Page 57 of Colt

“I heard your mother and Eli talking about your father giving you the money to buy this place. You have no mortgage, and I can almost guarantee you’re not paying your father back. So don’t stand there and tell me not to bring your parents into this and how you live off your hard work, but still went to… daddy for the money,” Colt revealed, his frustration boiling over.

“But... why would I tell you about that?” Chelsea stammered, clearly caught off guard by his revelation.

“Exactly!” Colt exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

“It’s not the same,” Chelsea insisted.

“How is it not? You expect us to share everything with each other, right? So why didn’t you tell me about that? Maybe you were afraid to come across as a spoiled rich bitch who had everything handed to her by her daddy,” Colt growled angrily. He jerked back when Chelsea slapped him in anger and shock. In response, he grabbed her arms and pulled her close until they were almost nose-to-nose. “Don’t ever hit me again,” he snarled at her.

“Why? Are you going to hit me back?” Chelsea retorted, her eyes flashing with anger.

Colt pushed her away from him. “You know better than that,” he snapped, shaking his head in frustration. He couldn’t believe how quickly their argument had escalated and the hurtful things they had said to each other.

He winced when she slammed the door as she walked out of the bedroom.

“Shit,” he followed her to the kitchen, but when he heard the back door slam, he knew he was wasting his time. He quickly opened the door and stepped onto the porch to see her getting into her SUV and without a backward glance, she drove off. Colt entered the house and slammed the door behind him.

****

Chelsea stormed into the house, her steps heavy and her heart racing. She slammed the door behind her, releasing all of her pent-up frustration and anger. How dare he bring up the fact that she had borrowed money from her parents to buy this place.

“Let’s be honest here, you didn’t borrow it,” she muttered under her breath. But that did not give him the right to question her actions. Did it? Her fingers curled into fists at her sides as she made her way to the kitchen table, feeling a mix of emotions; anger, hurt, confusion.

As she pulled out a chair and sat down, she couldn’t help but wonder what would happen now. Would they be able to move past this argument or would it tear them apart? He had no idea how much his words had cut her, questioning her trustworthiness. She understood that it was difficult for him to trust others, given his upbringing, but he should know by now that he could trust her.

Heaving a sigh, she got up, then made her way to the bedroom to take a hot bath to relax and go to bed. It was best if they didn’t see each other for a few days. She just hoped he didn’t leave the ranch. With the money he now had, he could leave easily. God, she hoped not. She couldn’t imagine never seeing him again.

A few days later, Chelsea sat across from Lydia Griffin in the coffee shop, discussing the sale of it. The smell of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the subtle scent of cinnamon from the pastries on display behind them. Chelsea’s heart felt heavy as she discussed her decision to sell. This coffee shop had been her first venture as an independent business owner, but now, with the demands of running her ranch and newly added riding stable, it was becoming too much for her to handle.

Lydia listened attentively, nodding along as Chelsea explained that she wanted the current employees to stay on if possible. She couldn’t bear the thought of them losing their jobs because of her decision to sell.

“It would be a great place for a couple or single person. There’s an apartment above the shop. I lived there for years. It’s a great place.”

“I’d love to get some photos of it for the ad,” Lydia said with a smile.

“We can do that now.”

After Chelsea showed Lydia the apartment and she took photos, they returned to the coffee shop and finalized the details, Chelsea couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness in her chest. This coffee shop had been more than just a business to her; it was a symbol of her independence and determination. But she knew it was time to let go and focus on the ranch, which had become her true passion.

But even as she signed the papers, she couldn’t shake off the bittersweet feeling that came with saying goodbye to something that had meant so much to her. She took one last look around at the cozy interior, filled with memories of laughter and caffeine-fueled conversations, before taking a deep breath and stepping out into a new chapter of her life.

****

A couple of days later, Colt marched through the yard, holding his hat on his head as the wind picked up. The temperature had plummeted, and with the sun sinking below the horizon, it was bitterly cold. He ascended the steps, wiped his boots on the welcome mat, and knocked on the door. As he waited for her to answer, he couldn’t help but wonder how this meeting would go. He was still feeling a little angry about her reaction to him inheriting money and not telling her about it.

She finally opened the door and gestured for him to enter. After hanging up his coat and hat, he turned to face her, sensing her nervousness.

“Would you like some coffee?” she offered.

“No, thanks,” he declined. “I won’t be able to sleep if I have coffee this late.”

“Have you eaten?”

“Yes. Can we sit down?”

“Of course. Let’s go into the living room.”

Colt nodded and motioned for her to lead the way as he took in the familiar surroundings.

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