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“Of all the battles I’ve fought in my life, there’s one in particular I’m glad I didn’t back down from…the one for your heart.”
Istay busy with the never-ending daily tasks on Valley B Ranch as I continue to push the past, and most of my memories, out of sight and out of mind. They regularly threaten to grab hold and squeeze until there’s nothing left of me that’s recognizable in the mirror.
But being here on the ranch—when a memory tries to surface—I quickly tuck it away where it belongs. Some, I’m more successful repressing than others. Today is proving harder than most because it’s the anniversary of the day everything in my life changed forever—the day my world imploded—the day Ifought for my life.
I can feel the pain pounding in my head as I squeeze my eyes shut against the seemingly ever-present noise when this memory claws its way to freedom. Flashes of blood and tears rise along with feelings of hate and rage. This one is almost certain to bring me to my knees. I brace my hands on them, tucking my head between my legs to try and calm myself down.
The horses had started eating as I shut them in their stalls moments earlier. I know they sense my mood. Animals are intuitive like that. One blows at me now, as if to get my attention. I stand back up about the same time I hear gravel crunching out in the driveway as the remainder of this memory floats away like ripples from a rock tossed in the water. I reach out and rub the curious face staring at me. “Thanks, girl.” She nudges me and I muster a smile. Working with all the animals, especially the horses, calms the racing in my heart and the bubbling anger in my veins. Being here at Valley B allows me the freedom and simple life I craved after my time in Nashville.
I inhale slowly one more time to steady myself before going to face whoever has come to a stop at the stable. As I step out into the orange glow of the setting sun, I spot Tate’s truck. He rounds it to stop at the passenger side where someone sits—Lucy.I hang my head for a moment thinking back to how she was in high school, comparing it to the way she seems now. Lucy was a force. She had this confidence that radiated from her back then, but now something’s off. She’s lost some of that spark. She’s as beautiful as she ever was, even if she’s a little thinner.
I shake my head. It’s none of my business, I suppose it’s merely kindred spirits recognizing one another. I find myself wondering what broke her spirit but shrug off my thoughts before walking toward Tate.
“Hey, man. Lucy and I were about to head to High Road for dinner. Everything all right here for the night?” Tate asks as he peers inside the stable to where the horses are happily chewing while watching us.
“Yep,” I say, letting the p pop at the end. “Everything’s great. I was about to head out for the night myself,” I tell him. Tate gives me a once-over as the same horse who was soothing me moments earlier blows out another puff of air, drawing my attention her way. It’s as if she’s calling me a liar. The right side of my mouth tips up a fraction as I meet Tate’s stare again.
He runs this ranch with Sterling Brigg. They’re partners. He’s here more than Sterling—he’s a detective with the GVPD. So, Tate oversees day-to-day operations. Tate Marks is a great guy. He’s younger than me by a few years, but he’s loyal and trustworthy. Quite honestly, he seems wise beyond his years. We all have pieces of ourselves we prefer to keep hidden. He and Lucy fall into that category.But so do I—and Tate knows it—yet he’s never pushed me for more. It’s a courtesy I’ll be forever grateful for.
And I’ll always be thankful to the both of them for hiring me on their ranch when I rolled back into town, needing something mundane to occupy my racing mind and a place to shield my inner demons from being picked apart for the world to see. After what happened in Nashville, I needed quiet. I needed simple, and they gave it to me.
“If you don’t have plans, you should come eat with us,” he offers, still pinning me with his stare. High Road is a local bar here in Greendale Valley, but they have great food too.
I run a hand through my hair as I mull it over. It certainly beats a microwave dinner and dwelling on these memories in an empty house, but it also means having to put on a face for the world for a little longer. Since I learned “what was what” five years ago, I haven’t socialized much. I don’t let people get close. People love to lie to get what they want, and I want no part of it.
I moved to Nashville not long after I graduated from high school, leaving everything in my rearview mirror—my mother and little sister included. Greendale Valley is two hours south of Nashville. She warned me not to seek him out. She said once I did, there’d be no turning back. But I had to find him, and I had to know. At first, I couldn’t believe how much I’d missed with him—my own father.I stayed in Nashville much longer than I should have. But on this night five years ago, I was introduced to the “real” ugly truth, and not the version I’d been gullible enough to believe. Long story short, I fought—hard—and I ran back home to make sure my mother and sister would always be safe.
“Sure, why not? Let me trade my work coat out for my nicer one in the truck, and I’ll be right there,” I answer, and whip up the best fake smile I can manage.
Tate nods with a grin as he stalks back toward his waiting truck. I poke my head back in the stable. “You’re supposed to be on my side.” The mare tosses her head and I laugh and say, “Goodnight, ladies and gents. See you bright and early.” I slide my gloves from my back pocket and then set them on the shelf by the door before making my way to my old Chevy. After changing out my well-worn work coat for my fleece pullover, I grab my glove box cologne—a bottle I keep stashed just in case—and hit myself with about two sprays before heading to Tate’s truck.
Once we get settled at High Road Bar, I pluck a menu from the table where they were stacked behind the salt and pepper shakers and ketchup bottle. My stomach rumbles as I read over the menu. I’ve ordered from here enough to know basically what they have, but I’m trying to avoid the awkward silence that descended upon us on the drive over. Lucy is wound up tight and so is Tate. I don’t know if something is wrong between them or if it’s something apart from them entirely. But, like always, I try to stay clear of other people’s business.
I hear someone approach our table, but I don’t check up as Lucy and Tate rattle off their orders. “And for you?”Her voice.I immediately glance up from my menu, stomach growls be damned. My blood freezes almost painfully in my veins.She’s the one.I was leaving anyway when I graduated high school all those years ago, but she’s the one who sent me running faster than I would have otherwise. She’s also the only one back then who might have been able to stop me if she’d only asked. All this time I’ve been back home, I’ve yet to run into her.Why now? Why did it have to be today of all days when the past is already threatening to choke me?
My lips press in on themselves. “I’ll have a Dr. Pepper with a cheeseburger and fries.” It’s in this moment she realizesI’mher customer. She drops her ink pen, and her perfect bow lips part in shock. It takes a few seconds, but she recovers and scoops her pen off the floor. She doesn’t say another word, she simply scurries toward the kitchen with our orders in hand.
I keep her in my line of vision as she makes work of filling three cups with ice and then takes a soda gun filling them to the rim. The owner, Zander Bailey, touches her arm as she gets the drinks ready for us. He says something to her, and she shakes her head. I’m forced to turn my gaze away when Tate speaks. “What was that about, Hawk? Do you know Brittney Jameson?”
I clench down on my back teeth hard enough to crack one. “Yeah, we grew up together, but I haven’t seen her in years. I heard she worked here now, but she’s never been here when I have.”
Tate raises an eyebrow. “Uh-huh. Did y’all—?”
I glare at Tate hard. “Don’t.”
Tate lifts his hands in surrender with a cocky grin on his face as Brittney returns with our drinks before quietly promising to bring our food out shortly. She doesn’t make eye contact and practically runs from our table. Once she’s back behind the bar, Zander approaches her again and I wonder if there’s something going on there. I sure hope he realizes she’s a snake in the grass—ready and lying in wait to strike at the perfect moment.
After our food arrives, Tate and I discuss things on the ranch… There’re two young mares he and Sterling have been wanting to buy, and the way it sounds, they’re about to. Lucy stays quiet, simply listening to our “shop talk” when suddenly she pales as a few patrons walk toward the bar. Tate notices and stands with a clenched jaw and balled-up fists. She grabs his arm to stop him from leaving the table. I finally see who they’re focused on…Taylor Rich. He’s Lucy’s ex-boyfriend.
My gut says I know why Lucy looks like she’s seen a ghost and Tate could spit nails, but I ask anyway, “Tate, what’s going on?” My gaze bounces from Tate to Lucy.
She answers barely above a whisper, “It’s nothing.”
Nothing my ass.Tate glares at Lucy before freeing his arm from her grasp. “It’s time to leave. I need to tell Brittney something and pay the bill…” He turns to me then. “Hawk, please take Lucy to the truck.”
I reach for my wallet and drop a few bills on the table for a tip, then hand enough cash to cover my meal to Tate. I glare at Taylor Rich, noticing he’s sporting bruises on his face. My lips tick up a bit at the sight silently hoping Tate’s responsible for it. He was always a cocky jerk, but now, if the energy coming from Lucy and Tate has any truth to it, he’s more than a jerk and he’s hurt Lucy. The thought stiffens my spine and renews my tucked-away anger. My fingers curl in toward my palm as I make a fist. Taylor locks on to us as we make our way to the exit. I send him a warning glare before turning back to where Tate stands across from Brittney at the bar.
She glances my direction one more time and our gazes connect briefly. She’s had time to process my presence and she certainly doesn’t shy away. The look on her face reveals the same anger I’m sure mine does.Too bad, dolcezza.I allowed her to run me out of town without a backward glance before, but now I have every reason to stay. We both know what truly did anddid nothappen. As long as she stays out of my way, we can co-exist in the same town and leave the past where it belongs…dead and buried. We’re strangers now, and I guess we always were.
