Page 51 of A Cowboy's Heart

You’re so stupid, Willa. You could be happy.

She snorted. “Yeah, but for how long?” she muttered.

“Did you say something to me, Willa?” Rocky asked her.

“No. I’m talking to myself. I seem to do that a lot lately.”

“I was surprised to see Jaxon taking this trip,” Rocky said as they headed back to the barn.

“Not me. Devin had to know I was on it, so he didn’t want to see me.” She sniffed. “Shit. I am so done with crying.”

Nudging her horse, she rode to the front of the line. She just wanted to get back and not do anything the rest of the day. Just sit in her cabin and watch TV or sulk. She was so ready to get out of here and go home. Back to Hollywood. Back to her job. A job she had no desire whatsoever to do any longer. But what would Rocky do without her? He’d go on, she supposed. Just like any other man, he’d find another woman to take care of him. Shaking her head, she knew that wasn’t fair. Rocky was a good man, and she’d do her best to find him someonehe could work with but she was done with that type of work.

“Are you all right, Willa?” Jaxon asked from beside her.

“Wonderful, thank you.” She refused to look at him. He reminded her way too much of Devin.

“If you say so,” he muttered.

Glancing over at him, she narrowed her eyes. “I do.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Nudging his horse, he rode ahead of her.

“Great, now you’ve pissed offbothCallahans.” This trip couldn’t be over soon enough.

Before long, she was riding into the barn, and the ranch hands came forward to take care of the horses. Willa handed over her reins and left the barn to head to her cabin. A hot bath and a nap sounded good about now. Sweat trickled between her shoulder blades as she walked at a brisk pace, hoping she didn’t see Devin along the way.

****

Devin stood in the barn Saturday morning waiting on Rocky. When he came striding in, Rocky grinned at him.

“Hey, Dev. What are we going to do today?”

“You and I are taking a ride up through the north pasture. It’s time you got used to galloping Gypsy.”

“Galloping?” Rocky asked him.

“Galloping is the fastest gait of a horse. A run. You need to learn the next step. You’ve learned to walk, trot, and canter. Now, this is the next step. You’re doing fine or I wouldn’t have you doit.”

“All right. I trust you.”

“Good. Come on, let’s saddle them up.”

“That reminds me, what do I do for a saddle for Gypsy when I leave?”

Damn. Did Rocky have to mention he was leaving?If he was going, so was Willa, and Devin was not ready to see her go. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t seeing her anymore he still knew she was at the ranch.

“You can get one through a store or online. You want a good western saddle, and a good one won’t be less than five hundred dollars. I can take you to town next week and help you pick one out. It can be delivered when Gypsy is.”

“Sounds great.” Rocky followed him into the tack room.

Once they saddled the horses, they rode out of the barn to head for the north pasture. It was going to be a glorious day. The sun was already baking the ground, and it was only early morning. Devin just wanted to get away from the ranch. He could have had Rocky ride in the corral but the need to get out was strong, and he wasn’t sure he could stay away fromherif he stayed on the ranch. It wouldn’t be much longer, and then they’d be gone. She’d be out of his life, and he’d never see her again.

Damn, that thought hurt.Because he knew she’d be the only woman he’d ever really love. Maybe one day, he’d find someone new but Willa would forever hold a place in his heart. Why did she have to be so stubborn? He told her he was in with love her and her response was that hecan’t be. Why? Because she didn’t feel the same about him… hell, the thought of that just ripped a hole in his heart. At night, he’d lay in bed, staring at the ceiling wondering how he was going to go on without her in his life. The pain, at times like a knife in his heart, was just unbearable.

Had he only been a fling for her while she was here? She’d told him she didn’t do flings and especially with younger men. So why had she even bothered then? The sex had been so damn good, and he knew he’d never have that again. Not if he didn’t have Willa. He clenched his jaw so hard, his teeth ached.

Glancing over his shoulder to see Rocky trotting along behind him, Devin smiled. Seemed the man was a born natural when it came to riding a horse. Nodding his head to Rocky, they nudged the horses into a gallop. He laughed when Rocky let out a yell as they tore off through the field.

---