Page 32 of Spurred On

Chapter Six

It was one of the hardest things Sidney had ever done, rising quietly from the bed, finding her clothes, and slipping away into the night. She made it to her room without incident, which was a blessing because she was only wearing her blouse—she couldn’t dare take the chance of waking him by dressing in Claire’s room.

She needed some time, some space. An opportunity to process what had just happened and how she felt about it.

Fortunately, Hanna wasn’t in their room, so Sidney curled up in her bed and replayed the interaction with Cody over and over again.

It was her hope that by reliving it again and again she could become inured to the emotions he roused, but it didn’t work out that way. It just made her want more. To kiss him again, make love with him again, have him again . . .

She didn’t expect to fall asleep but she must have because when she opened her eyes, light was streaming into the room.

She glanced at Hanna’s bed and was shocked to see it hadn’t been slept in. Her sister had never come home last night.

On the one hand, she was instantly worried, because it was absolutely not in Hanna’s nature to . . . frolic. On the other hand, there was hope that she was frolicking . . . with Logan.

Sidney threw off her covers and pulled on her clothes and rushed to the window. She wasn’t sure why she went to the window—surely Hanna wouldn’t be loitering in the yard . . . but she was.

She stood, leaning against the paddock fence, staring at the horses ripping out tufts of grass in the field. She looked peaceful, reflective. But Hanna couldn’t be aware that a storm was heading her way . . . in the form of Tibby, who was charging toward her from the side of the house. Her posture and her pace made clear Hanna’s quiet moment was about to be shattered.

Sidney dressed quickly, grabbed her hat, and tore out the door and down the stairs. Huffing like a grandma with emphysema who lived on the top floor of a New York walk-up, she came upon them just as Tibby spoke.

“I went by your room. I knocked,” Tibby snapped. The words were threaded with accusation.

Hanna turned to her and blinked. “When?”

“Last night.”

Oh hell no.

Sidney stepped into the fray with a carefree laugh. “My sis has always been a heavy sleeper,” she said, wrapping an arm around Hanna’s shoulders.

Tibby glowered at her. “I knocked and knocked.”

Sidney shrugged. She glanced at Hanna. “Did you take a sleeping pill? Yeah, I totally get it. That party went on for hours. I couldn’t sleep at all until it quieted down. Must have been, oh, two or three in the morning. Did you have fun last night, Tibbs?” Tibby winced. She hated being called Tibbs. “I noticed you and Mr. Gray cuddling up in the corner.”

Tibby wrinkled her nose. “He was all right. But I really wanted Purple. But he disappeared.” Her gaze narrowed in on Hanna. “About the same time you left . . .”

Crap.“Oh, Purple was hot all right.” Sidney forced a shudder. “I enjoyed myself with him.”

When Hanna’s gaze snapped to her, Sidney winked. “All right. I admit it. I was naughty.” She waggled a finger at Hanna. “And you should be naughty too. It’s your party.” Before Tibby could respond or anything, Sidney hooked her arm in Hanna’s and tugged her away. “Come on,” she said. “There’s a wonderful spread in the dining hall. Have you eaten?”

It was a relief that Tibby didn’t follow.

Hanna shot her a grateful glance as they entered the dining hall, which was nearly deserted. The long table against the wall was covered with chafing dishes. Scents of bacon and French toast wafted around her.

Sidney handed her sister a plate, but Hanna handed it back. “I’m not hungry.”

“Hanna. You need to eat,” she said as she piled some scrambled eggs and bacon onto the plates, then added toast and potatoes.

Hanna stared at the mountain of food. She looked a little green. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

Maybe she’d overdone it. “Sit. I’ll get you some water.” She glanced around the table and was annoyed to find all the pitchers empty.

“I don’t want water.”

“Of course you do. Water makes everything better.”

Hanna frowned at her. “No. It doesn’t.”