Page 106 of Ride Me Cowboy

I don’t know if you’ll ever understand how much it meant to me, that night you asked me to join your family for dinner. I know it doesn’t seem like much, but you clearly saw how worried I was about the cougar, and Cole being out there. You made me feel safe, and you made me feel welcome. I think it was a turning point for me.

I’m sure Cole won’t tell you, because he’ll want to respect my privacy, but my marriage wasn’t happy. When I left New York, I was running away from a lot of things, and the way you all welcomed me has healed a part of me that I thought would always be broken.

Your passion for wine is incredible. I love how much you know about it. I’d really likeit if you’d let me ship my late husband’s wine collection to you. I was going to auction it off, but I have a feeling there’s no one who’d appreciate it more than you. Please send me a text if that’s okay, and I’ll arrange delivery.

Take care of yourself, and thanks again for everything.

Beth.

I grind my teeth, trying to untangle how I feel about that. The thought of anything that bastard owned making its way into my home makes my temper spike. At the same time, what was his is now Beth’s, and she’s right—no one will appreciate the wine more than Austin.

“What was she running from?” Austin asks.

One by one, like fucking dominos, they’re turning on me. My hackles are rising, my control slipping.

“That’s private.”

Austin’s jaw clenches and a muscle ticks low down to the side of his mouth.

We all wait in total silence while Caleb retrieves the other letters.

Nash goes first.

Nash—

Your passion for music and family have made me so happy. Thanks to you, I have heard some of the most beautiful songs, and been exposed to sounds I would never have stumbled across.

Be gentle with Mackenzie. She looks up to you all so much, and you especially, I think.

I can’t wait to see what she achieves, with you by her side.

Beth.

I clear my throat, pretty much done with this now. But it doesn’t matter how I’m feeling. Nash is still blocking my path, and Caleb starts reading:

Caleb,

We didn’t spend much time together, which is funny, because I feel like I know you almost better than the any of the others. You are so like Cole. Both so strong-willed, moral, decent and kind. I’m so glad he hasa friend like you. He shouldn’t be alone, the way he is.

Beth.

I glance at Caleb then look away again, because his eyes probe mine with something that makes my gut sink.

Shame.

He’s ashamed of me.

He thinks I’ve done the wrong thing.

“Any more?” Cassidy murmurs, her wine glass finished.

Caleb nods. “There’s one to Beau.”

“We should leave that for him,” I say.

“Yeah, because we’ve all been reading them privately,” Cass says with a roll of her eyes, taking the letter from Caleb.

She opens it, despite what I said.