Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
EMERSON
I wake to an empty bed, the sheets cold enough that I know Ford must have woken hours ahead of me.
The sun shines through the window, and I glance outside, taking in the quaint beauty of Whispering Willows. As Grampie was never one for socializing and Easton was always fixated on learning every nook and cranny of Broken Hart, I’d never seen much beyond the family ranch, but looking out over the surrounding land, I’m mesmerized at the sight.
The long rambling driveway is lined by enormous willow trees, and horses dot the pastures on either side. Bluebonnets surround the front yard, and there’s a small stream running parallel to the house, disappearing into the distance.
The rooms upstairs are all small but cozy, and the entire house feels so welcoming and homely that I’ve fallen utterly in love with the place, practically at first sight.
Once I’ve fixed the bed and washed up, I quickly throw on a pair of blue jeans and a white shirt from the case Hayley had been kind enough to pack for me. I couldn’t have handled wading through the media camped outside Ataraxia. Even the thought of them now makes my skin crawl.
Vultures.
I’m just grateful for the fact that Beck did as instructed, putting out an official statement announcing the cancellation of all promotional events in the lead-up to next week’s premiere of Breaking Us .
As I grab the boots my sister packed, I can’t help grinning at the thought of being back on a ranch after so many years away, and I hasten my actions, impatient to join Ford. Once the boots are on, I fly down the stairs, finding Abi homeschooling a very disgruntled Finley.
“What do I need to graduate for, Momma? I want to ranch like Sully. I don’t need any more schooling.”
“You need to finish your schooling, Fin. End of discussion.”
Abi rolls her eyes good-naturedly before nodding at the stovetop. “I kept you some breakfast.” I’m about to decline when she quirks a golden eyebrow. “Ford told me I was to ensure you ate it.”
Of course he did.
I grab my plate without further fuss, inhaling the maple bacon and thick, fluffy pancakes in record time as Finley continues complaining. To her credit, Abi ignores her daughter entirely, and as I’m loading my empty plate into the dishwasher, she nods toward the back door.
“Ford and Sully are working in one of the corrals this morning.”
Smiling my thanks, I rush outside, turning my face up to bask in the morning sunshine with a smile on my lips. A slight breeze makes the extreme heat less so, and the sweet fragrance of bluebonnets fills the air.
I make my way across the yard, bypassing the barn and the handful of workers within to come upon four enormous corrals.
Whispering Willows is primarily a breeding ranch, though in my small research on the jet, I discovered that recent years have also led to training for other stables. From the sound of things, that seems to be an addition made by Fallon, who’s listed as the head trainer on the ranch’s website.
She’s currently guiding a gorgeous grey around one of the corrals to my left, a scowl that would strike fear in the hearts of millions plastered across her face.
The reason for her scowl is farther away, in a separate corral to my right. My feet slam to an immediate halt when I spot Ford gripping the neck of his simple white T-shirt to tug it over his head, showcasing his broad tatted chest and mouthwatering abs.
He notches the familiar beloved black cowboy hat atop his head with a panty-melting grin, and my heart constricts when I watch him vault onto the back of a side-stepping dark brown quarter horse.
The animal is agitated and clearly nervous about riders, but even so, Ford’s face is split with what could only be described as a shit-eating grin. When Sully loosens his hold on the reins, the horse rears up, and Ford’s whoop of sheer pleasure fills the whole ranch.
My heart thunders, blood pounding in my ears as I slowly approach the corral fencing until I’m beside the ranch manager.
He side-eyes me, tipping the brim of his cream cowboy hat with a grin. “Mornin’ ma’am.”
I can feel my cheeks heat slightly as I correct him. “I’m almost sure we’ve had this conversation at least a half dozen times over the years, Sully. Please…call me Emmy.”
We exchange a smile before he nods and reverts his gaze to Ford, whose horse attempts to buck him off, but to no avail.
“Sidewinder here is a rescue horse, but she has such an aversion to touch that no one’s been able to even saddle her up before today.” He glances back at me with a smug look on his face. “Took Ford less’n ten minutes.”
Then he jerks his head in the direction of Fallon’s corral. “Hence the glare of death comin’ from over yonder.”
We share a chuckle, both of us intent on the performance before us. Sidewinder has lost some of her steam, only giving half-hearted attempts to throw her rider.
Ford’s face is filled with joy, a light shining from those beautiful blue eyes I’ve only seen when he looks at me. His lips are moving as he speaks calmly and quietly to his mount, and I watch on, entranced by the beautiful display before us.
My chest fills with emotion as I watch my cowboy in his element, a place he’s denied himself because of his father’s actions, and I can’t help but grit my teeth in frustration at the thought of the man who has stolen so much from so many people.
As I ponder the exploits of Jasper Holloway, Ford trots closer on Sidewinder, shooting me a grin before he slides out of the saddle and tosses the reins to a smirking Sully. He catches them and tips his hat to me as Ford ducks out of the corral.
Before he leaves, he pats Ford on the shoulder, nodding with a smile. “You certainly never lost your touch.”
Ford chuckles, slipping his gloves off and jamming them in his back pocket. “I had a good teacher.”
Before Sully can respond, Fallon’s voice cracks like a whip from her corral, and we all pivot to watch her glower.
“If you’re quite finished indulging our guest of honor , you’ll recall we have a busy day ahead, Luke Sullivan.”
When Sully regards her unblinkingly, she folds her arms over her chest and pops a dark brow. “That translates to move your ass, old man.”
Sully surprises me and makes Ford guffaw loudly when he drops into a courtesy, lifting his hat from his head to salute his employer. “I beg your pardon, my queen.”
I can just about see steam coming from Fallon’s ears as she spins on her heel, returning to the grey with a loud, exasperated huff, and as Sully moves off to join her, I hear him murmur for me and Ford only, “You’d swear I was decrepit, the way she tells it. I only just turned thirty-eight, for Pete’s sake.”
FORD
I’ve just finished lunch with Momma, Emmy, and Fin when Faith pops her head around the door of the kitchen. Her doe eyes find mine immediately, and she jerks her head toward the porch.
“Can we talk, Fordy?”
My nod is sharp, and I press a kiss to Emmy’s forehead before moving to follow my little pest of a sister as Momma’s voice calls after us. “Try to keep the bloodshed to a minimum, you two.”
Faith has the good graces to blush as she steps onto the porch ahead of me, and I gesture to the swing where we both take a seat, albeit farther apart than we’d usually sit.
“I’m sorry.”
I raise my eyebrows, only blinking as I wait for her to elaborate, but when it’s not forthcoming, I murmur, “And?”
She swallows roughly before glancing around the porch as though to ensure our privacy. And when she speaks, her voice is a low whisper. “It’s Lissie. She needs your help. She listens to you.”
My brows are drawn as I shake my head. “Rewind there, Pest. First, your apology, and then we’ll address your skewed reasoning, okay?”
Faith closes her eyes and blows out a breath before opening them again. “I apologize that I tricked you into coming home. In my defense, I truly didn’t think it would work?—”
“You thought I wouldn’t come back here if Momma was hurt? Are you kiddin’ me?—”
She waves her hands as she shakes her head. “No, no, I meant I spoke without thinking.” Then she murmurs to herself with a frown. “I seem to have a habit of not engaging my brain before I open my mouth.”
I snort a laugh, nodding my agreement, before gesturing that she should continue.
“What I’m trying to say is that I’m sorry, and I’m so damn happy to see you I could cry, so please stop being mad at me. I love you.”
As she blinks those big doe eyes, I feel the wind disappear from my sails, and I close the gap between us to tug her against my chest. The tension evaporates from her shoulders instantly as her arms wind around my neck, and the evening is still around us for a long beat.
“I love you, too, Pest.”
She heaves a relieved sigh, hugging me more tightly before questioning, “Now, can we discuss Lissie?”
I sit back enough to look down at her, reaching to hold her hand when her eyes grow solemn. “What’s up with Lissie?”
“Well, you know how she wants to be a singer, right?”
At my nod, she continues, “Well, there’s an open mic night at Rebels on the third Friday of every month, and she keeps saying how she’d love to go, but every time it rolls around, she finds an excuse not to.” She shrugs. “I dunno. I think if you were to offer to go along with her, maybe she’d actually go this time.”
“What makes you think my presence will work?”
“You’re her big brother. She trusts your opinion. She loves you? Take your pick.” Faith frowns before shrugging once more. “It’s worth a try, Fordy. Everyone deserves at least a shot at their dreams, right?”
Momma steps out onto the porch before I can answer, regarding us both with a wary gaze. “No shots fired?”
I chuckle as Faith shakes her head before snuggling in closer in an exaggerated display of togetherness. “Nah, my big brother couldn’t be pissed—” At Momma’s stern glance, Faith shoots upright, changing her verbiage. “I mean to say, Fordy couldn’t be annoyed by his Pest any longer than absolutely necessary.”
She stands up and walks to Momma’s side before shooting me a wink. “Besides, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?”
“Who’s our mutual enemy?”
Momma chuckles as she pulls Faith back inside, calling out over her shoulder. “Seems like poor Fal is everyone’s enemy these days.”