Page 70 of The Cowboy's Surprise Return

“I hadn’t planned on it.”

His brother frowned. “You’re not going with Jackie?”

Cole shook his head as he parked the wheelbarrow at the back of the stable near the stack of fresh straw, ready for its next job. It would be presumptuous to invite himself along on her journey, certain to create a disaster out of something good.

“Why not?”

“Why should I?” Cole asked, his tone hard. She hadn’t so much as hinted he might be welcome to tag along. With lengthy strides he headed back to Cookies’s stall, where he’d left the shovel, and tossed it into the wheelbarrow with a clatter.

“Seemed like the two of you were serious, is all.”

Cole didn’t respond. He’d been hanging out with Jackie nearly every night, and while he’d started dating her to show the town and his family he’d grown up and was ready to settle down, now he actually felt that way.

And to add another pain in his heart, it was working. He’d noticed a shift. People were asking him to help with things as if he was staying in town, watering those dormant roots that had always been there.

Which would have been great except he was no longer dating Jackie to show off a different side to himself, but because he cared for her.

And she was leaving.

“I haven’t noticed her with someone in a long time,” Levi stated. “And maybe never like this.”

Cole ground his teeth together. Things were stressful enough for her right now without him causing complications because he was feeling things for her. She could make a move, just like he could, and the ball was very much in her court.

But man, did he ever want to create complications. Desperately.

“I’m not breaking her heart, if that’s what you’re asking. She’s leaving for her dad.”

Levi lifted his hands as though calming a horse about to rear. “I didn’t say you were.”

“She’s a good woman, Levi.”

“I know.” His brother sighed. “Look, I’m not trying to fight.”

Cole crossed his arms and let out a long, slow breath. Levi was standing near the door now, essentially blocking it. Cole would be a jerk if he blew by him, but he wasn’t loving this conversation.

“I know I haven’t given you as much work around here as you might want,” Levi said, his voice low and even.

“It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not.” Levi’s tone became grim. “You’ve been trying, and I’ve been punishing you. At least that’s what Laura says.”

Smart woman.

“It’s fine. Really.”

“Quit lying,” Levi snapped.

“I understand I broke your trust by leaving,” Cole said cautiously, “and that I need to rebuild it.”

“No.” Levi was shaking his head. “I should have apologized to you a long time ago.”

“For not working me to the bone as soon as I stepped over the threshold?” Cole said with a chuckle that sounded a bit bitter. “Don’t worry about it.”

“No,” Levi repeated firmly. Above the wide doorway a naked bulb glowed, casting shadows that made him look even more serious than his tone suggested. “For sending you away.”

Cole scoffed in surprise. “You didn’t send me away.”

“I acted like my solution to the problem with April was the only one possible. I didn’t give you the space to figure out what was best for you. I put you in a take-it-or-leave-it situation. You left it, and we haven’t spoken for years. I don’t like that, and I’m ashamed I treated you that way.”

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