Page 76 of Tough Love

Fuck.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize what I was watching until it happened.”

I know that’s not an excuse, but her reaction isn’t what I expected. Her eyes turn vacant.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Shit, I shouldn’t have said anything. I shouldn’t have watched it; that I knew even before I saw her reaction. Watching her fall and be crushed under a horse is not something I can unsee. “I’m sorry, Addy.”

She shakes her head, and her gaze hits the floor. “I?—”

I reach for her, but she doesn’t move. I drop my hands to the floor beside me. “Jesus, sweet girl. I had no idea,” I rasp.

She forces a small, sad smile, and my whole body aches to hold her. To wash that memory from her mind, to take away the pain that must haunt her.

“I let her down... ” She starts with shaky words. “I didn’t listen. I was so focused on our time...”

“It wasn’t your fault, Addy.”

She whimpers, tilting her head as her eyes crinkle. I lean forward and lift her, pulling her into my lap, folding her into my chest. She sobs, her grip tight around my t-shirt. God save me, I’m an ass.

“Seeing you underneath your horse?—”

I swallow past the stone in my throat that cuts off my words. She nuzzles her head into my neck, her breathing raggedthrough a constant stream of sobs. And I can imagine she is reliving it right now.

Because of me.

But still, the words pour from my ridiculous mouth. “The sound of your scream... It broke my fucking heart, Addy.”

Her breath hitches and a shattered cry crashes into my neck. I tighten my hold on her for the second time since I watched that goddamn video. It will never feel like enough. And the fact that she is back on a horse after a fall like that makes her the strongest person I have ever met. Hands down.

When she pushes away and her hands find my face, she composes her face and sucks in a breath. Her chin trembles as she traces a thumb over my lips before holding my face. “Thank you,” she whispers.

I didn’t expect that, either. Tears burn behind my eyes. The air in my lungs turns to lead. “What for?” I choke out.

She forces another sad smile. “For giving me back that part of my life.”

I huff a strangled groan, letting the tears run down my cheeks. “I don’t think bringing up your accident was the best thing I’ve ever done for you, Addy.”

She shakes her head and presses her forehead to mine, thumbing the moisture from my jaw. “For getting me back on a horse, Hudson. I thought I had lost that part of my life. That huge part that was like half of me.”

“I think Sergeant did most of the work...” But I have to know if she’s okay. “Do your hips still hurt from the injuries?”

“They ache a little when it’s cold, sometimes when I’ve been sitting too long in one place. But it’s not a big deal. It doesn’t stop me from doing anything.”

I doubt anything could.

She huffs a laugh and sniffs before pushing back and wiping her face. “Ugh, but now my head hurts.”

“You should be back in bed.”

“Yes, sir.” A cheeky smile curls up on her lips and she winks.

And when she stands, I push to my feet and pick her up, letting her wrap her legs around my waist. “Doctor’s orders, Adeline.”

“If you say so, Hudson.”

“I’ll even let you finish your breakfast before I take off.”

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