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With trembling fingers she flipped the lid open. She let out a sigh as the antique diamond ring sparkled and winked at her from its velvet throne. She reached in and pulled it out. Out of force of habit she slid the ring onto her finger and marveled at how beautiful it looked.
It was the most stunning thing she had ever owned in her life. It was like no other engagement ring she’d ever seen. Problem was, it wasn’t her ring anymore and it hadn’t been since the day she’d ended her engagement to Tate. She had tried to return it to him before she’d left town, but he’d refused to accept it. Her parents had balked at the idea of returning it to Tate themselves. It was their belief that only she and Tate could resolve the matter. Regina had pretty much laughed in her face when she’d asked her to do it. In the end she had placed the ring in her jewelry box where it had been sitting all this time.
It’s Tate’s ring. He should be able to give this ring to his future wife.
The thought of another woman wearing her ring was painful. Although she wasn’t in love with Tate anymore, it hurt to know he would greet another woman at the altar and make her his wife. She didn’t know why it should cause her such pain, but it did. It made her ache inside. It made her question every choice she’d made over the years. Yet she knew that she still had to do the honorable thing, regardless of what it might cost her.
* * *
As Cassidy sped down the country road she let out a deep sigh as the Lynches’ spectacular ranch came into view. She slowed down as she reached the massive gates, her eyes honing in on the sign welcoming her to Horseshoe Bend Ranch. Lush green acres stretched out before her, as far as the eye could see. This was Texas ranch land in all its glory, she thought, full of beauty and majesty.
Horseshoe Bend ranch had been in Maggie Benson Lynch’s family for generations. Maggie was the only child of a wealthy horse breeder who’d left the rolling hills of Kentucky in order to carve out a stake for himself in Texas. Frank Lynch had been the poor cowhand who’d fallen head over heels in love with Maggie, so much so that they’d run off and eloped against her family’s wishes. But Frank had proven himself, according to Tate, by transforming Horseshoe Bend Ranch into one of the most profitable horse breeding operations in the state. He’d earned the Bensons’ approval through hard work, grit and determination.
Tate and Holly had inherited their parents’ love of horses. On their first official date Tate had taken Cassidy horseback riding on the property, giving her one of her first tastes of freedom. He’d been raised in a saddle, and he’d taught her how to ride. Galloping across the lush Texas countryside with Tate had allowed her to become one with the horse and nature. It had been a liberating experience, one she’d never forgotten.
About a half mile from the entrance she reached a fork in the road. On her right was the main house, sitting back a ways from the road. It was a sprawling two-storey home with a wraparound porch and black shutters. The front door was painted a festive, inviting red. Brightly colored rocking chairs adorned the front porch. A hammock sat lazily between two trees in the side yard. She could see the ramp leading up to the front porch. For some reason it was jarring to see it. Handicap accessible.
Two dogs barked at her car from a distance, making quite a commotion. She didn’t slow down, just continued left at the fork toward the stables. The endless acres of land never failed to move her. This perfect slic
e of heaven. Her eyes roamed over the vista and she marveled at its majestic beauty. She cast her gaze toward the storm clouds gathering in the sky. A squall was headed their way in the next few hours. It had been foolish to come all the way out here with a storm brewing, but she’d been determined to handle this unfinished business.
Upon approaching the stables she parked her car on the side, next to three trucks. As soon as she turned the corner by the stables, she caught sight of Tate standing next to the corral.
From across the yard she studied him—his full lips, strong jaw, the cleft in his chin. The proud way he carried himself. A cowboy hat was perched on his head. His long powerful legs were encased in a pair of dark jeans. He wore a plain sleeveless white tank. Everything about him screamed out cowboy. Even though it had been his lifelong dream to be a sheriff, being a cowboy ran deep in Tate’s blood. His respect for the land, his love of horses, his rugged good looks and his strong work ethic. He was pure Texas, born and bred.
A large, bucking horse was being led out into the corral by one of the ranch hands. Cassidy watched as Tate expertly lassoed the stallion and began manipulating the horse using the rope. He was breaking in a wild horse. She’d seen it done dozens of times at this very ranch. The horse in question seemed to be giving him a run for his money.
She kept herself hidden, not wanting to provide even an ounce of distraction. Breaking in a horse was a dangerous business, even for someone who’d been doing it for most of his life. Everything could turn on a dime. The horse could kick him in the head, or Tate could get tangled up in the rope.
The stallion quieted, which allowed Tate to approach him and pat him down. His next move was to slap a saddle on the stallion and mount him. He did it with lightning speed, a blur of motion as he attempted to ride the stallion. At first the horse bucked and resisted him, at one point almost tossing him off, but Tate managed to stay on and assume control.
Tate galloped around the corral, his sturdy physique cutting an imposing figure as he sat astride the stallion. The horse was a beauty, she acknowledged. Dark as the night and full of grace and power. He had his own special language with horses. He seemed to understand them, as if by intuition, and in return they instinctively responded to him.
It was nice being back at Horseshoe Bend Ranch. It soothed a certain part of her soul. But she hadn’t come out here for a social visit or to watch Tate break in a wild horse. She’d come for one reason only. To give Tate back the one thing that still tied them together.
* * *
The hot sun beat down on him as he dismounted from the stallion. He reached into his front pocket and pulled out some apple bits, offering them to the horse he’d nicknamed Rebel. Although Rebel had been nothing but trouble up to this point, he showed a rare promise that Tate hadn’t come across in a long time. His father called it mojo. He called it the X factor.
What he wouldn’t give at the moment for a cool glass of lemonade. He wiped away beads of sweat from his forehead, gazing up at the clouds gathering on the horizon. It was muggier than usual for this time of year. A storm was moving in, according to the National Weather Center and the local meteorologists. Although the hurricane that had ravaged parts of coastal Mexico had blown off course, Texas was still expected to get quite a wallop from a summer squall.
When he turned Rebel around, Cassidy was standing there as if she’d appeared out of thin air.
She was dressed casually in a pair of khaki shorts, a sleeveless top and a pair of cowboy boots. He knew a look of surprise was stamped all over his face. Without a word he handed the reins over to Malachi, one of the ranch hands who’d been watching him break Magic in. Malachi looked at him curiously as he made his way over to Cassidy.
“Hey! What brings you out here?” he asked, meeting her halfway between the stables and the corral.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call. I figured you would tell me to stay away.” She shrugged, then dug into her leather purse and pulled out the blue velvet box. He immediately recognized it, right before she said the words that made his heart run cold.
“I wanted to give you back your ring,” she said in a soft voice, her green eyes somber.
She held out the box, her fingers trembling with the effort.
His heart jerked painfully as he laid eyes on it. All the memories came flooding back to him, slicing through him with the force of a tsunami. His hands remained at his sides. He didn’t think he could reach out for the ring if he tried.
“I don’t want it,” he said in a low voice. He could barely get the words out he was so twisted up inside. Seeing the blue velvet box was a blast from the past he hadn’t expected. The last time Cassidy had tried to give it back to him had been when she’d ended their engagement. His reaction had been to slam his fist through the barn wall. All he’d felt then had been anger. Now he just felt empty.
“Here. Take it. This ring has been in your family for generations. It’s only fitting that you give it to your future wife.”
