the white arches of the Shooting Star Stables.
After sitting empty for many years, new owners have bought the place where I spent so many happy hours as a child. I’ve avoided looking at the sign whenever I passed the place on my way into town, but today it called, and I heeded its siren song.
My heart is a hard lump in my chest. It’s silly to be nervous. To quote Caden, it’s a lot of pressure to put on a ride.
One I might not even be able to make. It’s not like I have a plan. I’m just giving this a try. I drive the rest of the way up the path.
I pull into the gravel lot, and there’s an office to the right of me, but there’s a man training a horse over by the corral, so I climb out and walk over to watch. He waves at me, and I wave back, but he doesn’t stop what he’s doing.
The place hasn’t changed much, although the new owners have given everything fresh paint, and all that was overgrown and neglected has been cut away. It feels the same though, and my eyes sting a little as I remember my young self on top of Buttercup, Mrs. Spencer at the reins as she trotted me around, instructing me on proper technique.
“Can I help you?” A female voice says, jerking me out of the memory.
I swing around, brushing my fingers under my lashes to wipe away any tears. “Hi. I’m Cat McKay.”
The woman, an attractive brunette with warm, brown eyes that looks to be somewhere around my age, smiles, holding out her hand. “Everyone knows the McKays, but it’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Sara Bodine. My husband and I own this place.”
I shake her hand. “You guys have done a great job. You must be proud.”
“We are.” She leans against the fence. “It took a while to settle in and get the business running, but we’re happy. I’m glad we made the move.”
I shield my eyes from the sun and look around, tilting my head toward the man working the horse. “Is that your husband?”
“Yep.” She waves to him. “Hard to believe he was a city kid, don’t you think?”
I study the man. He’s tall and rugged, and there’s not a trace of city on him. “That’s quite a change. Where you from?”
“Chicago, actually. Although I grew up outside of Rockford. My parents owned a stable, and I thought I wanted to live in the city.” She shrugs. “But it wasn’t home.”
“What a funny coincidence, my brother’s fiancée is from Chicago.”
“Yeah, the opening is the talk of the town.” She smiles at me.
I like her. She has a warmth I can appreciate. “Once the craziness is over, you should come by. I’m sure she’d love to talk to someone who understands what it’s like to miss being able to walk to Nordstrom’s.”
She laughs. “Sounds fun. We’d like that. Is there anything special we could help you with today?”
I bite my lip and dart my gaze to the stable. “I used to spend all my time here when I was growing up. I’ve gotten away from riding, but I find I’m missing it and thought I’d stop by.”
A warm breeze blows, and she pushes her hair over one shoulder. “You’re interested in a ride?”
I nod. “Is that possible?”
“Sure, it’s slow on a Wednesday at one in the afternoon.” She straightens and calls out to her husband. “Tommy, say hello to Cat McKay. I’m going to take her out.”
Tommy waves. “Have fun, honey.”
She turns her attention to me. “He’s a man of many words.”
I laugh.
And just like that, I get a flash of calling out to Caden while he was in the fields—the way the sun shone on his face, casting him in a warm glow as he smiled at me.
I want that—the ease, the surety of him being there, of knowing he’s mine and I’m his. The belonging. I miss it. I miss him.
But it’s too late. It’s over.
I made sure of it.
26
Cat
The stars glitter like diamonds across the darkness as I stare into the night sky. The air is hot and sticky, and what little breeze there is brushes across my skin. It’s humid, but I don’t care.
It feels like home.
The private event is finally here, and the restaurant is blazing like a beacon on the landscape. I slipped out about a half hour ago with a glass of champagne and am now sitting on the front porch steps