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Leaning back, I took in the sight of our community in action. It was powerful seeing everyone pulling together.
“I guess I’ve never seen that before. I don’t like to rely on anyone else,” I admitted.
Mr. Harper offered a knowing smile, the lines around his eyes deepening. “There’s no shame in accepting a helping hand. It doesn’t make you any less strong; it just means you’re smart enough to know when you need it.”
I let out a sigh, his words sinking in. “I’ve always thought I had to do things on my own. Like, if I accept the help, it doesn’t count.”
He laid a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “We’re not meant to go through life alone, son. We’re part of something bigger—a community of family, friends, and neighbours. Accepting help doesn’t make you weak; it makes you human. Your dad wasn’t there for you the way he should’ve been, so maybe you don’t expect anyone else to be, but if you keep pushing everyone away, you’re going to wind up all alone, and we humans are not designed to be alone. We come together, we help each other, and love each other—that’s how we live our best lives.”
Mr. Harper’s words were turning over in my mind. My gaze drifted to the people working in the yard, their laughter and chatter mingling with the sounds of tools and machinery. They were here, giving their time and energy, not because they had to but because they wanted to. Because they cared.
I thought back to all the times I’d pushed people away, insisting I could handle everything on my own. The long nights spent working on the farm, scrimping by on the bare minimum because it was all I could afford. I’d worn my independence like a badge of honour, a shield against the world.
But now, watching this community come together, I wondered if that shield had become a prison. Had I been so focused on proving my strength that I’d forgotten the power of connection?
The memory of Kinsley’s face, hurt and frustrated by my stubborn refusal to accept her help, flashed through my mind. I winced, realising how many times I’d done that to her.
I took another sip of lemonade, the tartness lingering on my tongue. Maybe it was time to see things differently, to open up and let people in. The thought terrified me, but it also sparked a flicker of hope.
What if I didn’t have to carry everything alone? What if I learned to lean on others, to trust them, to be part of something bigger than myself?
I glanced at Mr. Harper, who had the look of satisfaction over a life well-lived. A life built on community, on family, and on love. I wanted that. I wanted to build something real, something that would last.
I couldn’t do it alone.
I thought of Kinsley with a pang of regret. I had been an idiot to let my pride get in the way of our relationship. The fact was, I needed her in my life.
“Have you found any hay yet?” I asked, shifting the conversation.
Mr. Harper’s face fell. “Not yet. But something will come through.”
“I have an idea.”
Chapter 41
Never Say Never - Cole Swindell & Lainey Wilson
Kinsley
The sun was low on the horizon when I pulled up to Wyatt’s house. There was no sign of him or his truck. Hesitation gripped me for a moment; I was caught between the urge to turn back and the resolve to wait it out, intent on making things right.
The door was unlocked. He’d obviously been here, so I opened it and stepped inside. I recognized the smell of the place—leather and sawdust. It was just like him, rough around the edges but holding a certain charm.
“Wyatt?” I called out but received no response. I thought about calling his phone, but I knew he wouldn’t answer.
Choosing to wait, I stepped onto the porch, letting the evening breeze and the fields’ earthy aroma wash over me. As time passed, my anxiety grew, fear whispering that I might have missed my chance.
As doubt took hold, the crunch of gravel under tires caught my attention.
Wyatt’s truck rounded the bend, and my heart raced.
He parked and stepped out, his weary gaze not finding me until he was close. Surprise flickered across his face, followed by an emotion I couldn’t quite place. “Kinsley,” he breathed.
The way he said my name sent a shiver down my spine.
I drew in a deep breath, steeling myself. “Wyatt, we need to talk. I can’t let things end like this.”
He nodded. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
