AllFreeNovel
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Thewhinny of a horse brings me back to reality, and whenIlook toward the hillside,Ican barely see them approaching.Icome to my feet as if it will help me see them more clearly.
It’snot even ten in the morning.
“Whathappened,Luke?”Iwhisper to the wind.
Ihope he andEvanhaven’t had a falling out.Theyneed each other more than ever.Leaningmy head against the post on the porch,Iwatch them coming closer.Itry to discern the moment they notice me there, but it’s difficult to know.Willhe come running or turn away?Maybehe doesn’t want to see me.
Ipull my sweater tighter around my body and fight to keep tears from falling.Theyare probably starving.Noidea how much foodLuketook with him.Turningto go back inside and start some breakfast, a loud whistle startles me.Deepbreaths.Slowdeep breaths.
“Rachel!”
It’shim.I’mshocked he wants to acknowledge me at all.Slowly,Iturn to findLukeandSpiritgalloping toward the house.Myheart thunders withSpirit’shoof beats, and when they slow andLukejumps down, my breath catches in my throat.
“Whereare you going?” he asks as he leadsSpiritforward.
Ishrug, look over my shoulder, and point behind me. “Thekitchen.Breakfast.Ithought you might be hungry.”Istumble over my words like an idiot.
Luke’sboots pound up the wooden steps.Hewhips his hat off his head.
“Nohug?”
Itake two steps back.Thisis silly, butIcan’t read his expression.Thespace between us feels different from what it once was.Istep closer, and he wraps his arms around me, lifting me off my feet.Heburies his nose in my loose hair and takes a deep breath.Thisisn’t joy though.It’sheavy with sadness.
“Damn,I’vemissed you,” he whispers with a deep growl.
Iclose my eyes and relax becauseI’mreading too much into this.Hewouldn’t hug me like this if things weren’t going to go back to normal.Everythinghas to be alright.Doesmy heart dare to hope that he hasn’t changed his mind about our relationship now thatI’mpregnant?
“Missedyou so much,”Iwhisper.
Hesets me back down, letting me go and stepping back.Thedistance feels forced.
“Howhave you been feeling?”Hereaches his hand out carefully and grazes his palm over my belly. “Areyou okay?”
Inod as tears prick my eyes. “I’mfine.We’refine.”Steppingback, my heel knocks against the doorstep. “Hungry?”Iask.
Hesmiles half-heartedly. “Ravenous.”
Evanhas caught up to us, and gently takesSpirit’sreins. “MorningRachel.”
Ilook pastLuke, andEvansmiles and winks at me. “Thankyou for bringing him home.”
Evantips his hat to me before turning to lead the horses to the barn.
Whenmy eyes findLuke’s, they are serious and as gold as the sunrise this morning. “Nothing’schanged,” he says gruffly.
“What?”Iask, feeling completely caught off guard.Hischange of subject is confusing.
“Whatwe had is over.”Hisvoice is so flat and emotionless that it is gut-wrenching.
Ipress my shoulders back and quickly swing open the back door.Idash to the refrigerator for eggs, bacon, butter, and whatever the fuckIneed to make breakfast.Ijump when the screen door slams a second time.
“Rachel.”
Ican’t look at him.Godhelp me, butIcan’t look at him while he breaks my heart all over again. “Youneed to eat.Can’twe do that first?”
WhenIfeel his body brush against mine from behind,Itense.Hetakes the carton of eggs and the food cradled in my arms and places them on the counter.
“No.Ineed you to know, now…so we both know where we stand.”
