Page 15

“Hm. Yeah, I can understand that. Sometimes we just need to start over, start clean.” Jen pauses and loses herself in thought for a brief second. “I left college when I was twenty. It was too much for me, and I needed some space to think, to breathe. So, I moved to Wyoming. I was originally going to only stay here a year, give myself some time to unwind. But then I met Adam. Instead of going back after a year, well, we were married, and I had Levi.” She smiles to herself at the mention of her family.
“Wait, how soon did you get married after you met Adam?” The math in my head means they married each other right out of the gate.
“Two months. We fell in love and couldn’t deny what we felt for each other.” Well, that confirms my math.
My mind races at the thought of what would have happened if I had married Mitch right after meeting him. Would he still be the same monster he became later? How much worse would it have been?
“Wow. That’s … incredible.” Shaking my head, I pick at my sandwich. “I don’t think I know anyone that has ever fallen in love that fast, or even gotten married.”
“Sweetheart, sometimes you just know. You feel it in your bones, deep in your bones. Love’s an unpredictable thing in our lives. There’s no guarantee when it will come around, no set date, no set time. Love just appears, and you can’t deny destiny. There’s no denying what the heart wants.” Jen smiles at me.
“Sure, I guess.” There’s nothing I can even say to all that. I thought I knew what my heart wanted, but those were lies. It’s nice to think that you can just know you are meant to love someone, but I don’t think that’s how it happens for everyone. Not me, at least.
“Oh, Ry said he is going to come help you learn the ranch on Monday.” She winks at me and laughs, but I tilt my head and narrow my eyes in confusion.
Clearly, I’m not in on whatever joke’s there. “Doesn’t he have sheriff duties to attend to?”
“Yup. But he took some time off. Benefits of being sheriff, I guess. Anyway, he’ll be here with you, working with you side by side.” Jen walks to the sink with her plate. I blush at the thought of being near Ryker all day.
Nope. Nope. Nope. Shake that shit right off.
Standing up from the table, I bring my plate to Jen, and she shows me what we’re preparing for dinner for everyone. When there are long work days on the ranch, Jen makes sure to prepare a huge family dinner.
For a while, we’re working side by side, laughing and having a good time. We talk about movies we’ve seen, music we like, and concerts we’ve been to. Jen tells me some stories about Ryker as a child, and one of them in particular has me laughing so hard I’m crying. Apparently from the age of four to six, Ryker was scared to death of chickens. Levi, his older brother, had told him that chickens eat little kids and then hatch alien babies that look like the kid they ate. She said he wouldn’t even eat eggs for years after that. That might be why I see him with pancakes all the time.
I’ve never had this even with my own mom, this bonding time. Being in a kitchen or even anywhere and just talking and laughing. Her voice is actually comforting, relaxing me as we get into the nitty gritty of the cooking.
While I’m chopping peppers and onions, I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pick it up and see that Ryker texted me.
Ryker: Hey. How’s your day? Get all moved in?
Me: Hi. Yeah. I just had a bag, so …
Ryker: Is my mom keeping you busy then?
Me: She is. We’re making dinner. We went shopping and got some things for me.
Ryker: Good. I heard you got the job at the diner.
Me: Yep. I did. Thank you.
Ryker: You’re welcome.
I place the phone back in my pocket. My stomach does little flips as I think about Ryker. I must be standing there for a while because Jen grabs my attention.
“You okay, dear?” Jen’s voice pulls me back from my thoughts of all things Ryker.
“Oh, yeah. That was Ryker just checking to make sure I was okay.” Shaking myself out of my stupor, I go back to chopping the onions.
She gives a small laugh. “My Ryker. He’s a good man. Always looking out for other people, protecting those who can’t protect themselves.” She sighs. “He is fiercely protective of those he cares for.”
I stop chopping the onions. Placing the knife down, I wipe my hands and then grip the towel between my fingers. Heisa good man, and these people, his family, are good people. I’m not sure if it’s what she said or the onions, but I feel the tears well up in my eyes. My past can only bring trouble to them and Ryker. I can’t expect him to put himself and his family at risk.
“If you excuse me, I’m, um, starting to feel a little tired.” I need to get out of here. My chest is tightening, and my hands are shaking.
Before Jen has a chance to answer, I bolt out the back door and start walking. Tears stream down my face. I look up and see the horse stables. Without a second thought, I walk in that direction.
When I get there, I immediately go over to Amethyst. She huffs and whines as soon as she sees me.