Page 122 of Never Left You

He brushed my hair from my face. “Why not? You’re brilliant at running that place, I’ve seen you. Lachlan would probably lose it if you didn’t run it next to him.”

“Lachlan will survive,” I grumbled, slouching into him.

“He would but…I’m still confused why. Abi…your life is Hartwell Hills.”

“That’s just it. My life was never supposed to be the ranch.” I sighed, feeling the tension boil under my skin. I swallowed, sniffed and looked at Cash, deep into his eyes to find the courage. “When Sylas died…I didn’t grieve. I did the only thing I knew how to do. Be the best mom I could be to Stetson, and work on the ranch. I trained with my mom on the finances, soon taking over for her completely, and I took over Sylas’s jobs. The animals, the horses, the supplies, the schedules…everything he did became my job, and I had to do it well. I had to replace my dead husband while also mourning for the same dead husband, and all I wanted to do was…”

I stopped, and let the tears well up.

“Cry,” Cash said, taking his thumb to brush away a tear that had already fallen.

“I didn’t cry. I didn’t budge. After his funeral, I picked myself up and did what I had to do. No one really knew what I was feeling because I got so good at putting on a happy face but…I know if I take the ranch, I’ll have to keep pretending and I can’t do that anymore.” I sniffed, raising my hand to wipe away the last tear that fell from my cheeks. “I don’t want my life to be the ranch. I want this life. I want to travel with you and Stetson and come to rodeos and just…be here with you.” I sighed. I looked at him, his single eyebrow raised, his mouth a thin line that was still somehow kissable. His chest rose and fell calmly. I placed my hand on his chest, feeling for his heartbeat. Seconds ago itwas fast, but now, it was steady. “But I don’t want to leave the ranch. It is home.”

“We won’t leave it.”

“We?”

“You think I’m leaving you now? If you’re at the ranch, so am I.”

I chewed on my bottom lip. “I hate to admit I don’t even know where you live.”

“Montana. I have a place in Bozeman, but I’ll sell it.”

“You’d be willing to move to Hartwell Hills?”

He gave me a single nod, his hand that kept my leg warm moving to cup my face. I leaned into his touch.

He kissed me sweetly. “If that’s where you are, that’s where I am. Remember—I was thinking of taking on extra clients. You did offer the arena to me before. You’ll still have some sway in what happens to it right?”

“Sure, but…” I chuckled. “I don’t want to own the majority of it. Rhett should have it. He loves that ranch more than anything.”

“And what do you want?”

“The stables.” I said, absolutely no hesitation to my voice and my heart skipped a beat when Cash grinned. “When we took on boarding horses, Rhett said he’d do the job. I was already running the finances, the stables, the goats, the calves—all the animals. Lachlan was always out on the land, so he didn’t have time to take that job on, neither did I, really. Rhett did, so he offered. But how many times did you actually see Rhett in the stables?”

“Never. Well—maybe once.” Cash huffed a laugh.

“It was always me, and I loved it. I like taking care of the horses. I like sitting with them and walking with them when they are colicky. I love brushing them, bathing them—I even enjoy mucking out the damn stalls. I don’t want to be in charge of thenumbers anymore. I want to focus on the animals, mainly the horses, but I can still work on the livestock. I could even manage the arena bookings, if they keep coming. I would be more than happy to keep doing that side of it. Just as long as we can still attend rodeos.”

“Most trainers don’t go with their clients.”

“You enjoy it.” I narrowed my eyes at him, my hand falling to his chest.

“I do. I’ve always loved the rodeo scene. I especially love it when you’re here.” His hand ran up and down my back, creating those tingles I was beginning to love so very much.

“I would have to plan things accordingly, but it could work—if Rhett agrees.”

“Seems to me like you know exactly what you want. You just need to talk to Rhett when you get home.”

I nodded. “My dad wants to sign the deed when I get back. We were supposed to sign it before I left, but he agreed to let me have this weekend.”

“What about your parents? What are their plans?” He shifted and scooted up slightly on the headboard, raising his arm over his head.

“Traveling. He talked about buying a small house in town or building a smaller one close to the lake. My mom does love the lake.”

“And the main house?”

I shrugged. “If they’d let me, I’d still live in it. It’s home. I don’t want to leave it. Hell—I’ll agree to still make breakfast for the ranch hands.”

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