Page 133 of Never Left You

“Um…Mom…” Stetson grabbed her hand. “You’re coming too.”

Abi beamed, reaching for my free hand as the three of us went to saddle up our horses. And there, hanging next to the door, were my sketches, all with a small silver name plaque that readArtwork by Cash Callahanunderneath them.

Family dinner was hectic. I managed to catch Leo and Lottie on their final family dinner before leaving for Europe, and the topic of conversation was the gender of Rhett and Kyla’s baby. It was a fifty-fifty split between boy or girl, and even though Kyla knew, she wasn’t telling anyone. Life moved on as if I had been at the table for years, except now I could drape my arm around Abi’s chair, touch her hand or thigh, and give her small kisses whenever she smiled, and she was smiling a lot.

I tucked Stetson into bed, promising him I’d take him to school in the morning, before sneaking out with Abi to the stables, settling in Luna’s stall. We sat, our backs to the gate, our legs touching, her head resting on my shoulder. Much like the day after she walked a colicky horse for hours, except this time our hands were entwined, and I was still pressing small kisses against her temple every chance I got.

“Do you like it?” She hummed, lifting her head from my shoulder. “The name of the stable?”

“I love it.” I kissed her again, for the millionth time since I arrived. I would never stop kissing her. “Nova Luna—it fits.”

“Do you think Sylas would like it?”

I laughed, envisioning exactly what he would say.I love it, Mi Alma, but…Luna is a much better horse than Nova…

“He would be mad Luna’s name wasn’t first.”

She sighed, leaning into me. “He would. He’d even throw a nickname in there to get me to change my mind.”

“Funny. I was thinking the same thing.” I rested my cheek against the crown of her head, “Luna Nova?”

She grunted. “Nope. Nova Luna. It sounds better.”

Luna kicked at the ground next to Abi, moving the hay under her feet until she gently lowered herself to her side, resting her head on Abi’s lap. Abi scratched behind her ear and the horse let out a puff of air.

“Well…” Abi sighed. “We’re here for a while.”

“I don’t know about you, but I’m here forever.”

“I like the sound of that.”

“Forever?”

“Forever.”

Abi lifted her head, her lips meeting mine in a chaste kiss. “I love you Cash Callahan.”

I urged the kiss deeper, showing her exactly how much I loved her.

Forty-One

Abi

July4th–HartwellHills Rodeo

Okay…why was I nervous? Since Cash had moved to Alpine Ridge, I had been to plenty of rodeos, seen him ride in our arena numerous times yet here I was, sitting next to Kyla, my knees shaking as I watched the sheep dash across the dirt to open up the Hartwell Hills Rodeo.

“Will you chill?” Kyla leaned into me, her arms cradling her now swollen belly. “You’re acting like you’ve never been to a rodeo before.”

I forced my knee to stop, shooting my friend a glare.

“I’m telling you, it’s better when you’re down there so he can kiss you after.” She motioned her chin towards the chutes.

“He’s not there. He’s with Stet now.” I motioned towards the gate of kids lined up for mutton busting. Spotting Cash was easy enough; he was the only one wearing a white cowboy hat. He turned to Rhett, who stood behind him, and laughed, his smile brightening up the entire arena. My heart fell to my stomach. I love him.

“Saddle bronc riders are first…and isn’t—”

“Yes, I know.” I interrupted her.

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