West of Forever (Heartstone Ranch #1)(84)

“I still can’t believe he arrested you.” Harper glances over. “He’s literally your best friend.”

I shrug. “He had a job to do.”

“Couldn’t you at least have run or something? I could’ve used the entertainment.”

I chuckle. “I’ll keep that in mind for next time.”

“How about we don’t have a next time?” Harper shakes her head and then pulls onto the dirt road that leads to our house.

“I’ll do my best.”

She sighs. “I know there is more to this story, Tristan. You aren’t an idiot—well, you are, but not about horses. You would never do this—any of it. You wouldn’t cut fences, flood buildings, move hay bales for fun. There’s literally nothing fun about any of it. So who are you protecting? And if you didn’t do it, why the hell do they think you were on their property?”

That’s the thing. I’m not protecting anyone other than Lark at this moment. However, if I admit that it’s not me doing it, she’ll piece it together. Maybe not that it’s Lark, but that it’s someone.

By the grace of the universe, we arrive in front of the house, giving me a clear escape route. Harper sits in the driver’s seat, staring at me, waiting for the truth that she’s never going to get.

“Because I did it. All of it,” I lie—knowing she doesn’t buy it—and get out of the car.

The front door flies open, and Sadie runs out, halting the argument I was having with my sister.

“Daddy!”

I open my arms, and she wraps hers around me. At least I know that my criminal record won’t be an issue for her.

“You’re back. How was jail?”

I chuckle. “Fine. I broke the toilet.”

Her face scrunches up. “Eww, nasty.”

“It’s fine. Gives Uncle Jimmy something to do other than harass me.”

“Are we vowing to hate him for eternity?” she asks.

I shrug. “We’ll see. At least for a week or two.”

“Deal. I got to take Cloud out to the pasture. Are you mad?”

“No, not at all.”

I place my hand on her shoulder and walk with Sadie back into the house as she tells me all about her afternoon and the joy she had being with her horse.





I’m standing at the edge of the ridge, waiting for Lark, who is now an hour late.

I debate texting her but decide against it. For all I know, her family suspects something, and she’s dealing with it.

The ridge is truly my favorite place to come to. It’s where I can think in peace and where I often find the answers I’m seeking.

Tonight my mind is caught in a constant loop about what the hell I’m doing.

This arrangement was stupid from the beginning, but now it’s a goddamn bomb waiting to drop.

The fallout will be devastating, and we’re going to hurt everyone around us. My sisters will never understand, which isn’t exactly something I give a shit about. I don’t live my life for them, and I do believe in time, they’d come around—could be when I’m dead, though.

Lark isn’t like her brothers, and while the women in my life are headstrong, they also are kind and forgiving. Well, maybe not Fallon, but I would never let her hurt Lark.

It’s really her family that would have the issue with it. I don’t necessarily care about myself—I care about her.

Then my mind circles back around to the fact that it’s more complicated than that. I can’t endure letting myself fully give in, only to end up losing her. She could get sick, hurt, walk away. I won’t fucking survive it.

I have to think about my daughter and what it would mean to her if I admit the truth about how I feel already.

What was supposed to be a feelingless fuck has become more. So much fucking more.

I don’t even know when it happened or how. I was being careful. I knew not to let my guard down, and somehow I did.

The sound of hooves pounding the ground grows louder, and I turn to see her. Lark dismounts, ties her horse to the stake, and marches toward me. Anger flashes in her beautiful eyes, and I brace.

“I almost didn’t come,” she says, hands balled at her side.

“Because?”

Lark looks up at the sky, shaking her head. “I’m so angry at you.”

“For what? Protecting you?”

“I don’t need your protection, Tristan!”

I scoff at that. “The hell you don’t. Your plan was what? Come to the jail, tell them that we’ve been sleeping together for weeks and that’s why I was on the camera?”

“Yes!” she screams and shoves at my chest. “Yes, you stupid idiot.”

“Oh, I’m the idiot? I think telling them would’ve been a damn mistake.”

“Why?” Lark asks, her hands landing hard on my chest. “Why would it be a mistake? We’re not anything, right? Who cares if everyone knows we’re fucking and that’s it? We’re just a simple transactional relationship. According to you, we’re nothing, and I can never be more than just this.”

Those words slice through my chest, anger spilling out as I stare at her. “Does this feel like nothing?”

If it was nothing, it wouldn’t feel as though I’m being torn apart.