over it again? another part screamed.
Dropping her head to her arms, she cried from the depths of her soul. Deep racking sobs convulsed her small frame, and she sat rocking alone in the dark barn, the musty smell of hay mingling with the moist, fresh scent of her tears. Desperation ripped through her heart, and all her faith in love died as quickly as the flame of a candle in the rain. “Never again,” she whispered, the words strangled, her voice raw with pain. “Never again.”
“Tess? Is that you?” her brother called as the barn door creaked open.
Not now, she thought wildly. I can’t let him see me like this—not again!
“I—I’m just leaving,” she said, wiping her eyes and ignoring her quivering insides.
“Where’re you go—” Mitchell rounded the corner, took one look at Tessa and groaned. “Oh, no, Tess. Don’t tell me—”
“I’m not telling you anything.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing. I, uh, just decided you were right about Denver.” Refusing to meet the pity in his eyes, she swept past him. “But it’s okay,” she lied, “I’m going to straighten things out right now.”
“How?”
I don’t know! “I—I’m going to start with Nate Edwards,” she said, then, before he could ask any more questions, she raced out of the barn, climbed into the pickup and shoved the old rig into gear. The truck lumbered out of the drive, lurching through potholes, kicking up dust and roaring loudly because of a hole in the muffler. Tessa didn’t mind. Setting her jaw, she slid a pair of sunglasses on her nose and decided just how she was going to get her life back on track—without Denver McLean!
She drove to the Edwards ranch as if her life depended upon it. Knowing that Denver had left her as he had before—without a word or explanation—clarified things. The fact that he had called once didn’t change things. He’d stripped her of her most precious possessions, then abandoned her. Well, she wasn’t going to lie down and die! And maybe she’d get back at him. She’d never tell him about the baby—if, indeed, she was pregnant.
She coasted to a stop at the yard, then pulled hard on the emergency brake.
Her heart squeezed at the sight of Brigadier, prancing proudly in one small paddock, his ears pricked forward, his tail raised like a banner as he stared over the top rail of a whitewashed fence to a pasture of mares grazing nearby. He nickered softly, intent on the small herd, and ignored Tessa’s repeated attempts to get his attention.
“Traitor,” she murmured, dusting her hands as she approached the huge white house.
Nate answered the door in his stocking feet. “Tessa! Good to see you,” he exclaimed. “You just missed Paula and Sherrie—they’re in town doing the grocery shopping.”
“That’s okay,” she said, though she would have liked to have a heart-to-heart with Paula and had hoped to give Sherrie the riding lesson she’d promised. “Actually, I came to see you.”
“Me?” he asked, smiling. “I’m flattered. Come on in.” He led her into the kitchen where the smell of coffee lingered in the air. “What can I do for you?” he asked as he motioned her onto a bar stool and held up the coffeepot. “How about a cup?”
“I’d love one.”
She accepted a brimming mug. The coffee was strong and black and hot. It warmed her throat but couldn’t take away the frigid cold that had settled so deep in her soul.
“What’s on your mind?” Nate climbed onto the stool next to hers.
“Business, I’m afraid. I came over to offer to buy back my horses. I was hoping you’d sell Brigadier and Ebony back to me. I’d like Red Wing, too, but since she’s Sherrie’s horse . . .”
“You want the horses back?” Nate scowled as he took a long swallow of coffee.
“Yes. But I’m willing to pay you more than you paid me—for all your trouble.”
“I just can’t help you, Tessa,” he said, confused.
She had expected to haggle. Nate was a businessman. Leaning closer to him, she said, “This is very important to me.”
“I know.”
“Name your price.”
“I can’t.”
“You can’t?”
His eyebrows drew together over his eyes and his mouth turned down at the corners. “I already sold the horses, Tessa. I thought you knew about it.”
Tessa’s heart fell so far she was sure it would hit the floor. “You didn’t,” she whispered, feeling betrayed. She had no reason to feel Nate had deceived her. She’d sold him Brigadier and Ebony with no strings attached. And yet ... “I—I just saw Brigadier out in the