West of Forever (Heartstone Ranch #1)(94)

“It was my horse.”

This is why I asked to bring her. Before Lark wakes up. Before there is a new set of issues we’re trying to overcome. While we’re still in this state of calm, to let Sadie come, speak to them, and hopefully get some reassurance.

She needs it.

Lark would want her to have it.

“And you didn’t put Lark on that horse to hurt her. No one blames you, Sadie Jo. Not a single person.”

That’s at least the one thing I know is absolutely true.

My family has spent the past three years blaming Maverick for Carrick’s death. They know how that feels, and I trust that Mrs. Gatlin will not allow anyone to inflict that onto a child.

“I’m sad and scared.”

I give her a reassuring smile. “And that’s okay, but facing our fears is what makes us brave.”

She nods, and then we enter the room. All the Gatlins are there, including her brother Carter. He got into town yesterday and is the only brother who at least tries to have conversations with me—or at least isn’t openly glaring whenever I move or breathe.

Deacon, Ryan, and Mr. Gatlin stand, and her father comes toward us first. “Sadie, this is Mr. Gatlin, Lark’s dad.”

My daughter, being the kind, sweet child she is, immediately goes to him and wraps her arms around him, then begins to cry. “I’m so sorry, sir. I didn’t know.”

He smiles, looking down at her, and places his hand on her shoulder. “Oh, darling, we know that. You didn’t do anything to hurt Lark, did you?”

Sadie shakes her head. “No, I never would.”

“Then you have nothing to be sorry for, darling. Lark would’ve gotten on that horse no matter what. I’m sure, when she wakes up, she’ll tell us how it happened, and we’ll see she probably did something foolish.”

“But I asked her to ride him,” Sadie says, sniffing back her tears.

“And she wouldn’t have ridden him if she hadn’t thought it was safe.”

“Still, he was my horse, and I asked her to help me. Dad said I shouldn’t go near him.” Sadie looks up at me, her lip quivering. “I’m sorry. I should’ve listened.”

Deacon comes around to face her and gets down on his haunches. “That’s the thing about Lark. She’s fearless and will do anything to help someone.”

Fearless is right. She was unapologetic when it came to us. She didn’t want to hide away. To pretend we weren’t exactly what we were. I was the one who was too afraid.

“I just wish she wasn’t hurt.”

Deacon smiles. “We do, too, but she’ll be okay. She’s a fighter, and my sister never quits.”

My throat tightens, as their kindness to Sadie is so clear. They don’t have to be nice to her, but they are, and maybe, just maybe, there’s hope for all of us yet.

Sadie nods, and I place my hand on her shoulder. “See? No one blames you.”

She glances up at me, tears in those big blue eyes. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“Of course, Cupcake. Now we just have to have faith.”





“So are we going to talk about any of this?” Fallon asks, my entire family sitting around the table.

I put my fork down. “What is there to talk about?”

“Oh, I don’t know. How about the fact that you’re in love with a fucking Gatlin. A Gatlin, Tristan. Of all the women in the world you could develop feelings for, you chose her?”

I know my sister has her reasons. I get that she has trauma around Lark’s family, but I will not allow her to malign Lark in any way.

Not allowing my anger to surge, I keep my tone easy.

“Yes, I chose her,” I say matter-of-factly. “I’m sorry that it doesn’t align with your wishes, but I don’t need your approval or your damn judgment.”

“Tristan,” Harper warns. “Easy.”

I look at my other sister. Now, her I’m not going to take it easy on. Harper has no reason to have any feelings about this. “Me? Lark is lying in a fucking coma right now—I won’t go easy.”

“She’s upset,” Harper defends. “You know why that is.”

It doesn’t mean that it’s okay. I don’t remember any of my sisters coming to me for approval for the idiots they’ve been with. I’m not sure why they think I need or want theirs.

I love Lark.

She’s the woman I want to be with. The woman who has shown me that hope can still exist, even when it doesn’t seem possible.

“I do know why. Now imagine how I feel, sitting here while the woman I love is in a fucking coma,” I bark back.

Fallon, Veronica, and Harper all stop moving and stare at me.

“No, you can’t, Tristan,” Fallon says, coming out of it first. “You can’t love her. No. Her brother killed my fiancé!”

“She did nothing to you, Fallon.” I wish I could help ease my sister’s pain, I really do, but Lark isn’t responsible. “I know you’re hurting, but taking it out on someone else isn’t going to bring Carrick back.”

Fallon shakes her head and then huffs. “What would Emmy Jo think of this? How do you think your wife, the woman you loved more than anything, would feel about you dating Lark Gatlin?”