Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“Did anyone ride Sagan today that you know of?” I asked.
“I did. Why?”
Caden suddenly lost his temper. “What the fuck, Gatlin? You left her goddamn stall door open! I thought she got out, or worse, someone had taken her, with all the fucking people here picking up kids!”
“Caden! What in the world has gotten into you?” I asked.
Gatlin looked confused. “Why are you so upset?”
“Because you took a horse out and no one knew.”
A look of anger passed over Gatlin’s face. “I didn’t realize we had to clear it with you first, Caden. Good to know. I rode the north pasture to check on the fence line—like you asked me to.”
Caden scrubbed a hand down his face and shook his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
“Is everything okay?” I asked, touching his arm.
His eyes went to Lilibeth, and I was stunned to see anger when he looked at her, too. I mean, Caden was always grumpy, but it seemed he really didn’t like Lilibeth.
She actually took a step back.
When he looked at me, the anger morphed into something I couldn’t read. “Everything’s fine.” He spun and started marching down the aisle. “Shut the fucking stall door next time, Gatlin.”
After he’d turned the corner, Gatlin looked at me and frowned. “What in the hell was that all about?”
I shrugged. “I have no idea.”
At six o’clock on the dot, I walked into El Rey Mexican Restaurant. It was the first of its kind in River Falls, and judging by the crowd, it was already a hit. We didn’t have many places to eat because our town was so small. We had River Falls Café, which was more a coffee shop that also sold bakery-type items, Anna’s Table formally Anna’s Café, which was the town’s main café located on Main Street. A sandwich place, a pizza place, and the small café that was located inside River Falls Sporting Goods. It wasn’t really a café, since there were no tables, but you could grab sandwiches and salads to-go.
It didn’t take me long to find Levi and Rhett. Levi stood as I made my way toward them. He wore black jeans, black cowboy boots, a black T-shirt, and, as always, his black cowboy hat. He looked dashing, dressed in all black. And Rhett was a replica of his father.
As I walked deeper into the dining room, I began to notice people from town. When I caught sight of Janet Miller sitting at a table with her granddaughter, Logan, it felt as though someone had dropped a lead weight into my stomach. I nearly turned and walked out. Instead, I focused on Levi. He smiled, and the urge to flee faded away. I reached the table and was stunned when he leaned down and kissed me—not on the cheek, but on the lips. My eyes instantly went to Rhett who was beaming.
“You look beautiful,” he said softly, before pulling my chair out for me.
My hands smoothed down the floral-print sundress I’d picked out to wear. I’d paired it with comfortable, short heels. “Thank you.” Looking down at Rhett, I grinned. “If I’m not the luckiest girl in River Falls, getting to eat dinner with the two most handsome men in town.”
Rhett giggled.
“I hope you don’t mind, I ordered some chips and queso. I’m curious about this place,” Levi said.
“I hope it’s like Flores! That was me and Brooke’s favorite,” Rhett said before taking a drink of what looked like Sprite.
“I don’t mind at all.”
The waitress approached and placed chips, salsa, and queso on the table. She took my drink order and slipped away. I glanced around the room and saw nothing but locals. Janet, Logan, Dr. Johnson, and even Billy Marshall—who owned the honky-tonk in town.
My mouth fell open when I saw my parents, sitting with some of their friends.
“My parents are here!” I said with a laugh.
“They walked in with us. We got here a few minutes early.”
At that moment, Mom saw me, and her brows rose in surprise before she smiled. I gave her a little wave.
“I took a nap, Ms. Emeline.”
Turning my focus to Rhett, I let go of all the anxiety about being in such a public space with Levi. “I bet you needed it.”
He nodded before dipping a chip into the cheese and popping it into his mouth. He looked at his dad and gave a thumbs-up.
“Good, huh?”
“So good!” Rhett replied.
“Do you guys know what you want to eat?” I asked, picking up the menu.
“We’re getting tacos.”
“Crunchy tacos,” Rhett added.
“That sounds yummy. I think I’ll get fajitas. I haven’t had any since the last time I was in Estes Park.”
After we placed our orders, Rhett launched into a story about his new best friend from camp, Jimmy. I glanced at Levi, and the sharp focus he gave his son while he spoke was so sweet. I couldn’t help but wonder how he was as a girl dad…and I had to push the thought away when I felt tears sting the back of my eyes. I couldn’t even imagine what it must be like for him to not have his daughter here. Rhett often mentioned Brooke in his stories, and I loved that they were keeping her memory alive.