Page 53 of Wasted

"I can't stay here, Bay." I groaned. "My life is in Nashville."

She shook her head. "Well, then," she pushed out of the chair, "you should go back to Nashville and let Taylor move on with her life because Cole, who was in love with her, would never have left her behind. He would have done anything to make her happy." She shrugged. "So it sounds like you've already made your choice. Don't make hers, too."

She stormed off, and I slumped against the counter. Bailey was right. Taylor needed to choose herself this time, and if Bridgewater was what she wanted, then I didn't want her to leave, but I also didn't want to leave her behind.

Pushing off the counter, I strolled through the kitchen and out the front door. Sucking in a deep breath of fresh air, I shoved my hands into the pockets of my jeans as my gaze swept over my parents' land.

I'd loved growing up here, but I wasn't sure if it was because this property bordered Taylor's or if I just really loved living herebecause when I turned eighteen, I couldn't wait to get out of here. I couldn't wait to see the big city and bright lights. I was searching for the complete opposite of Bridgewater, and I found it in Nashville. But one thing was still missing, and that was Taylor.

I glanced at my watch. Taylor would be up by now, heading out to take care of the horses. I honestly didn't understand how she kept up with everything. She'd close down the bar every night around two and not get home until after three and then be up before six to tend to the ranch.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Cole

Stopping the four-wheeler in front of Taylor's stable, I killed the engine.

The stable doors stood ajar, Taylor's favorite saddle missing from its usual peg.

I glanced at my watch - 5:30 AM. No need to check the stables for Taylor; she'd be out riding by now, watching the sunrise like she always did. Some people needed coffee to start their day. Taylor just needed her horse.

I chuckled, shaking my head. All these years had passed, and I could still set my watch by her morning routine.

I had to fly back to Nashville in a few hours, and I wanted to kiss her before I left. The only way that was going to happen was if I saddled up because she would be where the four-wheeler couldn't go.

I kicked my leg over the four-wheeler and strolled toward the entrance of the stables but froze when I heard the galloping of horse hoofs pounding the ground behind me. A slow smile spread across my face. I loved that sound.

"That was a quick ride," I said, turning around, but my smile faded when I realized the saddled horse didn't have a rider.

"Taylor," I choked out. My hands trembled as I grabbed the reins, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps, and my stomach dropped. Taylor had been on horseback since before she could walk - she wouldn't just fall off. "Okay, boy, I need you to take me to her."

Flipping my ball-cap backward, I shoved my foot into the stirrup and kicked my leg over, urging the horse forward before I was even situated properly on the horse.

Taylor must have gotten this one after I left because I wasn't familiar with him. However, I knew how to handle a horse, and since Taylor was one of the best horse trainers in Bridgewater, I knew he would be easy to handle.

Taylor was a creature of habit, so if she'd taken the same path we used to, I'd be able to find her, but if she got off the path, I wouldn't even know where to start looking. I scanned the horizon, endless green stretching in every direction. Our families' combined lands had always felt like their own small country, vast and wild.

When the horse broke through the tree line, I eased him to a stop and searched the soft ground for recent tracks, proving Taylor had gone this way.

Each thundering heartbeat seemed to echo in my ears, drowning out the sounds of the forest around me. I knew firsthand what could happen when you fell off a horse, even to an experienced rider.

Over the years, Taylor and I had both been battered and bruised, and in high school, I'd broken my arm, taking a fall, but none of that compared to Taylor's friend in middle school, Ashlyn, falling off her horse and hitting her head. She spent three days in a coma before passing.

I couldn't lose Taylor. Not now, after I just got her back.

"Taylor," I shouted as my gaze swept over the land. I glanced at my watch; by now, she would have been making her slow trot back home.

I urged him forward at a slower pace this time so I could search for her, calling out to her every few feet. We rode like that for another ten minutes. "Taylor?"

"Cole," she shouted, and I blew out a sigh of relief when I spotted her sitting on the bank of the creek.

I kicked my leg over the horse and dropped to the ground, rushing to her. "Are you okay?" My gaze swept over her. "What happened?"

"I'm okay," she sighed. "He got spooked by something and dropped me. I think I twisted my ankle."

"Is he new?"

"Yeah, I took him from Bradshaw after his dad passed, and they decided to sell him."

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