Page 103 of Hearts on the Mend

Everyone in the kitchen suddenly seems too busy.

“Oh, Ethan finally finished framing out the kitchen in the barn. He let her draw on the drywall,” Richie says from behind the grill.

I slid into my clogs, then step out onto the deck. The best part of October is when the days are still balmy before the crisp nights sweep in. The trees around the house are a rainbow of reds and yellows and oranges.

A family of scarecrows stand in the backyard along the playset Jack and Ethan built for Ruby. The thing looks like it cost a fortune. They told me they wouldn’t accept a penny for it. Sarah’s brought her kids to play with Ruby a few times since.

I follow the stone path to the barn. It’s been totally gutted and rehabbed for Ethan’s restaurant. The outside has new shakers, and there’s a new roof. The floors inside have been repaired the best they could. A few spots needed to be ripped out completely, but most of it was able to be stripped back and sealed to a warm golden brown. The minor details will need to be finished over the winter in time for the soft spring opening. It won’t open officially until after Ethan and Sloane’s wedding in June.

The wide rolling door on the far side of the barn is open, but otherwise, the space is empty.

“Hello?” I call out.

Ruby giggles from behind me, but when I turn, she’s not there.

“Keep walking.” Jack’s voice echoes behind me.

Ruby and Jack are the worst when they team up.

“Where are you two?”

“Hey there, Cassie,” a deep voice calls out.

My stomach sinks. I whirl around just in time as the Murphys stand in the doorway behind me. Kathleen has her hands clasped together before Ruby rushes ahead.

“Uncle Benny,” she cries.

I spin back around as Ethan pushes the barn door open, revealing my brother. He steps out from behind a truck hauling a trailer. I run to him, throwing my arms around his neck.

“I’ve missed you so much.”

“Same, Cass. It’s so good to see you.” He draws back, his hand on my shoulder, studying me, before bending down and swooping Ruby up into his arms. “Great job there, nugget.”

“Ahh, so it was a trap.” I point at the two of them playfully.

Benny only lifts his cowboy hat and shrugs. “Don’t blame me.”

I’m about to ask why he’s here when there’s a whinny from the trailer. “Brought a guest?”

He motions me to follow, then opens the rear gate. “No, she’s staying.”

“What?”

Benny steps inside and guides out the most beautiful gray mare I’ve seen. “Heard you had a nice place here and was thinking of horses.”

“I mean, I was thinking… Richie helped Jack with the building across the street. I was hoping eventually…” I glance around at everyone, still so unsure of how this is my life. Nearly a year ago, I came here on the coldest, darkest day, hoping I’d leave, and now…

“You brought me a horse?”

“Brought it? Yes. I’m heading to New York after this to help Mum with a new rescue. But I didn’t buy it.”

“I don’t…”

“He did!” Ruby shouts, jumping up and down as a truck pulls into the driveway.

A second passes before the driver’s-side door opens, and Nolan steps out. He stands there for a moment, or hours. I’m not sure. I know I’ve wanted to see his face more than anything just about every minute of every day since we’ve been apart, and time means nothing right now. My pulse races in my ears before I wake up and run.

I race through the field of faded wildflower blooms as he climbs down toward me. Dark stubble covers his jaw, but my god, he’s the most beautiful thing I’ve seen since the nurse put Ruby in my arms.