Page 84 of A Jilted Bride for the Cowboy

“Um, okay.” That might mean this opportunity with Graham could be lost, but she was on the clock, so work came first. He’d understand that. It always did with him, too. Still, it felt like the universe continued to conspire against them.

She mounted Enchantment and gathered her reins as the guests, including the family from Kansas, plodded out behind Tyrel. Graham hung back, glancing furtively in her direction.

Her heart pounded. Had he seen the post? That was all she wanted to know at the moment. Then she’d have a clue how to proceed.

Only the two of them were left. Sitting stiffly in his saddle, Graham followed the group, letting her do her job at the rear.

“Have fun.” Weston’s sardonic voice came from beside the gate as he prepared to close it behind her.

Eyebrows raised, Cadence looked him in the eye. “I think I will, thank you.”

He chuckled and gestured up the trail with his chin. “Go on.”

Graham glanced over his shoulder when the trail widened and nudged Ranger to one side.

They could ride side-by-side as they had on their first excursion. The time they’d agreed they both were interested. Seemed like they hadn’t been on the same page for more than a few seconds at a time since then.

She kneed Enchantment up beside Ranger, who shied a little.

“Easy, boy,” Graham murmured, patting the gelding.

Miraculously, Ranger settled. Maybe Graham would make a cowboy yet.

Cadence looked at him, trying to read his expression, but it was impossible. They rode together for what seemed forever but was likely only a few seconds before she blurted out, “What were you going to say to me when your grandfather walked into the office?”

Graham didn’t answer.

She glanced over, and his eyes were scrunched tight. Then he opened them and met her gaze squarely. “I was going to say, ‘I love you,’ but I suspected it might not be what you want to hear.”

Her throat thickened. “Really?”

“And I still don’t know for sure if it’s what you want to hear.” He held her gaze for a few seconds longer before he let out a breath with a long whoosh. “Can we talk about it? Because I don’t want either of us to ride off today without both of us knowing exactly where we stand with each other. If that’s nowhere, I need to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt.”

“Have you checked our social media in the past hour?”

He looked into her eyes. Nodded. “I don’t want to assume I know what you meant with those tags, though. I’m not up on hashtag-speak.”

Cadence licked her lips and observed his gaze drop when he noticed. She hadn’t done it on purpose, but his reaction gave her hope. Bravery. “Which one? Swoon? Is it true love? Because I hoped that’s what you had meant to say.”

“I meant it.” He repositioned himself slightly in the saddle while Ranger shifted agitatedly. “I love you, Cadence. Again, I don’t know if—”

“I love you, Graham. It is, in fact, what I want to hear. I want to hear it a hundred thousand more times.”

Graham nudged his glasses up his nose, his gaze never leaving hers. “I’m not sure I can fit that in today, but I’m game to try. Although, it might take a lifetime.”

“I’m up for that.” She stared back, trying to infuse her expression with all the assurance and, yes, even love that she could muster.

But Ranger swerved to the side of the trail, his ears flat back and his teeth bared.

“Graham!”

Screams came from around the bend, and an unholy stench flooded the air.

Skunk!

Ranger reared back, whinnying. But that was all Cadence had time to notice before Enchantment followed suit. It took all her focus to calm her mount and bring him to a standstill.

And that’s when she realized Graham was lying crumpled on the trail and Ranger’s hoofbeats were already fading. More horses surged toward them, and she jumped Enchantment into the fray to block Graham’s body from the thundering hooves.

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