enough to touch the giant, she stroked a gentle hand along its flank, continued words of encouragement and love reaching not only the horse’s ears, but also Sam’s.
Incredulity washed over him as he watched her with the now quiet horse. Large, grown men had been working with the horse all week and had yet to manage to get close enough to touch it.
Aston, with the power of a sweetness and gentleness he’d never before seen in her, had literally stroked a wild beast and nearly turned him into a harmless pet.
He swallowed hard.
When she finally led the horse back to his stable, Sam followed, approaching the large double doors as she was exiting them. She started at the sight of him, placing her hand on her chest.
“That was impressive.” He leaned against the barn door, taking in her flushed skin. Her long, dark hair was pulled into a ponytail high on her head, with tendrils of loose strands hovering around her face. Her turquoise V-neck tank hugged her curves, and her battered leather boots had seen better days.
A small smile pulled at her lips. “You think so, Waters? Just a little breaking-in.”
Sam chuckled. “A little breaking-in? I saw that horse make grown men cry this week. It could’ve turned on you.”
She laughed and reached for a water bottle sitting on a barrel. She brought the plastic to her lips and sipped, keeping her clear blue eyes trained on Sam.
“You think that’s the first horse I’ve worked with? I’ve been breaking horses for years, Sam. I didn’t need any help with this one. The guys did all the hard stuff earlier in the week, anyway.”
“So.” Sam ticked a list on his fingers. “She…is a genius at school. She manhandles her drunk boyfriend. She changes her own tires. She breaks wild horses. Is there anything else I need to know about you before I say or do something that might have you kicking my ass?”
Aston sized him up, allowing her gaze to travel from his legs, up his bare stomach and chest, and finally looking way up to meet his stare. The corners of her mouth twitched upward as she tried to fight a smile. She lost the battle, and a huge grin broke out on her face.
A grin that nearly stole his breath. Seeing her smile like this was rare, and he wanted to pluck it from her lips and place it into his pocket for safekeeping.
She should smile like that more often. She should smile like that every damn day.
“You have absolutely nothing to worry about, Waters.”
He tried not to stare as she walked away.
Tried, but failed.
Four
Dear Sam,
This long-distance thing sucks. I’ve never been away from you for a day, much less months at a time. It’s killing me, Sam. Thank God I have Hunter here. Without him I think I’d go crazy.
I’m going to be honest. Life with Daddy gone is…eye-opening. Every night when I lie down without wincing in pain from what he’d done to me, I breathe another sigh of relief. Thank you for giving me the strength I needed to live this life.
I finally went back to work at the bakery. You know it’s the only thing I know how to do, and getting back to work is helping me adjust to everything. I have a new friend. Her name is Rilla and she opened a florist next door to Sugar Coated. We even went out to a bar!
It feels weird knowing you are there, living this new life by the beach. Sun and sand compared to fishing by the creek? Sounds like a vacation. I haven’t heard from the sheriff’s office in weeks. Don’t you think it’s time we figured out what to do next? Maybe we can even find a way for you to come home. I have to go, Sam. Hunter is walking in the front door.
I love you.
Ever
He placed Ever’s most recent letter in the desk drawer. His feelings about the letter were jumbled. He still got the aching in his heart whenever he read a letter from her. But the daily living without her was getting easier. He was getting used to not waking up panicked if she wasn’t in his room with him. On those mornings, he’d ride his bike
Incredulity washed over him as he watched her with the now quiet horse. Large, grown men had been working with the horse all week and had yet to manage to get close enough to touch it.
Aston, with the power of a sweetness and gentleness he’d never before seen in her, had literally stroked a wild beast and nearly turned him into a harmless pet.
He swallowed hard.
When she finally led the horse back to his stable, Sam followed, approaching the large double doors as she was exiting them. She started at the sight of him, placing her hand on her chest.
“That was impressive.” He leaned against the barn door, taking in her flushed skin. Her long, dark hair was pulled into a ponytail high on her head, with tendrils of loose strands hovering around her face. Her turquoise V-neck tank hugged her curves, and her battered leather boots had seen better days.
A small smile pulled at her lips. “You think so, Waters? Just a little breaking-in.”
Sam chuckled. “A little breaking-in? I saw that horse make grown men cry this week. It could’ve turned on you.”
She laughed and reached for a water bottle sitting on a barrel. She brought the plastic to her lips and sipped, keeping her clear blue eyes trained on Sam.
“You think that’s the first horse I’ve worked with? I’ve been breaking horses for years, Sam. I didn’t need any help with this one. The guys did all the hard stuff earlier in the week, anyway.”
“So.” Sam ticked a list on his fingers. “She…is a genius at school. She manhandles her drunk boyfriend. She changes her own tires. She breaks wild horses. Is there anything else I need to know about you before I say or do something that might have you kicking my ass?”
Aston sized him up, allowing her gaze to travel from his legs, up his bare stomach and chest, and finally looking way up to meet his stare. The corners of her mouth twitched upward as she tried to fight a smile. She lost the battle, and a huge grin broke out on her face.
A grin that nearly stole his breath. Seeing her smile like this was rare, and he wanted to pluck it from her lips and place it into his pocket for safekeeping.
She should smile like that more often. She should smile like that every damn day.
“You have absolutely nothing to worry about, Waters.”
He tried not to stare as she walked away.
Tried, but failed.
Four
Dear Sam,
This long-distance thing sucks. I’ve never been away from you for a day, much less months at a time. It’s killing me, Sam. Thank God I have Hunter here. Without him I think I’d go crazy.
I’m going to be honest. Life with Daddy gone is…eye-opening. Every night when I lie down without wincing in pain from what he’d done to me, I breathe another sigh of relief. Thank you for giving me the strength I needed to live this life.
I finally went back to work at the bakery. You know it’s the only thing I know how to do, and getting back to work is helping me adjust to everything. I have a new friend. Her name is Rilla and she opened a florist next door to Sugar Coated. We even went out to a bar!
It feels weird knowing you are there, living this new life by the beach. Sun and sand compared to fishing by the creek? Sounds like a vacation. I haven’t heard from the sheriff’s office in weeks. Don’t you think it’s time we figured out what to do next? Maybe we can even find a way for you to come home. I have to go, Sam. Hunter is walking in the front door.
I love you.
Ever
He placed Ever’s most recent letter in the desk drawer. His feelings about the letter were jumbled. He still got the aching in his heart whenever he read a letter from her. But the daily living without her was getting easier. He was getting used to not waking up panicked if she wasn’t in his room with him. On those mornings, he’d ride his bike
Similar Books
