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Noah’s brows rose. “Really? How’d you swing that?”
Grayson had spent all morning tracking down Walter and begging him to come out of retirement just long enough for things to be worked out. For Beth. For the camp.
He’d failed Beth, he’d failed the camp.
He’d even failed God—because he wasn’t the man with the faith of a mustard seed.
“He loves the camp too. Wanted to do what he could to keep it open.” Grayson nodded toward the barn. “If it’s okay with you, I’ll buy Tally from you. She’s not a camp horse.” And he wanted to take Tally because it felt like he was taking a little piece of Beth with him. Every time he looked at her, he could hear Beth’s gentle voice. Her chitchat.
Noah tapped the quit claim deed on his hand. “This more than covers her.”
“Thank you.”
Noah shoved his hands into his pocket. “You really don’t have to go—certainly not right now,” he repeated.
But he did. Because his life wasn’t in Deep Haven. Beth’s was. And they’d both known that all along.
“I’d love to have Beth stay here, but you know—if you asked her to go—”
Grayson looked away. Stared at the hay bales where they’d played cards for hours. “I can’t do that. Everything she loves is here.”
Noah tipped his head and glanced out over the paddocks, turned back to Grayson. “I don’t think it’s everything.”
* * *
Beth pulledinto Trinity Horse Camp Tuesday morning and didn’t even try to stop the tears. Her windshield wipers squeaked. A large, vacant spot remained where Grayson’s trailer had been parked.
Not nearly as big as the hole in her heart.
She walked into the barn and avoided looking at the apartment door. Still, everywhere she turned, she could see Grayson.
Just four days prior, they’d been tacking up for their grand adventure.
She could imagine him hauling saddles out. Leaning against the wall, talking about their day at camp. Out at the hitching post, saddling up Maverick.
She could smell him—his soap and the cottony flannel he wore. The rich, masculine scent of a day’s work.
Lyle’s leaving hadn’t hurt like this.
Did you just expect Lyle would move right into your dad’s house with you?
Vivien’s question from over a month prior settled over Beth. Maybe she’d never pondered it because she’d never cared to think that far ahead. Lyle had checked a box, but no—she’d never loved Lyle quite like this.
The realization sank in with teeth. Hurt that much more.
Grayson had been the one to urge her into the adventures she’d longed for. Allowed her to shine.
She walked to Tally’s stall.
Her heart sank. It was stripped down. Fresh shavings had been left behind, the water bucket turned upside down.
She walked past Remington’s empty stall and stared out at the paddocks. The horses grazed in the drizzling rain. Remington, Rex, and Maverick lifted their heads.
Nickered.
Yeah. She missed him too.
In all the bustle of the trail ride, she’d barely had the chance to tell him what she might have found on Maverick’s past.
