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“I mean it,” I said firmly. “This isn’t about me convincing Stephanie to give you another chance. She’s been through a lot, and I won’t do anything that could hurt her more than she already has been.”
Ashlyn looked down at her hands, which were trembling slightly. For a moment, she didn’t say anything. I could see her trying to compose herself. When she finally looked up at me, her eyes were filled with a raw, desperate need.
“I know I messed up,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I know I hurt her, and it kills me to think that I might have lost her for good. But Melody, please—if I could just talk to her, explain everything . . . ”
There it was, the pleading I had been expecting. I could see the regret etched into every line of her face, but I couldn’t let myself be swayed by it. Stephanie was my priority, and I needed to be sure that this was the right thing to do.
“Ashlyn,” I said, my voice softening just a fraction, “I’m not going to make any promises. But I do believe that everyone deserves a chance to tell their side of the story. If you’re willing to be honest with her, to really lay it all out there, I’ll arrange for you to come to the ranch and talk to Stephanie. But you have to promise me something.”
She nodded quickly, relief washing over her features. “Anything,” she said, the desperation in her voice unmistakable.
“I need you to promise that you’ll be honest. No more secrets, no more half-truths. Stephanie deserves to know everything, and she deserves to hear it from you. And more than that, I need you to promise that you’ll be the woman I know you can be. Not just for her, but for yourself. You have to be better than the person who hurt her.”
Ashlyn swallowed hard, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I promise, Melody,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’ll be honest with her, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right.”
I studied her for a long moment, searching her face for any sign of deceit. But all I saw was sincerity and a deep regret that seemed to emanate from her very soul. I wanted to believe her. I wanted to believe that people could change. That Ashlyn could be the woman Stephanie needed her to be.
“Okay,” I finally said, leaning back in my chair. “I’ll talk to Stephanie. But remember, Ashlyn, this is your chance to make things right. Don’t waste it.”
Ashlyn nodded, her expression a mixture of hope and determination. “Thank you, Melody. I won’t waste it. I promise.”
As I watched her leave the café, shoulders slumped under the weight of the world that she carried, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of empathy for her. Ashlyn was fighting her own demons, just as
Stephanie was, and maybe—just maybe—this conversation could lead to something good.
But as I walked back to the ranch, I knew that the road ahead was uncertain. Stephanie had built walls around her heart, and breaking through them wouldn’t be easy. But if there was one thing I had learned from my own journey, it was that sometimes, you had to face the darkness before you could find the light.
25
STEPHANIE
The sun cast long shadows across the rolling hills as I rode Phantom
through the familiar trails of the ranch. The rhythmic thud of his hooves against the earth matched the steady beat of my heart, a comforting rhythm that usually brought me solace. But today, as I
guided him through the winding paths, I could feel a heaviness in the air—a sadness that seemed to seep from his very soul.
Phantom had always been a powerful horse, strong and spirited, yet today he felt different. There was a yearning in his movements, a longing that echoed the unspoken tension that had settled over the ranch since Ashlyn’s departure. I could sense his unease, his restlessness, and it mirrored my own tumultuous emotions.
“Come on, buddy,” I murmured, urging him forward, but the gentle pressure of my legs against his sides seemed to only deepen his melancholy. It was as if he were aware of the absence of the one person who had truly understood him, the one who had taught him calm amongst the chaos. I could almost hear the whispers of his heart. He missed Ashlyn as much as I did.
As we neared the stables, Phantom’s ears perked up and I felt a surge of excitement pulse through him. He began to whinny, a sound filled with both hope and anticipation. I could sense the shift in his demeanor. He was eager to see Ashlyn again, to feel her presence near him once more.
“Easy, boy,” I said softly, patting his neck as I dismounted. I couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm, even if it tugged at my own heartstrings. The bond we shared was unbreakable, built on trust and respect. But now, it felt strained under the weight of unspoken words and unresolved feelings.
As I entered the stables, the familiar scent enveloped me, bringing with it a sense of comfort. But that comfort was short-lived when I caught sight of Ashlyn standing there, her cowgirl silhouette framed by the fading light. She was brushing down one of the other horses, her movements fluid and practiced, yet there was an air of vulnerability about her that struck me.
The moment our eyes met, I felt the air between us crackle with an intensity that made my heart race. Ashlyn’s gaze was filled with a mixture of longing and uncertainty. I couldn’t help but feel
a pang of empathy for her. She looked so beautiful, even with the shadows lingering beneath her eyes. A testament to the sleepless nights and restless thoughts that had clearly haunted her as they had me since she left.
Phantom stepped forward, his excitement palpable, and I could see how Ashlyn’s expression brightened at the sight of him. It was as if a light had flickered back to life in her eyes. I watched in silence as she approached, her hands reaching out to stroke his powerful neck. The
connection between them was undeniable. An unspoken bond that transcended words.
Seeing her there, so close yet so distant, brought a flood of emotions rushing to the surface. I was happy to see her, yes, but that happiness was tangled up in a web of hurt and betrayal that I hadn’t fully processed. The way she had left, the secrets she had kept—it had all left a deep wound that hadn’t yet healed. And now, standing in front of her, those old wounds felt fresh, as if no time had passed at all.
I watched as she interacted with Phantom, the tenderness in her touch and the way she seemed to find solace in his presence. It reminded me of the connection we had once shared, a connection
