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“God wants us to forgive those who trespass against us. You don’t have to forget what she did, and you don’t have to trust her to not make the same choices, but you should allow yourself to forgive her for your own heart’s sake. You’re poisoning yourself.”
Chills crawled down Caleb’s spine at his brother’s words. He shoved aside the discomfort from the experience and folded his arms. “Like I said, I don’t have to forgive her if I don’t feel it in my heart. I’m permitted to live my life the way I see fit. If thatway helps me to protect my own self-interests, then I’m going to do it.”
“Suit yourself. But I’d wager it’s going to weigh on you eventually. It’s harder to get up in the morning. It’s harder to find joy. When you’re burdened by the past, you might find that you can no longer exist in the present.”
Another groan escaped Caleb’s throat, and he spun around to march out of the barn without looking back. Daniel was all talk. Sure, he might have some valid points, but that didn’t mean Caleb should just throw out his own instincts.
He clenched his fists and relaxed his fingers several times before he made it to the house. For a brief moment, he considered heading inside, and then he thought better of it. If Charlie was still anywhere nearby, she’d want to talk about Emma. Why couldn’t she just get the hint that he wanted nothing to do with the girl he’d given his heart to?
Caleb crumpled into a seated position on the porch steps and rested his forearms against his knees. He should probably just go to his room. At least he’d be able to find a little peace and quiet in that space. Charlie and Daniel wouldn’t dare venture into his private quarters. Unfortunately, it felt almost too cold, too empty. The walls echoed with the sounds of Emma’s music that she’d played on her guitar even though she’d never actually visited inside his home.
Ironically, the only place he could get some peace was in nature. He could close his eyes and focus on the breeze that tugged at his clothes, his hat, and his hair. He could listen to the critters scurrying in the brush. He could ignore his racing thoughts and pay more attention to how the cold soaked into his skin and settled into his bones. Summer was over. All evidence of Emma would be gone soon, and a fresh new year would begin in just a few months. Maybe his heart would be better equipped after Christmas.
The front door to the house burst open and Charlie released a frustrated groan. “I can’t believe it!” She stomped her foot like she was a teenager.
Caleb took a deep, calming breath. If he remained quiet, then she might not see him.
She stomped across the porch only to settle beside him on the top step. “Can you believe that Wade won’t let me go to Emma’s concert?”
Caleb nearly told her that was because Wade was smarter than all of them and knew better, but he kept his mouth shut instead, hoping she’d leave.
“Emma finally announced where her surprise concert is going to be, and for the first time in my life, I’m close enough to go.”
He stiffened, finally glancing in her direction. The look of surprise must have been written all over his face because she continued.
“I know, right? I had my suspicions that she’d come to Colorado after that day she showed up to talk to you. But I never would have dreamed they would make it work in Colorado Springs. Denver, I would have understood. But Colorado Springs! That’s not even very far! And Wade said that I can’t go alone.”
Caleb turned his attention out to the barn. “It’s for the best, Charlie.”
“It’s not fair, is what it is. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m going to miss it. Tickets are going to sell out faster than apple pie at Sal’s Diner. They go on sale next week and then, poof, they’ll be gone.”
He glanced at his sister, grateful that she wasn’t begging him to take her. Getting to his feet, he muttered, “I’m going to bed.”
25
Emily
Adrop of sweat traced down Emma’s temple. Her breathing was hard, and her heart pounded with the adrenaline only a live performance could offer. She stared at herself in the mirror lined with lights, hardly recognizing the person she’d become since returning home from Colorado.
She was happier. She’d taken more control over her own career, and she was better for it. Emma could finally say she felt like she was at the helm, guiding the ship to her final destination.
Rachel wasn’t all that thrilled, but she’d stuck it out and agreed to the new contract that Emma had written up. Her manager had far less pull when it came to what Emma wanted to schedule, which left Emma open to fill her time with ventures she was more interested in—ventures like the black mare she’d purchased and the stable at her place to go with it.
Emma reached for her makeup case and pulled out her lipstick to retouch before she made her way to the limo out front. Tonight was a good one. The crowds had gone crazy over her announcement of the song that would top the charts the second it was released. She’d played the melody but didn’t sing. She wouldn’t do that until she reached Colorado Springs.
That concert crowd would be the first to hear the completed song—Caleb’s Song. No one knew the name of her album and definitely not the title of that specific song. Rachel had insisted that she couldn’t title it that—something about Caleb coming back for all kinds of royalties. Emma didn’t care. He’d earned every bit of money he wanted from the lyrics he’d written. Just because he hadn’t come asking for anything yet didn’t mean it wouldn’t happen, and she welcomed the possibility.
There was still a small part of her heart that prayed he would reach out to her—and that hope was the only reason she still had her burner phone from Copper Creek.
The dressing room door opened and Rachel slipped inside, her clipboard at her hip. “Everything is ready for your concert in two weeks. For the life of me I don’t know why you’ve insisted on only selling tickets one week in advance.”
“I told you already. I wanted that one to be a surprise.” Mostly, she’d clung to the idea that Caleb might have forgiven her by the time it was announced, and he might come to the concert to see her. It was a long shot, but the best one she had at seeing him again.
“No, I mean why did you pick Colorado Springs? Denver had a much better arena for us?—”
Emma sighed. “We’ve been through that, too. It’s close enough to where I was staying without actually being there.”
“Sweetie.” Rachel shot her a flat look. “Even if you’d wanted the concert hosted in that small town, you wouldn’t have been able to do it without a huge financial loss. We would have beenresponsible for prepping a huge field with a stage, equipment, and facilities for the concertgoers.”
