Page 146 of Buckin' Around

It is only when I see Chlo running for me, my brother behind her with a grin so wide he lights up the entire terminal that I suck back the tears and feel an ounce of happiness again.

“Riles!” Chlo squeals, sprinting for me.

Folks stare like they’ve never seen a homecoming at Belfast International before.

Ludicrous.

As she’s closing in fast, I note all the changes that I missed while I was gone but are so obvious in person. She’s a little taller. Her clothes a little less twelve-year-old than when I left. And is that a piercing... ?

My arms reach for her as she collides with me.

She’s the same height as me as she huggles me tight.

Her body trembles as I run a hand over her dark hair and sobs huff against my hair.

“Oh babe. It is so good to see you. I have missed you so much,” I rasp, tears burning my eyes.

Chlo leans back, gaze searching my face. “For a moment, there was a second I thought you weren’t going to come home,” she whispers. Her chin wobbles.

For a moment, I thought I wouldn’t, too.

But that selfish glimmer of time passed, and I remembered who I am. And the people I love who count on me. Sacrifice is all I’ve known since the day we lost our parents. Why would that change now?

“Hey, Ri.” Declan appears at my shoulder and hugs me into his side. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes? This one is more than I can handle. I gladly hand her back to you.” He winks at Chlo, who is giving him a pouty face.

I chuckle at the pair of them.

Eejits.

“Come on, let’s find my bags and get the hell out of here. Please tell me you didn’t let the homestead fall into rack and ruin while I was away?”

Declan rubs a hand behind his neck. “Possibly not?”

His dark eyes gleam, but his mouth twists into something comical.

I roll my eyes at him and sweep my hair over my shoulder as we head for baggage claim.

The hour and a half it takes to drive back to Clady feels like an entire day. I’m exhausted from sitting for so long, as ridiculous as that sounds. We finally turn into the driveway of the farm, and I bolt up to study the fields, the animals, and the fences as we roll over the dirt then gravel.

“Ease up there, will ye? Not like we burned it all to the ground while you were gone.” Declan’s hands are on the wheel ofour old Range Rover, Chlo in the back, as my head turns side to side like it’s my first time seeing this place.

It feels different.

Ifeel different.

The Riley that left to finish her study is not the same person as the one who came home. For so many reasons.

The rolling green hills that make up our farm are littered with the most recent snow.

The hedge perimeters so different from Brady’s ranch fences and sprawling pastures dotted with massive trees. The sheep and cattle that graze our fields look up as we pass by. As the homestead comes into view, with its white exterior and dark trim flanked by barns and silos, my body relaxes. Possibly for the first time in twelve long months.

We come to a stop in front of the house, and the twins are waiting at the window. They disappear as Declan kills the engine and hauls my bags from the trunk. I’m folded into a group hug with my teenage sisters as another vehicle pulls up behind us. With that, I turn back to find Connor sprinting from his truck.

I’m whipped off the ground and into his arms as he swings me around.

“Jesus, Riles, you didn’t change a bit.”

I squeeze him tight, and he drops me to the ground.