by Kadie Scott
“Why worry us?” Now exasperation snapped in his mother’s voice. “We are your family. And families support one another and help each other through the hard times.”
The scraping sound of a chair being pushed back reached Holly.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I know you’re right. Holly helped me figure that out.”
Holly sucked in a silent gasp, her heart turning over.
“Holly did?” Cash’s dad’s gruff voice sounded now.
In her spot in the hallway, Holly grimaced. Now he’d share her part in it, and they’d hate her.
“Yeah. She was Marcus’s witness.”
“She was what?” Carter’s voice spiked.
Yup. They were going to hate her. Regret lanced through her, her heart aching with the knowledge that these kind people wouldn’t want her around anymore. Being around them had been like having a family again, even if from afar.
“She didn’t want to, but she was the only person Marcus had. Please don’t blame her like I did.”
Cash was defending her? Holly’s emotions pinwheeled into shock. Yes, they’d made love, but she’d never thought she’d gain his forgiveness.
“That poor girl. What a rough spot to be in. She must’ve been so worried.”
Evaline’s words brought a rush of instant tears to Holly’s eyes. Her actions could’ve ripped Cash and Sophia apart, and his mother was worried about her?
“She was. And she’s the one who basically told me I was being an idiot. That losing her family had taught her the importance of keeping the people you love close, and sharing with them. Even the bad stuff.”
“Remind me to thank her when she comes down,” Evaline said.
“Maybe you should marry that girl and keep her around,” Carter drawled.
When Cash didn’t immediately laugh himself hoarse, Holly’s heart took off in a hopeful gallop.
“After Georgia died, I told myself I wouldn’t marry again. Yes, we rushed into things because she was pregnant, but I expected loyalty. Instead, I got a woman who’d rather abandon her family and walk away from her responsibilities for her own happiness.”
Bile rose, sour and stinging, up her throat. Cash might have been talking about Georgia, but his words might as well have been about her too. She’d abandoned her family, her responsibilities, to go off to school. And the thing was, he was right. Cash deserved more. So did Sophia. And Holly had lost the right to marriage and kids.
Not wanting to hear more, she hurried away quietly. She’d have to make an appearance eventually, but she’d be ready to go when she did. She hustled through packing up her few things and then got the horses loaded and ready before she headed back inside.
There she found the Hills still sitting around the table, just chatting. As she walked in, Cash laughed at something Jennings had said, and Holly’s heart warmed. He looked younger and happier than she’d seen him since Georgia’s funeral. At least she’d played some small part in that.
“Can I help, Evaline?” she asked the older woman who had stood to clear up.
“There you are!” Evaline crossed the room and pulled her in for a big hug. Had Holly not already known about the conversation they’d just had, she’d be quite confused about her reception. As it was, she just hugged her back.
“Go sit down. There’s still plenty left to eat. I’ll warm something up for you. Eggs? Bacon?”
Holly nodded as she took the only free seat. Beside Cash, of course.
“Good morning.”
She glanced over to find Cash watching her closely, a smile playing around his lips. Her heart fluttered as she took in his tight jeans and navy T-shirt. He’d shaved, changing back from the bad boy of last night to the clean-cut sheriff. The man was sex appeal wrapped up in a fantastic package.
Not for me, though.
She gave him as casual a smile as she could muster. “Why, yes it is.”
Then she turned away and poured herself an orange juice.
“I’m not surprised you slept so late,” Carter commented. “You weren’t in our room most of the night.” She said it casually but pinned them both with a speculative look.
Dang. Holly thought quickly. “I don’t sleep well in general. It’s worse in strange places. I went out to get some fresh air and fell asleep on the porch swing.”
“That must have been awfully uncomfortable.” Evaline placed a plate of hot food in front of her.
Holly cleared her throat. She didn’t dare let her gaze stray to Cash. “Actually, I slept very well.”
But Carter angled her head, apparently unconvinced. She had an odd little smile, as though she knew something. Holly ignored her and shoveled eggs into her mouth. She barely tasted the food, eating quickly. All she wanted to do was get out of there.
“You okay?” Cash asked in a low voice meant only for her ears.
She flicked him a smile, which she hoped was convincing. “Fine.”
His small frown told her he wasn’t fooled. Holly finished chewing a bite and cleared her throat. “I have the horses already loaded up, so I can’t stay too much longer.”
Evaline paused in scrubbing a pan. “Oh, we were hoping you’d take your time before leaving.”
Holly managed not to grimace. “I would’ve liked that, but Luke called…” Not wanting to add to the lie, she let the statement dangle and prayed no one would ask for details.
“What rotten timing. That’s too bad.” Evaline tsked.
“Yeah.”
*
Cash watched Holly drive away with a mix of emotions.
Thanks to Holly, he’d finally told his family, his heart letting go of the bitter anger he’d been holding on to with a white-knuckled grip until now. His family had been shocked not only to learn about Georgia, but also to find out Holly’s role. Unlike him, however, they forgave as soon as they heard it, unable to blame her for something that had been a mix of accident, youth and having no good choices.
But then she’d come into the room and would hardly look at him. She’d shoveled food into her mouth as fast as she could swallow it and practically run out to her truck. She’d shown zero regret when they parted in the barn this morning. What had happened since then to spook her? Because, without a word being said, she’d put a wall up between them.
After months of wanting her to go away, now he wanted to chase after her, call her back, pull her into his arms and not let go. All he could think about was wanting to be with the woman he loved.
The woman he loved…
He’d thought it so naturally, it took a second for him to realize it. Now, that fact—because it was a fact—slammed through him. He loved her. With everything inside him. He’d thought he’d never feel this, but she had somehow eased her way into his life and his heart. Now she’d taken up residence there, and he couldn’t imagine life without her.
What a time to make this discovery, as she drove away from him.
*
Holly frowned at the ring of her doorbell. She hadn’t made any plans for tonight since she’d only gotten home this morning. The house seemed too quiet after the constant noise and activity at the Hills’.
But she wasn’t lonely. She refused to let herself be.
Wondering who was there, Holly got up from the couch, where she’d been watching TV, and went to look through the peephole. She pulled back at the sight of Cash’s face. He hadn’t said anything about coming by. He thought she was working with Luke, so why would he come?
She swung the door open, and her eyes widened at his appearance, dressed in starched jeans and a button-down shirt, with a bouquet of red roses.
“Cash?”
“Hi, Holly. Mind if I come in?”
“Not at all…” She ushered him in.
He grinned. “I bet you’re wondering what this is about.”
“You could say that.”
“Well…I am here to officially ask you for a date.”
Holly’s jaw dropped. “A…date?” She had no idea how to address
that, shock snatching all thought from her brain. “But…we agreed after our night together that a relationship wasn’t a good idea for us.”
Cash’s grin dissolved into a frown, and Holly felt awful for making that happen. A small amount of panic was also starting to take hold. She couldn’t do this.
“I’ve come to the realization that isn’t good enough for me. I think there’s potential for us to be a lot more to each other.”
Yearning clogged her throat. “I—”
“Don’t tell me no. Not yet.”
“There’s nothing you can say…”
His shoulders drooped and he looked away. She wanted to reach out to him and comfort him, but she couldn’t. Suddenly, he pulled his shoulders back and started walking toward her. “Prove it.”
Holly took a step back. “What?”
“Kiss me.”
Her eyes just about popped out of her head. “What?” She was starting to sound like a parrot.
“Kiss me and show me we don’t have something.”
“Oh we have tons of chemistry.” She almost rolled her eyes at the smug look that crossed his face. “But you don’t trust me.”
“I do.”
She shook her head. “I’m sure there are still some doubts floating around in your head. I can’t spend my life proving myself to you over and over again.”
“You won’t have to. I know in my soul I can trust you.”
She didn’t miss the regret shadowing his eyes but held firm against it.
“Even if that’s true, it’s not the only reason to stay apart.” Holly ran a hand over her face. “I’m not planning on a relationship. Ever.” She said the last word in a hushed voice. She’d never told anyone this.
“Why?” The question seemed punched from him.
She moved into the living room, away from his confounding proximity.
“Please, Holly. You at least owe me an explanation.”
Turning, she wrapped her arms around her body. “I told you about my brother and sister. How I left them.”
He frowned but nodded.
“If I could do that to them, I could do it to you or Sophia. Someone like that…like me…doesn’t deserve a family.”
Cash closed his eyes. “Do you really believe that? That you don’t deserve a family?”
She shrugged.
“You are the most nurturing woman I’ve ever known. Look at the way you took in Solario, despite his temperament and your lack of finances.”
“Oh, I have lots of love for my horses, but they are part of the career I wanted.”
“And Georgia? You were loyal to her.”
“Hurting you and Sophia in the process,” she pointed out, misery in her voice.
She could tell Cash was starting to realize she was adamant about this. His lips turned white as they flattened. His hands balled into fists at his sides. “I’ve seen you with Sophia. You’re a natural. Great with her.”
“Anyone can be good with kids a few hours at a time.”
“I can’t convince you to give this…give us a try?”
Heart ripping in two, Holly shook her head. “You’ll find someone someday, Cash. She’ll be perfect for you and for Sophia. But it’s not me.”
*
Cash stared at the woman in front of him.
How had he missed this belief that was so ingrained in her thinking? Panic started to fill him. He was in love with a woman utterly convinced she should never enter into a relationship. He had to show her she was worthy of love and a family.
Instinctively, he moved across the room, surprising her as he took her face between his hands, and laid his lips against hers in a lingering kiss. At first she held herself stiffly, but in a few moments, she softened under his touch.
Lifting his head, he found unshed tears glistening in her eyes, and his heart cracked in response. “I’m not going to let you walk away from something that could be wonderful. Not without a fight.”
She pursed her lips and took a step back. “I think you should go.”
“This isn’t over, Holly.”
She didn’t say anything, didn’t even look at him.
With a shake of his head, Cash walked out of the house, closing the door behind him with a quiet click. He was in his truck and driving without knowing where he was going. He had to do something to convince Holly she was wrong, but he’d seen how entrenched her beliefs were. Otherwise, no way would she walk away. Their night in the barn had proved exactly how compatible they were. The tears told him she cared. But did she care enough?
God, he hoped so. But what could he do?
Chapter Seventeen
“So I’ll meet you in Pueblo a week from today?” Holly asked Rusty on the other end of the phone line.
“Looking forward to it,” the other woman agreed.
“Great.” Holly hung up with a satisfied sigh.
After Solario had such a good showing, she’d debated what to do with both her horses, knowing that her job didn’t give her nearly enough time to ride them herself in competitions and races. She’d started asking around and had found Rusty, who had an excellent reputation as a barrel racing trainer and rider. A perfect fit for Mischief. Even better, Rusty was looking to break into the racing world with her training skills.
After talking, they’d decided Rusty would start working with Mischief immediately. Solario was a different story. Will was going to work with him and Holly together for the next few months until Rusty could come down and see him.
“Holly, can you come up to the front?” Jan’s voice sounded over the phone intercom.
Looking up from the report she’d been typing about a lame horse she was treating, Holly stretched. Writing reports was her least favorite part of the job. Necessary for records and future treatments, but mind-numbingly boring.
Reaching for the phone, she pushed the button for the intercom. “Be right there.”
Upon finding no one in the front office with their admin, Holly raised her eyebrows. “What’s up?”
“This was dropped off for you a few minutes ago.”
Holly frowned at the box sitting on Jan’s desk. She peeked over the edge to discover a tiny kitten, eyes not yet open, mewling inside.
“Oh, the poor baby,” she crooned. Reaching in, she picked up the tiny animal and cradled it to her chest. Newborn kittens needed constant warmth. “Who brought it in?”
Jan shrugged. “I came back from lunch to find it on the front doorstep.”
“No note?”
“Not that I saw.”
Holly reached back into the box and rooted around. Her fingers found a folded piece of paper underneath the blanket.
Unfolding it, she gasped then groaned.
The note said, “Dear Holly, The mama cat rejected this poor little guy. Probably the runt. Sophia insisted you can save it. Love, Cash.”
She didn’t know which part she was more flustered about. The kitten, Sophia’s faith in her, or the love part of the note.
“Well,” she said to the animal, who’d curled up in the palm of her hand, “I guess we’re stuck with each other.”
She headed to the back of the office and gathered some of the supplies she would need. A tiny bottle and some formula close to a mama cat’s milk. She then went into Luke’s office.
“Check out what I’ve inherited.”
Luke looked up from his computer and groaned. “You know how much time raising a kitten takes?”
She looked around them wide-eyed as if searching for something. “Who is the other vet in this office? Oh yeah. It’s me!”
He chuckled. “Have you ever raised one?”
“Nope, but I’m going to anyway.”
“Get one of the high school kids in 4-H to help. Otherwise, you won’t get any sleep.”
Holly shook her head. Something inside said she needed to do this. Mothering animals was something she could do. “Nah. I’ve got it.”
“All right. But I bet you’ll take me up on that offer aft
er one night with it. It’s like having a newborn baby in the house.”
Holly laughed. “Probably.”
*
The next morning, Holly cracked a bleary eye and checked the clock on her bedside table. Eight in the morning, way late for her, but she felt as if it were much earlier.
With a groan, she levered up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Luke had been right. She’d been up half the night with the kitten, which had to be fed frequently and stimulated to relieve itself. A mother cat would do this by licking it. Holly used a warm, damp cloth. She’d set up a box with a heating pad for it to sleep in, but she hadn’t been able to bring herself to use it, worried about overheating or underheating the tiny thing. So she’d slept with it curled up on her chest all night. That meant being very careful not to move or roll over, which meant deep sleep was impossible.
Exhaustion didn’t begin to cover what she was feeling.
A knock sounded at the door.
“Ugh,” Holly groaned. “Go away.”
She wasn’t fit for human interaction, but the knocking didn’t let up. Gently, she placed the kitten in the box before she stumbled her way to the door.
“Sophia?” she gasped when she opened it.
“Hi, Holly.” The adorable five-year-old grinned.
“Why are you here?”
“I want to see the kitten.”
Holly poked her head outside, but no one else was there. “Where’s your dad?”
“He dropped me off. He had to go to work.”
Irritation spiked. “Oh, really?”
“He said you had the day off and wouldn’t mind help with the kitten.”
“Aren’t you in school yet?” Wasn’t Kindergarten supposed to start soon?
“Nope.”
Holly shook her head in total consternation.
“Don’t you want me?”
Holly dropped to her knees and pulled Sophia in for a big hug. “Of course I do, sweetie. I’m surprised is all.”
Sophia hugged her back, her tiny arms wrapping around Holly’s neck. She smelled like strawberry shampoo and little girl.
