Chapter 19 #4
Clay pushed off the wall and walked over to where Libby and Travis sat.
He knelt down in front of them. “I’ve known for a long time how much you don’t want Harper to work with the horses she so loves.
We’ve all seen it. The thing she loves most, you want to deny her because you want her to take your place.
I’m respectfully letting you know that I love Harper with everything I am.
I always have, just didn’t tell her because I thought it was always one sided.
Then the mate bond snapped into place and my love for her then made perfect sense, and it made it even stronger than I ever thought it could be.
I love her. Her being happy makes me happy.
I took the last of my finals and I’m not going back to school.
I hated it, always have. Because I used my scholarships, I didn’t spend the college fund that my parents had saved and invested for me.
So, I used it to buy the Bigsby Equine Center.
It’s mine now, mine and Harper’s. I put both our names on the title.
We will build it up, make it profitable, doing what Harper loves every single day.
If that upsets you, I’m sorry, but she has a right to her own life outside of working a farm for you every single day.
I’m giving her her dream, and a love she’ll never have to question in any way.
If she’ll have me. I hope that you both give us your blessing.
If not, I’m sorry, but if she accepts me, we’re doing it anyway. ”
Libby went to her knees in front of Clay and hugged him. “I’m so very happy it’s you! So happy. And oh, my gosh! You bought her the horse center! She’s going to flip out!”
“Happily I hope!” Clay said.
“Oh, yes! Without a doubt. But you have to tell her who that woman was. She believes she was your girlfriend.”
“Where is she?” Clay asked.
Neither Libby or Travis answered, they just shrugged their shoulders instead.
Clay turned around to look at Maia. “Do you know?”
“You love her with all you are,” Maia said.
“I do!” Clay exclaimed, getting to his feet.
“Then where is she?” Maia asked.
“The horses!” he said.
Summer took the few steps to get to him and hugged him. “You’re the best for her. Nobody could ever be better for Harper. Sorry I made you search across the road for her, but the second time I sent you over there was for making sure I never got a date in high school.”
Clay hugged her quickly, then stepped back with a grin. “She told you, huh?”
“I don’t forgive you yet. You’re going to be looking over your shoulders for awhile.”
“It’s okay. I forgive you,” he said with a smile before he moved toward the door.
Travis stepped in front of him.
Clay stopped and looked Travis in the eye.
Neither said anything, but Travis held out his hand.
Clay looked down at Travis’s hand, then put his own out and they shook hands before Travis pulled him in and hugged him, patting him firmly on the back. “I’m glad it’s you. And I’m sorry. Tell her I’m sorry.”
“You tell her. That’s the right way to do it,” Clay said.
Travis nodded and stepped back out of the way.
Clay rushed from the room, slamming the door behind himself as he went.
They all watched as he ran through the side gate to his car, then sped off on his way to catch up with Harper.
A pretty young woman stepped outside the restaurant, her hands holding multiple bags of to-go containers of food.
“Oh, crap! That’s the attorney. I gotta go check on her before she leaves!” Richie said, hurrying out of the house as he called her name and waved to her.
“And that leaves just us,” Maia said.
“Yep. What are we going to do now?” Riley asked.
“I’m going to take my time getting to the Bigsby’s, then I’m hoping I’ll get to share some of their happiness,” Libby said, standing up and brushing off her swimsuit.
“Do you think they’d let me be there, too?” Travis asked.
“I don’t know. You going to tell them how to run their horse business, too?” Libby snapped.
“What do I have to do to make it up to you?”
“You have to make it up to Harper,” Libby said. She turned her attention to Maia and held up the drink she’d almost finished. “Can I bring your cup back when I see you next?”
“You can,” Maia said. “On the condition that you start coming around more. You’re my bestie. I miss you.”
“I’ll be here so much you’ll be begging me to go away.”
“Deal.”
Libby walked out, giving Riley a wide berth. “Bye, Riley.”
“Later, Libs.”
Travis stood up and smiled at Maia, then at Riley. “Thank you both.” He walked over to the door then looked back again. He shrugged. “I’m sorry.”
“The not taking her word for it, Travis, that’s the part that is so hard to understand,” Maia said.
“I just thought she was exaggerating to make me see how much she hated having to be a part of our business.”
“When a woman says something has occurred and it’s got her behavior in an uproar, and she’s upset. It’s occurred,” Maia said calmly.
Travis nodded. He looked at Summer, still standing beside Maia and glaring at him. “Maybe come have breakfast with us again sometime?”
“I’m sure I will at some point. But it’ll have to be after Harper forgives you.”
“I’ll work hard on that.”
He opened the door and turned back to them one last time. “I was an ass. I was so caught up in the future that I decided would be most secure for her, that I discounted every other thing that was possible. There’s no excuse.”
“Doesn’t mean you’re a bad male. Just means that sometimes letting your children find their way is the best way to love them, instead of planning their future for their safety,” Maia said.
Travis nodded, then left, closing the door quietly behind himself.
“Got another frappe?” Summer asked.
“You know I do. Won’t take a minute to make it for you. Come on,” Maia said, leading the way into the kitchen.
“What about me?” Riley asked.
“Take a shower!” they both said.