Page 38 of A Miracle for the Confident Cowboy

December wasthe worst of it.

But then January came.

Duke hated the first several weeks he had to endure without Sophie being here to spend time with him. Spending time at the animal shelter dragged for him, just like everything else. Each time the door opened, he looked up expecting to see her even though he knew she wouldn’t be there.

Work was more tedious and difficult to push through, especially when he had to interact with Rob or Pippa. Whenever he saw them, he was reminded of what he’d lost.

His mother and sister returned from their trip safely and didn’t seem to be any worse off for not having him visit. At least they invited him to come for a summer holiday, but that was his busiest time of year.

Winter turned into spring.

Spring into Summer.

Summer into fall.

Duke had hoped that by the time September rolled around, he’d finally be able to get Sophie out of his head. It probably didn’t help matters much that he was obsessed with her blog. Thirty-nine posts. Or was there forty? He’d lost track.

Each one was carefully crafted and worded to perfection. Sophie had a strange sort of sense of humor—something he’d only caught glimpses of when she’d been here in person.

He’d learned so much about her while she was gone. All of her posts seemed so personal, as if she were speaking directly to him.

He’d also lost count of how many times he’d nearly written an email to her, wanting to touch base and tell her he liked what she was writing.

Each one was left unsent. The folder in his email was filled to the brim with countless messages. He’d started every single one with the intention of telling her he’d made a mistake. As the seasons changed and time slipped away from him, he’d lost his nerve. What would Sophie think if he suddenly reached out to talk to her after the long stretch of silence?

There were two scenarios in his head. She’d hate him. Or she’d be indifferent to him. Both of those options didn’t sit well.

Duke slung a lasso together after he’d put in some practice time with the immobile steer heads. He slipped it over his shoulder and turned toward the barn. The cool days would get only a little bit cooler from this point forward, but thinking about that only made his mind shift to that day when Sophie had lost her cool during the light snowstorm.

A chuckle escaped his throat, but then he tamped it down right as it started. The misery that draped around his shoulders washis only companion—mostly because the guys he worked with didn’t approve of his attitude.

“Duke!” A strident voice called out from behind him.

He turned as he reached the entrance to the barn, seeing a furious Pippa marching toward him. Her hands were at her sides, clutched into fists and her face was bright red. Duke couldn’t think of a single thing he’d done to anger her, but he knew better than to make it worse.

Then again, if he just hurried inside, he could saddle a horse in less time than it took her to get out the words she clearly so desperately wanted to yell at him.

Duke sighed with resignation then forced a smile. “What can I do for you, Pippa?”

She poked him hard in the chest. “What do you think you’re doing?”

He arched a single brow. “You’re going to have to be more specific.” He lifted the rope on his shoulder. “Right now, I’m putting this rope away before I start checking the horses for loose shoes.”

Pippa poked him again, this time harder.

“Ow,” he muttered rubbing the spot just below his shoulder. “What was that for?”

“That’s for not calling Sophie.” Each word was clipped and punctuated with her fingertip.”

He frowned. “What are you talking about?”

She groaned and rolled her eyes. “Do you know how much trouble I went to for you guys? Do you know how difficult it was to find the best match for mysister?”

Duke held up a hand. “Technically, she isn’t your sister…” his words died in his throat as her glare darkened. “Right. Your sister.”

“I know she moved across the country and everything.”

“Try the world,” he huffed. Immediately snapped his mouth shut as he regretted his reaction.

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