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What else had my father lied about?

Please take care of Sadie. She’ll do you some good and I know you’ll fall in love with her. Just remember, she’s broken inside. I hope you’ll find a special place in your heart for her.

He didn’t sign off. He just ended the note.

But with what he’d said, he’d not only pulled good memories in front of the bad, but he’d also reminded me that I wasn’t the only fucked-up creature in the world.

I tossed the piece of paper onto the counter, staring down at the beer. Suddenly, I didn’t want it any longer.

“Stay here, buddy. This is something I need to do alone.” Tank didn’t try to follow me as I headed to the front door, hesitating before heading outside. Juliette was nowhere to be seen. Just as well. She’d have something to say about how I handled the horse.

The late afternoon sun was waning, dipping low in the sky. As I headed to the corral, I realized my uncle had been planting seeds or as I’d heard someone say, leaving Easter eggs with the notes. The man had found a way to force me to face the ugliness from my past as well as the uncertainty about my future.

What the hell was I supposed to do now?

I walked slowly toward the gate. Sadie noticed my approach. At first, she was skittish, lifting her head high as she studied me. If I were her, I’d be uncertain of me as well. But as I drew closer, she walked with determined steps toward the fence.

When I was a few feet away, we stared at each other again.

“Sadie, huh?” I asked.

The lift of her head was frank and telling.

She hated me.

Hell, I hated me too.

I walked closer to the fence, placing my foot on the bottom wooden slat. “I’m Kage.”

Sadie wasn’t impressed. I couldn’t blame her. I’d done nothing but bark since she’d arrived. When she took two tentative steps closer, I leaned on the top rail. It had been a long time since I’d ridden, but Henry had been right. I’d been so happy when my dad had allowed me to ride. We’d gone to the ranch every weekend for several months.

Then I’d heard the colt who’d grown several inches by that point had died. When I’d asked why, I’d been told from a broken heart. It had been much later I’d learned she’d died from heart failure because of what she’d been through.

How the fuck had my uncle known that?

I hadn’t spoken to my father since the argument after I’d told him about Henry’s will.

Jesus.

“I don’t know, Sadie, if I’m the best guy to take care of you. I’ve got issues.”

I’d be damned if the horse didn’t snort. She understood every word.

“Don’t rub it in. But my uncle thought we’d make a good team.” I had one arm dangled over the fence. Just staring at the baby and the injuries she’d received.

Sadie stood right where she was for another minute before walking toward me, nuzzling my hand.

The simple act brought another flood of emotions that I usually couldn’t tolerate. At least today, they reminded me other people and animals were suffering more than I’d ever experienced.

I stroked her mane. The art of feeling sorry for myself while remaining angry with the world wasn’t working any longer. But I also didn’t need some chick trying to tell me how to live my life.

A horse.

What in the hell was I going to do with a horse?

The bigger question loomed in the back of my mind.

What about my life?