Page 40 of Won’t Let You Get Away

“Now that’s just not fair,” Kenny whines. “Figures, the one day I don’t go searching for the horse, someone else brings her back.”

“What are you—” My words catch in my throat at the sight of Bri walking up the side of the barn with Rosie following closely behind.

“You still get to put her in her stall for the night,” Kenny says, backing away with a grin. “See you in the morning, Boss.”

I’m almost positive that I acknowledge him with a response.

Unable to stand still any longer, I start moving toward Bri.

“I was just coming to find her.”

Reaching into my pocket, I pull out a sugar cube, holding it out for Rosie so I can grab her reins while she is distracted.

“She’s not usually out this late and it was getting dark,” Bri shrugged, stepping a couple feet closer and wrapping her cardigan around her stomach as she stares down at her feet. “Didn’t want her getting stuck somewhere.”

I smile at the horse. “Did I mention she’s pregnant?”

“No!” Bri exclaims, stepping even closer and holding a hand out for the mare.

“Still waiting for blood work to confirm, but based on her physical…yeah. Found out yesterday.”

Bri lets out a strained groan. “So you had all the babies thrown at you yesterday.”

Her reminder that she’s carrying my child only serves to widen my grin.

“I bet she didn’t have weeks of nausea and misery, though.” Bri grumbles, playfully scowling at the horse.

“Well no, just an increase in sass, a bigger appetite, and a need for space,” I reply with a shrug, petting Rosie.

“Huh, is it weird to say I can relate to the horse?” She laughs. I watch Bri closely before finally asking her about something that’s been bothering me since last night.

“How have you been feeling? Everyone always says that the first trimester is the worst.”

“At first I was just really exhausted. I thought it was because of traveling and adjusting to this new life…” Bri sighs, rubbing her hand over her stomach. “Then I was convinced I had some severe case of food poisoning or a virus, so I went to the doctor.”

She levels me with a cute glare.

“I can handle getting sick, especially since it’s happening less frequently now. But what I can’t handle is all the crying I do these days.”

I shake my head, holding back a laugh at how serious she looks. When she lets out a heavy breath and glances over her shoulder, I clear my throat and gesture towards Rosie.

“If you give me a few minutes to get her settled for the night, I can give you a ride back so you don’t have to walk in the dark.” I offer, secretly hoping she’ll say yes.

My brother would tease me if he knew how desperate I am for just five minutes alone with her.

“I’m not the best passenger in cars,” Bri grimaces.

“Then I’ll walk you back.”

Before she can respond, I continue speaking.

“I don’t like the idea of you walking back to the cabin by yourself in the dark. It may only be a ten-minute walk, but still.” I turn, keeping Rosie on one side of me and pointing in the direction of my truck. “Or I can even ride shotgun and you can drive my truck down to your place.”

Bri bites her bottom lip and gazes up at me for a few seconds before finally nodding.

We remain silent as we make our way to the stables. It’s a short five-minute walk, but the entire time, every thought I have about what to say feels inadequate.

“Alright, let me just take off her reins and put her in her stall,” I say as we reach the animal barn.

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