Page 98 of Huckleberry Hill
“Are you getting bored?”
“Bored? No. There’s plenty to do on the ranch to keep me occupied.”
“Plenty to do, huh? Like mucking out stalls? Feeding chickens?”
“And sleeping with Declan.”
There was silence on the other end of the phone.
“Wyn? Hello? You still there?”
“I’m here. I’m in complete and utter shock, but I’m here.”
“Why are you in shock?” I demanded. “You guys told me to go for it!”
“Yeah, but I didn’t think you would actually do it,” she said.
“Well, why not?”
“Because you’re Hadley. And you’re very thoughtful about your decisions.”
“I was thoughtful about this.”
“Hm. No, you weren’t. Which is fantastic news, actually. You’re only impulsive after too much to drink and that rarely happens. Wait, so when did this start?”
“Couple of nights ago,” I admitted. “I helped him give birth. Wait, no. I helped him help Mirabelle—the mare—give birth. I went back to his cabin to shower. He made me a quesadilla and we drank bourbon and then we . . . ya know. And last night he cooked me dinner and I stayed over.”
“Oh my God!” she squealed.
I smiled even though she couldn’t see me. I was giddy talking to a best friend about a guy. The last time I’d been this excited, it was because of Gianni . . .
My good feelings slipped away at the memory of him.
“So, are you going to gush or let me speculate?”
I laughed. “I haven’t told Poet or Salem yet, so I’m thinking we need to have a charcuterie and video hang-out. Do me a favor and keep it between us for now, ya?”
“Will do. But let’s have that chat soon,” she said. “It won’t be the same as you being here, but we’ll make it work. If you can pull yourself away from the awesome get-over-your-ex sex.”
“I’ll find the time,” I assured her.
“So, it is awesome, right? At least tell me that much.”
I sighed. “Yeah, it’s pretty awesome.”
She squealed again. “Oh, sorry, Mildred. I woke the beast and now she probably has to go outside. Later, gator.”
Wyn hung up and I set my phone aside. I stripped off my dress and underwear and threw them in the dirty clothes bin before padding into the bathroom.
As the shower steamed, I looked at myself in the mirror. My lips were swollen and even though my skin was wan from lack of sleep, there was a definite sparkle in my eye. And just maybe a jaunt in my step. A lifting of my spirits. A reason to smile.
Chapter Twenty-One
The Ranch
* * *
“Oh my God.” My eyes immediately watered, and I pinched my nose as I approached the cabin porch.
