Nothing seems to be anymore. “I don’t want easy, Zach. I just don’t want agony.”

“I don’t ever want to hurt you.”

“I know you can’t promise that.”

“No, I can’t. But I can promise that I’m not going away easily. I’ll wear you down, Presley Mae. I’ll remind you that sometimes the reward is worth the risk.”

He kisses my nose and releases me. I stand there feeling bereft. The loss of his arms causes me to shiver.

He’ll wear me down because there’s not much resistance left in me.

I hope he’s ready.

“I DON’T THINK WE CAN ride any farther today,” Wyatt says as the sun sets in the distance. “We’ve still got a few more miles and the cattle aren’t cooperating.”

It’s been grueling the last few hours. The pace has been agonizingly slow, and no matter what we seemed to do, we were still chasing another stray for twenty minutes.

We’re about halfway, so there’s no way to go back and no way to go forward. I knew I shouldn’t have freaking done this. Somehow the gods have a way of kicking me in the teeth. Now, I’m going to be forced to camp out with Zach, Wyatt, and Vance, who has been riding with Wyatt. Fantastic.

“I need to call the boys,” I say as I walk toward the trees. “This is the last thing I need.”

Wyatt laughs. “I’ll snuggle with you. There’s always room in my sleeping bag for you, Cowgirl.”

My eyes dart to Zach as he gives Wyatt a glare that would make any man cringe. Wyatt looks back over and flips him off with a smile. “What’s the matter, Zach? Your tent isn’t working properly?”

“I’ll kick your ass so far you won’t be able to find your way back to Tennessee.” Zach’s voice is low and threatening.

“Please, I’ve seen you fight.”

“Presley,” Zach says with gritted teeth. “Why don’t you call the boys. I’ll help Wyatt with setting up camp.” He grabs the back of Wyatt’s neck, causing him to shrink. “We’ll get everything in order before you get back, won’t we, Wyatt?”

Wyatt tries to elbow him, but with no luck. “Let go before I break your nose!”

“Stop being a dick.”

“At least I have one,” Wyatt says, swinging his body around.

This is a brief glimpse into my future with Logan and Cayden.

Boys.

I shake my head and walk away. Daddy answers the phone on the first ring. “Hi, sugar.”

“How did you know it was me?” I smile. They refuse to get a phone with caller ID.

“I know when you need me.” Daddy can sometimes make everything feel better. I’ve never been more grateful for that. “How’s the ride?”

“Slow.” I sigh. “Stubborn cattle.”

He laughs. “I understand stubborn things.”

I’m pretty sure he’s talking about me. “I bet you do, Daddy.”

“I figured you all were stayin’ out tonight. This was a long move.”

“I didn’t think we would.”

“Honey, you should know those boys are in cahoots. They picked the two farthest points on the land. I don’t think they could’ve found a longer or more treacherous ride if they tried.”

Of course they’re behind this. Bastards. “You knew this?”

He chuckles, and I picture him shaking his head. “Yup.”

So he’s on board with Zach? That makes no sense. Daddy liked him just fine, but when he broke my heart and left me in Maine, Zach lost any respect my father had for him. He’s a proud man, and his little girl was taken from him—in his mind—and abandoned.

“We’ll talk about this when I come home.”

“Sure, we will.” I hear him laugh through his nose. “You callin’ to talk to the boys?”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“They’re out with Cooper. He took them to his place for the night. Said he figured you’d call and to quit worrying. They’re fine.”

I groan. “We’ll see how—” I start to say before catching myself. It wasn’t Cooper’s fault. And he would never let them wander off again. “Never mind. You sure you can’t come get me? Keep me away from these Hennington boys.”

“I tried that for half your life, baby girl. It didn’t work then, and it ain’t gonna work now. You let your brother spend time with his nephews without you interfering. He clears his throat, and I wait for what he’s going to say next. “You be careful out there and I’ll see you tomorrow.” He hangs up before I can say anything.

That’s one thing about Forrest Townsend. When he’s done, he’s done.

I check my phone and see a text.

Cooper: Enjoy your night.

Me: You did this.

Cooper: You said you wanted out of the office.

Me: Asshole. I didn’t mean a night in a field with your staff.

Cooper: Brat.

Me: I hate you.

Cooper: I hate you more.

I laugh at the infantile text messages. I’ve missed my brother. He was always protective, even if he idolized Zach. He would get in his face if I cried or was angry. Zach could’ve beaten him to a pulp, but he would let Cooper yell and threaten him. It would make me fall more in love with Zach to see him give Cooper a sense of strength.

“Can’t hide forever.” Zach’s voice startles me. His hands glide up my back and rest on my shoulders.

“I’m not hiding.”

His fingers dig and rub into my neck, relieving the tension. “If you say so,” he says and continues to massage me.

I close my eyes and let some of the stress go. His touch allows me to relax. I feel safe in his hands. Even if for so long I’ve told myself that’s the last thing I could be. I was so young. We were so stupid to think we could have it all and it would cost us nothing. Life doesn’t care if you’re in love, there’s always a price for happiness, we were just unwilling to pay.

“Do you think we have a real shot, Zach?”

He stops and his front presses against my back. His arms wrap around my shoulders as I hold on to him. “I think all of this happened for something. There’s a reason you’re in my arms right now. A reason that I didn’t make choices that would’ve prevented it. Me blowing out my shoulder, you having to come back here, it’s for something. And if it’s not for us, then why?”