Page 2 of Beau

“Apparently you’re not,” Beau interrupted, glaring at Eric before walking toward him and stopping inches from him. “I trusted you. What about Brenna? Don’t you care how much you’re hurting her?”

“She doesn’t know,” Eric admitted in a small voice.

Beau let out a bitter laugh. “Well, she will. You can bet your ass on that. You’re going to tell her, or I will.” His jaw was set in determination as he gave one last look to Liz and Eric before storming out of the room.

He descended the steps and burst out of the back door, needing to escape the suffocating atmosphere inside. The cool evening air hit him like a slap in the face, but it was nothing compared to the betrayal and hurt coursing through his veins. He wanted to yell and punch something until his knuckles bled.

But instead, he took a deep breath and walked away. Away from the house that once held his happy marriage, now shattered into pieces.

Chapter One

Saturday morning, Brenna Lawrence walked into the house, feeling the warmer air and letting out a sigh.

“Mom? Dad?” she called out.

“In here, honey,” came her father’s response from the living room where he was watching TV in his recliner. Brenna sat on the sofa.

“Where’s Mom?”

“At your grandmother’s.”

“Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, your grandmother needed some yarn, so your mom went to get her some then took it to her.”

“Oh, okay. I think I’ll go for a ride,” she told him.

“Alright, just have one of the guys saddle your horse,” he said.

“Dad, I can do it myself.”

“I know you can, but that’s what they’re paid for,” he replied.

“I’ll be fine,” she insisted.

“Alright, but if any of them are in the barn, let them do it for you.”

“If it makes you happy, then sure,” she agreed with a smile.

Her father grinned back at her. She got up and kissed his cheek before making her way to the kitchen.

After putting on her jacket and beanie to protect against the chilly weather, she stepped outside onto the porch, taking in a deep breath of the crisp fall air, one of her favorite things about this time of year.

She jogged down the steps and crossed the yard to enter the barn. Not seeing anyone else around, she headed toward the tack room. However, before she could reach it, she saw a cowboy walking toward her from the opposite end. She couldn’t make out who he was, but she didn’t think he was one of the ranch hands. She hesitated as he strode toward her.

“Brenna?” asked a deep voice.

Brenna mustered up the courage to look at him and was surprised when she recognized him.

“Beau?” she exclaimed.

“What are you doing here?” he replied in surprise.

“This is my parents’ place. Are you here about the stolen horse?” she asked since he was wearing a protective vest with livestock agent embroidered on it under his coat.

“Yes ma’am,” he confirmed. “Your dad phoned the department.”

“I knew he called about it, but he didn’t tell me someone was coming out. Have you found anything?”

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