Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
I would spend many nights to come trying to get the courage to call the man. My childhood dreams of a superhero who would rescue me from my life had died when I’d become an adult.
Things at the ranch, however, were good, as weird as the situation was. Zoe was doing well. There were a few times I had to hide to cry after witnessing Mitchell and Zoe’s interaction. He was so great with her. He was the father I’d wished I had. My emotions had been quite volatile these days.
“What did you decide?”
My heart nearly leaped out of my throat. I turned to find Mitchell. I leaned on the paddock fence. “I’m not sure.”
In the twisted set of circumstances I’d found myself in, I’d shared what had happened to me in Mountainside with Avery, Sunshine and Mitchell.
“The contract is pretty straightforward and if you cash Agan’s check for the services rendered, it doesn’t obligate you to anything.”
“Ever the lawyer,” I teased. Then, soberly, I asked, “What do you think I should do? I honestly don’t want his money. It was never about that for me.” I hadn’t yet tapped into the male perspective yet.
“Most guys I know offer something because we want that person to have it. I doubt he’s reading more into it.”
I bobbed my head. Though honestly, I wanted to rip up the check. But if I couldn’t do it in Agan’s face, it lost some of its luster.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay at the ranch by yourself?” Mitchell asked.
Mitchell and Sunshine were headed to Chicago to pack up his apartment. He’d asked to take Zoe, who seemed thrilled with the idea. I’d agreed, unable to stop the delight in Zoe’s eyes. Avery had gone back to be with Nate. Baseball season had started, and he wanted her with him. James, Mitchell’s dad, had already moved in with his girlfriend to a place in town. I’d be at the ranch all by myself. “It’s fine. You guys have a great time. I’ll have time to think about the rest.”
Later that night, we had a big family dinner. You would have thought it was Thanksgiving dinner the way we all pitched in together. I had to admit, it was nice. Ever since Avery’s parents had separated, I hadn’t had this type of family get-together. It was going to be strange to be in the house by myself, though I told no one.
The next morning, I waved goodbye to Mitchell, Sunshine, and Zoe before heading back to bed. These days, it felt like sleep didn’t come in abundance. When I woke, James’s truck was parked out front. Since Sunshine and Mitchell were gone, he would be by to check on the horses, who weren’t always there. Sunshine let them roam free. Personally, I’d only seen them a few times.
I spent the day looking at cars online. Avery said my car was a piece of shit and it was. I could use some of the money Mitchell had given me for back child support to get a half-decent car. I wouldn’t go crazy. There were other things to consider, like going to college. It had been a dream of mine and with Mitchell and Sunshine’s help with Zoe, I would have the time to do it. I spent the rest of the day looking at classes. Summer was coming and taking one or two classes to ease back into school was a sound plan, which was why a better car would be good. I didn’t need to break down on the way to and from the community college.
The next day, I wasn’t feeling any better about a lot of things. But I’d made up my mind about my future. I took a long shower and put on a summer dress from the bag of things Sunshine had gotten me. Was it wrong that I wanted to feel pretty? I piled my hair on top of my head and went out the back door of the bunkhouse. Next to the garage behind the house was a tree with a swing. I hadn’t noticed it before, and I went and sat on it.
How long had it been since I’d felt like a kid with no responsibilities? Zoe was with her dad, and I didn’t have work or a pile of bills to worry about. I smiled as I heard tires on the gravel out front. James was likely leaving. I should have gone and said hi, but I’d see him soon.
My back was to the front of the house when I heard footsteps.
“Hey, James. Sorry I didn’t come around…” Words died in my throat as I got up and faced the other way.
“Lass.”
I couldn’t breathe, not deeply anyway. My breaths were shallow and rapid as I stood, my knees weak and threatening to buckle.