AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh yeah?” I asked.
“Yeah, I’m just-I’m having trouble with it.”
“Why?”
“Because I feel like I don’t deserve him, Spencer.”
“Oh, Bridge,” I said shaking my head. “How in the world could you possibly think that?”
“He’s such a good guy, Spence. And, I mean, the only reason I even know him is because I put us here,” she explained gesturing to her growing stomach.
“Bridge,” I said, emphatic. “We’re here because our father put us here.” She leaned back and looked up at me. “We’re here,” I continued, “because you couldn’t stand the idea of not having your baby, and you didn’t care that it meant you would have to live an entirely different life to do that. I think that is the bravest shit I have ever heard of, Bridget. That courage makes you worthier to Jonah, to me, to these people, than anyone. Your baby does not define you, but your courage to keep it does.”
Her bottom lip trembled and she nodded with backbone.
“I think you finally get it.”
“I have to go,” she said, tossing on her jacket and wrapping her scarf.
She ran out the door and I got up to see her head to the road from the window, but at the top of the lane I saw Jonah coming down the drive, wringing his hands and worrying his lip. When Bridge saw him, she started running to him, sprinting, her hair escaped its ponytail and the blonde mass spread out behind her.
Jonah stopped walking, looking stunned and opened his arms for her. She jumped into them and he hugged her tightly, making me want to cry a little, but if you repeat that to anyone I will personally come kick your ass.
He began to kiss her and I’d decided I’d seen enough. I was still careful not to put too much stock in their fledgling relationship, but I couldn’t help the very good feeling their mere existence put in my heart.
I dressed, showered and drove myself to the auction—just myself and no one else. Since realizing I was in love Cricket, I had never felt more alone in my life. I sort of felt myself spiraling, retreating into myself, but I had no idea how to crawl out of the hole.
I was in love with Cricket.
She was choosing to be with Ethan.
Ethan didn’t really understand her, as cliche as that sounded.
So I, I was going to accept that, be as kind to both Ethan and Cricket as I could, get through the next few months for Bridge, set her up wherever she wanted to be, and get myself as far away from the Hunt Ranch as possible—not just for my own heart’s sake, but also to protect them from my father because his eerie silence was starting to scare the bejezus out of me.
I’d also made the decision to come clean to the man I’d helped my father blackmail. That I’d do it when I could secure the safety of Bridge and all the Hunts.
The inside of the old schoolhouse was packed; hundreds of people gathered around, mingled and laughed while waiting for the rest of the comers and the auctioneer. My eyes went straight for the stage and I wished I’d never come.
“Hey,” I heard from behind me.
My head hung low for a moment.
“Hey,” I said, turning around and facing Cricket and an older man in a wheelchair.
His right leg was missing below his knee.
“This is Amos McAllen. He wanted to meet you just as soon as you got in. He insisted.”
I smiled at him and extended my hand.
The old cowboy took it and shook it with a strength I hadn’t expected of a seventy-year-old. “Mr. McAllen, it’s an honor.”
“Son,” he said, patting our joined hands with his free one. “I needed you to know that what you and Jonah Hunt have done for my family will not go unpunished.” He smiled. “My wife and I pray for you every day and your generosity is much appreciated. I’m humbled, young man.”
This shamed me because I remembered complaining almost every moment of the day with Jonah. If I had put his face to the ranch, I would have been silent and worked twice as hard. “Sir,” I said, “you give me entirely too much credit.”
“Not possible,” he said, unwilling to accept anything else.
