Page 119 of Strung Along
Like being hit in the gut with two bull hooves, I’m out of breath, gulping in breaths of cold air in the confines of a stable my ma helped build when I was a boy. For the first time since I bottled my emotions up and forced myself to be strong for my family, I cry.
I don’t register that we’ve begun to move until the first snowflake hits my face. Sky trots nice and slow away out of the barn and down the same path toward the trees behind the guest house that we would follow every day after school. Readjusting my hold on the reins, I fix my posture and soak in the shift of the saddle between my legs, a feeling I haven’t experienced in too long. Sky’s movements become my own. The cold doesn’t register as we head further and further from the house and intothe small lining of trees that separates the front of the ranch from the massive expanse behind it.
We move through the pasture and around the shop. Past the pink structure I built myself and the tiny cow resting beneath it playing with a calf. The ranch takes on a new look tonight as I stitch pieces of myself back together that I’ve long since accepted as broken.
And once Sky and I close in on the stable again, I lead her right back out, this time with a gentle squeeze of my legs that sends us flying through the night, my laugh healing the both of us.
45
ANNALISE
The sightof Brody perched on Sky’s back the next morning has me stumbling, nearly getting a mouthful of dirty snow. His posture is perfect and confident. The twinkle in his eyes is nothing short of magical. I wasn’t prepared for this visual, but I’m so not going to complain.
I fix my balance and jog toward him, not caring that the path is slick with fresh ice or that Poppy is no doubt watching us in her rear-view mirror as she drives off. It would be worth the skinned knees and the teasing just to get to him as quickly as possible. My heart soars as the distance between us shrinks, Sky’s ears pushing forward while she watches me.
Brody gifts me an unabashed smile, one so damn bright my knees threaten to lock at the beauty of it. His hat is low on his head, jacket zipped high and boots tucked easily in the stirrups. I’ve never seen someone look so regal on a saddle before. Like they were meant to be there, born for it, even. And that’s exactly it.
Brody was born to ride Sky, two best friends bound together by nature itself.
I’m an emotional wreck beneath my warm grin and flushed skin when I finally reach the pair. My man doesn’t hesitate toslip from the saddle and take me in his arms, palms cupping my face the way they always seem to. Our first kiss after a week apart is staggering. It’s a swell of love and want and greed strong enough to steal my breath and intensify the thrum of my heartbeat. The world around us burns brighter, feels warmer, becomescomplete. Contentment blooms in my belly, a valley of vibrant flowers springing to life in my most hidden places. They smell of him, of us.
I hold him back just as tight as he holds me, putting everything I feel into the way I kiss him back. Sky whinnies from behind him, and then he lurches forward, both of us staggering. Inching back a breath, I peek over his shoulder and find a wide brown eye staring at us expectantly. I shoot her a wink.
“I missed you, sweetheart,” Brody rasps, ignoring Sky for a beat longer as he focuses so completely on me.
“Really? After that greeting, I couldn’t tell.”
I glide my hands beneath his jacket and up his back. He shivers, pressing his lips to the tip of my nose.
“Alright, smartass.”
“I missed you too, Brody,” I murmur before stealing another kiss and hugging him tight.
“Seems Sky missed you too. The needy thing.”
The tan horse, seemingly deciding she’s had enough of waiting, butts past Brody and moves toward me. I laugh when she rubs against my shoulder, demanding attention.
“Did he not give you enough pets, beautiful girl?” I ask her, patting her neck and shoulder.
“She’s had damn near more attention in the last twenty-four hours than she has in a long time. Now she’s just being greedy.”
“Were you here last night, then?”
I figured he was when he stopped answering my texts shortly after he got back in town. My first instinct was to run to the ranch the moment he arrived, but some gut instinct told me towait. I don’t know what happened here last night, but I’m just relieved to see him this happy in Sky’s presence. He looks like he’s shed a heavy weight from his heart, like he’s refreshed and simply at peace.
He moves to Sky’s other side and gives her soft strokes on the back. “Yeah. We rode until the sun was comin’ up. Once I got back in the saddle, I couldn’t seem to get off. Even rode into town. Went past your house and up Main Street.”
My throat tightens. “That would have been a sight to see.”
“Considered wakin’ you up and askin’ you to join us, but I figured I’d wait until today.”
I gasp, my hand stopping midway across Sky’s shoulder. “We’re going for a ride?”
He chuckles deeply, nodding. “If you’re up for it. There’s somethin’ I want to show you in town.”
“Are we actually allowed to do this?”
“I’ve been ridin’ into town since I was a boy. Haven’t done it for a long time before last night, but I gotta admit that I don’t really care if anyone’s got a problem with it now. Not today.”