Page 49 of The Rebel with Broken Strings
Aubrey felt a flutter in her chest as she watched him work the crowd. There was something magnetic about Gunner when he was in his element, a charisma that was impossible to ignore.
“These kids,” he continued, gesturing to the nervous young performers, “they’ve got more talent in their little fingers than most of us have in our whole bodies. So let’s give ’em a big ol’ Timber Falls welcome!”
The audience erupted in cheers and applause. Aubrey found herself clapping along, a surge of pride washing over her. This was her idea, her event, and seeing it come to life was exhilarating.
As the first young performer took the stage, a hush fell over the crowd. Aubrey held her breath, watching as a little boy no more than seven picked up a guitar almost as big as he was. His small fingers began to pluck at the strings, and a sweet, simple melody filled the air.
The silence from the audience was palpable, a collective holding of breath as everyone focused on the child’s performance. Aubrey glanced around, taking in the rapt expressions on the faces of the townsfolk. There was something magical about the moment, a sense of community support that brought a lump to her throat. And this was something she realized was hard to find in a big city.
As each child took their turn, the atmosphere in the bar grew warmer, more supportive. Aubrey found herself swept up in the emotion of it all, her heart swelling with each performance. She caught Gunner’s eye across the room, and he gave her a wink that warmed her from head to toe.
But Aubrey’s heart started to sink as she watched Emily’s turn approach. The young girl’s eyes widened with panic, her head shaking vigorously as she backed away from the stage. Aubrey’s protective instincts flared, but before she could intervene, Gunner was there, kneeling beside Emily, talking to her.
Aubrey’s breath caught as Emily hesitated, then nodded. She watched them ascend the stage. The first chords struck her like lightning. It was the song from the cliff, the one that he had clearly been writing. Aubrey’s heart clenched as Gunner’s rich voice filled the air, joined moments later by Emily’s tentative soprano, her confidence seeming to grow with each note. The girl’s voice strengthened, twining with Gunner’s in perfect harmony. All around, cell phones appeared, capturing the magical moment.
Aubrey’s chest tightened again, pride and something deeper, more vulnerable.
As the song ended, a heartbeat of silence hung in the air before the crowd erupted into thunderous applause. Cheers and whistles ricocheted off the walls. Emily’s eyes widened, her cheeks flushing with a mixture of surprise and elation.
Gunner’s hand found Emily’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Take it in,” he drawled, loud enough for Aubrey to hear over the din. “This is all for you.”
Emily’s gaze swept across the room, drinking in the sea of smiling faces and raised glasses. Aubrey felt a lump form in her throat as she watched the young girl’s transformation. Gone was the shy, hesitant child from moments ago. In her place stood a beaming, confident performer.
Gunner pulled Emily into a warm embrace, bending down to whisper in her ear. Though Aubrey couldn’t make out the words, she saw their impact. Emily’s smile, if possible, grew even brighter, her eyes shining with unshed tears of joy.
Aubrey’s heart swelled as she watched Gunner step off the stage, his hand resting protectively on Emily’s shoulder. And Aubrey found herself captivated by Gunner’s unexpected gentleness, a side of him she’d rarely glimpsed before.
“Well, well,” a familiar voice purred beside her. “Looks like someone’s falling madly in love.”
She turned to find Willow sidling up next to her, a impish glint in her eyes. She playfully nudged Aubrey’s ribs.
Aubrey’s gaze drifted back to Gunner, a soft smile spreading across her face. She let out a quiet sigh. “It’s kind of hard not to,” she admitted. “Look at him.”
Willow’s teasing grin softened into a look of genuine warmth. “He is pretty dreamy.”
As if sensing their gazes, Gunner looked up, flashing Aubrey a warm smile that sent a flutter through her chest. He was in his element, moving through the crowd with easy charm, shaking hands and clapping backs. But there was something different about him tonight—a lightness to his step, a genuine joy in his interactions that went beyond his usual stage presence.
Aubrey watched, mesmerized, as Gunner crouched down to speak with a little boy clutching a guitar. The tenderness in his expression, the way he gave the child his full attention, it stirred something deep within her.
Her heart swelled with an emotion too big to name. There was no use denying it anymore. The realization washed over her. Her feelings for Gunner weren’t just a fleeting attraction or a remnant of their past encounter. They were real, growing stronger with each passing day, impossible to ignore.
As Gunner’s laughter rang out across the bar, mingling with the joyful chatter of the crowd, Aubrey came to a realization she knew she could never run from. She wasn’t falling in love with him—she knew she was already in too deep to ever turn back.
And no matter how much happiness filled her heart, there was a cold, harsh reminder that whispered in her heart:But will he stay?
Fifteen
Early the next morning, Gunner was still riding the high from the talent show preview as his calloused hands gripped Ginny’s reins, guiding the mare back to the stable after the training ride through the wintery meadow. “That’s it, girl,” he said to her. “We’ve come a long way, you and me.”
The horse nickered softly in response, as if agreeing with his assessment. Gunner couldn’t help but smile, a sense of pride welling up in his chest. This mare had been skittish and untrusting when he’d first started working with her, but now she moved with confidence, her steps sure and steady, and Jaxon had told him a couple weeks ago she’d been sold to a young rider in Ontario, Canada, and would be shipped there in a couple weeks.
As they approached the stable, Gunner’s mind wandered to his own journey. He’d come back home broken and lost, much like this horse. But here, among the rolling hills and open sky, he’d found a piece of himself he thought he’d lost forever.
“Guess we both needed a little TLC, huh?” he said, patting the horse’s neck.
Gunner led the mare into the barn, removing her tack with practiced ease. His fingers worked nimbly, unbuckling straps and lifting the saddle. As he hung up the equipment, he found himself humming a melody that he’d been working on.
With the mare settled, Gunner made his way to the pasture gate and released her into the pasture. He leaned against the weathered wood, watching as she trotted out to join the other horses. The sight filled him with a quiet satisfaction, a feeling of accomplishment that resonated deep in his bones.
