Broken Hero

“Yes. I think he likes me too, but we’ve never properly said it.”

Claire laughs. “My dear, with men, it’s more about their actions than their words. What, do you think Phil was always this open and cheery? I had to drag it out of him.”

“Really?””Really. Oliver might not have said it… but has he shown it?”

I think of the many times he bought us food from Ricky’s because he couldn’t cook. His arm around me on the porch as the sun set across the meadow. The dedication he’d put in to getting the spa started, listening to all my suggestions and even making a few of his own. Soft kisses and strong arms wrapped around my waist after my shifts. His deep voice, sending shivers down my spine, whispering to me late at night.

“Yes,” I murmur. “He’s shown it.”

“Then what are you waiting for?”

I grab my bag. “Is it okay if I take my break now?”

“Honey, take the day. Go get him.”

I don’t think I’ve ever biked faster in my life.

The way up to Morris Ranch is familiar to me now as the back of my hand, but it feels entirely new this time. I turn right on the winding road up to Morris Ranch, past large cornfields, the dust spraying from my tires as I pedal.

Large potted plants have been placed by the sign. Huge hydrangeas, flowering in varying shades of pink. Wedding season is well and truly upon us.

I swing a leg over my bike and slid to a stop outside the farmhouse. More hydrangeas have been placed on every step and the gold sign for Reception has been polished to perfection. Despite having been here nearly every day for the past two months, it’s like I’m seeing all of it with new eyes. I don’t want to leave this place-I want to help build it. I want the life I’ve created here.

Some storms are worth weathering.

I kick down the bike stand and leave it unlocked. Oliver should be in his office. My heart is a jackhammer in my chest, alternating between nerves and adrenaline.

Mandy smiles when she sees me. “You look determined.”

“I am. Do you know where Oliver is?”

“Ah, so you’re that kind of determined. He’s helping Sarah, I think, out on the ranch.” She frowns. “They’ve been in and out all day, actually, preparing for the wedding. I don’t know exactly where he is.”

“Thanks, I’ll look around.”

“Promise you’ll fill me in later?”

“You bet. I’ll bring cookies!”

She grins and shoots me a thumbs-up. Somewhere on the ranch, then. I have no idea what to say when I find him. All I know is that I don’t want to lose him, and that I need to apologize for freaking out like that. So what if people talk?

Oliver’s not in the barn, nor in the eastern row of cabins. I ask Jack and Tim, but they don’t know either. “Have you checked the stables?”

I haven’t. I push my hair back and walk towards the low, brown building. It’s the last place I haven’t checked, besides the spa.

A child’s voice echoes on the path. “Why can’t we stay, Mommy? Please?”

“We have to go get more of the-Oh! Hi.” Sarah stops dead, Nora on her hip. “Lucy.”

“Hi.” I give her a tentative smile. With her connections around town, there’s no doubt in my mind that she’s already heard the rumors about her brother and me. “Have you seen Oliver?”

“Well, erm, no. Yes. He’s not here.”

“Do you know where he is?”

“He’s out, but he’ll be back later?” Her eyes dart from me to the house behind me, and my courage sinks. Ah. Nora looks at her mother with narrowed eyes, her mouth opening in protest. I would bet my yearly salary that Oliver’s here.

“He doesn’t want to see me, does he?” I sigh. “I’m sure you’ve heard, Sarah, and I never meant for this to be turned into some… some stupid rumor. That his reputation should be-”

She shakes her head. “Oh, Luce, reputation schmeputation. I love both of you and want you to be happy. I couldn’t give a rat’s a-erm, behind about what some people think. They’ll come around, or they won’t. That’s their problem.”

“Thank you, Sarah.”

She puts a hand on my arm, her blue eyes soft. They’re the same as Oliver’s, the only feature they share. “I can think of no one I want to see my brother with more. He’s something special, Lucy. I hope you’ll have patience with him.”

“I will, if he promises to be patient with me. He is here, though, isn’t he?”

“He’ll be furious with me, but what the heck. Yes. He’s in the barn.”

“Why will he be furious? He doesn’t want to see me?”

“He had something planned, and I’m ruining it.” She shakes her head with a grin. “Whoops. Go on, head inside. You two need to talk.”

I kiss Nora’s head and thank Sarah, hurrying down the path to the barn. Sarah is on our side, too, apparently. Gavin seems more and more like the outlier.

I pause with a hand on the door. What should I say?

He’s heard about the rumors. They’re embarrassing, humiliating to my very core. I’ll have to tell him that and explain my reaction. I have to tell him that I care for him more than I ever thought I would. And that while it might take some time for me to get comfortable with everyone’s gossiping, I’ll get there.

I hear a voice through the barn door. It’s familiar, rich and deep, speaking in soft tones. Oliver is talking to one of the horses.

“It’ll be alright, boy,” he murmurs. “Shh, you’ll be alright.”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

My throat closes up. I’m not an unruly horse, but the reassuring lilt to his voice is enough to soothe me too. He might be the strongest, most selfless man I’ve ever met. Listening to him calm the mare, I know he’ll make a great father. He might not believe it, but he will. The image of a faceless woman in his arms flashes through my mind and irrational jealousy unfurls in my stomach. He deserves happiness, he deserves a family, and he deserves love.

And I deserve that too.

I take a step forward.

Ginger tosses her head back and lets out a loud whinny. One brown eye swivels towards something in the distance.

It’s Lucy.

She’s framed by the barn doors, small in comparison to their height. Her hair is up. She looks… restrained. Hesitant.

Damn.

“Hi. I’ve been looking for you.”