Mallory motions to Izzy, who directs the calf subtly using the bottle toward Izzy.
“Thank you,” Mallory says.
“You’re welcome.”
Just as I turn to leave, Mallory says to the group, “Guys, this is Cam. He changed the light bulb in our cabin.” Bree and Izzy play it cool by simply saying hi. They don’t use my name, but I can tell it bothers Izzy not to acknowledge that she knows me.
This isn’t the time, but Izzy and Bree have been too good to me since I joined the label to put them in this position. I will text Bree later and let her know they can tell the girls who I am. It’snot really what I want because I don’t want the dynamic between me and Mallory to change.
But we’re not even acquaintances, really. And I’ve got a long relationship ahead with Sun Ridge Records that I’m very much looking forward to continuing. So I’ll reach out after dinner.
Time passes quickly with all the calves playing and being fed.
Eventually, Bree stands to go pet one of the calves that’s still playing, so I stand next to her.
“Hey. Sorry to put you all in this position.”
“Walker—” She covers her mouth. “Sorry. Cam. Don’t worry about it. You just came off a crazy two years where your life changed almost overnight, and you haven’t had any time to reflect on that. You deserve the time off, and you deserve your anonymity while you have it. Izzy and I are going to tell Kate and Mallory on the drive back to Indigo Hills.”
“Wait. They’re not from Nashville?”
“Why would you think they’re from Nashville?”
“Well, that’s where you’re from.”
“I’ve lived in Indigo Hills for two years, Cam.” She draws out my name like she’s trying to make it stick to her tongue and just can’t quite get it there. She pats my shoulder. “Kate and Mallory live in Indigo Hills.”
I nod my head, trying to act as if this is not interesting information, and glance over at the family of five as if really interested in their safety. I glance back and nudge Bree’s shoulder with mine.
“Anyway, thanks. You’re amazing.”
“Thank you.”
She turns away from me and heads back to the group while I rinse out the bottles, throwing them into a bucket for sanitizing later.
Cheyenne hits the play button on her phone, and a lullaby plays over the speaker. “Thank you, cowgirls and cowboys, forhelping out with the babies today. It’s time for them to get their much-needed sleep and rest. As you exit the barn, please throw your blankets in the bin. And if you signed up for horseshoes, those will be near the lake in thirty minutes.”
As Mallory and the girls toss their blankets in the bin, I nod to each of them, Mallory’s beautiful blue eyes holding mine longer than necessary. The song I was working on last night pops into my head.
She don’t need the spotlight
She don’t need the noise
She just needs somebody who appreciates her thorns
I ain’t scared of prickly, I ain’t scared of dark
Guess dark and prickly might be just my kind
It’s just a song. It means nothing.
So why do I write another line before she clears the door?
Chapter 6
Mallory
I’m sitting on the couch in our cabin, watchingThe Notebookwith the girls. Wasn’t my choice. It’s been a busy day so far. We did a sunrise trail ride, stopping at the base of Vista Peak for a fireside breakfast. It was invigorating. The air was cool, the view stunning.
