Cowboys & Horses

Chapter 35

Unfortunately, Zoe was wrong. I stayed in bed all day, drifting in and out of sleep, wishing, hoping, every time I woke up that he'd be in bed beside me, smiling down at me.

The next morning, I went for breakfast with Zoe up in John's house. John was his usual cheery self, whistling and humming as he made his way around the kitchen. The events from two days previously were still swirling around in my mind and I couldn't help but ask questions.

"Your leg ok?" John asked, flicking the kettle into life.

"Yeah, thanks." I took a bite of my pancakes. "John?"

He spun around from the cupboard, coffee mugs in his hands. "Hmmm?"

"What's this about Brady divorcing Anna?"

His jovial mood flattened in an instant. He drew his lips into a thin line. "I think you should go see him about that."

"Anna threw divorce papers at me two days ago before disappearing. I don't understand."

"You need to go see Brady."

My stomach churned at the thought of facing him. Embarrassment flooded me. I should have just let him explain.

"Where is he?" I asked, licking my dry lips.

"Out in the far paddocks, fixing the fencing."

"Bit far for me to walk," I said, feeling slight relief.

"That's ok. I can drive you out there."

Hot tingles surged through me. What was I supposed to say? Would he even want to hear me out?

"Come on," John said. "No time like the present."

Zoe grabbed my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Go get him, Soph. I'm going to sunbathe." She winked before skipping her way outside to the pool.

Following John out of the house, my palms began sweating. My heart beat a nervous rhythm deep inside me. The late afternoon sun was dying, making one thing at least a little more bearable.

John opened his truck door for me and helped me inside. I chewed on my lip as I ran over a thousand different ways to initiate the impending conversation.

"He's a good man, Sophie," John said, climbing in the driver's seat.

"Why is he such an arrogant asshole at times?"

He chuckled as he drove us across the dusty landscape. "He's not had it easy. I don't want to say too much because it's not my place to do so. If he wants you to know, then he'll tell you himself."

Ouch. That cut a little deep. Why hadn't Brady trusted in me before now to tell me at least something? I double checked myself—he'd tried, and I'd cut him off.

"So," John said, breaking my tormented silence. "Have you had any thoughts of what you're going to do when you get home?"

My heart thudded to a stop. Home. I'd not even considered what would happen when I got back. I wasn't sure I even wanted to go back. Everything out here just seemed so easy, so relaxed—this felt like my home.

"I'm not sure. To be honest, it doesn't feel like home anymore. It's like a whole other world I've left behind."

"Understandable. How do you feel about your sister?"

"Honestly?"

He smirked and nodded.

"Excuse my French but the fucking bitch deserved it."

He chuckled. "That's my girl." He turned his head and threw me a cheeky wink. "But you didn't hear that from me."

"Of course not," I said, laughing.