Page 11 of Coming Home Country
“It’s a little late, but I’ll give Harriet a call and see if she can pop over to the drugstore after hours to fill a script for pain meds. I don’t want you suffering.”
Oh,nowthat’s a priority for you?
I kept my eyes locked firmly on Aspen by my side. She peeked down at me and nodded, instantly detecting that I was overwhelmed.
“I’ll drive her over there. You head back to the ranch and make sure Mac doesn’t burn the whole thing down.”
There was a beat of hesitation before Tucker replied, “Okay. I’ll see you both over there.”
His footsteps faded away, and I heard his muted voice as he spoke on the phone.
Aspen tugged my arm, helping me to sit up. The look of pity she couldn’t hide nearly did me in.
I only prayed the rest of my time in Rust Canyon would pass without incident. Because I wasn’t sure I could handle much more before I broke.
Driving through the wrought-iron gate of Sullivan Ranch, a calm settled over me. Or maybe it was the painkillers kicking in; I couldn’t really tell. Either way, this place was where I grew up. At one point, Mrs. Sullivan joked that she was going to claim me as a dependent on her taxes. I’d spent that much time there.
Main Street was cozy, but this open land made me feel free.
When Aspen pulled up to the barn, a half dozen more cars were parked alongside it than when we’d left. The bonfire was in full swing, the orange flames lighting up the night.
Stepping out of the car, I inhaled deeply. The crisp spring air filled my lungs, and I held it there for a minute before exhaling. It was clean and fresh, nothing like what I encountered in the city. There wasn’t a trace of pollution or exhaust tainting its purity.
This was my home. I might have stayed away, but I never stopped missing it.
The bride-to-be looped her arm around my waist, and together, we walked toward the casual gathering set to celebrate her upcoming nuptials.
When we cleared the side of the barn, Mac caught sight of us first, raising his beer and shouting, “Look who made it!”
All heads turned in our direction as we approached, the heat of the fire increasing with each step.
Aspen gave me a squeeze. “You good?”
My eyes flicked up to find Tucker staring directly at me. The intensity of his gaze sent a shiver down my spine.
“Yeah. I’ll survive.”
She pulled me in for a hug, whispering in my ear, “You’re the strongest person I know. If anyone can make it through this, it’s you. You’ve got this.”
Her unwavering faith was just what I needed.
Steeling my nerves, I pulled out of her hold and faced the group. “Hey, everyone. Long time no see.”
That was putting it mildly, but the joke landed, and a chorus of chuckles sounded.
Aspen left my side to give her fiancé a kiss, and I dropped down onto a hay bale. There would be no alcohol for me tonight, as much as I needed the boost. I was so mad at my clumsy self.
A familiar blonde sat beside me, and I did a double take. “Penny?” She nodded with a smile, and I exclaimed, “Wow, look at you all grown up!”
Penny Atkins lived on Sullivan Ranch growing up and was Aspen’s younger brother, Tripp’s, best friend. She’d also been his secret crush, and we had teased him mercilessly for it because he refused to make a move, outright denying that he was even interested when anyone with eyes could see he was head over heels in love with her. It was a shame he’d been blind to the fact that she was in love with him, too.
Two years younger than me, she’d still been in high school when I left Rust Canyon. In the time that I’d been gone, she’d transformed from the pretty girl next door to a beautiful woman.
When she threw her arms around my neck, I peeked around, trying to see if Tripp was here tonight. Since I was an only child, Aspen was like the sister I never had, and therefore, her little brother became mine by default.
My eyes widened when I landed on him. There was no denying he was his father’s son, though he’d never been as rough around the edges. If I’d thought Tucker had filled out, Tripp had him beat by a mile. Which made sense, considering he worked the horses and the land versus in a doctor’s office.
Damn, there was nothing quite like a country boy. I’d almost forgotten after spending so long in the city.
