Page 57 of Some Cowboys Brave the Flames

Her horse pawed at the ground, and she leaned forward to pat her neck. They weren’t going to go back for another hour at least. She didn’t want to look anyone in the face and tell them why she didn’t feel like making a meal.

Cooking had completely lost its allure as well. She knew the reason had more to do with those cooking lessons she’d given Ash than anything else.

Charlie sighed and pulled the reins around to head back to a trail she hadn’t traveled in a while. Hopefully her family would get the hint and fend for themselves for dinner.

The coffee swirledwith the cream as Charlie stirred it. Emma and Bailey had practically dragged her out for coffee that morning after Carter had told Bailey that Charlie had skipped cooking dinner last night.

It wasn’t entirely unheard of that Charlie would do such a thing. At least that’s what she told herself as she sat across from the two women she could call sisters. Bailey wasn’t married to Carter yet, but she’d gotten pretty close to Emma over the last several months.

Sal’s Diner was quiet this morning. Either people weren’t quite awake yet or the regular late morning rush hadn’t quite arrived. Charlie didn’t mind the quiet. She could escape into her thoughts and be perfectly content.

Emma nudged her cup, and Charlie lifted her head to find both women staring. “What?” Charlie demanded, forcing a smile. She pulled her spoon from the mug and lifted it to her lips.

The women looked at each other. That same concern that Daniel had worn was etched into their pretty faces. “Something’s wrong,” Bailey said. “And we’re not the only ones who have noticed.”

Charlie shrugged. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m good.”

“Sweetie, I know you. And this?” Emma gestured a wave in Charlie’s direction. “Isn’tgood.”

Charlie did her best to hide her disappointment in the statement. She adored Emma. She valued her opinion, but the woman didn’t know what she was talking about. She’d been out of the loop for the most part when it came to Charlie’s dating life. She had her own home and life with Caleb. Bailey was busy, too. She had a daughter, and she was working on completing nursingschool. Neither one of them had been available to vent to when Charlie was struggling with her concerns over Ash’s safety.

Alone.

The word was getting so tiresome, and yet that was exactly how she felt, even though she was surrounded by nearly two dozen people.

Emma took a sip of her drink and gazed over at Bailey with raised eyebrows.

Bailey nodded.

Charlie groaned. “Look, I’m fine. Ash didn’t break up with me. I wasn’t dumped.”

“That doesn’t mean you didn’t have your heart broken,” Bailey pointed out.

“But it means that I was the one who caused this feeling I’m experiencing,” Charlie said with exasperation. “And I can’t even be mad at Ash because he didn’t do anything wrong.”

“He chose his job over you.”

Charlie shut her eyes, hating the pain that sliced through her at that statement. She’d noticed that fact from the very beginning, and it was a selfish one. She refused to acknowledge it now. “Ash made a choice that would make him happy. I can’t fault him for sticking with something he’s spent his whole life cultivating. I was just his girlfriend.”

Her voice sounded weak. She could hear her determination to remain happy falter. It wasn’t fair that she had to defend him to her friends. She wanted to push his name into the mud and stomp on it. She wanted someoneelseto blame other than herself.

But there was no one.

“He’s moving on. I’m going to do the same. We’re both going to be happier with this situation as long as…” She didn’t know what to say. As long as what?

Again, the women exchanged looks.

Charlie was getting tired of it. They needed a change of subject. If she couldn’t get them onto something else, she was going to scream. If she made a scene, then she’d have to leave, and that would be a shame because all she wanted right now was to enjoy her coffee in peace. “I’m going to the bathroom. If you guys really love me, then when I get back, there will be a large slice of apple pie waiting for me.”

Emma let out a laugh. “It’s not even lunchtime yet.”

“And you’re Emma Hart. Are you telling me you can’t convince this place to serve us pie for breakfast?”

Bailey snickered, and Emma gave her a look.

A smile tugged at Charlie’s mouth, but it slipped away just as fast. One day at a time. She could do this if only for the brief moments of happiness she could find.

Those, she would treasure.

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