Page 56 of The Hardest Part

“With everything goin’ on at the ranch, she could do with a day away.”

Her devotion to those she loved was unmatched. Emily was there, sunup to sundown, doing anything she could to ease her uncle’s sorrow or see her cousins smile.

How lucky was he to be loved by her?

Pretty darn lucky.

“You sure?”

“Yeah,” he said, and with the sleepy smile never leaving his face, Billy turned onto his side. “Now, go.”

“She’s gonna ask where you are, bro.” And the same as he’d done since they were kids, with a parting noogie, Jake stood. “What am I supposed to tell her?”

“Tell her I’m workin’ on building our future.”

Indeed.

But Jake couldn’t exactly say that, now could he?

And just the same, he couldn’t lie.

The dapple gray and sorrel gelding walked side by side, their gait unhurried, along the bank of the clear-running stream. With a forceful chuff, Blaze cleared the dust from his nose. Named for the wide, white marking that ran down the middle of his face, while not very original, it fit him. Jake patted the horse’s smooth mane, taking his gaze from the beauty beside him to a small copse of trees up ahead.

It was the perfect spot. While picking up a picnic lunch at Harry’s, he decided the lake wouldn’t do. Anyone could come upon them there, and Jake wanted Emily to himself. Here, at a bend in the stream, they could hide away from the world, on a blanket in a shelter of pine.

He pointed to it. “We can stop there.”

“Okay.” Shielding her eyes from the sun, she smiled over at him. “Why didn’t Billy come with you?”

What did I tell you, bro?

Prepared, the answer rolled off his tongue. “He wanted to, but he promised Tyler he’d do some wiring with him today.”

“Oh.” She didn’t question it.Thank fuck. “Have you heard from Kellan or Tanner yet?”

“No.” Jake glanced at her. With green eyes sparkling and her grin wide, Emily looked positively giddy. Bursting at the seams, it was apparent to him she was having a hard time holding something in. “Should I have?”

“Eek! They’re gettin’ hitched, baby,” she exclaimed, bouncing in her seat.

“No shit?” Not that he was surprised.

“No shit.” Emily dismounted, leaving Ruby to graze by the trees. “They’re announcing the news at supper tonight, so act like you didn’t know, but Arien called and told me this morning.”

“When?”

“They don’t have a date yet, but soon.”

“Every good thing in the world is born of something not.”

Levi’s words rang true. The sun always shines after a storm. Tragedy gives way to happiness. Matthew’s vision realized, they truly were meant to be. Did it take her mother’s death for Arien to see it? Maybe. But then, without the bad, it’s difficult to appreciate the good.

“Arien said it was all thanks to you—for talkin’ sense into her.” Emily stepped into the circle of his arms, her pretty greens gazing up at him. “What in the world did you say?”

“Didn’t say nothin’.” He let his fingers slide through her hair. “We can all see it. They love her. She loves them. I just asked her why she was fighting it.”

What’s in your head can fuck you up, but your heart can’t lie.

Leaning into him, Emily palmed his cheek. “I guess she couldn’t find a reason to fight no more.”

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