34. Harlow
Chapter 34
Harlow
I t’s amazing outside. The weather has been cooler the last few days, but the sun is high in the sky. With a gentle breeze and scarce clouds, fifty degrees feel warmer. Harrison and I leave in two days for our trip to another farm. He mentioned that they got their hands on a horse he has an interest in.
Today I’m taking Star over to the south end of the property. Harrison took a quad out to refill a feeder that some deer tore up. He doesn’t know I’m riding out there, but I felt like seeing how his day is going.
With weather like this, I want to take advantage while I can. Plus, I only have so much time left, and I want to spend some of it with Star. She’s such a perfect girl, I wish I could take her back with me. After this, I know I’ll get a horse of my own.
The fields are gold and there is a lot of noise coming from the east. Harrison said that most of the hands were working hard finishing up clearing the fields.
As I ride past, I see Hunter sitting on a tractor, looking at the young stable hand I always see him with. They talk and smile with ease. I watch as Hunter takes Jake’s hat off and tosses it like a frisbee away from them. His head is thrown back in laughter as Jake scowls and chases after it.
This community is so tight, and I’m a little jealous that I’ll lose sight of them all when I go back home. I know I can come back and visit, which I plan to, but it’s still hard.
I nudge Star, and we make the rest of the way over to the south lot. Harrison is done unloading the trailer he had attached to the quad, and now he’s just sitting on the back of it.
It’s pretty idyllic. Harrison is sitting backward on his four-wheeler, his feet propped up on the trailer behind it. His elbows are resting on his knees, and he looks over to the tree line. The same one that he’s been sketching for his future home.
The trees are deep greens, oranges, reds, and yellows, all mixed and lovely. The wind blows, and Harrison takes hold of his Stetson before it gets blown right off his head. He’s wearing that lined jacket I love and dark jeans over his usual boots. I watch him for a while, enjoying being able to witness him in a quiet moment.
“Harrison!” I call as I kick Star and head down to him.
His head whips around to look over, and the smile I’ve been granted is brighter than the sun itself. He hops off the back and waves me over.
“Hey, witch,” he greets me, rubbing a hand up my thigh.
“How’s your day going?” I go to dismount, but his grip tightens.
“It’s been great. We moved the cattle, cleaned out the feeder, and put a fresh bale in. Now, I’m just relaxing before heading over to help the others. I should help a little more since we’re leaving this weekend.”
He looks as happy as everyone else here. Jake, Hunter, Cassidy, Blake, even Silas. Everyone in Pebble Creek has a comfortability that I don’t see at home.
“Let’s head back then. I’ll help, too.” I know nothing about helping clear a cornfield. I don’t know anything about farming at all, but I want to help where I can.
“Yeah, let’s head back,” he agrees.
I lean over Star’s side as far as I can, and Harrison stands on the balls of his feet to meet me for a quick kiss.
This trip is everything I needed to figure out what I was missing before I settle in back home. I was missing my spirit. I was needing a little fuel for my fire. This trip has recharged every battery: social, mental, sexual, and career. I feel better than I have since . . . well, since I can remember.
Star and I ride alongside Harrison on the quad and on occasion, we kick it into a higher gear before slowing back down again. We’ve ridden this land together about half a dozen times over the last few weeks, but each time, it feels like I’ve missed it so much. The details are always changing and becoming more beautiful.
Everything is simple, and yet it’s the most magnificent piece of land I’ve ever seen. As we pass the bunkhouse, its charming blue-gray siding and dark roof look perfect against the yellow trees and gold grass around it. The only thing that sticks out like a sore thumb is my rental. It almost ruins the picture.
We continue to the stable and ride by the main house, enjoying our small venture. As we come up the drive, Harrison stops his ride right where the road hits the opening. He looks over his shoulder at me only for a moment before Star and I approach, then I can see why he stopped and waited.
A black SUV sits on the lot, smack dab in the middle, not even pulling into a space next to the group of trucks that are lined up along the fence. A man in a suit with his arms crossed stands in front of with another man in a similar suit talking his ear off.
I’m not happy that I recognize the pair, and I’m even more unhappy that Heath’s work husband needed to tag along. Harrison pulls forward and I follow. When he veers off to the side next to Hunter, Cassidy, and Blake, I continue forward toward the stable, stopping right in front of the pair.
“Hello, dear.” Heath looks up at me through sunglasses, flashing a smile. “Long time, no see.” His voice is meant to charm, but it’s not working on me. It’s actually making me anxious because I had plans with the Hills today, and now I don’t think that’s going to happen.
I loosen my hold on the reins and pat Star a few times; it helps me busy my hands and shifts my attention away from uncertain feelings.
How?
Why?
Is this weird?
We don’t know each other, and he just showed up at my vacation spot, a spot that I didn’t tell him about.
“How did you find me?” are the first words that come out of my mouth, before a greeting or any other kind of pleasantries. I kick my leg over my saddle and dismount. Heath’s arms uncross and reach for me, but quickly are tucked into his pockets when he realizes I don’t need help.
“Are we not keeping secrets anymore?” His smile grows wider.
I cross my arms and give a stern look. Harrison’s and his protective family’s eyes are on us. This is a good enough reason to not have more of this conversation in front of everyone .
“Come meet my hosts, and I’ll bring you in for a cup of coffee,” I offer. I take Star by the reins and lead her over to a waiting and curious Jake. Jogging back to the group, I eye them all. Everyone but Heath is on edge; even his shadow, Ryan, can sense the tension.
“Heath, these are my hosts and now very good friends, Harrison Hill, his brother Hunter, his wife Cassidy, and last but not least, this is Blake, their daughter.” Blake squeals at the mention of her name, unknowing of what tension is.
“You guys, this is Heath and his personal assistant, Ryan. They are acquaintances from back home . . . and colleagues of my very busy and, apparently, very nosy family.”
Hunter nods, Cassidy offers a polite smile, B makes a random stink eye, and Harrison walks up to me. I worry about his next action but the only thing that happens is Harrison extending his strong arm out toward Heath.
“Welcome,” he states.
Heath steps forward, dwarfed by Harrison, and takes his hand.
“Thank you for hosting Harlow; she seems to be enjoying her stay.”
When they break free, I notice Harrison’s smile. It’s not one I’ve seen before, and it causes the acid in my stomach to rise. My sweet golden boy isn’t here.
“Well, these guys have a lot of work to do. How about you come back with me, and we have that cup of coffee.”
“Sounds good to me.” Heath turns and talks to Ryan who nods twice and then jumps into the driver seat of their SUV. “Lead the way, love.”
Harrison’s smile falls quickly, and he turns on his heel to head toward the stable .
Ryan surprises me by driving away, and I turn to Heath, who smiles.
“Didn’t think we needed an audience.”
“We have to walk to where I’m staying.”
“Then let’s walk.”
I look Heath up and down and notice his designer loafers. I’m not going to argue with him, but his shoes will be ruined, and his feet will be sore. I know that part of this has to be a show, but I still appreciate that he sent Ryan away.
We start walking, and I notice him trying to look and see my place from here.
Nope, not going to see it for a minute.
“How will you get back to where you’re staying?”
He acts appalled, overly dramatically so.
“Are you saying I can’t stay with you, Harlow?”
Well, fuck. I can already tell this conversation is going to take every ounce of my patience to navigate.
We’ve been at my place for about ten minutes, coffee has been brewed, and we’re seated in the living space. I’m in the wingback chair, because it’s a single seat, and Heath is on the couch.
Cleo had come to the door to greet me, and likely Harrison—who has somehow won her heart—only to find that I had brought someone else in. She had hissed and ran up the stairs to safe quarters.
“So, why didn’t you just tell me you were going to a ranch?” he asks, no edge to his tone.
“Maybe I just wanted space, so no one was keeping tabs on me.” I kind of feel bad for adding my own edge to the conversation, but hell, he kind of stalked me.
“Do you feel like people are keeping tabs on you?”
“Always—my mom, my sisters, my job. Everyone always needs to know where I am and what I’m doing. I just wanted a little space before I?—”
Heath waits for a few beats, waiting to see what I am going to say, but I don’t budge.
“Okay, well, I meant for my showing up to be a sweet surprise. I’d like to take you to dinner. I guess I didn’t want you forgetting about me.”
He’s been talking to me daily. I couldn’t forget about him if I wanted to.
“No flowers?” I joke.
“You prefer plants, which I didn’t want you to have to try and fly with.”
Oh shit, he has been listening.
“So, how did you find me? Since I told you why I didn’t tell anyone where I was going.”
“Money. I spent a decent amount of money to find where you were. Hayleigh told me Meg wasn’t with you, and that she was worried, which I could tell was a farce, and that she more likely wanted to stir the pot. I said I would reach out to see if you were okay, and if not, I’d fly to the islands myself.” He drinks some coffee—sugar, no cream.
“Wait. Does my family know I’m not in St. Thomas?” I tuck my legs underneath me as I grow a little more comfortable.
“No, I could tell Hayleigh had an agenda. I didn’t want to be part of it. I did, however, think it weird that Meg was back in town, and you weren’t. I also thought it was weird that you called me. So, I paid for a little investigating. I was surprised to find you here in this small town. It seems much too drab for you.”
I don’t know why, but I feel defensive. Pebble Creek may be small, but it is not drab. It’s filled with character and charm. It’s filled with lovely shops and even lovelier people .
“It’s not. It’s just what I needed.”
“I like that they have a guide for while you’re on horseback.”
A guide? Harrison is not my guide. I’m free to ride wherever I want on this land, save for the pastures with cattle to avoid injury.
“Right, it has a lot more to offer than what first meets the eye. I can’t pretend I didn’t get stir-crazy at first, but being this disconnected from the world is nice. This town has a lot to offer, especially when you start seeing its deeper roots.”
Heath nods and finishes his coffee. He asks me what I’ve done so far during my stay, and I ask about business and anything new for him. The conversation is cordial enough, but it lacks the kind of substance I would hope to have with my partner for the rest of my life.
“I often do a bit of editing and sometimes a little nap about now. Do you need a ride back to where you’re staying?” I offer.
“No, Ryan should be back any moment. Don’t let me stop you. I can work while you work.”
And he does. I don’t make any effort to try and entertain him. He works on his phone, and I read a manuscript. It’s honestly not terrible, almost companionable . . . almost.
When Ryan pulls up to the bunkhouse, Heath stands to leave. I move to stand, but he puts up a hand.
“Stay. I’ll see myself out. Keep doing what you’re doing.” He steps closer to where I’m sitting and then kisses the top of my head.
“I’m leaving tomorrow; will you let me take you to dinner tonight?”
I look at him standing over me, an unusual sight.
“Sure. ”
He gives me a gentle smile before letting himself out the door. His footsteps are light and even, no rush. As I listen a little closer, I notice a small drag to one of his steps. Strange how we can notice so much about a person’s footfalls.
Not long after Heath leaves, I hear the sound of heavy boots jogging across the wooden patio, the front door swinging open, and then more heavy thuds across the floors until they halt in front of me.
Harrison kneels in front of me, hands on my knees.
“Are you okay?” he asks, concern all over his face.
“Yeah, just surprised.”
“That was the guy.” He stays where he is, and I pull his hat off his head, putting it next to me. I run my fingers through his hair and nod.
“Yeah, that was him. That’s the guy my family is setting me up with.”
Hurt replaces concern for only a moment. He rises from his knees, takes my hand, and walks me over to the couch. The empty mug I had placed on the floor is picked up, as well as Heath’s on the coffee table. He brings them into the kitchen, and I hear the clink of dishes for a few moments. When he comes back into the room, he comes from the front where he’s taken off his shoes, and then sets two fresh mugs on the table.
Like an old habit, he hands me my mug and pulls my feet into his lap.
“Tell me what’s going on.”
And I do, no details left out, except for maybe my feelings for him. Those details haven’t been worked out in my mind. The parts about lying to my family and any future involving Heath are all easy to tell him. It’s like writing in a journal; it comes out effortlessly and there is no fear.
I could try to work out how much I feel for him and his family, but it could be just as simple as meeting another person like Meg in my life. A staple. A new piece of foundation.
While I talk, Harrison listens and reassures me that I’m not crazy, although the situation is. He is shocked at how hard I had to work to get out of my family’s grasp. He’s proud of me for not depending on my trust or family’s money often. He’s proud that I made a living for myself. I can tell he wants to express his worries where Heath is concerned, but he doesn’t.
When we’re done talking, I realize he hasn’t had any of his coffee; he’s just been squeezing away at my feet.
“Let me reheat your coffee.” I stand and take his cup to the kitchen where I begin to heat it.
Harrison moves to where I am, standing behind me and wrapping his strong arms around me. His chin rests on my shoulder, and I feel a deep inhale and exhale.
“As shitty as this is going to be to say, I can’t stop myself. I wish I could tell him to stay the fuck away from us. I only have a few more weeks with you and then you get to be his. I don’t even think you should go through with it. I have a piece of paper with your signature on it saying you’re mine until you say you don’t want to be . . . or until the day you leave.” He drags his nose down the column of my neck, inhaling and then letting out a sigh.
“Are either of those happening today?” he asks.
I shake my head.
“Then cancel dinner.” He sounds like a whiny child, and I fight the smile that starts to curve my lips.
“I can’t. It’s just dinner.”
“You’ll have a ton of time for dinner with him. I have less than thirty days.”
“He’s leaving tomorrow. Stop being like this. ”
Harrison’s arms drop, and he reaches over my shoulder to open the microwave and pull his mug out.
“Well, if you’re going to go, we might as well pick you a nice outfit.” And just like that, the sweet boy is back. It worries me how he has to force himself to shift into a positive gear.
We climb the stairs, and Harrison sits on the edge of my bed, sipping on his coffee as he tells me everything I own except for a pair of black jeans and a black hoodie is ugly. I roll my eyes at him, and he winks.
After quite some debate, we settle on jeans and a sweater.
He’s not happy and, frankly, neither am I. But this is the ways things are, and we just have to accept that.
Harrison
This.
Is.
Horseshit.