Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
With a smile, Ben said, “No worries.”
After finishing the cooldown, I led Juniper to the gate Ben had opened for us.
“What a beautiful bay,” he remarked as Juniper headed over to the water. I slid off and started to untack him.
“Dad has been training him on barrels. He’s really good. We just finished in the enclosed barn before you pulled up.”
“I haven’t seen you run barrels in a long time.”
Glancing up, I shrugged. “Well, I don’t see you that much anymore.”
I couldn’t read his expression, but he ignored the dig. “How have things been?”
“Good. Busy, but that’s always a good thing.”
He handed me a sponge and I started to wipe off Juniper’s sweat. Once I had as much sweat off him as I could get, I rubbed him with a towel.
“You didn’t call me about helping with that class like you said you would,” Ben said as he handed me the reins.
I turned to face him, frowning. “Um, yes, I did. I left a message on your cell about it being moved to next week.”
“You did?” he asked, looking confused.
“I did.”
Ben rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t see any voicemail from you.”
It took everything I had not to tell him that he most likely never saw it because of Abby. It wouldn’t have been the first time he’d had no clue that I’d called. I suspected Abby had erased more than one message or text from me.
I decided to let it go and shrugged. Strangely enough, it didn’t bother me.
Leading Juniper into his stall, I gave him a bit of hay and fresh water. I’d let him out to pasture in a bit with Tesoro, after he ate and drank more water.
Maverick walked up and opened the stall next to Juniper’s. He smiled at me, and I returned it. He glanced at Ben and nodded. “Ben, how’s it going?”
Ben grunted a hello.
Okay, I needed to talk to Ben about his attitude toward Maverick. There was no reason for it. “Mav, something’s come up. Will you turn Juniper out with Tesoro in about thirty minutes or so?”
“Will do,” he replied, tipping his cowboy hat toward me, then Ben. “Good seeing you, Ben.”
“Yeah, you too.”
I watched as Ben shot Maverick a dirty look before he turned and faced me.
Moving away from the stalls and out of earshot from Maverick, I said, “Seriously, what’s with all the attitude toward Maverick?”
Ben shook his head. “Nothing. I’m just not myself today.”
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
He looked everywhere but at me.
“Ben?” I asked, worry evident in my voice. “What’s wrong?”
He cleared his throat and looked down at the barn floor. “I need to tell you something, Lily.”
“Is it something that can wait until we get out of the barn? I’m sure my mom has some lunch if you’re hungry.”
Ben shook his head. “No, I…I need to say it now.”
Tilting my head, I frowned. He looked so stricken. “Okay. What do you need to tell me?”
He swallowed hard, finally lifting his head, and our gazes locked. The little jolt to my heart when he looked at me was barely there anymore.
“I don’t know how to say it, so I’m just going to say it—Abby’s pregnant, and we’re getting married as soon as possible.”
It felt like someone had hit me in the chest with a hammer.
Of all the things I had expected him to say, that hadn’t been on the list. The air left my body all at once, and I couldn’t seem to remember how to breathe. “Wh-what?” I managed to get out.
Ben closed his eyes for a moment before they opened again. “Our parents want us married quickly to cut back on any rumors.”
I blinked rapidly and stepped back. My foot caught on something. What happened next felt like slow motion…I thought I could regain my balance, but my ankle twisted, and I started to fall.
The whole time, Ben just stood there and stared at me in shock.
“Lily!”
Maverick shouting my name had me turning to look at him right before I hit the ground hard on my ass, then felt a sharp pain at the back of my head.
And then everything went black.
As my lashes fluttered, I could tell I was being carried. I felt warm and safe in the arms of the person carrying me.
When I finally managed to get my eyes completely open, I gazed straight into gray eyes laced with concern, looking right back at me.
I only managed to get out one whispered word. “Maverick?”
“You’re okay, Lily. I’ve got you. It’s okay.”
The pounding in my head suddenly registered, making me feel sick to my stomach, and I closed my eyes once again.
“What happened?” I asked as I felt Maverick moving up steps quickly. Had he just taken the steps two at a time…while carrying me? Damn, he had the whole strong, rugged cowboy thing down.