Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
“I’m so glad to see you.” The stool next to his is taken by his battered old Stetson, which he quickly moves so I can sit. “How are you? I was so sorry when I found out what happened.”
His brow lowers, and the corners of his mouth turn downward, but then he shrugs. “These things happen.”
“Why? No, forget it,” I say, waving my hands and laughing. “You don’t have to give me the gory details. I’m just really sorry not to see you around the ranch anymore. Are you doing all right?”
He waves me off with his easy, familiar laughter. It’s like balm spread over my soul. “I’m doing just fine. Might go work over at the Wilkins ranch. Just waiting to hear back.”
The guilt still hanging on me dissolves like cotton candy in the rain. “That’s great. I was so worried.”
He looks at me with a fondness I have missed so much. I didn’t know how much until just now. “You don’t have to worry about me, Miss Allie. Your mama... she’s a tough boss,” he admits with a wry chuckle. “But she was always fair. And I had plenty of cash set aside for foul weather. Don’t you be worryin’ I’ll get what I want soon enough.” There’s an edge to his tone, but I ignore it. The man just got fired, for fuck’s sake. He’s allowed to be a little miffed.
I wave a hand to say no when Rick comes over to ask if I want a drink, since Buck is giving me his usual fatherly smirk. We both know I’m underage.
“Have you heard I’m engaged?” I blurt to change the subject. I don’t mean to tell him. I don’t really feel like talking about it at all. It just comes out.
Something stormy crosses over his face before he gives me a quick nod and picks up his pint glass. “I heard. I was still around when your mama was makin’ the arrangements.”
“Aren’t you going to congratulate me?”
He quirks an eyebrow. “Do you want to be congratulated?”
I snort. “I think you know the answer.”
He nods slowly, frowning, and the wrinkles in his weathered face deepen when he sighs. He’s only in his late fifties but could pass for ten years older after a lifetime spent outdoors. “I think I do.”
“Will I see you at the wedding?” I tease.
“Now, I don’t think that would be a smart idea.” Then he snorts and scrubs a hand over his close-cropped salt-and-pepper hair. “Besides, I doubt I’ll get an invitation.”
“Come on. It’s my wedding. I can decide who I want there, and I want you to be there. It would be nice to have at least one friend.” There’s a catch in my voice that I cough to clear. I don’t mean to get emotional, but this only reminds me how few close friends I have left.
The ones I had from high school are away at college. Besides, I wouldn’t go to them with my actual problems the way I would Saint or, sometimes, Buck. Or even Kade, who doesn’t want to see me anyway. It’s hard to keep myself from scanning the room, hoping that I’ll find him hovering in the shadows. I’m so pathetic. So fucking pathetic, especially after what happened in my room. I never, for one second, thought he’d actually hurt me, hurt me, but I have no doubt he would have fucked me with that gun, and I don’t think I could have handled that.
I wave at Rick to get some water and sip it as heat rolls through me. Yeah, that’s crazy. I don’t want Kade. It’s over. I broke his heart, but here I am acting like he broke mine.
Buck opens his mouth to say something just as the door to the bar flies open and a wide-eyed cowboy comes bursting in. “Roman Bishop is dead!”
All conversation ends for a few seconds. Everyone freezes. Even the music seems quieter. Then the room erupts with noise. The voices get louder.
Roman Bishop is dead? It doesn’t seem possible.
I’m not sure I should believe bar gossip, but I’ve never seen a group of people react to news like this before. Buck gently pats my hand resting on the bar. “You all right? Look like ya seen a ghost. I mean, I know there’s no love lost between your family and the Bishops.”
“I’m fine,” I say, because I am. My concern isn’t for myself, but Kade. All he’s ever wanted in his entire life is to earn Roman’s approval, for Roman to stop riding him so hard and see his worth. Now, he’ll never get the chance.
A memory pops into my head. One night, we sat on a blanket in tall grass while a warm breeze blew over us. Kade’s head rested in my lap as he stared up at the millions of stars overhead. He told me all about the torture his dad put him through.