Page 37 of Unyielding (Poplar Springs #3)

THIRTY-SEVEN

SHANNON

I had scheduled the checkup before everything had blown up with Declan and completely forgotten to reschedule it. Vida was doing fine, there was no need for the appointment, and I didn’t want to see Declan anyway. I hoped that he’d be smart enough to send Dr. Wilcox instead of doing it himself.

When I heard tires crunching on the gravel driveway, though, I knew exactly who was coming. Dr. Wilcox drove like the senior citizen she was. Declan always tore down the driveway like he couldn’t wait to see me.

Even now.

My heart still contracted painfully every time I thought about how close we’d come to perfection.

But I couldn’t get past what he’d done. And based on the way he’d reacted when I threatened to pull my support, he was probably equally pissed with me.

Whatever we’d had had turned ugly, and I dreaded the thought of seeing him.

I hoped that tending to Vida would be enough to keep us from talking about anything real. I wasn’t in the mood to bicker with him, or worse yet, feel sad about how everything was ending.

The foal toddled around the oversized stall while Belle looked on, ever the proud mama.

Even though the pregnancy had been a mistake, I was happy it had happened.

Belle seemed invigorated by her new baby, and Vida was yet another link to the way things used to be, when my mom was still around.

Belle wouldn’t be around forever, but through Vida, she could live on.

And then, once I started breeding her, my mother’s and Belle’s legacy would go on potentially for generations.

Depending on how Iris’s pregnancy panned out and the health of her baby, I was open to using AI as a means to breed horses.

I might even be a bit excited about it—except I didn’t want Declan to be the one to do it.

I’d need to talk to Julia Lett to see what her experience with AI was like.

Actually, the truth was that I very much wanted Declan involved. At least I had wanted that right up until he’d overshared with Becca.

I moved to the edge of the stall and tried to ignore the melancholy feelings swirling in my chest. I needed to be stoic for the appointment.

Like it was no big deal to be a few feet away from Declan, close enough that I’d be able to smell his warm cinnamony scent.

I was still furious with him, but I also missed him.

So very much.

“Hey.”

How could one word convey so much? I could hear Declan’s sadness, anger, and concern in the single syllable.

“Hey.”

I was still upset, there was no denying it, and I could tell that he wasn’t past what I’d said to him, but the heaviness between us was charged with more.

An unmistakable feeling of loss.

“Vida’s looking great. She seems strong.”

When I finally glanced at him, I was struck by how weary he looked. The bags under his eyes were made more prominent by his sallow skin.

“She is. Everything is fine. I probably should’ve canceled the appointment. You don’t have to stay.”

Vida dashed in a circle and gave a little kick as if to prove my point.

Declan cleared his throat. “I actually wanted to talk to you, so it works out well for me to be here.”

A thrill passed through me. Maybe he wanted to figure everything out, find a way to move forward? But based on Declan’s expression, it seemed like whatever he wanted to say wasn’t something I’d enjoy hearing. I braced myself for the battle to come.

“Okay, I’m listening.”

I didn’t want to fight again. I was tired too, and my heart felt like a stone in my chest. Just looking at him hurt, because I still couldn’t figure out if I wanted to fall into his arms or cuss him out.

“Ruth’s decided that she isn’t going to sell the practice to me.

Seems the big boys around town don’t trust me after…

what happened.” He cleared his throat again.

“And I get it, I do. So, I’m leaving. There’s a couple specialty programs offered at Texas A&M that I’m thinking about taking.

And they’ve got an exchange program with a couple universities in Australia.

I’ve been considering one of the A& M programs for a while and now seems like a good time.

It’ll give me the space to figure out what’s next for me. ”

The news made me want to sit down. The fact that I was partially responsible for Ruth not selling Declan the practice left me a little nauseated. And he was leaving —first to Texas, then maybe Australia?

“Oh, okay. I… I wasn’t expecting that at all,” I stammered. “Is there anything I can do? Or Josh? I bet if we band together we can?—”

“No, Shannon, it’s too late,” he interrupted. “Ruth’s mind is made up, and you know how that goes. That woman is more stubborn than a mule.”

“But… do you really have to go so far away?”

He shifted and leaned against the stall. “Ruth said that not all the ranchers are pissed at me, but the ones who count are feeling especially cautious. I can’t possibly run the practice successfully if my clients don’t trust me.”

Declan sounded resigned, like the decision had been made for him. I hated that I had played a part in it.

“I’m so sorry…”

He flicked his hand. “Stop, it’s not your fault.

I opened my mouth and said shit I should’ve kept to myself.

After everything you’d shared with me about Becca and how she acted around me, I should have known better.

The way Becca brought it up at the meeting made it sound worse than it was, but the truth is bad enough.

I told her something she had no business knowing.

That’s on me. Anyway, there’s no need to talk about it anymore.

What’s done is done.” He pulled out his phone.

“I’ve got a busy day ahead of me, so let’s get to work.

After I check out Vida, if it’s okay with you, I’ll give Iris a quick exam. ”

I didn’t want to stop talking about it, but Declan had made it clear that the conversation was over. I watched him open the stall door and drop to his knees in front of Vida, feeling like I was as much to blame for what he was facing as he was.

I wanted to reach out to him and offer some comfort or solace, but what could I possibly say to make a dent in how he was feeling? He seemed resolved to leave—even if it meant going all the way to Australia.