Page 91 of Long Time Coming

“Technically, no. But I’ll take a wild guess and say Kendra Donovan?”

“Right-O again!”

She’s ridiculous, but she does have a way of making everything more fun. Laughing, I ask, “What do I win?”

Her smile softens. “I think you already won your all-time crush.”

She’s right. “I don’t know how it happened.”

“I do.” She hops off the counter. “It was love at first sight. It just took him seeing you at Peaches. I saw the sparks flying, the connection you two had, and the chemistry was out of this world.”

“I felt it. I was too scared to admit it, though. But when he came out to the ranch the next day, and then the day after that, I knew in my heart that he was my soulmate.”

She comes around and hugs me. I’m not sure if it’s for me or her, but it’s nice to have the support. We embrace, and then she sits on a stool beside me, pulling my hand until I’m seated on the other. “Does Baylor know?”

“No. But how is it his business anyway? He’s forgotten he has a sister, that I even exist. So I’m not going to ask his permission or to free Tagger from a promise he made when they were so much younger.”

“I hear what you’re saying, but I want you to consider something.” She pauses, looking between our knees that just about touch. When she looks back up, she says, “Baylor lost his mother as well. Was it right that he and Griffin took off? No. But were they grieving in their own way? They were, Chris.” Taking my hands, she says, “I’m sorry you feel you had to give up your dreams to run the ranch with your dad. But you know what I see?”

“What do you see?” I’m already tearing up, touched so deeply. I didn’t know I needed to hear this. I didn’t know how much bitterness I was carrying around. Until now. With every word, my burden lightens.

She takes my hand in hers, and replies, “The strongest woman I know taking her responsibilities and creating a new dream. I know you. That ranch has become part of you. You love it, but you need to let go of the blame on others to truly appreciate your accomplishments.”

I reach forward and hug her like the sister she’s always been to me. “You’re right,” I whisper over her shoulder, trying to keep the tears from falling. But who am I kidding? This girl has wiped more of my tears away than anyone. I’ve done the same for her. We don’t need to hide behind lies or pretend we’re stronger than we are with each other. I drop my head. “I’ve been having sex with Tagger Grange.”

She bursts out laughing, then spins my stool around. “About time you admitted it.”

Breathing comes easier, so I ask, “How did you know I went to New York?”

She reaches behind her and pulls out her phone. “Did you forget we have tracking for each other just in case anything ever happens?”

Smiling, I have to give her credit. She’s a regular Sherlock Holmes. “Well played. I totally forgot.”

Flipping her hair over her shoulders, she asks, “So are you going to tell me everything or keep me guessing?”

I spin myself around, dipping my head back, and feel giddy. “I’ve beendyyyyingto tell you.” I plant my foot on the floor to still me, and say, “He kissed me in the rain. That’s when I knew I would marry that man one day.”

CHAPTER 32

Tagger

Beck jumpsout of the rental car before I have time to put it in park, practically giving me a heart attack. I’m fast on the brake, so no damage is done. I’ll need to remind him how cars work before he starts pulling some stupid shit like I did when I was a teen.

Jumping from one truck bed to another while flying down the highway.

Playing chicken at the top of The Ridge and hoping your brakes work.

Drinking too much after winning the State championship and thinking it wise to do donuts in a Dover County shopping mall parking lot.

Real dumb shit.

I’m glad my dad never found out, or surviving a string of bad decisions would have been the least of my concerns. He wasn’t hard on my brother and me, but he was strict. I’ve tried to find more balance with my son . . . that is, until he jumps out of a car that’s stopped for less than a second. At least it’s a soft landing on the lawn if he did tumble.

Anna would still kill me, but I have a feeling my little daredevil would wear a cast with pride.

My parents come out of the house and down to greet us. Beck throws himself into my mom’s arms, so excited to be back in the Pass. “Grammy!” My dad gets a hold of that wiggly kid before he can escape to see the chickens. He’s been talking about that since we left Manhattan. “Will you take me to see them, Grandpa?”

“Sure will, rascal. Let me go say hi to your dad first.”

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