Page 135 of Never Left You

He beamed, holding his small little trophy with pride. “Not bad for my last ride.”

We celebrated Stetson’s eighth birthday a few months ago and he had officially met the age limit for mutton busting. Now he was ready to move on to bigger livestock sports. As much as my stomach still twisted, he was determined to follow in his dads—and now Cash’s—footsteps.

“Look.” My dad, who had returned from his trip with my mother in Europe for the rodeo, caught everyone’s attention. Even the people sitting next to him. “There he is.” He pointed to the chutes. My eyes followed, and I saw Cash lower himself onto the horse.

“Do y’all remember a few years back, a huge saddle bronc name had an early retirement,” Wyatt’s voice boomed over the speaker, “and he all but disappeared from the scene? He went on a different road than most, taking on clients and training barrel racers. In fact, he trained the one and only Quinn Compton who we will see later. But tonight is about his return, his comeback to the sport he loves more than my own sister.”

I laughed, loving that Wyatt and Cash’s relationship was mending itself. Painting the stables and hanging the sign together really forced them to accept each other.

“And back on a horse that loves to buck…I present to you…the one and only…Cash Callahan.” Wyatt rang out his name as the crowd cheered.

I didn’t notice Cash nod, I just noticed the chute fly open and the horse jump out. Cash’s arm was raised high in the air, his chin low, his body moving in motion with the horse. And that horse moved. One…two…three….four. Cash’s arm swung back and forth; his hat flew off his head. The horse tilted to theside, all four legs off the ground. Five…six…seven…The buzzer sounded and Cash pulled his body tight, reaching for the synch to bring the horse into a gallop—the smile on his face only showing how much he loved the ride.

I shot up from my seat, hearing Kyla mutter something like, “Told you, you would want to be down there.” I bolted down the metal stairs to the fence. I watched as the pickup men grabbed Cash, pulling him from the saddle and dropping him to the ground. His face winced slightly, telling me the pain was still there, but the thrill was stronger.

“He still has it folks! Cash Callahan pulling in an eighty-nine to start the night!”

The crowd cheered as Cash threw up his arms. Giving them one last wave, hyping up the crowd even more than they already were, he raced to grab his hat. Stepping up on the gate, I leaned forward, hoping to catch his eye before he left the dirt to let the other riders go, but he didn’t notice me. Instead, he waved his hat in the air and went back to the chutes. He would help the other riders, even riling up the calves for the ropers. He would watch the barrel racers with pride as Quinn showed every rider how it was done. The nerves in my stomach settled as I watched him, finally where he belonged.

After the rodeo, when the sun had set and the crowd dispersed to get the best seats for the fireworks, Cash, Stet, and I stood in the middle of the dirt. Cash’s arms around my shoulders, holding me close to him, my arms draped over Stetson, making sure he was pressed to me. The fireworks boomed overhead, the three of us watching in wonder as our life together truly began.

Epilogue

Cash

“Cash!”Abishoutedfromthe kitchen. “They’re going to be here soon, right? I mean the hospital’s not that far away?”

I stepped into the kitchen, watching as Abi frantically ran from side to side, putting plates on the counter, taking her famous baked mac and cheese that she somehow had time to make out of the oven, getting the drinks from the refrigerator—her mind moving a million miles a minute.

“Abs?”

“Have you seen Grace? She said she would make it here before them.”

“Abs?”

“Wyatt’s with Stet. They are feeding the horses before everyone gets here.”

“Abs…”

“Mom and Dad are setting up the cabin for them.”

“Abs.” I stepped in front of her, lightly touching her shoulders. She met my gaze and let out a long breath as her eyes fluttered closed.

“I’m going crazy, aren’t I?”

I shrugged a shoulder and then brought my forefinger and thumb up to her, showing just a pinch. “A little.” I kissed the tip of her nose.

When I first moved into the Hartwell Hills main house, Leo Hartwell pulled me aside. I had known this man for a long time, but if I would have said my heart rate didn’t pick up, it would be a lie. I was moving intohishome. I was datinghisdaughter. I was—for all intents and purposes—taking over while he took his wife around the world. I had to remind myself that he didn’t carry his shotgun everywhere, and this was not one of those talks. I had never talked to Carolyn’s dad; he didn’t even say hello to me at our wedding. Leo though…Leo was a man who I respected, and I would shut up and listen.

“She deserves more than five percent of this place,”he began,“but I can see where her heart is, it’s with you and Stetson. She may not think it, but she’s the center of this home. Her mother and I have just been living here…she’s been shaping it. This home is the heart of the ranch, it always has been. I trust you with it, I trust you with her. Give her the life she wants, the life she needs. Give this home the life it needs. The lifeyouneed. You belong to this family, Cash—love it.”

And love it, I have.

During the first few months of living here, I trained. I built back up my stamina, and then after the Fourth of July, Abi, Stet,and I traveled in the Western Circuits with Quinn and Wyatt, my name finally back on the boards. I had won more than I lost, and I was loving every second with my new family. Not even seeing Carolyn again could ruin it. During that time, I talked to more cowboys who hoped to have their shot in the circuits. With training gigs in my future, it looked like fall and winter were going to be spent back at home.

With me training Quinn, two saddle bronc riders, one bareback rider and three other barrel racers, home became busier—but we wouldn’t have it any other way. Every morning, we wake up together, make breakfast for Lachlan and the ranch hands. Abi would start in the stables, and I’d prepare the arena. My clients would show up, and Abi would give their horses the care they deserved. Basically, the Nova Luna Stable and Arena was home to the most spoiled horses in Idaho. Once the day was done, we would eat dinner with Lachlan, sometimes Wyatt, sometimes Quinn if she were in town, but mainly it was just us three. The house had grown calm in the season.

But now with a new addition heading our way, I could see Abi worried about the calm being stripped away. Grace had flown in a few days ago, Kyla’s mother was due any minute, and Leo and Lottie were making sure Rhett and Kyla’s cabin was one hundred percent ready for the new baby. The house was going to become chaos soon, and even though Abi was the grounding force of the home, the fact that people were encroaching on what has become our space, was getting to her.

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