Page 85 of Live for Me

“Well, I’ll be damned. Abbie Spears,” Ricky drawled, giving me a smile I hadn’t seen before. I took in his new-looking boots, clean jeans, and tan button up. My eyes lingered on the badge on his hip.

He was the Wildlife Warden.

“Ricky Johnson,” I greeted, the hairs on the back of my neck rising. I clutched my laptop tighter to my chest. That was the thing about Ricky; he always gave me the creeps. Not to mention, his father hated me because my mother only fucked him once and didn’t want seconds. He stayed outside our trailer all night once, begging for another chance, promising her a good life. She didn’t take the bait, and even though she was a shitmom, I needed to thank her for that. God only knows what would’ve happened if she actually ended up marrying that awful man.

“Been a long time, girl,” he said, laughing.

“That it has,” I replied curtly, wanting nothing more than to leave. I looked over to the main house, finding the porch empty, no sign of Harmony’s car. She was supposed to give me a ride into town, and while she was running errands, I would be following the story. I’d stayed up half the night digging into the contracts that went sour years ago with the hotel developers. No sense in sleeping if I was going to get pulled into nightmares.

“What are you doing here? At Hallow Ranch?” he asked, his voice slicker than oil. “I thought you left this town in your rearview mirror years ago.”

Of course, I couldn't tell him the truth—not that I wanted to anyway. I cleared my throat, raising my chin higher. “I’m here for a story.”

His eyes dropped to my laptop, lingering longer than they should’ve. “Your story about the embezzlement case was really good.”

My brows went up. “You—you follow my articles?”

Another laugh left him, a rich, practiced sound. He shook his head, a huge grin on his face as the wind around us shifted. “I thought you knew.”

“Knew what?” I asked, taking a step forward, anxious thoughts filling my mind instantly.

He beamed at me. “You’re famous, Abbie. You went out and proved everyone wrong. You’re usually the talk of the town every single Sunday.”

I blinked, shock shooting through my veins as I tried to figure out if he was joking with me or not. I was unsure of what to say, and I shifted my weight, looking to the ground. Suddenly, Ifelt exposed—small. Ricky took a step forward, then another, not stopping until he was less than a foot from me.

“I know your momma was never proud of you,” he began softly, his eyes warm. “I know I wasn’t the nicest to you in school, but you need to hear me say this as someone who foolishly doubted you in the past: I’m proud of you.”

I jerked by back slightly. That was the last thing I expected him to say. “I didn’t leave this shit hole of a town to go to college and build a thriving career in journalism for your approval—or anyone else’s,” I replied, glaring at him. Why the hell would his opinion matter to me? He was proud of me? I could give less of a shit.

The side of his mouth tipped up in a cocky smirk I would take great pleasure in slapping off. “Oh, I’m well aware, Abbie, but you deserved to know someone out there is proud of you.

“I’m proud of myself,” I snapped.

His eyes dropped then, taking in my appearance for a second time. “You look good, Abbie. Real good.”

God, he made my skin crawl.

I was ready to give him a piece of my mind, but the sound of horses running stopped me. I looked over my shoulder and past the tree, my heart skipping a beat to find not only Denver and Mason heading this way, but also Beau. His blue eyes collided with mine, holding them for a moment before he looked to Ricky.

The cowboys slowed their horses to a stop a few feet from us. Denver was glaring at Ricky as Mason leaned forward, resting his arms on the saddle horn.

“Took you long enough, Johnson,” Mason drawled, his jaw working as he chewed his gum.

Beau clicked his tongue, and his golden steed took a few steps forward. “A little close, aren’t you?” he clipped at the warden.

Ricky’s lips tipped up in a cocky smile. “We were just having a conversation, Beau.”

“And that conversation is over,Ricky,” Beau shot back, his voice dangerously low. “I suggest you take a step back.”

Ricky looked over to me, and there was a look in his eyes that all men got when they saw something they couldn’t have. I lifted my chin, glaring back at him. Ricky was the worst kind of man, and the look in his eyes was proof enough.

“I can’t believe you’re still putting up with this, Abbie,” Ricky said conversationally.

I gave the man a thin smile. “The only thing I’m having to put up with is you,” I said sweetly before moving away from him. The sound of another car grabbed my attention, and I looked over my shoulder to see Harmony pulling up. I stopped in my tracks and looked up at the golden cowboy atop his golden steed. He was staring down at me, his eyes aflame, his knuckles white around his reins.

“I’m going into town,” I told him softly as Spirit turned his head, greeting me with a nudge. I put my hand on his nose, giving him a quick pet. “Hi, handsome,” I murmured to the animal. He neighed in reply, and a true smile spread across my face.

“You’re nicer to my horse than you are to me,” Beau noted gruffly from above.

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