Page 2 of The Rancher's Wedding Betrayal
“That’s understandable. It’s been years since you two have seen each other, much less talk.”
“Yeah.”
“And then there’s the fact that you also had a crush—”
"Not another word, please." She knew it. She just knew she’d regret spilling every bean about her past. “Actually, can we just forget I ever said anything? I was emotional and insane, so I said stupid things.”
“I don’t think it’s stupid,” Hilary protested. “I think it’s actually cute—”
Eve groaned.
“That you were so proud, you couldn’t make yourself tell him you had a crush on him, so you rebelled against his authority instead.”
“Can we stop talking about this please?”
“But it’s really cute—”
“No, it’s not, so please let’s drop it.”
Hilary smiled fondly.How cute, she thought again. Anyone looking at Eve wouldn’t guess it, but she was a hopeless romantic under her rebellious and snarky exterior. Thank God(truly!)that Eve would now have a chance to make things right with her former stepbrother.
Fifteen minutes later (as expected of Hunter's usual accurate efficiency). a sleek black car appeared outside the halfway house, and Eve’s stomach performed another gymnastic routine as she said goodbye to Hilary.
"We'll keep in touch," Hilary assured her softly. "And keep praying. Okay?"
Eve slipped into the backseat and the tightness in her chest eased a little when Luther returned behind the wheel and smiled at her through the rearview mirror. “It’s nice to see you again, Ms. Ramirez.” His salt-and-pepper hair was cropped closer than she remembered, but his gentle Texas drawl hadn’t changed a bit.
The familiar voice brought an unexpected lump to her throat. “Thanks, Luther. How’s everyone?”
“Still the same, but they’re sure to be happy to see you again.”
Sure they were, Eve thought unhappily. Everyone that was...except their master, andugh.
Was she really going to do this?
The leather seat felt too soft, too luxurious against her back. Just like it had eight years ago, when she’d first arrived at Ferguson Ranch, all teenage attitude and secret trembling insides. She’d been nineteen then, forced to move in with her mother’s new husband and his impossibly handsome, impossibly intimidating twenty-five-year-old son.
Every day had been rebellion on her part. Every single day had been her way of hiding her inconvenient feelings for him.
Until the accident happened.
When Hunter automatically blamed her for it, she’d been so hurt that he’d accuse her without question. Pride made her refuse to admit the truth. She’d taken the blame and acted like she’d enjoyed causing trouble.
Ugh, I was such an idiot back then.
The memories alone had Eve cringing, and she could only keep cringing...upon realizing that she wasstillan idiot, and for the same reason, too.
Pride comes before a fall indeed, Eve thought gloomily, and pride, right now, was why she was thirty, homeless, and unemployed.
It was so tempting to wallow in self-pity, but thankfully, the one night she had spent in the halfway house was more than enough to change her perspective completely. Yes, shedidfeel like a loser right now...but it was also because she had hit rock bottom that she had been forced to turn to God.
So...I'm still not sure how to do this, but...please, God?
The gates of Ferguson Ranch loomed ahead, and Eve’s heart banged against her chest.
Help me.
Please.
