Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
I’m only racing myself. I don’t know if I want to laugh or cry, so I do both as I continue to ride. Everything falls away. My sorrows, my thoughts, the sounds of the birds and the hooves of the other horses behind me. I stretch my arms out at my sides and just feel.
Trevor
It all happens so fast. One minute I have a smile on my face as I watch Lynn take off and ride like the wind. I don’t bother to chase after her; I want to allow her her moment while I talk business with Leonardo.
I want that horse for her. Wild Heart belongs to her. It’s not even the coincidence between his name and the fact that Pook used to call us wild hearts. That horse has been waiting for her.
I saw it as I watched them find each other. I’m not leaving here without buying him for her. I can see Leonardo is weary to part with the untamed horse, but he can name his price. I’ll meet it.
“About Cuore Selvaggio,” I say, ready to negotiate.
However, that’s all I get out. Lynn cries out as Fumo bucks, releasing a cry of his own. Lynn slips off and falls to the ground. All else forgotten, I race across the clearing to get to her.
I dismount before my horse comes to a full stop. Lynn isn’t moving and Smoke has trotted away. I drop to my knees beside her and brush her braids from her face.
“Lynn,” I call out as I cup her face. “Lynn, baby girl, open your eyes. Please, darlin’, speak to me.”
CHAPTER 33
I’m Right Here
Lynn
I hear the beeping sound before I open my eyes. My head is killing me and my left arm hurts something terrible. When I force my eyes open, I’m a bit confused at first.
I try to figure out the last thing I remember. Smoke… I was riding Smoke in the clearing and then…
“There was a snake,” I murmur through my dry lips.
“What’s that, darlin’?”
I turn my head to find Trevor sitting in a chair watching me. He looks tired and stressed out. Looking around, it dawns on me that I’m in a hospital. I groan and reach for my head.
“What happened?”
“Smoke threw you off. You weren’t holding the reins. You hit your head pretty hard and broke your wrist. They had to give you a few stitches,” he says soberly.
“I’m sorry,” I say as tears come to my eyes.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“Yes, I do. I know better. I got caught up in the moment and wasn’t holding on like I should have been. That snake came out of nowhere.”
“I’m the one who’s sorry. How are you supposed to play with a broken wrist? You’re supposed to be in Nashville and then headed to New York when we get back. I totally screwed everything up,” he says with a frown.
“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t even want to go sing on anyone’s stage. I’d still be locked in my room.”
“This was so selfish of me.”
“Uh-uh. Don’t do that. Trevor Monroe, you are the least selfish person I know. You’ve been hurting yourself, but you’ve been the strong one, not just for me, but for Cliff too. You think I don’t hear you comforting him when he calls?”
“Brooke was your sister. She was going to be Cliff’s wife. Where in all of that do I have a right to be hurt? What kind of friend would I be if I couldn’t make sure the two most important people to her were okay?
“This ain’t about me. I shouldn’t have made it about me. Making things about me is how…”
“Oh no, Trev. Don’t you dare. If you say that, then it’s my fault as well.”
He shakes his head, then purses his lips and releases a heavy sigh. There are so many mixed emotions at play on his handsome face. Guilt begins to settle in my stomach.
“Trev, you can’t keep beating yourself up and holding it all in. I’m so sorry that, in my own grief, I didn’t see how much you’re hiding and going through.
“But this”—I hold up my casted wrist—“isn’t your fault. I don’t need to be able to play for those auditions. My voice still works just fine. I’m sure I can find someone to play the music for me.”
“You shouldn’t have to. I wasn’t supposed to let anything happen to you.”
“I’m a big girl now. There are going to be times when you’re not there to protect me. Don’t be so hard on yourself.
“All the good you’ve done for me far outweighs this one situation. Right now, all I want is you here with me. So we’re just fine.”
“I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
I reach out my hand to him. He takes it gingerly. I roll my eyes at him and tug him closer. Puckering my lips.