AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“And now he knows—and you know—it did not.”
“No, I don’t. It still could have been what spooked Ghost,” she protested. “Just because I didn’t hear it doesn’t mean she didn’t.”
“But it was well onto the Rafferty side,” her mother said. “And any normal ranch horse would never have spooked the way that mare of yours did. Seems to me if there’s anyone at fault here, it’s that horse of yours.”
“You’ve just never liked her,” Britt said, aware even as she said it how childish it sounded.
“The horse that’s injured my daughter more than once? I don’t apologize for that.” Her gaze narrowed. “Which brings me to another point—what on earth were you doing riding up there with a storm blowing in?”
Britt sighed. There was no denying her mother when she got like this. “I was hoping having to concentrate on the rough ground and the hillside would keep her focused, like she is in the arena.”
“I’d say your experiment failed.”
“Only because that drone—”
“So that’s it for you? Even though it’s obvious he was well within his rights—and property line—you blame him? After all he’s done, you can’t even be as patient with him as you are with that horse?”
She blinked. That was another knack her mother had, putting things in a way she herself had never thought of. She sat in the wheelchair, her gaze turned inward, idly plucking at the arm under her good hand. And then her mother spoke again, and her tone had gone from stern to soft with understanding.
“I know why you’re really so upset, honey. And it has nothing to do with what happened up at the ridge.”
Her gaze went back to her mother’s face. “Oh?”
“You’re upset at the idea that guilt was the only reason he stayed with you, because you wanted him to stay with you because he wanted to. Because you’ve finally woken up, haven’t you.” It wasn’t a question. She stared at her mother, who after a moment went on quietly. “You’ve finally realized what’s behind the years of sniping and antagonism. That there’s an entirely different kind of spark between you.”
“What are you saying?”
“That there’s more than one kind of predestination. And that enemies flipped can become the fiercest kind of love.”
“You think…I love him?” She already knew the answer, because deep down inside she’d known it herself, since the first moment she’d found comfort even as she was in nasty pain, simply by feeling his arms holding her safely, by letting her head rest against his broad chest as he carried her down the hill.
“Don’t you?”
Britt’s eyes began to sting. “Even if I did, that doesn’t change that he was only here because—” She had to stop as her throat tightened unbearably.
Her mother sighed. “If I know anything about my beautiful daughter it’s that she has to reach her own conclusions. And that once she gets something in her head, she’s as hard to deal with as a certain horse I know.”
Britt looked up at the woman who had been there for her her entire life, saw her worried expression and suddenly wondered what she would have done, how ruined her life would have been if she’d lost her, say at the age Cody had lost his father.
“I feel like a fool,” she admitted, the tears threatening to spill. “I should have known it couldn’t really turn around so fast.”
“Maybe it didn’t turn around. Maybe you just saw it clearly for the first time.” Her mother reached out and cupped her cheek. “You were a stubborn child who grew into a stubborn woman, and I understand that, even admire it sometimes, for it gives you the drive that has brought you such success. But honey, don’t drive right past what could be the true rest of your life.” She was silent for a moment, as if to let that sink in. Then she said, “I’ll be back later to help you settle in for the night. You need to rest. Tomorrow will be busy.”
Her mother turned and headed for the door. She’d always known when to back off, too, when she’d planted enough that the best thing to do was leave it to grow. But Britt had one more question, one she both wanted and was afraid to ask. It took her until her mother had the door open to decide.
“Mom?” She looked back. “Are you saying…I mean, do you think…do you think he…”
“Loves you, too?” her mother said with a smile. “All I know—all I need to know—is that he looks at you now the same way your father looks at me. Oh, and one more thing you need to remember.”
“What?”
The smile widened. “What all of Last Stand knows. Raffertys don’t lie.”
And then she was gone, leaving Britt amid the biggest tangle of emotions she’d ever experienced. She thought about this last week, about how he’d found her, rescued her. How he’d seen to every possible need, how he’d helped them all, how he had, as Mom had said, put his entire life on hold to do it, to devote himself to taking care of her. How he’d called his friend in to help, how he’d loaned out what had to be hideously expensive equipment to the doctor, for her sake.
After the incident he’d thought was his fault.
If there’s anyone at fault here, it’s that horse of yours.
