Page 48 of Finding Limits

“What?” I look across the street trying to see what has him so mesmerized.

“God is great.” He smiles as he shakes his head and laughs. “God is great!” He slams his fist on the console making me jump, and when I see Mitch Hudson and the small-framed woman whose hand he holds as he joins my son, I have to do a double take.

“Is that Elder Thomas’s daughter?” I check I’m seeing right because all this has to be an illusion. “She died years ago. Killed herself after her sister escaped.”

“That’s what Abraham wanted people to believe,” Annie informs me from the back.

“She was mine.” Solomon watches in fascination as the man I knew, when life was fun and simple, opens his truck door for her. She kisses him before she jumps into the seat and I see the rage in Solomon stiffen his whole body. “You see that? Us coming here and looking for him has led us to her. The Lord planned this, He led me here, now all will be as it should.” He settles back in the driver's seat with a dark smile on his face and that rage still dilating his pupils

“Igot a surprise for you.” I gently shake Everleigh awake. When her eyes blink open and she smiles at me, I kiss her.

“Isn’t it a little early in the day for surprises?” She yawns.

“Never too early, Come on.” I rip the covers off her and lift her robe off the chair beside the bed.

“You really are in a hurry.” She giggles as I drag her through the house and when I open the door and she sees the horse I bought her, tethered to the porch, she stands and stares at it.

“Well, say somethin’.” Hunter stands up from where he’s been waiting on the bench. He’s put just as much work into this mare as I have over the past few weeks, it’s only right that he should be here to see her surprise.

“She’s yours,” I explain to Everleigh, taking her hand and moving her closer. “She’s rideable, and I think the two of you are gonna get on real well.”

“She’s mine?” Everleigh looks at me as if she doesn’t quite believe it.

“I noticed the two of you had a bond when I first brought her here. She made your eyes do that pretty, sparkly thing they do whenever you're fascinated by somethin’, and well, I'd do just about anythin’ to keep that sparkle in your eyes.” I move in close enough to kiss her.

“Yuck.” Hunter kills the moment. “You're showing your age with those lines, old man.” He shakes his head at me.

“Oh yeah, and just how many females have you got atcha heels? Because I don’t see none,” I ask sarcastically.

“That's because I’m focused on work right now. We have the cattle drive tomorrow and I want to be ready for it.”

I gotta admit I’m impressed with his answer, though I can tell something’s been troubling him recently. Hunter’s been spending much more time around here, and I’ve enjoyed being able to get to know him. Everleigh seems to feel comfortable around him too, which makes everything a damn sight easier. Though in the past few days, I’ve noticed Hunter withdrawing a little, it’s something I intend to talk to him about later.

“Can I ride her now?” Everleigh asks, practically hopping with excitement.

“You're gonna need a few lessons, first, but soon,” I promise.

“No one’s ever gotten me anything like this before.” Her eyes fill up with tears before she launches herself at me and flings her arms around my neck. “She’s beautiful.” She moves across to her so she can stroke her and just like I predicted, the mare takes her affection willingly.

“She needs a name. I’ve left that up to you,” I tell her.

“A name…” Everleigh thinks to herself. “I think we’ll call you Aurora.” She speaks to her horse, then looking over her shoulder at me she smiles. It means ‘new beginning’. I was helping Savannah pick names from the book yesterday,” she explains, turning her focus back to the horse. The smile on her face makes all the early mornings and hard work seem worth it, and when I look across at Hunter and he’s smiling too, I nod my appreciation to him.

Everleigh insists that Hunter stay for breakfast and when it’s time for us both to leave and get some work done, I decide to talk to Hunter on the way to the ranch.

“You okay, son?” I ask once the cabin is in the distance.

“Yeah, fine.” He tries far too hard to sound it.

“I was just wonderin’ if maybe you're nervous about tomorrow with the cattle drive?”

“A little, maybe, but I’m excited too.” He shrugs.

“And you still got no word on those results? They say you shoulda had ‘em back a few weeks ago?” Hunter pulls his horse to a standstill and keeps his head low, proving that I ain’t crazy. There is something wrong.

“I got ‘em through last week.” He breathes through his nose.

“Ahhhh.” I get a sinking feeling in my stomach that I wasn’t expecting when I realize what it is that's been troubling him.

---