Page 45 of Rusty

"Let's just try to enjoy our morning first, Midnight," Rusty murmured, urging the horse forward. He rode along the perimeter of the ranch, taking in the familiar sights, sounds, and smells. The dew sparkled on the grass beneath the early light, and the distant lowing of cattle brought a small comfort amidst his heavy thoughts. He knew it all so well, and the world seemed so good.

As Rusty approached the stables, he spotted a familiar figure already up and about. It was Janice.

"Looks like we ain't the only early birds around here, Midnight," Rusty said softly, the dread coiling in his stomach.

The sun cast a tangerine glow over the ranch as Rusty watched her from afar, her red hair dancing in the morning breeze. She moved with purpose, attending to each animal with care and expertise. The sight of her newfound confidence stirred something within him.

He thought back to the days when he'd felt like her protector, her guiding hand through life's storms. But now, without his help, she seemed to be flourishing. And it only made things worse knowing that he had brought trouble upon her by getting involved with her father—the very man who sought to control her life.

With determination etched on his face, he urged Midnight toward the stables.

As he drew near, Janice looked up from her work. "Hey, Rusty," she greeted, a touch of nerves in her smile. "I hope you don’t mind—I’m just assessing the animals for injuries. They’re nice and compliant at this time in the morning.”

"Janice," Rusty began, his voice slightly unsteady. "There's somethin' I've been wantin' to talk to you about."

"Alright," she replied cautiously, sensing the gravity of his words. She set down her tools and wiped her hands on her jeans, giving him her full attention.

"Ever since you came to the ranch, I've seen you grow into an incredible woman. You've got so much strength and resilience, and I'm real proud of how far you've come." Rusty paused, struggling to find the right words to convey his thoughts. "But it's got me thinkin' . . . your future is so bright, so exciting, and I don't know if you being tied to your past—to me—is such a good idea."

"Rusty, I—" Janice began, but he held up a hand to stop her.

"Please, let me finish," he pleaded, "I want nothin' more than for you to be happy and fulfilled, Janice. And I'm beginnin' to wonder if you can do that with me. I let you down. And maybeyou think you can forgive me—but I've got a feeling that doubt will always be there. You don't need baggage, you don't need doubts that'll hold you back. You need a fresh start."

Janice stared at Rusty, her expression a mix of shock and sadness. She blinked away tears, swallowing hard before she could muster a reply. "I never thought you held me back, Rusty," she said softly. "You've always been there for me, even when things were tough. But . . . maybe you're right. Maybe we both need to find our own paths."

"Maybe so," Rusty agreed, his heart aching with every word. The moment hung heavy between them, each aware of the painful truth they had just uncovered.

As he spoke, Rusty could almost feel the memories of their past heartbreaks filling the space between them. It seemed like an impossible task to avoid causing each other pain, especially with the constant shadow of her father looming over them.

"Thank you for telling me in person this time," Janice whispered, tears pooling in her eyes but not spilling over. She took a shaky breath and forced a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I appreciate your honesty, Rusty."

He nodded, feeling a wave of admiration for her bravery wash over him. The fact that she was able to recognize his effort spoke volumes about the woman she had become.

"Janice, I want you to know that you'll always have a place in my heart," Rusty murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

"Same here, cowboy," she replied, her voice cracking ever so slightly. "Always." She paused. “Anyway, I’m glad you said this to me. Because I’ve been planning on ending things between us too.”

His heart skipped a beat, and Rusty's brow furrowed in surprise. He hadn't expected that.

"Y-you have?" he stammered, trying to process this new information.

Janice nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. "Yeah. I've been thinking about my career aspirations. You know how much I love working with horses, and Chuck’s given me this amazing opportunity. He’s asked me to stay at the ranch doing physio for the animals." She paused, swallowing hard. "I don’t want anything to hold me back from those dreams."

For a moment, time seemed to slow down around them. Rusty felt a sharp pang in his chest as he experienced a glimpse of the pain Janice must have felt when he had ended things years ago. He had known it was difficult for her, but now, standing in her shoes, he truly understood the heartache she'd endured.

"Janice," Rusty whispered, his voice heavy with emotion. "I'm so sorry. I never meant to hold you back from your dreams. If anything, I wanted to help you achieve them."

She held his gaze, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I know, Rusty," she said softly. "But sometimes we need to let go of the people we love in order to grow and become who we're meant to be."

He couldn't argue with that. "Maybe you're right," he admitted, his voice barely audible. "This is for the best—for both of us."

“Thank you, Rusty," Janice whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. "I'm glad you understand."

"Of course I do." He managed a wistful smile, his hazel eyes crinkling at the corners. "You've always been strong, Janice. And I know you'll make a real difference out there, helping those horses."

Janice let out a choked laugh, tears spilling down her cheeks. "And you'll always be the best wrangler around," she replied, her voice barely audible.

There was a moment of hesitation before they both moved forward, wrapping their arms around each other in a tight embrace. The warmth of Janice's body pressed against Rusty'schest felt like a balm to his aching soul, and he held her close, wishing he could somehow preserve this feeling forever.

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