her townhouse in Lewistown, I tap out yet another text to Olive about the presumed marriage situation. And I still can’t believe I am typing this drivel. But so far, the only response I have gotten back is from her secretary.

After driving through so many small towns and middle of nowheres, my directional skills are still zero. The GPS is the only thing that has saved me this past week. But when I pulled up at Addy’s new address, I could almost imagine what it would be like to live here, amongst the slow-paced life and laid-back folks.

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