Page 147 of Sunrise & Serenity

With my arms folded over the top railing of the fence, I exhale. Everything feels painfully normal after my argument with Holden. But there’s a tightness behind my ribs that won’t stop burning.

Closing my eyes, I press the heels of my hands against them. I can see why he reacted the way he did. Maybe I understand it more than I want to admit. Because if one of his exes had shown up talking about him leaving for another rodeo circuit without telling me, I would’ve been hurt too.

I’m dragged out of my thoughts when Trouble returns, reaching his head through the railings to nip at my shorts. “You’re very pushy, you know that?”

He tosses his head like he’s proud.

A quiet laugh escapes me, though it fades quickly. Because underneath all the hurt and confusion, another realization presses at me harder and harder.

Holden wanted me to stay.

Emotion swells in my throat as images crowd my mind. Mornings at the ranch house, being there for more foals like Trouble, Taryn stealing my fries at the diner, Mia showing up with coffee and gossip.

And Holden. The half smiles that make my heart flutter, the way he touches me, tender one moment, passionate the next, the way I feel safe in his arms.

I blink away the tears that threaten to break free.

I want that too. But what if he’s right? Milan, gallery showings in Europe, the kind of success I can point to and say, look, I did this. Those things used to feel like the entire point. So what if I choose to stay and regret it later?

What if I leave and regret that instead?

Panic presses against my ribs, hard enough that I need movement. Something physical to drown out the noise in my head. Before I can overthink it, I push away from the fence and head toward the main barn. Maybe some time with Cozy will quiet my thoughts.

The familiar scent of hay and leather wraps around me as I step inside. Cozy lifts her head the second she sees me approaching her stall.

“Well,” I mutter, reaching for the halter hanging nearby. “This feels reckless.”

The mare nudges my shoulder while I slip the halter over her head.

Maybe it is reckless.

A few weeks ago, I would’ve been terrified to ride alone. Now I find myself saddling her with far more confidence than hesitation.

Funny what becomes normal.

As I lead Cozy into the yard, Chance spots me and lifts a brow. “Where are you headed?”

“Just sticking close to the ranch.” I tighten the cinch, then meet his gaze. “I thought I’d take some landscape shots before the light goes.”

He studies me for a second too long. “Everything okay?”

I force a smile. “Of course.”

The assurance must sound as fake to him as it does to me, because his expression doesn’t change. Still, all he says is, “Stay near the lower pastures. I don’t want to have to send out a search party.”

“I will.”

He nods once and steps aside.

Ten minutes later, the late-afternoon sun spills gold across the valley as Cozy moves steadily beneath me. I ride until we reach the rise overlooking the river. Below, the ranch stretches wide. Corrals. Barns. Horses moving through pastures.

My throat burns unexpectedly, an image of Holden’s hurt face flashing through my mind.

You didn’t tell me.

As if he has any right to make me feel guilty about it. He never gave me any reason to believe he was imagining a future here with me until today.

Because I didn’t tell him.