Page 47 of Embracing Hope

Her body shattered in his arms.

Holding each other close, they came together.

And everything changed.

Chapter Eleven

She didn’t wake up until her alarm sounded at eight.

And her bedmate was gone.

Grabbing her phone, she clicked a button that stopped the alarm and closed her eyes again. She grabbed the pillow Isaac had slept on and dragged it closer, hugging it like it was him. His scent lingered on the pillowcase.

The sunlight spilled into the room as a reminder that she needed to get her day started.

With a moan, she pushed herself up and out of bed. Her pajamas were scattered all over the floor, and her sore inner thighs were a reminder of what she and Isaac had shared.

Seeing her reflection in the mirror, she gasped. She paused to inspect the bruises on her shoulder. She looked like she’d been in a fight.

After a quick shower, she dressed and headed outside with her first cup of coffee of the day. Something told her she’d need a few more to get through until sundown.

The sun was warm, and last night's rain had evaporated. As she headed to the barn, she inhaled the fresh morning air, not letting the ache in her bottom and hips deter her chirpy mood. Hope has always cherished mornings. The aromas, the crisp air, and the dew on the grass all contributed to the new beginning.

The ranch bustled in activity.

Several hands were in the pasture working with the horses.

One on a tractor hauled a trailer of hay and feed.

Another was dumping food in the long metal troughs for the cattle.

She had some things on her to-do list, including speaking to Isaac.

Did he regret what they’d shared?

She walked inside the barn, stretching her gaze from wall to wall and not finding him.

However, she did see Wheeler. When he saw her coming his direction, he turned his cheek and lowered his hat, working feverishly to change the tractor's flat tire.

“Morning, Wheeler,” she said when she approached him.

“Mornin’, ma’am.”

So now he was calling her ma’am?

“Don’t hide your face. I already know what happened.”

He dropped the tool he was using and stood, readjusting his hat as he faced her. His face looked a lot worse than Isaac’s knuckles had last night. He had a mean-looking bruise that covered most of his cheek and nose.

“Am I fired?” He wouldn’t meet her gaze and kicked up a pebble with the toe of his boot.

“Fired?” Maybe there was more to the story than she knew. “Why would I do that?”

“Marcum didn’t tell you?” Several expressions flitted over his face ending with shock.

“I’d like to hear your side of things.”

He shifted his dirty boots, his complexion turning grey. “I let my mouth get carried away, ma’am. I didn’t mean any harm. I just wanted to find out if the rumors were true.”

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