Page 79 of Scrape the Barrel
I gently grabbed her hand again, but instead of examining the scar, I cradled it in both of mine, like it could break any moment. “Who did this to you?”
“My ex.”
My jaw locked, my teeth threatening to break with the pressure.
“How?”
“He grabbed it,” she whispered, a strain in her voice. The term was putting what he did to her lightly.
I pulled one of my hands back, clenching it into a fist. The muscles were pulled taut with how hard my grip was. We had to talk about these things, and while it wasn’t the most ideal time, we couldn’t avoid hard topics. I wanted to know everything about her, the good and the bad.
“I got flowers!” Avery announced.
Sage’s head whipped in her direction and she inhaled deeply, pasting a smile on her face. “What kind?”
“Purple and yellow,” she replied.
“Good job, honey. Why don’t you make me a bouquet?”
“Do you want more purple or yellow?”
“Purple, please,” Sage said.
“Okay!” Avery turned back around, the pony’s reins in her hand as she walked over to a patch of purple wildflowers.
“Sage,” I murmured, shifting her attention back to me now that Avery was occupied.
Her eyes shot up to me. “Yes?”
“Do you want to talk about it back at the barn?” I didn’t want to put her on the spot, but something as extreme as her ex breaking her wrist was not going to be brushed under the rug.
Her eyes shone up at me, unshed tears brimming in them. “Please.”
“Okay.” I leaned forward and brushed a kiss to her forehead, running my thumb across the back of her hand. “Later.”
Standing in the middle of the field with our horses waiting quietly and Avery a dozen feet away probably wasn’t the best time to discuss it. I wasn’t sure how much Avery knew, but if I knew anything about Sage, she’d want to protect her at all costs. Mentally and physically.
The tip of my nose brushed hers. “Why don’t we head back?”
Sage nodded right as a rain drop fell on her forehead. “Yeah.”
Reaching up, my thumb wiped the drop away.
“Rain!” Avery yelled out along with a high pitched giggle.
Taking my hat off, I leaned forward, lightly pressing my forehead to hers. “You’re okay,” I murmured.
She closed her eyes, giving a small nod. The rain started coming down faster, droplets sticking to her hair.
After a moment, I straightened, setting my hat on her head. “Come on, Aves,” I called out.
“Coming!” Avery replied. She hurried back over to us, the bundle of flowers gripped tight in her tiny hand.
“Need some help?” I asked, turning to Avery as she came around the side of her pony.
“No, thank you.” She hiked her foot up and tried a few times, but eventually got the momentum she needed to hoist herself up.
Once we were all back on our horses, we headed for the barn. We hadn’t made it too far out in the field, but we still got drenched in the sudden downpour.
