Page 16 of Runaway Bride For The Rancher

The resentment I’d been harboring seemed to melt away, replaced by a reluctant acknowledgment of our shared humanity.

At that moment, sitting beside my sleeping son, I also realized that perhaps my attempts to avoid Olivia were futile. Life had a way of weaving people together, of forging connections that defied logic. I couldn’t predict where thisunexpected path would lead, and I was beginning to understand that some things were beyond my control.

However, it didn’t stop my reactions.

Days after the incident with my son, I resumed work at the ranch. I sensed her presence before I even laid eyes on her. It was as if the air around me shifted, carrying the essence of Olivia's presence on its currents.

My heart quickened its pace in response, a familiar mixture of longing and apprehension bubbling within me.

I stood beside the injured animal, my hands occupied with the task at hand, while every fiber of my being strained to focus on anything but the woman who was approaching. Her voice, when she greeted me, was like a gentle breeze that ruffled the carefully constructed walls around me. I forced myself to keep my attention on the animal, to feign disinterest as her footsteps drew nearer.

She was undeterred by my initial standoffishness, her warm smile refusing to waver even in the face of my distant demeanor. Her attempts to initiate a conversation were met with only the barest of responses, one-word answers that did little justice to the complexity of my emotions.

“It’s quite a beautiful day over here. Enjoying the view too?”

“Yeah, it is. I’m.” I dragged my answer along

“Are you okay, Ben?”

“Yes, why?”

“You don’t just sound fine, or maybe it’s me.” She said and looked on with questions in her eyes.

“Maybe it’s you. I’m actually fine.”

“Okay. Just thought to ask.”

The environment remained quiet for a while, and it seemed weird. I wished to break the silence, but I kept holding back.

The presence of my ranch hand provided an excuse for me to shift my attention away from Olivia. I excused myself andhanded over the reins to the capable ranch hand. But I knew that she was only going to come after me and that I couldn’t avoid facing her for much longer.

She turned back to me, her expression a mixture of determination and curiosity. Her questions continued to pour forth, each one peeling away another layer of my resolve. "What's going on? Did I do something wrong? Are you feeling alright? How's the business?" Her words felt like gentle prodding, each one urging me to open up and let her in.

"I'm fine," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

I turned slightly away from her, a futile attempt to shield myself from the intensity of her gaze. With each passing moment, I could feel the wall I’d built around my emotions begin to crack, the guilt of my actions chipping away at its foundation.

Avoiding her eyes and maintaining a physical distance felt like a battle I was destined to lose. My body seemed to have its own agenda, drawn to her like a moth to a flame despite my efforts to push her away. The conflict within me raged on, desire to war with self-preservation, leaving me torn and uncertain.

Stepping away from the animals, I made my way toward my parked car, the engine's rumble providing a temporary distraction from the tumultuous storm brewing within me. As I drove away from the ranch, the landscape changing with each passing mile, I couldn’t shake the heaviness that had settled in my chest.

My actions were in stark contrast to the understanding and kindness that Olivia had shown me since our first encounter. She deserved better than my coldness, my avoidance. The realization began to dawn on me that perhaps, in my effort to shield myself, I was inadvertently causing her pain. The notion weighed on me, sinking like an anchor into my consciousness.

The thought lingered as I navigated the winding roads, an uncomfortable truth I couldn’t ignore. Maybe it was time toconfront the emotions that had been building between us, to acknowledge the connection that seemed to defy my attempts to suppress it. The vulnerability of such a revelation was daunting, a risk I wasn't sure I was ready to take.

As the miles stretched on, the internal struggle raged within me, the ache in my chest a constant reminder of the turmoil I was facing. My grip tightened on the steering wheel as I considered the path ahead. Was it worth risking my heart again, after the scars left by Audrey's betrayal?

Or was it wiser to continue down the path of avoidance, shielding myself from the potential pain that opening my heart to Olivia might bring?

The answer remained elusive as I drove on, my thoughts a tangled web of conflicting desires and fears.

CHAPTER 7

Olivia

The small town's curious eyes had begun to follow me wherever I went, their lingering stares leaving me with an unsettling feeling of being under constant scrutiny. It was as if my presence had become an enigma to them, a puzzle they were eager to solve. The whispers that followed me as I walked through the streets were a constant reminder of my status as an outsider in their tight-knit community.

Aunt Nelly, always one to offer well-intentioned advice, gently suggested that I attend the Sunday services at the local church. She believed it would be a way for me to integrate into society, to become a recognizable face among the town's occupants. The idea of being thrust into a social gathering made me uncomfortable, my introverted nature shied away from the prospect of being surrounded by unfamiliar faces.

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