Page 21 of Saddles and Snowstorms
My heart pounded in my chest and before I knew what I was doing, I was on my feet. But instead of taking Rowan’s hand, I just glanced at him nervously and ran out the door. I stumbled out into the cool evening air, my lungs burning like I’d just wrestled a steer. The sun had nearly set, painting the sky in deep purples and fading orange. My truck was right where I’d left it, and I made a beeline for it, fumbling with my keys. I had to get out of there, away from whatever this was before it awakened something I didn’t want to deal with.
“Brooks! Wait!”
I froze at the sound of Rowan’s voice. Part of me wanted to jump in my truck and disappear down the road, back to the safety of my empty ranch house. But something kept my feet planted to the ground as I heard his footsteps approaching from behind.
“I’m sorry,” he said, slightly out of breath. “I didn’t mean to put you on the spot like that.”
I turned around slowly, keeping my eyes fixed on the gravel beneath my boots. “It’s fine,” I muttered, though it clearly wasn’t.
“No, it’s not.” He stepped closer, close enough that I could smell his cologne—that woodsy scent that made my stomach tighten. “I misread the situation. I thought... well, it doesn’t matter what I thought. I just wanna make sure you’re okay.”
I finally looked up at him, at those concerned green eyes studying my face. He was genuinely worried about me. It made my heart ache, showing me just how truly lonely I was. But that realization quickly turned to anger.
“I don’t need your pity,” I spat.
“I wasn’t?—”
“I like being alone,” I said, forcing the words out from between my lips. “I don’t want you or your friends bothering me. And tell Dolly I don’t want any more of her meddling either. I just want to live my life without anybody else trying to come in and mess it up!”
I was shouting by the time I made it to the final word. Rowan stood there though, calmly taking it all. Instead of shouting back at me, which I knew I deserved, he just let out a small sigh.
“I’m sorry, Brooks,” he nodded, casting his gaze toward the ground. “It won’t happen again.”
With that, he turned back toward the diner, shoulders drooping. I felt my hand twitch, like I wanted to reach out, grab him, and stop him from leaving. I wanted to tell him that I enjoyed his company, that he was interesting to me, and a million other things to try to make it all better.
But I didn’t.
Instead, I stood there, watching him until he was through the diner doors once more. Rowan was too young and too full of life to want someone like me. And I was too broken to let anyone in. I’d sworn to myself long ago that I’d never let that happen again. So, despite how bad we were both feeling in that moment, I knew it was best to just turn around and drive away, leaving him and all hope of anything more behind.
And that’s exactly what I did.
Chapter 8
Brooks
“You’ve got to be fuckin’ kidding me…” I sighed, glaring down at the dog as he dragged himself into the house. He was limping bad, his back leg stretched out at a strange angle. “What the hell did you get into this time, Hank?!”
The old mutt just whimpered, those big brown eyes looking up at me all pitiful-like. Damn dog knew exactly how to get to me.
“Christ almighty,” I muttered, crouching down to get a better look. His fur was matted with mud, and there was a nasty gash along his flank. “You tangle with a coyote again or just do somethin’ stupid?”
I ran my hand gently over his leg, and he yelped. Definitely something broken. Just what I needed after a fourteen-hour day at the ranch.
“Alright, boy. Looks like we’re payin’ a visit to the vet whether you like it or not.” I scooped him up as carefully as I could, wincing at his weight. Hank wasn’t no puppy anymore.
The screen door slammed behind us as I carried him to my beat-up truck. The Texas sun was just starting to set, painting the Sagebrush hills in hues of gold and crimson. Any other time, I might’ve stopped to admire it. But right now, Hank needed help. As much as I didn’t want to go to the vet’s office, I had no choice.
I was gonna have to eat my words. Less than twenty-four hours after I’d yelled at Rowan, telling him I wanted to be alone and basically never see him again, I needed his help. To be fair, I could’ve packed Hank up and driven him all the way out to Amarillo to find an emergency vet. But that was time and money I didn’t have to waste. So, Dr. Walsh was my only option.
I was gonna look like a right fuckin’ fool showing up at that vet office. Hell, I wouldn’t even be surprised if he refused to see me after the way I’d acted.
My truck rattled down the dirt road, each bump making Hank whimper in the passenger seat. I kept one hand on his back, trying to steady him while steering with the other.
“Easy, boy. Almost there.”
The lights of Sagebrush’s only veterinary clinic were still on—thank God. It was past closing time, but Rowan’s truck was in the lot. The man was a workaholic, something he’d pointed out during our last... encounter. Right before I’d told him to stay the hell away from me.
I pulled up close to the entrance, killed the engine, and sat there for a moment, my hands tight on the steering wheel. Pride was a dangerous thing for a man like me. Always had been.
