Page 30 of Wildest Forever

“I promise I won't ma,” leaning forward, I place a kiss in the center of her forehead.

“Love you, my sunshine boy.”

“Love you right back,” I mutter before I am pulling her into my arms, enveloping her in my grasp and in that moment, I didn't want to leave.

“He is definitely the favorite,” Riggs grumbles and I smile, laughing softly as I flip them off behind her back.

“They're right,” she whispers before lifting her head from my chest as she looks at me, “but don't tell them that,” a soft laugh escapes her as she winks.

And I know she is playing, but I kind of needed that in this moment.

Driving out of Rivera Ranch felt odd. I knew I wasn't leaving for good, I knew that deep in the crevices of my soul, but it still felt like a goodbye.

I glance back in the rearview mirror and see my mom, Riggs and Tripp all standing in the dusty driveway watching me drive away.

Swallowing down the lump, my eyes cast to the large oak tree where my dad lay and I bring my fingertips to my lips and kiss them before my fingers are locked back around my steering wheel as I drive out of Lovelock Bay and into Blossom Cove.

My story was only just beginning.

CHAPTER SEVEN

MORGAN

Sitting at the top of the field, I glance over our home, our land, and a shiver dances up my spine.

The thought of this being taken away from me physically hurts.

I know why my pops has done what he has done, but it somehow tastes a little bitter.

I knew from a young age I never wanted to marry and I sure as hell didn’t want kids. But as part of a promise to him, I agreed to marry Pacey Rivera.

The sun is sitting high in the sky, the late morning peeking between the mountains and I know it’s the calm before the storm.

The storm being Pacey Rivera.

My mind drifts back to life before my pops was ill. He was all I knew.

It’s always been me and him.

Taught me everything I know.

I was always his little cowgirl. I knew I wanted to work on the ranch from a young age. I was always in such awe watching how he worked, he never stopped but he also never neglected me in anyway. He was there for every supper, every drop off,every pickup and every school event. He drove me to prom and collected me at ten p.m. sharp.

He was the mom and dad I never had.

He learned how to sew, and do my hair, he even used to shop for make up with me because I never knew anything. I never forget waking up in the middle of the night and he was reading up on what to expect with a teen girl my age.

He gave me everything and more.

And as much as I don’t want this next stage in my life, I knew I had to do it.

I owed it to him after all he has done for me.

Turning the rein on my horse, I open her up and canter down towards the house.

Slowing Barley to a slow trot, I gaze across the field when I see the blacked out Sheriff's truck pulling into the driveway and my heart drums in my chest.

I knew he was moving in today, but I don't think it had properly settled in.

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