I take a long, deep breath when I finish telling Denton my story. He looks at me with sadness and a look of understanding in his eyes.
“I’m so sorry, Sorrel, thank you for telling me.”
I nod, wiping away my tears.
God, I’m a mess, and I can only imagine how I look right now.
“Every time I see his face, the memories come rushing back in—they flood my mind and I—I feel like I’m drowning.”
“Tell me what I can do to help.”
“I wish there was something, Denton,” I say, smiling softly and lowering my eyes. “It’s something I’ll hold with me for the rest of my life, but I know I’ll overcome it.”
It feels good to tell him. I’ve been holding it in for so long. It felt like someone was sitting on my chest, and now—the weightlessness—I can finally breathe again.
After that night, it was like I’d had an awakening. I woke up that morning and looked in the mirror. I didn’t see the bright-eyed cowgirl who loved life. I had become a shell of my former self. But now, I’m reclaiming my strength.
I’m a cowgirl through and through, and as much as it hurts, I will face my demons. I’m done hiding and I’m done hiding who Huck really is.
14
DENTON
Morning comes quiet and cool. A silence spreads throughout the house that settles deep after a storm. The sun isn’t up yet. I tiptoe out onto the front porch—leg still a little sore from tweaking it in the fight.
My heart feels heavy with the weight of last night. I want to fucking kill Huck Kenzington. I watched Sorrel struggle through her story, hands trembling as she recounted everything he did to her. It was almost too much to hear. I could see how badly it hurt her to say it. I wanted to hold her in my arms and take away her pain.
He took a woman so powerful and beautiful and tried to grind her down until she was nothing but dust underneath his boots. The bar fight plays over in my mind—Huck’s rage, Sorrel standing tall even when she looked like she wanted to break. I realize now why she had been so cool toward me. I can’t blame her for having her guard up. She’s still healing and needs to face the damage he caused. I’ll give her the time she needs and I’ll be here for her through it all.
She reminds me of a sweet dandelion that someone stomped on, but dandelions aren't weak. They're strong and resilient, and with a little water and sunshine, they perk right back up.
It’sas if Sorrel has come back to life again over the past few days. Her smile is brighter and her shoulders stand taller. She looks like the weight of everything has lifted off her and I’m sure as hell happy that I was the one she confided in.
It’s our last day here on the ranch, and the week has flown by. My agent is still nagging me to make a decision about the tour we were offered. I’m so damn torn. I don’t want to let the guys down. I’m not the only one who has been working toward this. But I’ve grown accustomed to ranch life over the last week.
Every morning over the past week we woke before dawn. Hot coffee and breakfast were ready to go and we were horseback the rest of the day. There was always work to be done—fixing fences, doctoring calves, you name it. The fact that I got to do it all with Sorrel just made it that much better.
Sorrel and I started up a routine, and every afternoon we would have our lunch together on the porch of her cabin. She’d pop her boots off and cross her legs beneath her while I swung us back and forth on the porch swing. Dash would sit underneath her, begging for food, and we’d both throw him a couple of bites and chuckle. It was all so peaceful, and I’d grown to love the familiarness of it all.
No loud and rowdy crowds or bright lights. Just staying in one place and learning more about myself than I ever knew was possible. But I figured the others would be eager to get moving—tour life calls for speed, and these boys won’t linger in a place this slow for much longer.
I took my time getting out of bed this morning—it being the last day and all. By the time I wandered out of my room, Johnny and the rest were already packing up, ready to roll.
Ray is back to pick us up in the bus, waiting on us all to load our gear.
“Hey, you guys heading out?” I ask Johnny.
“Yeah, I think we’ve had enough fun playing cowboys,” he jokes.
Jo walks in with a bunch of to-go containers filled with all kinds of baked goods. She loved how much Johnny could eat and she sure kept him fed all week.
“JoJo baby, I sure am going to miss your cooking,” he says with a wink and nod in her direction.
“You come back anytime and I’ll take care of you.” She smiles big.
God, he’s such a flirt. I shake my head and laugh.
I start toward my room to pack my things, but then I spot Sorrel out of the corner of my eye, through the open door as she’s riding up on Duke. She sits tall in the saddle, eyes sharp but tired. When she calls me over, I can sense something is wrong.
