Page 180 of Ride a Cowboy

Sterling didn’t relent. “She knows how she wants this to end, Jade. She deserves to do it her way. To face this with her dignity intact. If she has to leave to do that, you can be damn sure I’ll stand behind her decision.”

“We don’t need to think about this right now. We have time.” The utter desperation in Hope’s voice betrayed exactly how frightened she was. But her cousin was right. They did have time. They all needed to take a step back, let things sink in. Their emotions were too close to the surface. One more word and Sterling and Jade would be at each other’s throats.

“Hope’s right,” Sienna said. “We have some time. Nothing’s going to be resolved today.”

Vivi released a long, tired sigh. “So you’ll keep my secret. Just a little longer?”

Sienna glanced at her cousins, then slowly she nodded. From the corner of her eye, she could see the others follow suit.

Vivi smiled. Silence descended once more until Hope spoke at last.

“Vivi, I don’t understand…” Hope’s face was filled with anguish. Of all Sienna’s cousins, Hope had the biggest heart and the softest soul. She’d spent most of their childhood rescuing strays, caring for injured animals, befriending the lonely kids at school. If Hope sensed suffering, she came running. “How can you be so calm in the face of what’s coming?”

Vivi lifted her fingers, beckoned for Hope to join her on the couch. “I’ll be okay.”

Hope took her grandmother’s hand. “All your stories…”

Sienna knew what Hope was mourning. Their childhood had been filled with Vivi’s stories, her memories of her own childhood, of Compton Pass and their family. Though they were the younger generation, they’d never felt left behind because Vivi shared all her beautiful memories with them.

“They won’t be lost, Hope. I’ll tell them all to you.” Vivi glanced around as she spoke. “You can carry my memories for me. Then they’ll never truly be forgotten.”

Sienna tried to swallow around the lump that formed in her throat. It was a touching sentiment. Regardless of how many stories Vivi shared with them, Sienna knew there was one thing she’d never forget and that was her grandmother’s strength in the face of true adversity. Sienna let the image of Vivi’s face as she appeared now chisel itself into her own memory. She was witnessing true grace under pressure. And it was beautiful.

“I’ll keep your memories for you, Vivi.” Sterling stepped forward, kneeling before their grandmother, placing her hand on top of Hope’s and Vivi’s.

“Me too.” Sienna added her hand to the pile.

Jade still hovered by the window. Despite her cavalier attitude toward most things, Sienna knew Jade loved deeply. And when she hurt…well, no matter how hard Jade was trying to school her features, hide her agony, it was seeping from every pore.

Finally, Jade stepped forward. “I’m in.” She placed her hand on top. They were together. A team of memory keepers. Sisters ’til the end.

Jade was the first to break away. “I need to go.”

Sienna wasn’t surprised by Jade’s desire to escape. Jade needed privacy, somewhere quiet to lick her wounds, to regroup.

“I’m working until close at the bar tonight and I was hoping to catch a nap before then.” It was a safe, acceptable excuse.

Hope rose as well. “Do you mind giving me a ride into town, Jade? My shift at the store starts in half an hour.”

Jade nodded. They both bent to kiss Vivi on the cheek as they said their goodbyes.

Sterling remained on the floor, kneeling in front of their grandmother. “I’m going to go home, Vivi, and start doing some research on facilities. I’ll swing by tomorrow to show you what I find.”

Vivi smiled, patting Sterling’s cheek softly. “That would be very nice of you.” Sterling added her own kiss and left.

Only Sienna remained and her words failed her.

“Don’t be sad for me, Sienna. I won’t stand for it.”

“But Vivi?—”

“No. I’ve lived an amazing life surrounded by my children and my grandchildren. I have no regrets. I don’t think anyone can ask for more than that.”

She recalled her grandmother’s wish, her plan to share her memories with them. She needed a distraction and she suspected Vivi did too. More than that, she needed her grandmother’s help. Daniel had mentioned once that time had a way of slipping by too fast. It was dizzying when she considered how quickly the clock was spinning these days. She’d dug in her heels to find some way to make it all stop, but the harder she fought, the greater the force of the current, determined to drag her downstream.

Sienna needed Vivi’s wisdom now. Since New Year’s, things between her and Daniel had drifted back into the comfortable norm they’d shared before Christmas. She went to his RV every night and lost herself in his arms, but they didn’t go out on any more dates. She was almost able to convince herself everything was fine.

But there was something unspoken between them. Words that needed to be said. He was clearly holding back out of respect for her.

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