Page 83 of Live for Me

I could live easier again.

My Abbie was home.

Chapter Twenty

Abbie

Three days later. Hallow Ranch.

I walked by the bunkhouse, then the massive red barn, my eyes on the black “H” painted on the front of it as the gravelcrunched underneath my boots, the summer breeze shifting my sage green, cotton dress that fell just above my knees. I stopped, tipping my head back to study the barn, the horses neighing on the inside. The familiar sound of spurs filled my ears and I dropped my head to find Mags standing at the opening of the barn, a grand black stallion behind him. I couldn’t see the cowboy’s eyes under the brim of his black hat, but I could feel them studying me, burning into my skin, trying to expose me from the inside out. He was dressed in worn Levi’s, black boots, a black t-shirt, and, a gray and black flannel.

I shifted on my feet and gave him a slight nod. “Good morning, Mags.”

He raised his fingers to the brim of his hat, tipping it to me. “Abbie,” he greeted, his voice gruff.

A tight smile found my face, and I looked down to my feet.

Mags intimidated the hell out of me.

I still remembered the first day he came to Hallow Ranch. His beard had been down to his chest, his hair longer and more untamed. His clothes had been dirty and the only thing he had was a military duffel on his shoulder. It was the dead of winter when he walked into Hayden, looking for work. Everyone told him to come to Hallow Ranch to see if the brokenhearted eldest Langston brother could give him a job.

Denver hired him on the spot.

“If you’re looking for Beau, you won’t find him here.”

I jumped, and my head shot up.

Mags was moving then, leading his stallion to the water bin outside the corral.

“Oh, I wasn’t looking for Beau,” I said to Mags’ back. Granted, we needed to have a conversation about the other night, about the way he made me feel, and then I needed to tell him it could never happen again. It was just a one-time thing, getting rid of the tension between us.

That’s all that was.

You slept in his bed—the one he carried you to. Remember?

I shoved the voice inside my head back, choosing to ignore that memory. Beau held me for the rest of the night, and by the time I woke up late the next morning, he had left. He didn’t return to the cabin until I was already asleep—in my bedroom. He didn’t come get me. The next day, again, I didn’t see him at all. The last two days, I’d sat in that cabin, replaying everything, and today, I didn’t have the strength to be trapped inside all day again.

The dark cowboy said nothing, and I watched him as he finished tying off his horse. When he finally turned to me, my back straightened, and I braced myself for all the horrible things he must have to say to me. Just like Mason. Just like Denver. I was making my rounds, I guess, taking a verbal beating from all the cowboys at Hallow Ranch for what I did to Beau.

You deserve it, Abbie.

Just stand there and take it.

Mags slowly made his way to me, wiping his hands on a black cloth he’d pulled from the back pocket of his jeans. “How are you holding up?” he asked.

I blinked.

Was Mags—was Mags engaging in conversation? With me?

My mouth opened, but no sound came out. So, I did the next most logical thing: close it. He stared down at me, his face unreadable. I opened my mouth, trying again, but I could only manage to get out one word. “Fine,” I said, my voice squeaking.

He kept his face set as he spoke, not letting me read him at all. “You don’t have to lie to me.”

“Truth be told, Mags, I don’t know what to say to you,” I blurted.

“The truth is usually a good start.”

“I’m sorry, are you—are you trying to have a conversation with me, or are you just stalling?”

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