Page 46 of Wilde Hearts

“A baby on your own?”

“You don’t think I should?”

He laughed. “Oh hell, if anyone would make a great single mom, it would be you, Ensley. You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met, and I’m not saying that just because you’re my sister. You’ve never been afraid to try anything. You’ve never let people put you in a box. Maybe that’s why I can’t find anyone to love…because I compare every woman to the four most important ones in my life.”

“Four?” I asked.

“Grams, Mom, you, and Emeline.”

I stretched up and kissed him on the cheek. “Gatlin Wilde, someday you are going to make one woman a very lucky lady. You make everyone think you’re this crazy guy without a care in the world, but today, you’ve shown me a side that I’ve never seen before.”

He winked. “A good side?”

“A very good side.”

“Well…we’ve established I’m not an expert when it comes to love or relationships, but I really think you should let Colt tell you why he left. Maybe it’s the closure you need, or the balm to heal your broken heart. I don’t think you can move on until you do, Ensley.”

The same advice I got from Mom and Dad. I felt a tear slip free, and my baby brother reached up and wiped it away with the pad of his thumb.

“I love you, Gatlin.”

He drew me in and hugged me. “Not as much as I love you, even though you left me up here to die when we were kids.”

We both laughed as we held on to each other. I wasn’t sure how long we stood there, but by the time we climbed onto our horses and headed back down the trail, I’d made a decision. I would reach out to Colt…and let him explain why he left.

Now to just ignore the dread I felt in my chest at finally getting the answers I’d longed for.

Colt

I hadn’t been home long, but it finally felt like I was settling in nicely. I’d moved into the small cabin that the little prick Ryan had lived in. In addition to embezzling from my parents, he’d sold everything that he could from the cabin. I swore if I ever got my hands on that motherfucker, I was going to kill him. I came up with a story that I donated everything so my mother wouldn’t ask questions. It made sense that I would want to update the cabin.

After giving it a good cleaning and letting my mother help me pick out furniture and decorate it, it was finally starting to feel like a home. Or it would when the rest of the furniture arrived next week. Right now, my bed was a pad on the floor and a sleeping bag. It was one bedroom, one bath, with an eat-in kitchen and a small living room. I still spent most of my time at my parents’ house, though, helping Mom look after my dad, so right now, the cabin was just a place to sleep.

Walking through the front door of their house, I could hear my parents talking in the kitchen.

“Hey, I’m here,” I called, making my way toward them. My mother turned around—and her hands flew to her cheeks.

“Oh, Colt, don’t you look handsome!”

Smiling, I held my arms out to my sides and looked down at the tux I was wearing. “It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been this dressed up.”

“I’m glad the Wildes moved the charity dinner to an earlier date. I know it was a lot for them to manage right around Christmas.”

“Do they still have the kids from the orphanage come on Christmas morning?” I asked.

“Oh, they changed that…what? Last year or so, Jacob?”

My father nodded. “Something like that. The good news is, there are fewer and fewer kids. The last time I talked to Levi, he told me they may move it to the orphanage this year and do it there.”

“That’s a good thing, though.”

Mom smiled. “It is. All those poor little souls without parents. It always breaks my heart when I volunteer.”

“Dad, you look nice. Are you sure you’re up for going?”

He was dressed in a tux, as well, and, for the first time since I’d been home, he looked truly healthy. His color was back, as was his energy.

“I’m feeling good.”