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I don’t say anything.

“You okay?”

No. I’m not okay.

I’m not okay with him saving the day and being great and looking for every way to make it okay for me.

“Yep.” I finally manage, trying to shake all the thoughts away. “Um, I ordered from a few different places. I have it all listed on my computer.”

“Local places?”

“Some.”

“Can you send me the info?” he asks.

“Why?” My eyes zero in on the tiny creases at the corners of his eyes. I absently think they’d be deeper if he laughed more.

I want him to laugh more. I want to be there when he does.

“I’m going to replace this stuff,” he says.

“This isn’t your problem, Noble,” I say, because I’m stubborn and if he keeps helping me, it’s going to mess with my head.

“No, but it’s yours, and isn’t that what friends do?” he says. “Show up?” He walks over to where he hitched Jensen. “I’ll take Jensen back, then we can drive into town?”

“It’s—” I want to protest. To say thanks but no thanks.

But I can’t. I look around the barn and know that I can’t do this alone, and the idea of having someone competent to help me figure this out is pretty nice. I look at him. “Okay.”

“Pick me up at the house?”

I nod and watch as he mounts the horse and heads back up the hill and out of sight.

I turn and look at the mess the cattle left all over the space meant to hold the most beautiful reception anyone has ever seen, and know one thing for sure. “Cows are the worst.”

Chapter Sixteen

Hattie

I’m back in the Bronco, heading to the house to pick up Noble, adrenaline still racing from the last hour of panic and chaos.

I’m also planning a future barbeque.

Noble’s words echo through my mind. “That’s what friends do. They show up.”

Maybe for the first time since he left, my first thought isn’t a snide, That’s not what you did all those years ago.

For the first time, I don’t want to throw the past back in his face.

Whether that’s progress or delusion, I still haven’t decided.

I drive up the hill and find him sitting on the porch eating a piece of pie my momma probably force-fed him, and my brilliant plan to put space between the two of us goes up in flames.

Or hooves.

Because Noble is determined to save this day.

And I’m inclined to let him.