Page 112 of Never Left You

“You won’t.”

“—You’re paying for my medical bills.” She gave Cash a pointed look as she aggressively shoved the lead back to him.

“Yeah, yeah, good thing you have health insurance then, huh?” Cash chuckled. “Come on, let’s go get you checked in. Abs”—he turned to me, kissing my temple—“stay with Charming?”

I gave him a sweet smile and nodded, taking the reins from him and reaching up to scratch behind the horse’s ear. I watched until Cash and Quinn were out of view before giving Charming a big smooch on his nose. The horse, as calm as he was, leaned into my touch.

“Awe, bud, I’m going to miss you when you aren’t living next to Luna. I bet she’ll miss you, too.” I fished in my pocket for a peppermint, thankful it’s become a habit to carry them, and laid it flat on my palm. “She likes you; I know she does.”

He harrumphed, his head bobbing as he sucked down the candy.

Looking down the hall, trying to catch a glimpse of Cash and Quinn, I felt warmth spread through my heart. The only thing missing from this moment was having Stetson run after him. I could see it clearly. Me, hanging by the trailer making sure the horses we brought were taken care of. Cash and Stetson—most likely hand in hand—running to get Quinn, or maybe in the distant future, Cash checking himself in. I’d wait for them, making sure Cash had everything he needed for a ride. Joy radiated through my body as I pictured it, as I realized that more than anything, I wanted it. I wanted Stetson to be here with us, and I wanted Cash in our lives.

The ranch was only a portion of my life, not all of it. Maybe tonight, after feeling Cash inside me once again, I would ask him for his advice on it. He knew I loved the stables, the horses and some of the work that came with the ranch, but I could also tell him my new desires, my new dreams…and he would support me. He would help me through this, guide me to make the right decisions. For us. For my family.

Family.

I could feel the heat rushing to my cheeks. Did I really see Cash as a part of my family now? It hadn’t been very long, butmaybe Kyla was right. Maybe life moved fast, and you had to follow it.

I could feel my heart dancing at the thought. This is what happiness felt like, wasn’t it? This is what it was like to feel whole again.

“I don’t believe it.” A high, almost shrill voice caught my attention. “Abi Hartwell?”

Hartwell?

Thatmade me turn.

Holding tightly to Charming’s lead, I twisted my torso, coming eye to eye with the one woman I never wanted to see again. Carolyn Callahan…well, the former Carolyn Callahan.

“Carolyn,” I stated, my back stiffening. I forced a pleasant look, a smile I knew was fake. She didn’t deserve even a fake smile, but she didn’t need a scowl either.

She looked exactly the same, maybe a little more Botox to her face, but her hair was just as blonde and straight, falling over her shoulders. A long, thin nose lengthened her face, leading right to her bright red lips. Her deep plunge neckline dress made her stand out more than anyone else, seeing as it was bright pink, and two long necklaces drew your eyes to her breasts, and under…a rounded belly, being cradled by her hands. Next to me—jeans, boots, a blue t-shirt and my hair tied back into a ponytail—Carolyn looked like a supermodel—ageless. Looking down at my hands, I noticed my fingernails were cow-shit free.

“I didn’t think I’d ever run into you at another rodeo.” She gave me a fake smile.

“Why not?” I asked, still trying to find my bearings. What do I say here? Do I be polite or slap her across the face for the way she treated Cash? I settled with crossing my free arm over my waist, gripping my forearm as I squeezed Charming’s lead.

“I come to all my husband’s events. I see your brothers from time to time, but never you.” She tilted her head, rubbing a circle around her belly, as if to draw attention to it.

“Funny.” I fully faced her now, tilting my head, mirroring her. “They never mentioned seeing you.”

“No, they wouldn’t have.” She laughed with a tension she was sure to deny. “I mean they don’t speak to me, I just see them.” Her laugh got louder.

I did not miss this laugh.

I hummed, feeling my lips pull into a sneer. If Lachlan were here, he’d remind me to put those big girl pants back on. “I see congratulations are in order.” I motioned to her very pregnant stomach. “How far along are you?”

A slight blush ran across her cheeks, and she looked down and stroked her swollen belly. “Seven months. It’s our third.”

“Three kids. Wow.” I faked my enthusiasm, glancing over my shoulder to see if Cash was coming back. It may be for the best if he didn’t. He didn’t need to know she was here.

“How many do you and Sylas have now?”

Excuse me…what?

I twitched. “Come on Carolyn, you know Sylas passed.”

“Oh, that’s right.” Her face contoured, her eyebrows furrowing, and lip puckered out. “Must have slipped my mind.”

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