Page 160 of Wildest Forever

“I’ll try,” he nods, stepping back and taking the lunch I packed him. He told me he had a lot to go through today and wouldn't be home until supper.

“I'll see you soon then,” I follow him to the front door as he pulls it open and steps onto the porch.

“I'll see you soon then,” he tilts his hat down and my heart somersaults in my chest.

With one last smile and a flirty wink, he turns his back on me and I watch until his truck is driving out of the ranch and I instantly miss him.

Sighing heavily, I let my eyes fall to the floor as I begin to push the door shut but the sound of boots hitting the wooden porch floor has me snapping my head up.

“Morning,” Dusty smiles as he walks, with two empty mugs in my direction.

“Morning,” I smile, taking a step back as he walks in and lifts his hat from his head and dropping it onto the hook beside the door.

I follow him into the kitchen as he places them in the sink.

“All okay?” I ask, leaning up against the archway that leads from the hallway and into the kitchen.

“Yeah,” he washes his dirty hands and shakes them off before running them down the front of his jeans to dry them.

“I am sorry I've not been much help,” I admit and dart my eyes away from him as guilt riddles me.

“It's fine Morgan,” and the heavy sigh that leaves those three words has me knowing that it isn't fine. “But if you're going to pull back, we either need to get another hand in or sell half the cattle.”

I don't respond, just nod and swallow the burning lump that has lodged itself in my throat.

I know what he is saying is the truth, but I don't want to.

“I'll be down the back field when you're ready to join me,” and I take the dig as he intended it.

Dusty isn't a malicious man.

But he can be bitter.

And right now, he is very fucking bitter.

I nod again as I follow him out to the door and see him out.

He doesn't say goodbye and neither do I.

Instead, I slam the door as my temper simmers deep in my core and once I know he is far enough away, I drag myself into the living room, fall into my pops’ chair and curl up into a ball, my arms wrapped around my knees before I let the tears fall.

I knew I needed to make a choice.

The ranch is haemorrhaging money, and I don't have much more to give.

We promised we would keep the ranch, keep his legacy... I never promised to be a cowgirl for the rest of my life.

And for the first time since my pops passed, I had no idea what to do.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

PACEY

Riggs is already waiting at my office and nerves ripple through me.

“Morning,” I chirp, and Riggs' raises a thick brow before glancing at the clock on the wall.

“This is not morning,” he grumbles and rolls his eyes. He is sitting at my desk, his hands in his lap, fingers locked together.

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