9781631053566SpringsDelightBallNC (9 page)

Finally, she turned around.
“Have a seat, dinner is ready.”

His curt nod and pain-filled
eyes took her appetite away. They sat at the table, but neither one talked.
Neither ate very much while tension filled the room, and it was a relief when
he finally pushed back from the table, put on his coat and left.

Spring touched her lips and
wondered what his kiss would have been like. His regret for even thinking about
kissing her, stayed with her. Why did everything have to be so hard? Just for
once, she wished she traveled the easy route.

Chapter Seven

Spring walked out onto the big
porch. She could feel it in the warming air, the sense of newness, the sense of
spring. It the season for which she was named. It also brought a lot of
disappointment. Every year she told herself this would be the year, the year
where new, good things would happen. The new leaves, grass, and flowers all
lent to her hope. It was still her favorite. It was a time to dream.

She didn’t know what she even
wanted to wish for this year. Colt acted stony and guarded. She wasn’t even
sure he still liked her. Not being liked was something she was used to and
normally she didn’t care but somehow, she cared now. Colt was a man to be
admired. He was honest and gentle. His values surprised her. He believed in the
myth if you worked hard, you could make a go of things, and he believed a man’s
word had value.

Sometimes things weren’t that
easy. She’d worked hard all her life and she had nothing to show for it. She
took a deep breath and negated her last thought. She was here, and no one
promised her a romantic, happy ending. As long as they could co-exist, they’d
be fine, right?

A truck came up the drive, and
Stone McCoy got out with a package in his hands. He smiled at her. “Nice day
isn’t it?”

Spring returned his smile.
“Yes, I was just enjoying it.”

“This was delivered to us by
mistake. It has your name on it.” He walked to the porch and handed it to her.

“Thank you.” Her voice sounded
chipper but dread filled her. “Won’t you come in for a cup of coffee?”

“Wish I had the time. Is Colt
in the barn? I need to ask him about a horse.”

“Yes, I believe he is. Say hi
to
Winter
and Rachael for me when you get home.”

His gray eyes twinkled. “I
sure will. Have a good day.”

The box wasn’t very big, and
she clutched it to her chest as she watched Stone walk across the yard. He
looked back at her and waved, and
Spring
quickly waved
back. She did not intend to open the box. She knew who sent it but she couldn’t
just throw it away either. Stone was bound to tell Colt about it.

The box became heavier as she
stepped inside the house. By the time she made it to the kitchen table, her
heart felt buried under the weight. She placed it in the middle of the table
and sat down. Realizing her hands shook, she clasped them together. Why wouldn’t
Billy leave her alone? It’d been bad enough she had to flee from him. Now he’d
found her, she didn’t know what to think.

There’d been a time when she
adored Billy and the protection he provided her. She watched him manipulate
people to get what he wanted. He was so good he actually believed his lies
of being a good man and a good provider.
At the time, he amazed her. He got whatever he wanted, to hell with
consequences or who got hurt. Now she knew better, much better. If only she’d
caught on before he’d stolen her soul.

That’s what she felt at the
end, he’d stolen her soul. Her whole sense of what was right and wrong became
warped. He was the very devil, and if it hadn’t been for Caleb, Billy would
still have a hold on her. Caleb helped her to reject Billy and take her soul
back. Now Caleb wasn’t even here for her to thank. She could repay him by being
more of a friend to Colt.

He came storming through the
door. He didn’t even glance at her; his gaze was on the unopened package. His
brows furrowed and he sighed. “Aren’t you going to open it?”

Her gaze met his defiant one.
“No.”

“Why
not?
It’s probably something from your boyfriend”

“
Ex
-boyfriend.”

He studied her face. “Does he
know that or is he waiting for you?”

She hesitated and turned from
his gaze. “I would think he’d know I wasn’t coming back.”

“Looks
to me like he wants you back.”
He moved until he could catch
her gaze. “If you want to go, don’t stay for me. I’m fine.”

His words lanced her heart,
and she briefly glanced away. Her hands still clasped each other, but her whole
body shook. Taking a deep breath, she stood and locked gazes with him. “I know
you say I have a choice as to whether I leave or not. Truthfully, leaving wasn’t
my intent but it seems to be your wish. I never meant to make you mad.” She
placed a hand on his arm. “Don’t worry about it, Colt. It’s not the first time
I’ve been asked to leave, and it won’t be the last. Someday I will find what I’m
searching for and sadly it’s not here.” Spring gave him a weak smile and let go
of him. She glanced away. She couldn’t look at him.

“Wait. I’m sorry. I don’t want
you to go.”

Spring turned and was
surprised to see his sad smile. The circles under his eyes broke her heart.
Compassion for this cowboy overwhelmed her. He was her cowboy. That realization
scared her but it also made her heart full.

“Colt, I just can’t live like
this. This is your home, and you should feel comfortable in it, not dancing
around my feelings. Unfortunately, I know when it’s time to go.”

The sound of his boots on the
hardwood floor echoed loudly. He reached for her and drew her against him. His
heart beat erratically. All she’d ever wanted in life was suddenly right there,
wrapping his comforting arms around her. She closed her eyes, trying to prolong
the special feeling. When he let go, all warmth and happiness departed, leaving
her bereft. She stepped back, keeping her glance on the floor.

“You’re right I have been
avoiding my feelings for you. I’ve been waiting for the moment when you tell me
you’re leaving ever since you got here.”

“And I’ve been waiting for you
to tell me to go.” The silence was awkward, and she didn’t know what to say.

Colt smiled. “At least we’re
on the same page.
The wrong page but the same.”
He
reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Why didn’t you
open it?”

Her gaze shot up and met Colt’s.
“I already know who it’s from, and I don’t want it.”

His sigh of relief was
evident. He ran his fingers through his thick dark hair. “Is it from your ex?”

Spring nodded. “Yes it’s from
Billy.”

“You’re afraid of him. He’s
the one who left bruises.”

“Yes.” Her face grew warm with
shame.

“Why is he sending you
packages? Do you plan to go back to him?”

“No,
never.”
She walked to the door, grabbed her coat and kept
walking.

She continued toward the barn.
Did Colt really think she’d go back to Billy? She had to admit there was a time
she would have talked herself into going back, but now she never wanted to set
eyes on him again. She’d changed since she left him. She did have self-worth,
and she could make it in the world without him.

* * * *

Colt was at a loss. The pieces
had all been there in front of him. Why did he let his ego get in the way? She’d
probably been afraid since the flowers arrived, and he was just a jealous fool.
Hell, he didn’t know enough about women, he just saw the flowers and he jumped
to conclusions. Maybe he needed to handle her the same way he handled his
horses. He could see the fear in her eyes. Why was it so hard for him?

He’d have to figure out a way
to make her tell him what was really going on. The fear in her eyes got to him.
Grabbing his coat, he headed for the barn. He walked inside and was treated to
a spectacular sight. Spring was kneeling down in front of the pen Heidi and
Daybreak were in, murmuring something to them, and Daybreak acted as though she
entranced him. He hung on every word as though he could understand what she was
saying, and maybe he did. Nothing surprised him about horses anymore.

“You look like a natural with
horses.” Colt walked closer to her.

She jumped, and her head
whipped around to look at him. “I didn’t hear you come in.” Her voice was cold
enough to leave a chill.

“I’m sorry. You have a right
to your privacy. I’m as bad as the town busybodies, needing to know
everything.”

Spring gazed at him as though
she was trying to decide if he was sincere. “Isn’t he beautiful?”

He nodded. “Beautiful would be
the right word.” He stared at her.

She must have noticed his
meaning because she blushed and looked away. “I suppose I should go on into the
house. I have laundry to do.” She stood up but as she passed Colt, he grabbed
her hand and held it until she met his gaze.

“The laundry can wait. You’re
not here to be the house cleaner, and I will show you how to do the bookkeeping
so you’re not just cooking and cleaning all the time. I’m sorry for being a
jerk about the package. I don’t even know why it bothers me so much. I don’t
want you to leave, and you can have as many packages arrive, as you want. I
acted like an overbearing boyfriend.”

She nodded smiling tightly,
and he couldn’t tell what she was thinking. Maybe that was for the best.

“We could be friends though.”
He waited for a real smile but it never came.

“Colt, we’re really just
employee and employer. Simple is best.”

He watched her walk away.
Damn, simple wasn’t exactly what he wanted, or was it? He removed his Stetson
and slapped it against his thigh. Hell, he didn’t know what he wanted. His Dad
had been right, women make you plain crazy.

His cell phone rang. As he
answered, he started to run toward the house. There was a horse in trouble, and
he was needed.

“I need to run, darlin’. Don’t
wait on me for dinner.”

She turned toward him. “What
happened?”

“There’s a horse, and I’m
hoping it’s only one that was bought by old man Sweeny. He buys them at auction
and from rescue places then he sells them across the border for more money. He’s
supposed to be on the banned list but somehow he slips under the radar. I need
to hurry before he gets rid of the horse or horses.” He grabbed his gloves and
kissed her on the cheek. Her eyes widened. The kiss surprised him as much as it
surprised her.

* * * *

Spring waited all day for Colt
to come home. A smile graced her lips; she really considered this place her
home. However, a frown quickly replaced it as she reminded herself it wasn’t
wise to get comfortable in one place. Lessons so hard learned should be
remembered. Still, she had her gaze on the front window.

She saw some of the horses in
the barn
the other day, and the sight of a few
of them broke her heart. How could people not feed a horse? A few looked like
skeletons. Colt told her sometimes the owners would move and leave the horses
to fend for themselves. He had a good heart, and the horses sensed it. Colt’s
truck and horse trailer along with two others pulled up to the barn. She
grabbed her coat and hurried outside. She was almost at the trailer when Colt
blocked her way. His shoulders were so wide she couldn’t see behind him.

“Colt, is something wrong?”
Her brows furrowed.

“I wish to God I could say no,
Spring
. I don’t want you to see the horses just yet.”

“But,
why?”

“Honey, that bastard tried to
remove any ID on the horses.” The bleakness of his expression tore at her.

“What does that mean?”

“Some were branded and one
tattooed. I can’t go into it now. There were six horses in all. Holden is right
behind me. I need you to go inside, please.”

She nodded and gave him a
compassionate smile.
“Of course.
I’ll be there when
you need me.” Reaching out she patted his arm, their gazes locked and held
before she walked back toward the house. He was a good man, his actions proved
it. If only she’d come from a different background and had never been mixed up
with Billy…

Opening the front door, she
shook her head. What was she thinking? He was grieving and needed a friend,
nothing more, and she’d best remember that before her heart became entrenched.

She took off her jacket and
boots and turned. The first thing she saw was the package from Billy, sitting
there bigger than life on the kitchen table. No matter how hard she tried to
look away from it, she couldn’t. The thought of opening it paralyzed her but
she wasn’t one to back down.

Taking a deep breath, she
marched over to the table and ripped the box open. Horrified, she covered her
mouth with her hand to keep the screams in. The implication of the ring inside
was not lost on her. Her legs gave way, and she grabbed the back of the wooden
chair, easing herself down into it, her gaze fixed on the ring, her ring. It
was too much, and tears flowed down her face.

So many things happened in the
foster homes, horrible things but the worst for her was when a girl named
Teresa went missing. Not that she’d had any type of love for the bully. Teresa
stole the ring right off her hand and backhanded her after. It was right around
the time she’d met Billy at her last home. She kept her mouth shut, that’s just
the way things were. Billy had always been violent but not to her, not at
first. Her hands shook, her heart clenched in denial and it became too hard to
breathe but she knew the truth. Billy got the ring back, and Teresa was gone. A
chill ran up her spine. She’d have to tell Colt, he deserved to know she put
him in danger. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind Billy would hurt Colt to get
her back.