Page 17 of Rebel Moon

“I’m sorry I made you ride with us,” Ivy said.

“It’s all good now,” I said.

We arrived at the restaurant and headed inside to the warmth and the smell of freshly baked bread. Much more my speed, I thought, smiling to myself.

Knox held open the door for us. Ivy went in but I hesitated just a second, placing my hand on Knox’s arm. “Thanks for bringing me home.”

He tipped his hat and winked at me. “Anytime, Price. Anytime.”

5

KNOX

December 3

Moonlight Sleigh Ride to the Homestead

Cold · Heavy snow fall

Supper: Pot roast · Short ribs · Mashed potatoes Cornbread · Roasted Winter Veggies

The next morning, I was enjoying the ranch’s delicious coffee and a plate of pancakes, minding my own business, when Rhett dropped into the chair across from me with a plate stacked high enough to feed a road crew.

“Good morning.” Rhett raised an eyebrow, looking at me as if I’d stolen from the cookie jar.

“What?” I asked.

“You waiting for someone?” Rhett asked. “You keep looking at the door.”

“I haven’t been looking at the door.” Had I?

“Okay, my mistake,” Rhett said. “What really happened yesterday on the trail? You and Madeleine looked pretty tight there for a moment.”

“Nothing happened, other than Madeleine having a legit scare. I only tried to keep her in one piece until we got back to the ranch.” I kept my eyes on my coffee. “Truth is, the whole thing scared me too. That horse just took off like a bat out of you know where, and I was not at all sure Price could hold on.”

“But she did.” Rhett forked up eggs, watching me like he expected me to say more.

“I don’t know why you’re looking at me like that,” I said.

“You and your enemy looked friendly, that’s all. Like two people who’d had a moment they didn’t expect.”

“You’re delusional,” I said.

“I’m a big fan of Madeleine and everything she does,” Rhett said.

“I’m clear on that,” I said dryly.

“She changed our lives for the better, and you know it. Someday you’ll acknowledge it.”

I ate a bite of a pancake so I didn’t have to reply. While I was chewing, I decided to turn it back on him. “What’s going on with you and Holly? You two seem to have a lot to talk about. All the time.”

It was his turn to act evasive. “We go way back. So yeah, a lot to talk about.”

“Why did you two break up back in the day?”

“We were eighteen and going in different directions,” Rhett said. “And we were super young.”

“Do you ever think about her?” I asked.