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“Perfect timing. Tea’s in the mood for going on a trail ride. Want to join us?”
Morgan chuckled. “Tea? As in the kind you drink?”
“Yep. I have a feeling she’s a gossip in the pasture and knows all the good stuff.”
The sound of a horse whinnying caused us both to turn.
Rex strolled over with Titan. “All set, Ms. Shaw.”
I guided Tea to the gate while Morgan held it open for us to walk out before closing it behind us. “Rex, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Morgan?”
He blushed and looked down at the ground. “I’m sorry.”
She took the reins from him. “Thank you.”
“Thanks, Rex,” I added as I smiled at the poor bastard. I knew exactly how it felt to admire the woman from afar. But now I was lucky enough to call her mine.
I watched Morgan easily mount her horse. She turned him around, then we walked side by side out of the barn area, and to one of the many trails on my parents’ ranch.
“How has it been not having Avery there to help you at the store?” I asked.
“I miss seeing her every day. I definitely got used to it. She has such an eye for color, I swear. Georgiana thinks so as well. I wish she’d look into art classes.”
“You think she could be a painter?”
Morgan shrugged. “Maybe. But…Avery was offered a modeling job.”
“She was?”
“Yes!” she said with a happy laugh. “I mean, the girl is stunningly beautiful, and those deep sapphire eyes of hers are mesmerizing.”
“Is she going to do it?”
Morgan’s smile faded. “I don’t think so. It’s in Paris.”
“Holy shit! Paris?”
“I know. Merit and Dirk are not thrilled. I think Avery wants to do it, though.”
“Really?” I asked, surprised. “She’d want to leave her family and move to Paris?”
Morgan gave me a look. “You didn’t see her face when Merit and Dirk told her she couldn’t go.”
“You were there?”
She nodded. “Avery asked me to be there when she talked to them about it. Do you know who Eden Briggs is?”
I shook my head. “No clue.”
“I’m not surprised,” she laughed. “She’s a big-time model. Does all the large fashion shows and models a number of Mary’s designs. That’s how Avery met her. She came to the boutique, took one look at Avery, and said she needed to be in Paris modeling.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, I know. Eden even called Merit and Dirk, said she’d make sure Avery still went to school. And she could stay with Eden over there, as well.”
“I can see why they wouldn’t want her to go. I mean, she’s their little girl.”
Morgan chewed on her lower lip. “I know she’s only sixteen, but…I think they should let her try. If they don’t, then Avery is going to spend the rest of her life wondering what could’ve happened if she’d been able to go.”
“Then tell Merit and Dirk that.”
“You think?”
I smiled, reached for her hand, and squeezed it. “I think.”
We rode in silence for a bit.
“I saw Savannah this morning.”
I snapped my head over to look at her. After Bradford was killed and the truth came out about everything he’d done, Savannah had left town. She never said goodbye or anything, just quit her job and took off. Her parents had been devastated, and I knew they were still worried about her.
“Is she back?” I asked. “How is she?”
Morgan gave me a sympathetic smile. “Ryan…God, it was so sad. She walked into the boutique and took one look at me and started to sob. I quickly walked her back to the office and shut the door. She practically tackled me as she hugged me, and then cried some more. It took her about ten minutes to finally calm down and be able to speak. She said she was so ashamed that she didn’t realize what Bradford was up to that she couldn’t face me—or anyone else. She’s been in Boise, working for a news station there, and going to therapy.”
“Good. I’m glad she’s getting help.”
“I am too,” Morgan said softly. “She apologized, but I told her she had nothing to apologize for. She asked me if I’d talked to anyone professional, and I told her I’ve been seeing a therapist and that things are honestly going really well for me. She was glad to hear it, but I’m not sure the same goes for her. There was so much sadness in her eyes. It broke my heart.”
“I can’t imagine what it was like for her to know she was with a crazy lunatic.”
“A monster, more like it. I think what messed with her the most was the same thing that bothered me.”
“The cameras?”
She nodded. “Yeah. The fact that he was watching us. I hope she’s able to find peace and happiness.”
“Me too.”
Letting out a huge sigh, Morgan raised her face to the sun. “Enough of that bullshit. Can we find an open pasture and let these two run for a bit? I want to feel the wind on my face.”
