Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Sammy was worth the effort.
I guided Maverick to the door and dug in my heels. “Yah,” I encouraged him.
And we were off.
SAMMY
I scanned the yard of the ranch over and over as we said goodbyes to everyone. Surely Luke wouldn’t let us leave without making an appearance. He’d been gone when we’d risen this morning, and Rachel said he was taking care of something at the ranch. I hadn’t seen him since we got back. I had a terrible feeling I wouldn’t.
I knew I was coming back in a couple of weeks, but still—everyone else stopped by to say goodbye to my family and to tell me they were looking forward to my return. Rachel had spoken to everyone in turn, her thanks effusive, her gratefulness abundant. When she hugged me, she whispered, “I’m sorry.”
“He’s not coming?” I whispered back, fighting down the tears.
“I don’t think he can.”
I stepped back with a nod, wiping my eyes. “I’ll see you in a couple of weeks. I’ll be sending you things to approve and look at as well.”
She sniffled and wiped under her eyes. “Okay. And we can chat, right?”
“Absolutely.”
I couldn’t help one last look before I climbed into the RV. My dad looked upset, my mom patting my knee as I sat beside her. Even Aiden was quiet, Ronan looking over his shoulder from the passenger seat.
“Okay there, Sammy?”
“Yep. Let’s go. We have a plane to catch.”
The RV was silent as we pulled out of the driveway. I looked around at the somber faces and forced a smile to my face. “It’s all good, guys. You’ll be back. You’ll get the royal treatment when you return as a guest.”
They all shook their heads, and I was quick to shake mine back at them. “I’m fine. Honest. This place is awesome, and I want you to come back here and support Rachel and Luke.”
“Luke—” Liam began.
“He did nothing wrong,” I interrupted him. “Nothing. And you will stop looking at me like that. All of you. Luke is a wonderful man, and I adore Rachel. End of story.”
They all fumbled with their phones, grumbling. I met Mom’s gaze, and she leaned over, cupping my cheek. “He has no idea what he has lost,” she whispered.
I focused my gaze outside the window, refusing to cry. For a few moments, I watched the landscape go by, the RV slowly heading down the dirt road. We would pick up speed once we got to the main road and off the dirt, but this road needed careful navigation.
Up front, I heard Aiden mutter. “What the hell?”
Ronan turned in his seat, looking at the side mirror. “Oh boy. You better pull over, Dad.”
“No,” Aiden said. “He can damn well work for it.”
I heard a series of thumps on the RV, but Aiden kept driving. I looked at my mom. “Did we hit something?”
She shook her head, a smile ghosting her lips. “I don’t think so.”
“What’s wrong?” I asked, directing my question to Aiden.
“We’ve got company.”
I glanced ahead, wondering if some cows had gotten loose on the road, but Aiden smirked. “Coming up on the side.” He shook his head. “He better not dent this thing.”
I turned and looked. Beside us, moving fast, was a horse and rider.
I recognized both.
It was Maverick with Luke bent low over his mane, reaching over and hitting the RV with his fist to get it to stop.
What was going on?
“Stop!” I cried out.
With a muttered curse, Aiden slowed down and pulled over.
My dad stood, his hand on my shoulder, stopping me from getting up. “I’ll handle this.”
He stepped outside, shutting the door behind him. He met Luke in the middle of the road, his arms crossed. He looked calm and in control. Luke looked anything but. He was talking, pacing, gesturing with his arms. Dad eyed him impassively, asking him something. Luke nodded, pointing to the RV. Dad shrugged, holding out his arm, stopping Luke from coming over.
Frustrated, Luke knocked off his hat and bent to pick it up. Our eyes met through the glass window and locked. He laid his hand on his heart and mouthed a word.
“Please.”
I stood, my mom squeezing my hand as I went past her. I opened the door, hearing my dad.
“You’ve hurt her enough, Luke.”
“I don’t want to hurt her anymore. I have to talk to her. Please, Van. I have to see her. Please.”
I heard the agony in his voice.
“I’ve got this, Dad.”
Luke’s gaze met mine. His eyes were tormented and wild.
Dad sighed and walked past me into the RV. “I’ll give you some privacy.”
I tried not to laugh. Privacy. Luke and me on an open road with my family’s ears stuck to the windows to hear every word.
Luke paced then came closer. “You can’t go, Sammy. Not like this.”
I sighed. “What do you want, Luke? Forgiveness? You can have it. I’m as much to blame as you are. You made the rules, and I broke them.”