Chapter 42
Tristan
As Sadie, Lark, and I are walking into the kitchen, I can hear my father barking at my sisters, and I pray that, just this once, he can behave. Lark was nervous—hell, I’m nervous—but thankfully things have gone well so far.
Seeing how she and Sadie interact makes my decision to be with Lark feel more and more right. They both get along great and often gang up on me—which is not so great.
“Where is she?” Pop barks.
“Dad, I’m warning you,” Harper’s voice rings out.
I step into the room first, taking Lark’s hand in mine. “There’s no need to warn him, Harper. He knows I’ll put him in a home if he acts up.”
Pop scoffs. “You’d have to catch me first, son.”
I roll my eyes. He thinks he can outrun all of us. In some ways, he does, though he’s mostly just running us in circles.
“Hi, Mr. Stone,” Lark says, dropping my hand. “I’m Lark. You already know my last name, but it’s really nice to meet you.”
Dad steps to her, taking her hands in his. “Sweetheart, you’re the only Gatlin I’d ever let around here.”
Lark smiles broadly. “Really? Why is that?”
“Because one day you can be a Stone.” He winks, and Lark bursts out laughing.
“Well, all right then. You are adorable.”
“You think so?” Pop puffs up his chest. “I was a handsome man in my prime.”
“You’re a handsome man now,” Lark tells him.
Pop grins. “What do you say you dump that loser over there and we can have dinner.”
I come up behind her, my hand resting on her back. “That’s enough from you, old man.”
“Yeah, yeah, you just don’t like that I’m smooth and the ladies adore me.” He bumps Lark with his elbow. “You’re thinking about it, ain’t you?”
“I am. Very seriously, actually,” Lark agrees and then turns to face me. “I mean, he is adorable and clearly has game. Can you top dinner?”
“I built you a tent on the ridge,” I remind her. “With lights and a sink.”
She turns to Pop. “He did do that.”
“And I drove you home in a damn monsoon and stepped in when some asshole was being handsy, and I took you away for a romantic getaway.”
“You took her away? When was this?” Veronica asks with a smirk.
“Mind your business.”
Harper snorts. “You’re having this fight in front of us, which pretty much means we’re in the business.”
“She’s got a point,” Lark agrees with my sister.
I swear I’m having an out-of-body experience right now. Up is down and right is left. The world has gone off its axis.
That’s the only explanation I can come up with for what’s happening.
Veronica comes around the island, handing Lark a glass of wine. “Here you go.”
Lark smiles and accepts it. “Thanks.”
“Anything for someone who likes to give Tristan shit.”
I clench my jaw, because if I keep going, they’ll keep going.
The woman I love takes a sip of her wine, grinning at me over the rim of the glass. She’s so going to pay for this. Then I remember she’s not allowed alcohol, so I reach over and pluck the glass from her.
“Hey!” she protests.
“You can’t drink yet.”
Lark huffs. “You’re no fun.”
Dad sidles up to her. “I’d let you have wine.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
“As fun as this is, can we eat now? Lark has a doctor’s appointment in two hours, and all of you have work to do.” I look to my father. “And you have to put up a solar-powered fan for the goat pen that Sadie roped you into.”
“Yeah, yeah, every party has a pooper, Tristan. I guess you’re it,” he tosses back.
“I’ll wear that hat. Now let’s eat,” I demand as I take my seat, and that’s my first mistake.
All the women, including my daughter, stand there looking at me like I’m out of my mind.
Harper laughs softly. “Well, well, the king has spoken.”
“Lark, are you sure you want to date a man who just issues orders?” Veronica asks.
Fallon chimes in, because of course they can’t just let something go. “I wouldn’t stand for it. Put your foot down.”
And, of course, the abuse wouldn’t be complete without my father. “I would never demand anything from you, darling.”
Lark lets out a giggle and then fixes her face into a scowl that is clearly not meant to be one, based on the scrunch around her mouth. “You guys make good points. I’ll be sure to make him pay for it.”
Sadie plops down beside me and grins. “I really like her.”
I glance up at Lark. “Yeah, I do, too, against my better judgment.”
Lark wraps her arms around my shoulders and kisses my cheek from behind. “I really like your family.”
I turn my face to look into her eyes. “Seems they like you too. Who knew it was possible?”
Her smile is bright as she lets go and sits beside me. A Gatlin and the Stones, enjoying a meal without bloodshed.
Only Lark could accomplish this.
“No, absolutely not,” I say as Lark walks Cloud out of the ring toward the tack room.
Today I got a call that I needed to come to Lark’s barn. Her brother said she was going to ride. I should’ve known. I should’ve known this woman was going to test every fucking limit there is.
We had a great lunch yesterday. We enjoyed each other’s company and got to see my family not be a bunch of hateful assholes. All seemed well in the world.
Today that all went to shit.
“Tristan, I’m not asking for permission. I’m a grown woman, a horse trainer, and I know what I’m doing. So either you get your shit together or you go back to your farm and don’t watch. Either way, I’m getting on this horse.”
Of course I had to fall in love with a freaking headstrong woman. I couldn’t have found someone who just likes to ride occasionally or doesn’t have a death wish.
“I’m begging you,” I say, trying a different angle.
“No. I’m sorry, but Cloud did nothing wrong, and he’s a great horse. I’m going to ride him, and then I want Sadie to start working with him.”
My hands ball into fists, and I tighten before releasing them. “That’s not…”
She ties Cloud off to the post and rests her hand on my face.
“I know you’re scared, love. I get it. You almost lost her and then me—all on the same horse.
I don’t blame you one bit for every part of you rejecting this idea, but know this…
I would never put myself or Sadie in danger.
If I thought for one minute that either of us would be harmed, I would never suggest it. ”
“You both already came to harm!”
How does she not remember this? It was weeks ago. She was in a goddamn coma. No, I can’t do it. I can’t watch her or let her put Sadie on that horse.
“And that wasn’t anyone’s fault. It was an accident, Tristan.
A terrible one, but we are fine. Sadie isn’t going to mount him, just handle him a little.
I want her to do weeks of training before she gets on him, but I think she needs this.
Do you want her—or me—to live in constant fear around something we love?
Do you want us to just give up and never live? ”
That question is not fair.
I take a step back, pulling my hat off and dropping it against my leg. “That’s not what I’m saying.”
“No. It is what you’re saying.” She gives me a soft smile. “I’m not fragile, and neither is Sadie.”
Fragile? I never thought she was fragile. If she were any stronger, she’d be Athena, the goddess who came from Zeus.
“I’m very aware of your strength, Lark.”
“Then trust it.”
I wish it were that simple. “I’m the one who isn’t strong.”
She huffs a laugh. “Oh, love, you’re the strongest man I know, if only you could lead with your heart instead of your head.”
“Well, my heart says it can’t handle losing either of you,” I tell her.
Lark steps closer and leans in. “Then we’re just going to have to make sure that doesn’t happen.” She kisses me quickly. “Now, are you going to watch or go?”
There’s not a chance in hell I’m going to let her do this alone. “I’ll be right by your side,” I inform her.
“Exactly where I want you to be.” She winks and grabs the lead, taking Cloud to saddle up.