Page 126 of Dirty Cowboy

And now, he’s gone.

Fresh tears spill down my cheeks, hot and endless. “I should’ve been there,” I choke out. “I should’ve?—”

“You didn’t know, sweetheart,” Mom soothes, brushing my hair back. “None of us could have known.”

But Eric was there, and I wasn’t there for him. The thought strikes me like a knife to the gut.

While I lay in this hospital bed, he was burying the man who raised him. Alone.

Oh God.

I wasn’t there when he needed me most.

The guilt is suffocating, pressing against my ribs like a vice. If I hadn’t run out of Eric’s cabin like the hounds of hell were at my heels… If I hadn’t taken it upon myself to run off after Misty without help… If I hadn’t been so reckless, I could have been there for Eric.

The tears fall harder now as I imagine the pain Eric is feeling. Alone. He idolized his grandpa. He must be devastated. How is he functioning? How is he getting along without me there? What if he decides he doesn’t need me, after all?

A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts.

Annabelle steps inside, her gaze softening when she sees me awake.

“Hey, Emma,” she says, her voice warm. She glances at my parents, then back at me. “Is this a good time?”

Mom exchanges a look with Dad, then nods. “We’ll give you two a minute.”

They squeeze my hands before slipping out, leaving me alone with Annabelle.

She sits beside me, studying me with quiet intensity. “You look good,” she teases.

I let out a dry chuckle. “Liar.”

I catch my reflection in the window—pale skin, dark circles, hair limp and lifeless. A ghost of the woman I used to be. I don’t feel like me anymore.

“We’ve all been worried about you,” she says softly.

“I’ll be fine,” I murmur, trying to believe it. I swallow hard, then meet her gaze. “Annabelle… I heard about Grandpa Albert.” Tears well in my eyes again. “I’m so sorry.”

She nods, blinking back tears. “It’s been hard. Eric… He’s taking it really badly.” She swipes at a stray tear. “He’s a mess, Emma. Please tell me you’re coming back once you’re well. He needs you.”

My chest tightens again. “I don’t know if I can,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know if he even wants me to.”

Annabelle reaches for my hand. “Of course, he does. Emma, he loves you so damn much. Don’t throw away what you’ve built together. Love is rare. Please don’t let it slip through your fingers.”

I swallow past the lump in my throat. “I don’t want to. But he kept me away from my father. He didn’t tell me how serious things were.”

She shakes her head. “I understand why you’re hurt. What he did was stupid. But his love? That’s real. When he pulled you out of the river?—”

“—He pulled me out of the river?” I cut in.

She nods. “He thought he’d lost you. He was out looking for you when he came to our house. He told Grandpa the truth, and then Grandpa’s heart gave out. Emma, I’ve never seen him so broken, but there’s no doubt in my heart that he loves you.”

A tear slips down my cheek. “Maybe. But love isn’t always enough.”

Annabelle sighs, her expression soft. “No. Sometimes it’s not.” She squeezes my hand. “I know, you need time. But don’t throw away the years you’ve spent loving my brother just because you’re scared.”

I stare at her, torn between hope and fear.

“When you’re ready,” she continues, “you’ll always have a home in Lords Valley.” A small smile plays on her lips. “Apparently, the person who bought the ranch agreed to let us lease it.”

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