Page 47 of Take Me Home

“You’re wasting your time out there. You’re wasting your potential.”

Her words cause an ache in my chest. I’ve always just been a walking, talking trophy to my mother. I make her feel accomplished; I give her bragging rights for her wealthy group of friends. And maybe it’s partly my fault for being complacent, for going along with it. But for so long, she dictated what I wanted. She put a narrative in my head and then made me believe that the narrative was mine and not hers.

Now I finally understand my own mind, my own will. It took her betrayal for me to wake up, so there’s a small part of me that’s grateful for it. Grateful for that slap in the face that pulled me out of the fog.

“I need to go. I’ll stay as long as I like.”

She raises her voice and begins screaming at me through the line, but I end the call and thrust the device back in my pocket with a heavy sigh. When I glance up, I startle at the sight of Lincoln standing a few feet from me with a pile of chopped wood at his feet and an axe in his hand.

“You okay?” he asks in that gruff way of his.

His deep, no-nonsense tone contrasts with my mother’s shrill tone. The cadence moves over me like a deep, calming breath.

I clear my throat, straightening my shoulders. “Perfectly fine.”

I stride toward the big house without another word, feeling too raw after my conversation with my mother to speak to him. I feel undressed…vulnerable. I hate that he saw me like that.

Opening the cabin door, I remove my boots and head toward the kitchen. I need something to do today, something to take my mind off the chaos awaiting me back in California in a few weeks.

Hank looks up as I enter the room and smiles. “Good morning!” He pours a mug of coffee for me and slides it across the counter along with my creamer.

“Good morning,” I reply, taking the mug and drinking a long sip, letting it soothe me.

A moment later, Lincoln walks around the corner, his long legs eating up the space between the living room and kitchen in two strides.

“So, I hoped you two might do me a favor today,” Hank says, staring at Lincoln.

Lincoln crosses his arms and arches an eyebrow. His full bottom lip peeks out below his mustache in a pout. “What is it?”

“The cattle broke the fence in the back pasture again,” Hank says. “Dad and I need to make a trip to Missoula for medical supplies.”

Otto’s eyes are bright with excitement, and I stifle a laugh. He clearly enjoys their trips into the big city. “We’re running low on everything I need for your spoiled babies.”

“Sure, Dad,” Hank says in a cajoling tone. “I’m the problem here. Let’s ignore the fact you’ve been dying to get your hands on a new ultrasound machine before the foals arrive.” He smiles, then turns to me. “Hattie, you’d just need to hand Lincoln tools while he mends the fence up. Nothing too difficult.”

“Sure, no problem,” I respond, before flicking my gaze toward Lincoln again.

He’s narrowing his eyes at my father, and I’m not sure why. It’s just a fence.

“You don’t think I can handle fixing a little old fence?” I ask him.

Lincoln’s steely gaze turns toward me. “I can do it by myself.”

I prickle, my spine straightening. Here I thought he was finally beginning to enjoy my company, maybe even like me.

Hank tuts. “It takes one person to hold the fence post in place and another to assist. You know this as well as I do.”

Lincoln’s chest moves up and down in a sigh. “It can wait until tomorrow.”

I turn fully toward the broody cowboy, popping one hip out and resting my fist on it. “Listen, Sunshine, I’m not incompetent. I can help with this.”

Hank and Otto stay oddly silent as we faceoff. “I’m not saying you’re unable to do the work, Princess. But it’s not your job, and you shouldn’t have to do it.”

“I’m willing to help, so use me.” I don’t realize how suggestive it sounds until the words are out of my mouth.

Lincoln smirks, which infuriates me further. Today is not the day to tease me, not after I had to deal with my mother and I’m already in a mood.

“Fine. Let’s get the girls saddled up.” He turns and struts toward the door. I hear thumps from him stepping back into his boots, then the door opens and closes.