Page 26 of Wildest Forever (Lovelock Bay #3)

Silence crackles.

“What about your husband... does he have a phone?”

My eyes widen.

“Dusty isn't my husband,” I laugh, looking at the man who is like my brother and he laughs back.

“No?”

“No, my husband owns Rivera Ranch,” not exactly the truth but also not technically a lie.

“Riggs?” Nate eyes me and I roll my lips.

“Pacey, the youngest brother.”

“Ohhh, the Sheriff,” James nods a knowing nod.

“Yes, the Sheriff,” my cheeks turn pink.

“Riggs popped up a couple of days ago, think he has met my friend Titus,” his lips twitch into a smirk

“Yeah, I am sure Riggs made himself well known when he saw the moving trucks roll in,” I laugh, Barley lifting her head, ears turned forward.“This is a nice place you have here, glad it's finally got a family living in it, it's been empty for so long,” I sigh and glance over my shoulder.

“I had my eye on it for a while, and like I said, my grandparents used to live in Blossom Cove way back when, and when it finally came up on the market I knew I wanted to make it into a horse rescue and well, it seemed like the perfect spot.”

A blissful sigh leaves her as she smiles into the distance.

“I think you made the right choice.” I admit, finally letting my eyes drift back to her.

“Me too,” Nate steps close and Tanner throws his arms around his mom's neck, kissing her on the cheek.

“Anyway.” I falter back and foot my stirrup to climb into the saddle and Dusty follows. “It was nice to meet y’all,” I tilt my head down at her, fingers pinching the cowboy hat.

“Right back at you,” she winks. “And about that coffee, how does Friday work?”

“Friday, one, Sunny's?” I ask.

“Sounds perfect, can I bring my friend?” her head tilts and her eyes glisten in the sunshine.

“The more the merrier,” I lower my chin before turning Barley and kicking her on, a soft trot forming as Dusty catches me up.

“They seem nice,” he says as we approach the top of the drive.

“Yeah, they do, don't they,” I smile, looking at him as we make our way back home for lunch.

My heart flutters in my chest when I see Pacey's truck parked up front. I know it's only been a few hours, but those hours feel like days.

Slowing Barley I lead her to the stable and untack her before putting her into her stall. She makes a move for the fresh hay, and I stand and watch her for just a moment longer.

Turning, I make my way towards the house. Letting myself through the door, I kick my boots off and sigh in relief. It's been a long morning, and I am so ready to have a hot bath and climb into bed.

But I still have more work to do.

Walking into the kitchen, I see Pacey facing me, back to the work surface, arms crossed in front of his chest. His eyes trace up and down my body and my cheeks burn and I internally roll my eyes.

How can he affect me from just a look.

Sighing, I cross my own arms over my chest and step a little further into the room.

“How's your day been?” I ask, kicking my toe to the floor.

“Busy,” he sighs, “had something come up, ranch across town has had its cows moved across the border.”

“What?” I know what he said but I am shocked.

“Yup,” he puffs his cheeks out. “Never a dull moment,” he winks, and I nod.“How about you?”

“Cows were a nightmare,” I admit, “but I met the new neighbors,”

“Yeah?” his brows raise.

“Yeah, they're from New York,” I bob my head.

“Nice, Riggs said we have new neighbors too,” he admits, and I watch the heavy sigh that leaves him.

“Yeah, they're James and Nate's friends,” I step a little closer, “I'm going for lunch with James and her friend Friday.”

“Very nice, look at you making friends,” he smirks. “Your pops...” he trails off just as his phone begins to buzz. He looks down, then back at me as if he is asking my permission silently if he can answer it.

I smile.

He takes that as a yes.

I take that as my cue to leave and check on pops.

Climbing the stairs, the nurse slips out just as I slip in.

“All okay?” I whisper as I look over at him sleeping.

She gives a nod.

“Doctor Carlos is popping in today, your grandad is complaining of pain in his stomach, he shouldn't be feeling it due to his meds so we just want to get him checked out.”

My heart stills for a beat before I am nodding at her.

The smile she gives me is tight. She moves past me and heads downstairs. I look at my pops and suddenly he looks so small tucked into his bed.

Walking slowly towards him, my heart drops a little at his coloring. He is turning more gray as the days go by.

Sighing, my breathing rattles and I hold in the sob that blooms in my chest.I reach my hand forward and cup his, brushing my thumb back and forth over the back of his hand.

“Hey pops,” I whisper to him, my eyes searching his face willing for him to open his eyes.

There is so much I want to speak about but at the same time, I want to sit here in silence and just watch him sleep.

The creaking floorboard has me lifting my teary eyes to the door to see Pacey standing there.

He gives me a sad smile as he leans against the doorframe.

“Lunch is here,” he says softly and I palm away a tear that has run down my cheek.

I nod, looking back to my pops before I lean in and place a kiss on his forehead, lingering for a moment then push to my feet.

I sweep past Pacey and don't look at him, my eyes brimming with the unshed tears. I couldn't crumble.

I needed to stay strong.

Reaching the bottom step, I make my way into the kitchen to see Marsha standing at the counter unpacking her basket. Fresh rolls, soup, fruit and pastries.

My stomach grumbles.

“Morgan,” Marsha smiles at me as she begins to set the table and I feel bad because I should be doing it but I know if I lift a hand whilst she is serving she will tell me off.

“Hey Marsha,” I push a fake smile onto my lips and hover waiting for her to finish. “Is there anything I can do to help?” and I know the answer before the words even pass her lips.

“No, sit down,” she gives me a smile and I do as I am asked. Dragging a chair out, I sit softly in it when I hear the sound of boots approaching.

Glancing over my shoulder, I see Dusty and Pacey walking in, light chatter amongst the both of them.

“About time y’all showed up,” she rolls her eyes and shakes her head at them and my lips twitch.

Pacey places a hand on my shoulder and gives me a gentle squeeze before he sits next to me.

“All smells amazing,” he rumbles from beside me and Marsha gives him a smile.

“This is Pacey,” Dusty announces as he places a kiss on his wife's cheek before he settles next to me.

“Figured,” she twists her lips as she reaches for five bowls.

“Pacey, this is my beautiful wife, Marsha.”

“Nice to meet you,” he says, tilting his head and she gives him a warm smile and some kind of curtsey.

“Are you all happy if I dish up?” she asks, eyes bouncing between the three of us and we all nod.

I feel bad sitting here but there is no chance of me even being able to sweep in and help.She reaches for her ladle and scoops three big spoonful’s up and places them in the shallow bowl.

The smells fill the room and I am only just realising how hungry I am.

“Leek and potato soup,” she smiles, placing the bowls down in front of us and then grabs the spoons and places them in the center of the table.

“Smells amazing,” Pacey grumbles and licks his lips. I twist my mouth and reach for my spoon.

Next are the fresh bread rolls that she places on a wooden block and then slips the butter next to it.

“Thank you,” I whisper and stir my spoon through the thick and creamy soup.

“Shall I take this up to your pops?” she holds the bowl up and I shake my head.

“Come and eat Marsha, I'll take it up shortly. I want to check on him before I head back out to work.”

“No problem,” she places the hot soup back on the work surface and finally comes to join us.

“This is delicious,” Pacey says as he spoons another mouthful past his lips.

I hum in agreement as I take my first mouthful, and it hits the spot just right.

Pacey reaches in for a bread roll at the same time as Dusty and dips it into the liquid.

I eat a few more spoonful’s before I swipe my soft roll through and take a mouthful and the mixture of the soup and the butter with the warm bread is what I feel like I needed.

Silence fills the table as we all sit and enjoy the food that has been laid out in front of us, Marsha looking between the three of us then drops her head as she spoons her own soup into her mouth.

Once finished, I swoop the bowls up before Marsha can even get a chance. Placing them in the sink, I turn and plate up the pastries with the fresh fruit.

Melon, strawberries, cherries, pineapple and blood oranges.

I place them down and grab small plates as I lay them out.

“I could get used to this,” Pacey licks his lips and reaches straight for the pastry and pinches a few pieces of the different fruit.

Dusty goes next, then Marsha and finally I help myself.

Once lunch is tidied away and the dishes are washed, I say goodbye to Marsha and invite her, Dusty and the kids over for dinner on the weekend.

I would love to have Pops join us, but I know that won't happen.

Sadly, this is the way dinner times will be now.

Without pops.

Sighing, I move upstairs and slip into his room.

His eyes trace mine and I smile.

“You're awake,” my heart warms in my chest as I step closer to him and sit on the edge of the bed.

“I am,” he smiles, his eyes not as full of life as they once were, the sparkle slowly seeping from them.

“Hungry? Marsha made soup.”

His ears must prick up because the smile that spreads across his lips is wide, baring his teeth.

“Let me go get it for you,” I reach for his hand and give it a squeeze.

“Okay,” he nods as I push from the bed and make my way downstairs to warm his soup and get his bread roll.

Dusty told me to take as long as I needed and to spend the time with my pops.

Guilt eats away at me.

I feel bad that he is doing all the work whilst I am sitting here with him.

Pacey left shortly after lunch. We spent some time together with pops before he was called back away.

Placing the now warmed soup on the tray with his fresh buttered roll, his pastry and fruit and a water, I climb the stairs, cautious not to spill anything.

Pushing the door with my foot, I press a smile on my face as I lift my eyes from the tray and to my pops.

My smile slips.

My heart stalls in my chest.

“Pops.” I say, softness wrapped around my tone.

Nothing.

“Pops,” I say a little louder, my fingers curled around the edge of the tray, tightening as the seconds slip pass.

He doesn't respond.

And that's when it hits me.

I scream, dropping the tray from my hands, a loud clatter fills the room as I fall to my knees and sob.

“No, no, no, no...” the choked words leave my lips, and my body begins to tremble.

“It's okay, I’ve got you... I've got you,” arms wrap around my body and hold onto me as I fall apart in his embrace.

I didn't even need to look to see who it was.

It was Pacey.

My husband.

The one who would need to pick every single shard of myself from the floor and carefully piece me back together again.

Bit by bit.