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“Oh my god, Gabe. I was returning to the damn farm to look after everything, and to pick you up. Where did you think I was going?”
Gabe pulled out a chair and sat down. “You act all shocked to hear the question. It’s not unlike you to run.”
I finished wrapping the teacup and then closed the lid on the box, picked it up and shoved it out on the back porch. Then I came back into the kitchen and pulled the last two sodas from the fridge and handed one to Gabe.
“Well, I’m not running. I’m cleaning up the last few things I want, getting rid of the furniture and appliances and will be on my way back.”
Gabe looked around the room at the few things that remained, then glanced at my small bag that sat beside the back door. “When were you planning on heading back?”
“As soon as this company is here to take the furniture away.”
He nodded and took another drink of his soda, then met my eyes. He said nothing, just studied me.
“Just ask what you want to know,” I grumbled.
“What do I want to know?” he asked, holding out his hands in innocence.
“You want to know when I’m going to see Connor or speak to him?” I said, running my finger around the edge of the pop can. “Or perhaps, you were wondering why I didn’t call and tell him where I was and when I was returning.”
Gabe shook his head. “No…”
“Gabe, don’t deny it. I know that is what you were wondering and the answer, for your curiosity, is I don’t know.”
He was about to say something when someone knocked on the front door. I got up from the table and went and opened it, welcoming the guys who were picking up the furniture, and went back into the kitchen to where my brother still sat.
The second I sat back down, Gabe looked over at me and shook his head. “Cadence, please.”
“Gabe, please, enough. I’m going home. Whatever happens between Connor and I is between us. Now, let’s get this stuff out of here and get on the road.”
Cadence
I sat in the living room, a cup of tea at my side and a roaring fire going in the fireplace. Gabe and I had been back in Willow Valley for almost four days. I pulled my shawl tighter around my shoulders and turned on the tree that sat in the corner. It was Christmas Eve. Gabe had gone into town to pick up some last-minute things for the holidays while I stayed and made dinner.
I’d just shoved a chicken into the oven and had put another log on the fire. It was getting late. I wandered over to the window and looked outside at the snow that was peacefully falling. I pulled the blinds, hoping to keep the heat in this old farmhouse, and turned on the TV, curling up under the blanket on the couch.
Over the past couple of days, I’d picked up the phone to call Connor twice, but both times, I’d hung up. I needed to go over exactly what I’d tell him in my mind before speaking to him. I was about to pick up the phone again while Gabe was gone, but I heard a noise outside.
I got up off the couch and looked out. Nothing was out of the ordinary, except for a light on in the barn. I frowned. It was dark now, and Gabe’s truck wasn’t outside. I’d only checked an hour ago, and the light hadn’t been on. I knew all the farmhands should be gone by now unless they’d forgotten something.
Dropping my shawl on the couch, I slid my boots on and stepped outside. I didn’t want to go outside, but I also didn’t want that light on all night. I grabbed my coat off the hook and pulled the door open.
I made my way over toward the barn, careful not to slip, and pulled the door open. I frowned at what I found. Connor’s truck was inside the barn. Attached to it was his small horse trailer.
“What on earth?” I exclaimed, stepping around the truck until I could see Connor over by Ember’s old stall.
He came walking out of the stable, a serious look on his face.
“Gabe’s not here,” I barked.
“I’m not here to see Gabe. I’m here to see you, and I’m glad you’re here,” he said, closing the door and latching it shut.
I did my best to fight back the tears I could feel getting ready to fall. I crossed my arms in front of me. No matter how much time had passed, no matter how hurt or how angry I was, I still wanted to run into his arms. I just couldn’t allow myself to. I needed him to know he couldn’t do this to me. He couldn’t just allow Bill and Paula to walk over him, or me.
“What’s going on?” I asked, my tone firm.
Connor looked at the floor. “Well, I thought I’d bring over your Christmas gift,” he said, stepping back and gesturing for me to come over and see.
I looked around, let out a breath, and took a step over toward him, glancing inside Ember’s stable. Cinnamon stood inside the stall, a large red bow on the horse. “What is Cinnamon doing here?”
