Page 37 of Saddled in Secrets
“That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
Colton narrows his eyes, the blue appearing lighter in the afternoon sun. “Where were you headed when you tried to skip town?”
The shift in topic gives me pause. “Didn’t have a specific location in mind.”
“You did,” he insists.
“No, I didn’t. I just wanted to go… somewhere else.” I toss my hands up, exhaling heavily. “Away from Cloverleaf Meadows and the expectations of my last name. The rodeo circuit can be suffocating too. It’s a rich person problem and I know that, but the pressure of being a Benson is exhausting. Especially after my mom died. I wanted a break. It actually felt like a need. That’s why I decided to take that trip to Europe on a whim, which didn’t go as planned. The next time, I figured I’d just drive and see where the road took me.”
It probably would’ve led me to a spot exactly like this if I’m being honest.
His nod acts like he heard me. “Does your restless spirit approve?”
“Restless spirit,” I scoff. “That’s what you got out of my speech?”
“Do you prefer a different term?” He grunts when I don’t answer. “That’s what I thought. Nobody knows you out here. You can even pretend to be someone else.”
“But there’s no hiding from you,” I retort.
“Am I that bad?”
“You represent what I’m trying to escape. I don’t actually get peace while you’re hovering over me.”
“It’s not safe for you to be alone.” He stands with the horses on either side of him, forming a defensive guard against any attack.
“What’s going to get me?” I spin in a slow circle. “There’s probably nothing for miles.”
Colton dips his head. “The property sits on four hundred acres of land. Only eighty are fenced in. That’s as much space as you’re going to get.”
Fire burns in my veins. “I hate you.”
“And I deserve it. Doesn’t change the facts. This is the best I can do. Run free. Go buck wild. Ditch your elite reputation.Blend in and be normal.” He’s really expanding his vocal cords today.
“Fine. Whatever.” Another argument lost—go figure. My attention wanders to the house, wondering what’s waiting inside. “Did the owners owe you one or is this a random rental?”
“I bought it.” Colton states that as if he’s telling me the sky is blue.
My lips part on a shocked exhale. “When?”
His voice is unusually soft when he says, “Middle of July.”
A lump instantly clogs my throat. Mom passed earlier that month. The timing seems too purposeful. I search his bottomless ocean stare for answers that never surface.
“Why?” It’s more of a croak than a question.
“Figured I should get my own house. It was long overdue.”
“And you chose somewhere hours away from the office?”
“Consider it more of a vacation home.”
My brows leap to the barn roof. “Is that a joke?”
“If you want it to be.”
“What’s the real reason?”
Colton stares deep into my soul, trying to convey a message. “Maybe I was planning ahead.”
