Ford
Chapter Seventeen
I was setting boards up to go through the planer when I sensed him. I turned around, and he was swinging before I could get my hands up. The momentum from the blow pushed me to the ground, and I felt my eye start swelling.
“You stole my girl and my daughter,” I heard him shout, as I pushed myself up. I needed to be standing for this. “You lied to me,” he finished, the words quieter now, more painful.
“Colt,” I choked. This was not how I wanted it to go. I’d thought I could explain, reason with him.
“I stopped by the house. I thought I could crash with you for the summer.” He was laughing maniacally. “But guess who answered the door? She explained. She was sorry, but everyone thought they were doing what was best for me.” He was shaking his head, I saw his knuckles bleeding, but he didn’t swing at me again. “I might get it coming from her. But my brother knows me. He wouldn’t lie to me, not like that. He wouldn’t step in and take my place.”
I was shaking my head. “I didn’t take your place. I couldn’t do that. It wasn’t like that,” I croaked, his words causing me physical pain.
“Really? Cause you know, she moved in with you. You’re raising my daughter, right? Aren’t you? Hannah said you fell in love. Did she lie? How long have you been in love with my girlfriend? Were you waiting for me to leave, was that it?” Colt shouted, beyond reason now.
I looked over and saw Joe coming out the back door. I shook my head at him. This was between me and Colt.
“I didn’t steal your girl. That was never the intention. She didn’t have anywhere to go. Hell, I fell in love, because of how amazing and strong she is. It wasn’t planned. I wasn’t waiting to swoop in when you went away. You know better than that, Colt,” I told him, my words sharp.
“Do I? Cause an hour ago I would have staked my life on the fact that you wouldn’t lie to me,” Colt replied, his words cutting deep.
“You’re right,” I admitted, feeling defeated. “I shouldn’t have lied. Doesn’t really matter what the intention was. But I can’t change it.”
“Would you change it if you could?” he asked me, the question weighted. I took a deep breath.
“No.” I closed my eyes and shook my head. “No, I would make the same decision again.”
He laughed, but there was nothing funny about it. “She said the same. You intentionally keep life altering information from me, but neither of you would make a different choice.” I looked at him, and I knew the betrayal he felt went deep, and our lies wouldn’t be easily forgiven. For a moment, I wondered if they ever would be, and I was lightheaded at the thought that we may never get past this.
He turned and started walking away. I couldn’t leave it like this.
“Colt,” I said desperately. He paused, but didn’t turn around. “I’m not going anywhere. When you’re ready to talk, I’ll be here.” He was still for a moment before walking out.
I collapsed against the workbench, my eye throbbing, but the pain in my chest was a thousand times worse.
Hannah
Chapter 18
Life keeps going. That’s what you find out when you lose someone you love.
When he walked out the door, it was infinitely more painful than the day my parents rejected me, because this time I was the one responsible for the pain.
Ford came home that afternoon, but we didn’t talk about Colt. There was nothing to say. The next day we found out Colt had it out with his parents that night too. He’d left their house, and none of us had heard from him since.
The next two weeks went by in a strange daze. Ford looked at his phone frequently, but there was never a missed call or message. Grace was the light that shone in our darkness. She seemed to be the only one that could make us laugh.
I wondered when the bubble would finally break. There was desperation in me to call or message him, pester him until he responded back, but there was no point. A response wouldn’t make everything okay again. He deserved time to accept what we did, I told myself a thousand times, in the days following.
Graduation day finally arrived, and I couldn’t have felt less like celebrating. Ford forced a smile and made pancakes. He was trying for me, and I couldn’t do less than the same. Maybe if we continued trying, our smiles would become genuine.
Olivia arrived at the house with bags draping her arms.
“I have the perfect outfit for you. Also, we’re going to vamp up your makeup,” she declared, before heading to Grace. “And you, my little princess, have a new dress too!”
I stopped myself before I said anything. Grace’s closet had more clothes than mine, thanks to Aunt Livie, but I wouldn’t complain. Olivia adored Grace, and the feeling was mutual.
“That was my cue to get out of here,” Ford said. “I’ll go set up at Joe’s, until you’re ready to go.” I nodded, wishing I could join him. Olivia was a force to be reckoned with when she was doing a makeover.
Joe and Martha insisted on throwing a graduation party for me. Ford’s parents were coming and pretty much everyone we knew. They would be at the graduation and then we’d come back to the house for the party. Luckily, graduation was in the football stadium, because I had more people eager to watch me graduate than I would have dreamed.
The next few hours flew by, as we got ready for the graduation. Excitement began seeping in, as the day went on. I’d been working toward this moment for so long. I never doubted I’d get here, but I also never anticipated the way it would turn out.
I was sharing this day with my daughter and a man that I knew would love me for a lifetime. My only regret was that Colt wouldn’t be here to share it with us. He’d given me a daughter, and I couldn’t forget that. With Ford, I’d been given the opportunity to raise Grace, and he’d become her father, but Colt had given her life.
Olivia fussed about the necessity of putting an ugly polyester gown over my beautiful dress, but I wore it proudly. I had an honor’s sash around my neck and I blinked back tears, as I watched Ford hold our daughter. He was juggling his phone trying to get pictures of me, while Grace attempted to grab it. Finally, they all had to go find a seat, while I lined up for the procession.
As we walked, the sun was setting on the field, cameras were flashing constantly, and I was reminded of the many times I’d sat in the bleachers watching the football team play. I was there for every game, usually squashed between Ford and his parents, as we cheered Colt on. The memories were bittersweet, because this part of my life was done now.
We couldn’t go back anymore, only forward into a future that was uncertain. That thought should have terrified me, but instead, the excitement that had been building all day finally broke free. I knew my smile was huge and my eyes clear. The future was in front of me, and there was nothing but opportunities awaiting us.
They called our names, and I watched people walk forward, some crying, others overjoyed. I heard people in the stands cheer when it was someone they knew. I was glad Ford convinced me to be here for this. There are some moments that deserve a celebration, and this was one of them.
When they called Hannah Brignac, I heard Ford yelling. I looked out, but I couldn’t see him for the sheer number of people packed into the stands. As I walked back down the stage, I looked across the field and he was standing there. I’d know that stance anywhere. He’d come. He lifts his hand for a second, and I nodded to myself, my eyes burning, but still clear.
I knew what his presence meant. He’d come back to us.
Colt
I heard her name called, and I felt the first flicker of happiness, since I found out. For so long, I’d wondered why she’d broken up with me. She’d destroyed my heart. I never admitted to anyone how much it hurt when she ended it. I laughed to myself. Maybe that was my own fault. I’d never shown Hannah how much I loved her. I’d always put football and my dreams ahead of her. It really shouldn’t have surprised me that she’d tried to protect me, but finding out we had a daughter brought me to
my knees. And as angry as I was with Ford, I knew he’d take care of them. In fact, he’d do a better job than I could.
I lifted my hand, knowing she’d see me. I saw the slight nod of her head before I turned and walked away.
I slid into my Camaro, feeling the rumble, as I turned the key. I didn’t know where I was going, only that I couldn’t stay here. My only obligation was training camp in July. I pulled out of the parking lot of my high school stadium and gunned it.
Chasing Colt
By
Kristin Coley
©Kristin Coley 2016
Colt
Chapter One
Sports cars weren’t meant for driving through a blizzard on a mountain. I should have gotten an SUV with snow tires, like Coach told me, but it was too damn late now. I cussed, as I tried to see through the blinding snow. It was nine o’clock in the morning, but it could have been the middle of the night, as far as visibility was concerned.
I had to be close to the house I’d rented for the season. It was only three miles from the last turnoff, but at this point I couldn’t be sure I hadn’t passed by it. We didn’t get snow like this in Waco. I felt a twinge at the thought of what I’d left back home in Texas. I hadn’t been back there in years, not since Hannah confessed the secrets they’d kept from me.
I blinked, focusing on the road at what appeared to be headlights coming toward me. I jerked the wheel, realizing I’d drifted into the middle of the road. It was too little too late. The back tires spun out, and I heard metal crunching. Neither of us were going fast, but the force of the collision sent me into the ditch. The car rocked to a stop. I felt the angle the car was sitting at, and I already knew there was no way I was getting it out without a tow truck. I pushed my door open and held it, to keep it from slamming back down on me. I was grateful for the daily workouts I was subjected to, as I pulled myself out of the car. I heard a voice shouting, “Hello? Are you okay? Can you hear me?”
I shouted back, ‘Yeah, I’m good’ before it occurred to me they might leave, and I had zero intention of freezing to death a few miles from my house. “But my car isn’t. Can you help me?”
“Sure. Can you see my headlights? Or follow my voice?” The voice shouted. It was husky and I wasn’t sure if it was a man or woman. The wind twisted the words making it impossible to follow the voice, but I saw the headlights and walked toward them.
“I see your headlights. I’m walking toward you,” I called out, slowly making my way to the vehicle.
My car must have spun around when I landed in the ditch, because the headlights I was approaching were facing the way I was going and when I looked back, I saw the reflector on my mailbox. I had been so close, but I knew I couldn’t walk up the driveway without freezing.
I approached the driver’s side slowly, as I saw a person bundled up standing next to the door of the SUV. They were probably native and knew how to drive in snow, unlike me.
As I got closer, I saw long, dark hair tangling in the wind … a woman then. She had a long parka on with mittens covering her hands. I didn’t bother to offer my hand. They were stuffed in the pockets of my coat. I hadn’t worn gloves, and while my coat was heavy, it wasn’t meant for walking around in blizzard conditions. The woman seemed to realize that, as she looked me over.
“Climb in. You need to warm up,” she told me, gesturing around to the passenger side.
I did what she said, my face already numb from the short walk. I slid into the SUV, the leather seat warm on my ass, as the hot air blasted from the vents, melting the snow covering my hair. She was fiddling with controls, as I held my hands over the vents.
“I’m Sophie. Why don’t you have gloves?” I heard her say and I looked over at her. Her wide green eyes were set in a porcelain complexion with red rosebud lips. I had the odd sense that I was looking at the living version of Snow White. I realized she was waiting on an answer, so I told her, “I didn’t think I’d need them.”
“Hmmm, not from around here are you?” she said, her eyes giving me the impression that she thought I was an idiot.
“No, I’m from Texas. We don’t generally have snow where I from,” I replied, shortly. I was irritated at the thought that she might consider me an idiot. Perhaps I was, but I hadn’t planned on being out in the snow longer than the few seconds it took me to get into my car.
“Oh, are you vacationing?” she questioned politely. Her voice was low and husky, and I had a feeling it was natural and not the result of the cold.
“No, I’m living here for the season, while I work,” I replied, continuing, “In fact that’s my driveway.” I gestured to the mailbox, barely visible in the gleam of her headlights. I was eager to get away from this woman and get inside. The snow was melting, and I had icy water running down my neck.
“Great! We need to hunker down, until the blizzard ends,” she said, matter-of-factly, shifting the SUV into drive. Only one word stood out in her sentence, “We?” I asked her.
“Afraid so. The blizzard is worse than I thought when I started out. There’s no way I’m making it further up the mountain. I guess it’s a good thing we ran into each other. Otherwise, I would have been knocking on your door,” she chattered, slowly heading up my driveway. I must have looked at her disbelievingly, because she explained. “Living in the mountains, you learn to adapt. Occasionally, people need shelter from storms like these. Most people carry emergency supplies in their vehicles, in case they get caught, but sometimes it lasts a few days, and the best thing to do is find shelter.”
This felt too convenient, and I got suspicious. “Do you know who I am?” I demanded.
“No, you never told me your name,” she replied, hesitantly, giving me a sideways glance. I was sure she thought she’d let a crazy person in her car, but I’d had bad experiences with fans and the media. I kept a tight eye on her when I said, “Colt Anderson.”
She didn’t look impressed, or even giddy, when I said my name, so I surmised she must not follow football. She gave me a quick nod saying, “Nice to meet you, Colt.”
Her hands were clenched on the steering wheel, as she peered into the swirling snow. We’re barely going five miles an hour, but visibility was still nil. I was starting to understand what she meant about emergency guests. I couldn’t have turned her away if she showed up on my doorstep in this weather. Instead, I needed her help, and I hadn’t forgotten the accident was my fault, even though she’d yet to mention it.
“I’m sorry about the accident,” I muttered gruffly, attempting to make up for my earlier accusation.
“It’s fine. It’s almost impossible to see in this weather. I was glad it wasn’t any worse,” she replied quietly.
“It’s not much further,” I said, when she went over a rough pothole. I kept meaning to call the leasing company to have someone come out and fix it, but at the moment it was a good reference point for how close we were.
“Good.” she breathed, and I heard the relief in her voice. I saw the shadow of the house looming a couple minutes later. I pulled my phone out and hit the app that unlocks my garage.
“Keep pulling forward,” I told her, waving her forward. She inched up, as the garage door went up and we could see the light. She gave a sigh of relief, as we rolled into the garage.
After I closed the garage, we stepped out of her vehicle. I was grateful the garage was heated, because I was still dripping melted snow onto the ground. She asked me, “Is it okay if I grab my bags? I have a feeling I’ll need to stay the night.”
“Yeah, I’ll help you,” I said, walking around to the back. I grabbed the two bags I saw and walked to the door leading to the mudroom. We kicked off our shoes and coats, before padding into the kitchen. I heard her say, “Wow,” as she looked around. I admit; it was impressive. The room was wide open with wooden beams crossing the vaulted ceiling. The truly stunning feature was the wall of windows across the back.it was so dark outside; you could only see the snow swirling right next to the glass. It gave the impre
ssion of being wrapped in a cocoon. Even sound was muffled.
“There’s a spare room over here. I rented the place furnished, so I hope the bed’s comfortable,” I told her, moving to a door and dumping her bags on the inside. “I’m going to go grab a hot shower and dry clothes. Make yourself at home.” She gave me a quick nod, glancing around the room.
I headed to the master, eager to get away from the impression she gave of wide eyed innocence. I knew I had a chip on my shoulder, but I couldn’t help my suspicious nature. We might be forced into close quarters temporarily, but I had no desire to get to know her—or any woman.
Sophie
Chapter Two
I grabbed my makeup bag and headed into the attached bath. The house was luxurious; I’d give him that. Even padding around in my bare feet wasn’t uncomfortable, because of the radiant heating in the floor. I looked at myself in the mirror, pulling a brush through my hair. I’d been wearing a knit hat and had hat hair. Normally, I wouldn’t care, but Mr. Grumpy also happened to be Mr. Gorgeous. Not that I got the impression he was interested.
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