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“It sure looked like it to me,” Hadley said as she sat on the coffee table in front of Thea.

Thea sat up and scooted down the couch so Hadley could sit beside her. “We’ve been told who we are our whole lives. He’s a Patton, and I’m a Howard. We couldn’t be ourselves. We couldn’t love each other. We couldn’t be friends with each other becausetheyhad already decided we couldn’t. I just want to be me.” She clutched the front of her shirt. “I just want to be free.”

Hadley moved to the couch. “So you had that in Alabama?”

Thea tilted her head from side to side. “Sort of.”

“And you came back?”

“For my mom.”

Hadley clicked her tongue. “Not many people would have done that.”

“But Brett would. He’s like me. We love more than we could ever hate. He understands what it means to find someone you love who loves you back. No matter the cost.”

“I see how much he cares about you. His heart is good.”

“I know that.” Thea pushed her hands through her hair. “It doesn’t change the situation.”

“Doesn’t it? Love covers a multitude of sins,” Hadley said.

“I know he wants to be here on the ranch. I do too. But we can’t exist in the same place as our families. We’d never get away from that battle. It’s not like we can love our families into loving each other.”

Hadley rested a hand on Thea’s brace. “Maybe that’s what it’ll take. I’m not saying the hate isn’t extreme. I know it is. But maybe you have to decide to be the opposite and stick to it. I want you to stay here, but I feel like Brett would follow you anywhere if that’s what it took.”

“I know, but I don’t want him to have to give up this perfect job, what’s left of his family, and friends like the ones he has here. Do you know how rare it is to find people you can trust like this?”

“Trust me. I know what we have here. It’s special, but Brett would say you’re special too.” Hadley stood and stretched. “You want to get a shower first?”

“It might take me a while, so it’s fine if you want to go first.”

“I’ll let you go first. I bet a certain cowboy would like to spend some more time with you tonight before bed.” Hadley winked and smiled.

“Thanks for being so great. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”

“Don’t mention it. And remember, only light can drive out the darkness.”

Thea’s lips stretched into a forced grin. It would take a whole lot of light to kill the darkness knocking on their door.

Chapter18

Brett

Brett stretched his arms over his head. Sleeping on the couch was killing his back, but he’d never let Thea know it. An extra long and extra hot shower would loosen up the kinks in his shoulders.

He rolled onto his back and covered his eyes with one arm. It was Sunday. He needed to wake up and round up the crew if his morning surprise for Thea was going to happen. Vera would have breakfast packed up. He had to pick Mr. Chambers up at the main house. Colt and Remi were taking the kids to church, so they were out.

The door to Thea’s room opened, and Brett sat up. What was she doing up so early? How had he not heard her rustling?

She jerked back when he sat up. He made a point to be up and at ‘em before the sun came up, so they hadn’t exactly crossed paths in the early mornings.

Until now.

“Oh,” Thea said. She brushed a hand over her hair. It was pulled back into a tight ponytail. “I thought you’d be gone by now.”

He threw the covers off and stood, stretching his arms above his head. “I figured I could sleep in on a Sunday.”

Thea’s wide-eyed gaze didn’t move, but her words were quick and short. “Right. You can. I mean, you know you can. I just…”