Page 46 of Wild Spirit Revival

As they turned from the corral, he found himself considering the possibility. He’d never been one for travel, content with the vast expanse of his ranch. Something about the way she described it made him curious.

“Sounds like you miss it.”

Her steps slowed. “I suppose. In some ways. The energy of the city, the constant bustle and excitement. It’s quite different from Mystic.”

He nodded, waiting for her to continue, sensing there was more she wanted to say.

“But there are things I don’t miss. The expectations, the endless social engagements, the…” She trailed off, hesitating.

“The what?”

Molly sighed, a rueful smile crossing her face. “The suitors my father encourages. Due to my father’s efforts, I had no shortage of men vying for my attention. None of them interested me.”

Elijah felt a strange tightness in his chest at her words. “Were the suitors the reason you came out here?”

She shook her head. “Not to escape, exactly. More to find something real. Something genuine. What about you, Elijah? Have there been any women in your past?”

His jaw tightened. He hadn’t expected the conversation to turn in this direction, and he found himself caught off guard. “There was one.”

Chapter Eighteen

“Oh?” Molly prompted.

Elijah took a deep breath. “Her name was Laura.” The words felt strange on his tongue. It had been years since he’d spoken her name. “I thought we’d marry someday.”

Molly’s expression softened, encouraging him to continue. His gaze drifted to the distant mountains, silhouetted against the night sky. “We met when we were thirteen. Grew up together, and fell in love over the years. At least, I thought we did.”

Continuing their walk, Elijah found himself opening up more than he had in years. He told Molly about stolen moments with Laura behind the schoolhouse, about their shared dreams of building a life together on Wild Spirit Ranch. With each word, he felt a weight lifting from his shoulders, even as the old pain resurfaced.

“What happened?”

Elijah’s eyes clouded over, his jaw clenching. “She left.” The words hung heavy in the air between them.

“Why did she leave, Elijah?”

His steps slowed as they continued around the barn. “It’s not something I talk about,” he muttered, more to himself than to Molly.

Her shoulder brushed against his arm. “Mother told me talking about the past can help us understand the present.”

His gaze remained fixed on the distant mountains. Steeling himself, he released a deep breath.

“Laura wanted more than Mystic could offer. Said she felt suffocated here. She needed to see the world beyond these mountains.”

She nodded, encouraging him to go on.

“I offered to take her traveling, show her other places,” he continued, a hint of bitterness creeping into his voice. “But it wasn’t just about seeing new sights. She wanted a different life altogether. One without me in it.”

The pain in his voice was palpable. Molly placed her hand on his arm, feeling Elijah tense for a moment before relaxing.

“I can’t even imagine how much her plans hurt you.”

His jaw clenched, unable to meet her gaze. “It made me realize how opening yourself up to someone leaves you vulnerable.”

As he spoke, a coyote’s mournful howl echoed across the valley, sending a shiver down Molly’s spine. The sound seemed to underscore the loneliness in Elijah’s words, and she found herself wondering what it would take to break through the walls he’d built around his heart.

Her hand remained on Elijah’s arm. She looked up at him.

“Don’t you think closing yourself off might mean missing out on something wonderful?”

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