to leave the ranch. She couldn’t quit another thing. She was through doing things halfway. She had a job to do; the ranch depended on her, and she felt the challenge of Trib deep down in her bones. Leaving Luke and the ranch would be the easy way out in one respect. She wouldn’t have the constant reminder of what she couldn’t have. But she would have satisfaction knowing she accomplished something and didn’t run at the first sign of trouble.
Luke’s painful words rang in her ears; it was a sharp dagger to her heart as she recalled the last thing he’d said to her that night.
I’m going to my grave regretting what just happened.
She didn’t want to be anyone’s last regret.
Newly fueled anger surged through her system.
The anger did nothing to quell her constant fatigue. Instead, she felt lifeless, her arms and legs weak and her body limping along. She blamed it on Luke. She blamed everything on Luke these days.
After another long day of working with the horses, she came back to the house, peeled off her work clothes and stepped into the shower. A soothing stream of water rained down to refresh her body and her mind. Wash Luke away from my thoughts tonight, she implored the water gods. Heal my heartache and soothe my soul. Was it too much to ask of a water god? She didn’t know but when she wrapped herself into a towel and dried off, she felt a little better.
She was ready for mindless television and a good night’s sleep.
She climbed into bed and gave Jewel a big, body-squeezing hug. The cat purred immediately and rubbed her face against her leg. Then she did a belly roll, content in the outpouring of attention she was receiving lately. Audrey accommodated her, petting her under the chin. When the cat rolled over, having had enough undivided attention, Audrey got comfy and picked up the remote control and clicked the TV on.
“Looks like Wannabes and Wranglers is on tonight.”
It was nice having a cat around to pretend you weren’t talking to yourself.
Audrey watched, noting John Wannabe’s progress. He rode tall in the saddle now. He actually looked good, but he hadn’t mastered the reins just yet…uh-oh. The horse took off at a run. John’s hat flew off his head and it was all he could do to stay on the runaway horse…
A dog’s bark came from her phone.
Jewel lifted her head again. “It’s a text,” she said to the cat. Audrey peeked at the screen. It was from Luke.
Are you watching?
Yes, she messaged back, even though she didn’t want to have a conversation with him tonight.
John should hang it up now before he gets seriously hurt.
Maybe John’s not a quitter.
It was her anger speaking. She didn’t care if Luke read between the lines. One way or another, Audrey would get her point across.
She didn’t hear back from Luke until five minutes before the reality show ended.
John got voted off. Probably saved his skin and his neck.
She wrote back, He was willing to take the hard knocks to achieve his goals. Too bad the others didn’t have faith in him. I’m turning in. Good night, Luke.
Audrey shut off the television and sank into the cushy bed. She’d made her point loud and clear and somehow, she didn’t feel much like celebrating the slight win. She didn’t feel good, period. And the last thing she wanted was to think about Luke right before she fell asleep. She’d probably dream about him.
A soft knock at her bedroom door came thirty seconds after she’d closed her eyes.
It could only be one person.
She could pretend to be asleep. That wouldn’t be too far-fetched, would it? But when the second soft knock came, she sighed and tossed off the covers. On bare feet and in her ugly T-shirt that read Cats and Women Know How to Land on Their Feet, she padded to the door.
She wasn’t ready for the sight of Luke in faded jeans and a white wifebeater with his arms spread wide, bracing himself against the doorjambs. He leaned in, scruffy day-old beard and all, and she caught the scent of bourbon on his breath. His eyes raked over her legs and followed a path that finally rested on her face. Then his lips tightened to a fine line. “You’re in a mood tonight.”
She’d been in a mood for several nights. But it was hard concentrating on any of that, with Luke looking like pure sin standing in her