Page 57 of The Cowboy’s Forever Promise

Every time they’d talked during the week, he’d asked Abby how she was feeling and she’d assured him she was fine. She sounded okay, but he wanted to see her before he’d be able to relax.

Noah hurried closer. “Are you ready? We have to start. The others are all here and ready for the party to start.”

Dejectedly, Carson nodded, checking his phone once again. Why didn’t she text him if she wasn’t feeling well? Maybe the plane was late or she couldn’t get a taxi or something.

Just then a sound behind him had him turning around quickly. Abby had arrived. Hurrying closer, he scanned her face. She looked gorgeous, but damn it, she was still so pale.

“There you are,” he said as he reached her. “I was getting worried.”

“I’m fine.” For a moment she leaned into him, but then Noah called his name.

Taking Abby’s hand, he smiled. “Come on, let’s get this show going. I want to take you back to my hotel room.”

Blushing beautifully, she smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that. I’ve left my bag in the foyer behind a counter.”

“We’ll get it before we leave for the hotel. I probably have to smile and shake some hands for a while, but hopefully we won’t have to stay that long. Have a look at all the photographs. I’m really lucky to share the space with so many talented photographers. There is one in particular I want to show you.” With a wink, he hurried away.

*

During the speeches, Abby turned to look at the photographs on display. She was standing at the back, so it was easy to move quietly to the wall to look for Carson’s photographs. At least the medication the doctor had given her for the nausea was helping a bit. She was just still so tired, and by eight o’clock at night she battled to keep her eyes open.

Fortunately, she was feeling much better tonight. Maybe her exhaustion had to do with the fact she missed Carson so much. She was struggling to sleep without him next to her.

It wasn’t difficult to see which work was his. He’d captured Montana’s vast and varying landscapes the way no one else could. Slowly she moved down the hall as she looked at the photographs. All the photographers had captured scenes from nature, but her eyes seemed to find the ones with Carson’s name first.

As she moved forward, the next group of photographs caught her eye and she hurried forward. It was George! Carson had captured the puppy sleeping, playing and … her feet slowed down.

If she wasn’t mistaken, the woman with George, sitting with her back to the camera was her. What Carson had caught in the frame of the photograph wasn’t the picture she had of herself, though.

Here she was someone completely different to the woman who usually stared back at her from the mirror. Her head was thrown back, her hair was messy, her whole body relaxed, she looked so unlike the way she normally looked and felt. The Abby in the picture was happy, as if nothing was bothering her.

Warm hands touched her shoulders. “The other photographs of you were too intimate, not something I wanted to share, but I had to use this one, even though I didn’t ask your permission.”

Leaning against him, she sighed. “I’m always so uptight, you’ve caught me in an unguarded moment.”

He was quiet for a moment. “That’s the way you were on the ranch. That’s the way I always think of you.”

“Here you are!” June called out as she rushed closer. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” Enveloping Abby in a big hug, she smiled. “How are you feeling?”

Before Abby could answer, a tall man was approaching Carson. “Carson—come quickly. You’re not going to believe what’s happening.”

“Abby, this is Noah Felix, the owner of the gallery. Noah, this is my Abby.”

Smiling, the man quickly shook Abby’s hand. “You’re all he talks about. I’m sorry to steal Carson away but there is someone he needs to meet.”

“Of course, go.” Abby smiled when Carson looked at her. “I haven’t seen June in a week. We have a lot to talk about.”

“Okay, now you’re coming with me,” June said as she took Abby’s arm. “You look beautiful, of course, but I’ve never seen you looking so pale and wan.” Pulling her to the corner of the room, June faced her. “What is going on? And don’t tell me nothing. I know you, Abs. You’ve never been ill a day in your life. Please tell me you’ve seen a doctor or someone?”

“I’m waiting to hear about an appointment this week, but I don’t even think I’ll go. I feel so much better.”

June traced the telltale dark circles under Abby’s eyes. “You forget I know you. You’ve never had these. Just promise me you’ll make sure you get an appointment?”

Fortunately, at that moment the rest of the family joined them and she didn’t have to answer June. Of course, she’d go if she still didn’t feel well, but she really was feeling much better. Besides, tonight she was focusing on Carson.

Turning her head, she smiled. Carson was on his way back, and if the expression on his face was anything to go by, he was very happy.

“You have good news,” Willow stated the obvious as Carson arrived.