If she weren’t on that horse, if she were standing right here in front of him, he’d hold her. “Iamsorry that happened to you.” He put his hand out to help her get down.
She placed her hand in his and turned in the saddle, placing her other hand on his shoulder, then swinging her leg over and sliding down.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I didn’t know he’d tracked me down. He had no right to do that. I promise I’ll be here for you. For Zan. I know we could do this. Ireallylike you, reckless ways and all, but if that’s not what you want, if you just need a friend, I’ll be here for that too.”
“He said you needed to go back to your old job.”
“There’s more that I should’ve told you, but I can explain. I worked in the family business. I never knew anything else. When I stopped here, it was not my plan to meet someone. I didn’t plan to stay but a week or two, but this place, you…you captured my heart.”
“Merry Anna, I can’t deal with all the secrets and half truths. I’m on shaky ground here. I have no idea what I’m doing. I’m the father of a five-year-old, and I just turned my whole life’s path on its head. I can’t suffer a speed bump. There’s too much at risk. The only thing I do know is that I have to put Zan first.”
“I agree completely. I can help with that.”
“You accused me of using you to do that very thing.” He didn’t know what to think. “No, I can’t deal with all this rightnow. I need time.” He shrugged and turned away. It wasn’t easy doing the right thing.
She walked Chips over to the hitching post and laid the reins over it. For a moment, he thought she might go sit at the table with Zan and stay, and part of him wanted her to.
“Hi, Merry Anna,” Zan called out.
“Hi, Zan.” Merry Anna made her way back over to where he stood. “I’m going to walk home.” She took a long steadying breath. “Adam, you’re really special to me. I can’t imagine you not being in my day-to-day. This town is important to me too. I plan to make my life here. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.” She pressed her hand to his forearm. “You don’t have to believe me or even be my friend, but please, please forgive me.”
He lowered his gaze and swallowed.
“The truth, no matter what you heard, is that you and I have been there for each other. Both of us are going through big changes in our lives. I don’t know if our paths intersected just to force us in new directions or if we are meant to be together, but something happened here.” She patted her hand to her heart.
He nodded, knowing exactly what that meant.
He felt it too, but he let her go.
31
Merry Anna walked through thewoods, feeling hurt and questioning her actions.
Had she just been playing a part? Had she been searching for herself so badly that she’d made this cowboy her hero?
She reached out and pulled a leaf from a low tree branch. Twisting it between her fingers, she questioned her heart.
Her phone dinged. She was reluctant to even look, but when she did, it was a message from her mother:
Kevin told us he showed up on your doorstep. We were wrong about him. He’s fired. Forget that stupid wager with him. He’s bamboozling money wherever he can. We’re sorry. Please come home.
She knew what her mother wanted to hear, but she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t leave Antler Creek.
What I feel is real, isn’t it? This isn’t just about the town. It’s Adam. I love him, and I love this town, and I love Zan. This is real love.
She’d never loved like this before. She’d never felt this strong pull that touched her soul.I love you, Adam.Just as Tara had said, she was more when she was with him.This is special, and I want to be a part of it.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
She sucked in a gulp of air, sniffing back the waves of emotion.
Her eyes ached, tears blurring the path. She wasn’t even sure if she was going the right way.
She hadn’t spent her time with Adam and Zan to fill a void or try them on for size. She loved sharing with them. When he sat with her in church, she felt different. When Zan reached up and held her hand, she changed inside. Things she never knew she’d yearned for became so clear.
She went home and put a wet cloth on her face. Lying on the couch, she cried herself to sleep and didn’t wake until it was dark.
She got up and walked outside. A lunar halo circled the moon. She’d grown to love the way every day brought her something new to appreciate. As she gazed into the sky, heat lightning flashed in the distance.
