Page 42 of Wilde Hearts

Placing my hands over my mouth, I exhaled deeply, then dropped my hands to my lap. “I’m sorry I came here and immediately broke down crying.”

Drawing me to her, my mother hugged me tightly. “That’s what we’re here for. You can always come to your father and me for anything, Ensley. You know that.”

I chewed nervously on my lower lip before asking, “Do you think we can fall in love that deeply twice in our lives?”

Dad drew back in surprise. “Of course, you can. Look at Caden and Levi.”

“But…a love like yours,” I said, as I pointed between the two of them. “I don’t think Levi and Caden’s first loves were anything like what they have now. So if you find a great love and it slips away, is it possible to have it again?”

My mother grabbed both of my hands. “Of course it is, Ensley.”

I felt fresh tears roll down my cheeks. My mother reached up and wiped them away before kissing my forehead. Then she leaned back and lifted my chin, forcing me to look at her.

“Do you remember after Colt left, when you asked me if you could die from a broken heart?”

I nodded.

“You didn’t die, Ensley. You thrived. Look at what you’ve done in your life.”

I looked down at our hands. “I don’t have a family, though.”

“Pumpkin, you still have plenty of time to build a family.”

I sniffled. “But he’s the one I wanted a family with. I don’t know how to turn off my feelings for him, and I’ve tried so damn hard!”

Moving to the sofa, my father gathered me in his arms and held me. I buried my face against his chest and let the tears fall freely. It was time I admitted the truth.

“I love him still, Daddy! I hate myself for it, but I still love him.”

He kissed my head. “I know, baby girl. I know. My offer still stands to kick his ass. I might be ten years older now, but I think I can take him.”

I drew back to look at him. He was dead serious—and I soon found myself laughing.

“You don’t think I could take him?”

Between fits of laughter, I replied, “With Gatlin or Caden’s help, maybe.”

My father huffed.

“I love you both so much.”

They both wrapped their arms around me, and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel hurt and pain. I simply felt love.

A week had passed, and I hadn’t seen or heard from Colt. But I hadn’t expected to see him, really, especially since I’d stuck to just going to my appointments and back home. I hadn’t even been into town at all. I also hadn’t gone to visit Jacob and Lynn. I’d called and talked to them, but I hadn’t been by.

The tap on the neighboring stall had me turning to see my brother Gatlin standing there.

“Hey.”

“Emeline told me you were working here today. I thought you had that interview.”

“The reporter came by earlier, so I thought I’d stick around and take care of some of the horses today. Emeline also said a few of these little monsters need to be ridden.”

“Want some company?”

Glancing at him over my shoulder, I asked, “Did Mom send you down here?”

He laughed. “No. Should she have?”