West of Forever (Heartstone Ranch #1)(87)

“I am, but what are you doing over here? Does your daddy know?” Just the thought of Tristan causes a spasm of pain in my chest.

It’s been two days of no contact.

Two days of feeling empty and sad.

Forty-eight stupid hours where I’ve missed him, hated him, loved him, thought about him, and tried to forget.

Clearly, I’m winning at life.

But here his daughter is, and I’m pretty sure he has no clue.

“He does. I told him that you were willing to work with Cloud, and he said to come talk to you.”

He did, did he? Oh, so his daughter can talk to me, but he can’t. Asshole.

While I’d love to give him a piece of my mind, I’m not going to do it through his daughter. Sadie has done nothing wrong. She’s cute and sweet, and I did promise I’d help her.

I force a smile, trying not to look at how her nose is just like her daddy’s or the shape of her eyes. I try. I fail. I decide I need to get to work so I can stop myself.

Focusing on the horse is the cure to this.

“Well, you caught me at the right time. I just finished doing what I had to for the day and have about two hours. Does that work for you?”

Her head bobs up and down furiously. “Absolutely. Two hours is great.”

I smile. “Perfect. How long has it been since anyone has ridden Cloud?”

Sadie pulls her lip between her teeth. “A while.”

“What’s a while?” I ask again, needing this information. “I only ask so I can do the right thing for Cloud.”

She sighs heavily. “It’s been years. After I fell, no one’s been allowed to ride him.”

Cloud shifts and then settles when she pats his neck. “I see. Okay, well, I’d like to work with him for a few times before we think about anyone else mounting him. Why don’t you come to the tack room with me and we can see how he does in the arena?”

Sadie looks as though she might scream in delight as she follows me back. Together, we pick out the saddle, blanket, bit, and lead. She tells me about her camp, how much she missed the chickens, how one hen is broody and she thinks they might get new chicks, and I avoid anything about her dad.

“I’m so ready to go back to school. I can’t wait to see my best friend,” Sadie says as she climbs up on the fence, swinging her legs over the side to watch me with Cloud in the ring.

“I used to feel the same way. Aunt Mary Lou and I would practically run to each other at the beginning of every school year.”

Sadie smiles. “Did you know my mom?”

Holding on to Cloud’s bridle, I turn to look at her. “I did.”

“Did you like her?”

“I did, very much. She was always around your aunt and me, making sure we didn’t do stupid things, which we did but pretended we didn’t.”

Sadie laughs, and then her face turns somber. “I don’t remember her.”

“You were really young when she passed away.”

And that’s the saddest part. She should’ve known her mom, gotten to feel her love for more than just three years. I don’t know what my life would look like without mine. She taught me so much about life, friendship, forgiveness, and patience. So much patience.

“Yeah, it’s fine. I see a lot of photos, and Dad is always willing to tell me about her,” Sadie says, playing with her thumbnail. “Everyone says I look like her.”

“You do,” I tell her. “You also look like your dad, though. You’re kind of the perfect mix, and it changes day to day.”

That seems to make her happy as her grin grows wide. “You think?”

“You’re very pretty,” I tell her.

She really is. Even though she’s in that age group where I feel like no kid looks good. It’s that stage of braces and acne, when you’re starting to grow up but still not fully there. However, with Sadie, she’s just adorable.

“I think I look more like my dad.”

“You do?” I ask, surprised since she mentioned her mom.

She nods. “All my friends think he’s hot, which is so gross.”

Well, they’re not wrong. The avoidance I was doing so well is fading. “My friends all talked about my brothers—I get it.” I need to regain control, and the horse is the perfect way.

“Do you think my dad is hot?”

My throat practically closes as I choke on air. After a second I’m able to think clearly, and I turn to her. “What?”

“My dad, do you think he’s good-looking? You know, from a woman’s perspective. He’s single. Are you dating anyone?”

Oh my God, she’s trying to set me up with her dad. Little does she know I’m desperately in love with him, and he doesn’t want to be with me.

Like this week could get any worse.

I clear my throat. “I’m…umm…I don’t think I’m the best person to answer that.”

Maybe that’ll deter her.

“I think you are.”

Clearly, I misjudged my line of thinking.

I glance down at my watch. “As much as I’d love to talk about this—”

“You don’t. I can tell,” Sadie finishes, and I laugh.

“You’re right, I don’t. What I do want to do is work with Cloud.”