Page 43 of The Rebel with Broken Strings
Gunner paused at the mention of her name, a slight smile tugging at his lips. “It’s good. Real good.” He ran a hand along the horse’s flank, brushing away bits of snow. “She’s somethin’ else, you know?”
Jaxon chuckled. “I hear ya. It’s nice to see you both so happy.”
Gunner nodded, reaching for a brush. As he began to groom the horse, he found himself opening up. “It’s different with her. Feels real.”
He worked the brush in slow, circular motions, paying close attention to each spot. The repetitive movement was almost meditative.
“I used to think I needed the spotlight, the adoration of fans,” Gunner mused. “But with Aubrey? It’s like I’ve found something I didn’t even know I was missing.”
“I get that,” Jaxon said.
As Gunner continued grooming the horse, Eli leaned against a nearby stall. “Speaking of things you were missin’,” he said, “how’s the songwriting coming along?”
Gunner’s hand stilled on the horse’s coat, a flicker of excitement passing through him. He reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out a well-worn leather notebook, its edges frayed and pages bulging with loose sheets.
“Matter of fact,” Gunner said, “it’s going well.” He ran his fingers over the notebook’s cover. “It’s like a damn floodgate opened up lately. Words and melodies just pourin’ out of me.”
Eli raised an eyebrow, a rare smile tugging at his lips. “That so?”
Gunner nodded, flipping through the pages filled with his messy scrawl. “It’s like, for the first time in forever, I’m not trying to write what I think people want to hear. I’m just writing what’s in here,” he said, pointing to his chest. He paused, considering his next words carefully. “You know, I used to be so caught up in chasin’ that next big hit, worrying about staying relevant.” Gunner’s eyes met Eli’s and then shifted to Jaxon. “But now? I’m just livin’ in the moment, takin’ it all in. And somehow, that’s making the music flow easier than ever.” His mind drifted to Aubrey, to the ranch, to the simplicity of life in Timber Falls. “It’s like I’ve finally figured out what really matters, you know? And that’s what’s finding its way into these songs.”
“That’s so damn good,” Eli said.
Gunner patted the horse’s neck absently, lost in thought. “I don’t know what the future holds, and for once, I’m okay with that. I’m just happy. Here. Now. With Aubrey, with working at the ranch, with the talent show, with my music coming back to me in a way I never expected.”
Jaxon’s eyes crinkled with warmth as he clapped Gunner on the shoulder. “Man, it’s good to hear you talk like that. You’ve come a long way since you first showed up here.”
Eli nodded. “Yeah, Woods. Who’d have thought a washed-up country star would find his mojo again getting dumped from young horses?” His tone was teasing, but there was no mistaking the affection behind it.
Gunner chuckled. “Watch it, Cole. I might just write a song about a grumpy ex-bull rider with a heart of gold.”
The three men shared a laugh, the sound echoing through the barn. As it faded, Gunner felt a surge of gratitude for these friendships he’d never expected to find his way back to as an adult.
“Alright,” Gunner said, giving the horse a final pat. “Let’s get her back to the field and call it a day.”
He led the horse out of the barn and put her back in the pasture with the other mares. As they walked back toward the house, Gunner found himself hanging back a bit, taking in the scene.
The weathered barn, the sprawling fields, the distant mountains, it was all so different from the glitz and glamour he’d once chased. Yet somehow, Timber Falls was always home.
His mind wandered to Aubrey, to the way her eyes lit up when she smiled, to the feeling of her hand in his. He thought about the kids he was mentoring, their faces beaming with pride and excitement. It was a simple life, but it was real. It was honest.
As they approached the house, Gunner realized he was smiling. The path that had led him here had been winding and often painful, but standing here now, he wouldn’t change a thing. For the first time in years, he felt truly, deeply content.
He followed Jaxon and Eli into the house, a wave of warmth and enticing aromas enveloping him. The house buzzed with a comforting energy, laughter and chatter drifting from the kitchen. When he entered the kitchen, his eyes immediately sought out Aubrey, drawn to her like a magnet.
There she was. Her waves cascading over her shoulders as she bent to check something in the oven. Without hesitation, Gunner strode across the room, his heart quickening with each step.
“Now that’s a view I can appreciate,” he drawled, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind.
Aubrey straightened, leaning back into his embrace. “Well, hello, cowboy,” she replied, laughing.
Gunner nuzzled her neck, inhaling the scent of vanilla and spice that always clung to her. “Thank you,” he murmured. “For everything today. Those kids won’t ever forget it.”
Aubrey turned in his arms, her eyes meeting his. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” she said softly. “You were amazing with them.”
His chest tightened with emotion. “It’s all thanks to you, you know,” he confessed. “You make me want to be better.”
A flicker of vulnerability passed over Aubrey’s face, quickly replaced by a warm smile. “Come on,” she said, giving him a playful nudge. “Let’s eat before it gets cold.”
