“Is it?” She climbed from the bed and pulled on her clothes.
“Yes.” He nodded as he stared at her, knowing she was taking his heart with her. “Ryan, I told you in the beginning that no good would come of this. You’re leaving and I’ll learn to live with it, but this ends here and now.”
“What if I can’t live with it?”
“You’ll have to.”
Ryan walked across the floor toward him, stopping within inches as she stared into his face.
“Ask me to stay,” she whispered.
“No.”
“I would, if you’d ask.”
“I won’t ask. You just think you want to be here because of this,” he waved his hand between them. “but, once you get back to California, you’ll know that’s where you belong, and I was just a… different kind of man to you.”
“You’re not just a different kind of man! Now you’re letting Sean get into your head.” She touched his arm, but he pulled away from her. “Seth, you have to know how I feel about you.”
“This was just a fascination for you, the idea of us.”
“That is not true. Seth, don’t listen to Sean.”
He shook his head. “He was right though. I’m not what you want in a man. You like three-piece suits, ties, gold cufflinks, high priced loafers, and a gold watch. I’m none of that—”
“Exactly! You’re nothing like that and I don’t want that anymore. I want you.”
“Because you’re here with me. It’ll change when you get back home.”
“Bullshit! I’m a grown woman, I know what I want.”
“Sure, you do, but once you get back to California, you’ll realize that’s where you belong. Not here in Montana with me.” He cupped her cheeks in his hands. “I won’t ask you to give up anything for me. I’m sure you’ll forget about me once you get home.” He watched tears streak down her face and had to blink back his own.
“I won’t.”
Seth stepped back from her. “Please, just go. Tell your boss that you have enough photos. You can just head home.” He walked from the room, entered the kitchen, grabbed his hat, then walked out the door and strode into the barn. Hopefully, she’d be gone by the time he got back from his ride. He knew it was late, but he had to get away from her, or hewouldbeg her to stay.
****
Ryan looked around the room. She loved it with the fireplace taking up the back wall with floor to ceiling windows on each side. The huge four-poster bed sat against a wall and a matching chest of drawers sat beside bifold doors that must be the closet, On the wall with the bathroom door, sat a dresser, and dark blue carpeting covered the floor. It was a beautiful room. The entire house was.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she gazed around the room. She had no idea where Seth went at this time of the night, butshe was sure he was in the barn somewhere. She made her way out the door, climbed into her SUV and started it. As she looked toward the barn, more tears rolled down her cheeks. She didn’t even get to say goodbye to the men, but especially Seth. She knew she’d miss him for the rest of her life.
Wednesday, Ryan sank onto the armchair in the cabin. Golden morning light filtered through the dust particles dancing in the air. She pressed her fingertips to her forehead and realized that she had to call Doris. As much as she hated the idea of abandoning this wild, vast landscape and leaving Seth behind, but there was nothing she could do. Seth wanted her gone and she’d abide by his wishes. She wouldn’t stay where she wasn’t wanted.
With a long, weary sigh, Ryan unlocked her phone and swiped through her contacts until Doris’s name appeared. She tapped it, held the phone to her ear, and waited as the line rang.
“Ryan, honey! How are you?” Doris’s voice sounded bright and warm.
Ryan’s throat tightened. “I’m… not good, Doris.”
“What’s wrong?” Doris’s voice full of concern.
Ryan took a deep breath and told her about the argument last night with Seth, breaking down every few words, but leaving out she wanted to stay with him.
Doris’s sigh was sympathetic. “You probably have more than enough photos, right?”
“Yes.” Ryan’s voice was small.
