Page 70 of The Lilac River

I fished through my purse and froze.

"Oh no."

"What?"

I groaned. "My phone. I left it at the ranch."

Cassidy’s eyes widened. Then she grinned like the cat who’d just been handed a saucer of cream.

"Well now," she said. "That’s going to be one hell of a return trip."

And I already knew she was right.

Because walking back into that house again wasn’t just about a forgotten phone.

It was about unfinished stories. And the man who still lived in all of mine.

Chapter 27

My Front Porch Looking In - Lonestar

Nash

It was rare I got a real lunch break, but today, I needed to check on Bertie. She’d looked brighter at breakfast, her color returning, her sass creeping back in, but still, a full day in bed wouldn’t hurt. Maybe it was selfish, but I just needed to see her with my own eyes. To know she was okay.

As I walked past the paddock, the noon sun blazing overhead, my boots kicked up dry dust that clung to my jeans. The sky was a pale, cloudless blue, Colorado’s version of a calm before the storm, and sure enough, when I saw Felicia, Shane’s wife, standing in the front doorway, unease gripped my gut.

She smiled the moment she saw me, warm and relaxed, and I exhaled.

"Is everything okay?" I called, my steps already quickening toward the porch.

"Hey, sweetheart," Felicia said, wiping her hands on her jeans. "You didn’t need to rush. She’s fine. Sleeping like an angel."

Relief loosened the knot in my chest. "I thought I’d come home for lunch. Give you a break."

I hugged her, the kind of hug that came with years of shared casseroles, calving crises, and family holidays.

"Why don’t you head home?" I offered, grateful down to my boots.

"I can stay," she said, brushing something, hay, probably, from my shoulder. "I’m not in a rush."

"Go on. You deserve an afternoon to yourself."

She chuckled, already reaching for her bag. "If I stay idle, I’ll just start calling Sarah every five minutes to see if she’s gone into labor."

"She’s still six weeks out, Felicia."

"Exactly. All the more reason for me to stay distracted, so maybe I’ll go and try my hand at some centerpieces to sell in the farm store."

“Much call for them?” I asked, genuinely interested. Even though we gave free rein to Shane and Felicia at the lavender farm, I still liked to stay in touch with what they were doing.

“Like you wouldn’t believe. Especially at holiday time. Mix in some holly with the lavender and folks go crazy for them. I want to try some Summer ones, and maybe some wreaths.”

I shook my head, smiling. "You need to slow down.”

She waved me away. “Never.”

“Well, thanks for watching Bertie. I appreciate it."