Say You'll Stay (8 page)

“Well, why don’t you saddle him up?” a familiar voice says from behind me.

“You’re the foreman.” I smile as I turn to see Wyatt. “Isn’t that your job?”

His navy blue jeans and white shirt cling to him, and the Stetson on his head makes him look rugged. “Aren’t you spunky this morning? What are you doing awake at this hour?”

“I could ask you the same.”

“You could. But you’ve probably guessed I’m coming home from a hot date.”

Wyatt was always a playboy. He was young, sexy, and came from the Hennington family line, which bought him about anything he wanted. The same could be said about being a Townsend.

“Couldn’t have been too hot if you’re standing here talking to me.” I challenge him.

Suddenly I remember the last time I saw him. I quickly check to see what I’m wearing, and catch Wyatt doing the same. “I’m not a cuddle after sex kind of guy.”

“I figured.”

Trent and Wyatt were notorious for breaking hearts. Each naïve girl would swear they’d be the one to tame them. I was the lucky one. Zach is three years older than Wyatt and me. He was always the sensible, loyal, and responsible one of the brothers.

“Let’s go for a ride, Presley Mae.”

I loathe my damn name. “You do mean horseback, right?”

One can never tell with this lot.

He lets out a long, booming laugh. “Like I would ever dream of that happening. My brother would cut my dick off.”

“Your brother has no claim on me.”

“Never said he did, darlin’. Never said he did.” Wyatt slaps my ass as he walks past and saddles the horses.

“Pig.”

Once he’s done, he hands me the reins for a horse I’ve never ridden. “You getting on the horse or are you gonna stand there and look at it?” he says from the back of our largest horse.

“I haven’t ridden in a long time,” I admit with fear.

“Your instincts will kick in. Hop up,” Wyatt encourages.

He’s probably right. I put my foot in the stirrup and get seated. “What’s the horse’s name?”

“Shortstop.”

I inwardly groan. “Of course it is.” Wyatt chuckles, knowing I already hate this horse. “Surprised you didn’t give me one named Zach.”

Zach was a shortstop. My fantastic, talented, gorgeous, baseball playing, and going somewhere boyfriend. Scouted by every college and promised the world. I loathe baseball. It stole everything from me.

“Thought about it but figured you’d kick it too much.”

“I’m about to kick you.”

“I might like it.” He winks and then heads out of the barn.

I rub the horse’s neck and familiarize myself with him. “All right, Shortstop. I’m Presley. I haven’t ridden in a while, so be gentle, okay?”

Shortstop bobs his head, and I smile. I exit the barn, hoping that maybe I can breathe again.

Wyatt doesn’t say anything as we move through the fields in the moonlight. He silently walks beside me on his horse, allowing me some time to quietly reflect. He always knows when to push and when to back off. It’s the one thing I love most about him.

We ride along the property for a while, the sun is peeking over the horizon. No words are spoken until we reach a field I know well. “What do you say?” I can hear the dare in his voice.

I bite my lip as I think about it. If we allow the horses to open up, it’ll require some galloping, which I haven’t done in seventeen years. I can be scared or I can plunge in head first. “Let’s go.”

Once we break through the clearing, we get a few yards out and Wyatt nods. My nerves flutter as the horse pushes through. It’s been so long. But I remember the feelings as if it were yesterday. I close my eyes and draw in a deep breath before the trees part. As I exhale, Shortstop flies.

I smile as I hold the reins and lean forward. My legs move with his gallop and I feel alive. My heart can’t contain any pain as I fly. Each push of his legs sends me to a place where there is no sadness. No death haunting my thoughts, just air. The struggle to breathe lifts. All I am is free. Freedom breaks the chains that have bound me. Chains that have crippled me.

We ride for miles through the Tennessee countryside. I glance over and see Wyatt staring back. He smiles as if he can read my thoughts. He pulls back, slowing his horse to a trot, and I follow.

“There she is,” he says innocently. I know Wyatt, and nothing he says is offhanded. He’s a man who says what he means.

“You see too much.”

“I know you. I’ve known you since we were infants. So yeah, I see you. You going to tell me what’s really going on?”

I jerk back on the reins and the lightness I felt moments ago dissipates. “I’m just trying to get my bearings.”

Wyatt doesn’t say anything, but I can feel the air thicken. “I’ve never known you to give up.” I look over quickly and his eyes stay on mine. “Don’t start now. Fight hard, because there’s nothing you can’t do.”

So many thoughts float through my mind, but I can’t seem to get them to come out. I want to cry, scream, confess, and run as fast as I can. I don’t want to feel anymore. Why can’t I be numb? Isn’t there a way for me to I can hold onto that feeling of weightlessness? Because I really need it. I deserve it.

“Not today. Give me today,” I say and then spur the horse forward.

As we race back toward the ranch, there is no peace. The high that I was chasing is gone. Freedom is an intoxicating emotion that I want to drown in. But I’m not free. I’ve been condemned to live back in Bell Buckle.

Wyatt follows me to the barn and holds the horses as I climb down. “Thanks for this,” I say, touching his arm.

He smiles and tips his head. “Anytime, Cowgirl.”

“You know, you’re one of the few things I missed.”

He laughs. “I always knew you liked me best.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

“I’m glad you’re back. I know you’re not, and I get why you stayed away.” He pauses for just a second. “But I’m glad you’re in Bell Buckle, where you belong. Next we’ll work on getting you to smile more.”

“Don’t get too comfortable with me being around. I’m not staying forever.” I turn and head out.

“Presley?” Wyatt’s voice stops me.

“Yeah?”

“There’s not a soul who doesn’t have a skeleton of some sort, but the longer you keep it locked up, the longer it’s going to hold you down.”

Tears pool and I fight back the words. I want to blurt it out. Tell him, or hell,
anyone
, the truth. No one understands the visions that I can’t stop seeing. His eyes. The way he didn’t move. The black bag he left in. It’s there all the damn time. I want it to go away, but it won’t.

“I want—” I start. “I can’t yet. I want to, but I can’t.”

He nods. “Well, anytime you wanna ride my stallion . . . feel free to let me know.”

“Oh, my God.” I laugh. Leave it to Wyatt to soften the mood.

“That’s what they call me.”

“What lucky girls.” I snort in disgust.

“Hey,” he says as an afterthought. “What are you doing tonight?”

I pretend to have to think. “Not a damn thing.”

“Be ready at seven. I need someone to take a ride with me.”

I look at him as if he sprouted a third head. That’s all I need. Being seen in this damn town riding around with another Hennington brother. No, thank you. “On second thought, I
am
busy.”

“Get un-busy.”

“It doesn’t work that way. I have the boys.”

Cooper’s voice breaks our mini argument. “I’ve got the boys. You need to leave this property before people say we’re holding you hostage.”

I look at my brother, wishing I could punch him in the balls. What is with the damn men in my life? All of them think they know what’s best for me. Pains in my damn ass.

“I’m not up to it.”

“Good,” Wyatt says and claps his hands. “I’ll see you later.”

“I said no.”

“I don’t accept.”

“I’m not going,” I say with my arms crossed.

Wyatt steps forward. “I’ve carried your tiny ass out of that bedroom window once before. I’ll do it again. Be ready or you’re going in whatever you’re wearing.” He taps my nose and saunters off with me scowling.

There’s not a doubt in my mind he’ll do it. And not a freaking person in my house who would stop him. Damn him.

“P
RESLEY! WYATT IS HERE!” MAMA
calls out.

“So is this a date?” Cayden asks.

“No. Not at all,” I reassure him. There’s no way I want to date anyone, and certainly no one from here. I’ll never go through that again. Besides, Wyatt is like a brother to me. “Wyatt is a friend that I went to school with. He just needs someone to go run some errands with.”

Logan walks over and then clutches his arms around me. “I miss Daddy.”

I cup his face and kiss his nose. “I know, baby. I miss him too.”

As angry as I am . . . I still miss him. Sure, throughout the years we had ups and downs like any other couple, but I loved him. Todd understood me. He wasn’t the burn-the-sheets type of love, but he was a reliable love. There wasn’t a moment I felt like he would abandon me. Until he did.

“I don’t want a new dad.” Cayden stands to the side with a scowl. “You can’t do this.”

“Cayden.” I walk over to him. “No one said you’re getting a new dad. This is a friend. And I don’t need your permission.”

This isn’t easy on them. They’ve endured a boatload of changes, none of which they asked for. At the same time, I feel like we’re all in purgatory. None of us are living. And if I don’t start moving forward, they’ll never follow. Instead of Wyatt carrying me out of my room, I’m going to walk out on my own.

Cayden shakes his head with a pout on his face. “I hate it here!”

“I know you do. But being around Uncle Cooper is pretty fun. He said you boys have been a big help on the ranch.” I bend so I’m eye level with them. “I know how hard it is to live somewhere you don’t want to be. I’ve been where you boys are. It’s a big change from home. But I promise, Bell Buckle is a great place to live.” For the first time since being here, I feel like maybe this isn’t the worst thing that could’ve happened to us. My parents, my brother, Wyatt, and this ranch could save us all.

“We haven’t even left the house! There’s nothing to do here! I hate it!” Cayden is by far the angrier of the two. He wears it on his face. Daddy said to let him have his anger. A boy needs it sometimes. I don’t know what to think. “I want to go back. I can live with Aunt Angie.”

“That’s not happening, buddy. This is how it has to be for now.”

A tear leaks from his eye. I want to make this better for him. I would take all of their pain and carry it, but I can’t. I have to stand strong and hope that by living, they’ll do the same. Right now, all they see is me moping around and angry at the world. I’m going to do better for them. “We need to make the best of it. Is it ideal?” I pause. “No. But we have live here for the foreseeable future. So we have two choices: we make the most of it or we suffer the entire time. You choose.”

“Whatever.” Cayden crosses his arms while shaking his head.

“I love you both very much, and believe me, I want to be back home too.”

“We miss our friends,” Logan says. “Cayden is boring.”

“I promise you’ll make new friends as soon as school starts.” Logan looks away with a dejected look on his face. “Will you try a little bit harder?” His back straightens a little, and he nods. “What about you, Cay?” Logan nudges Cayden, but he doesn’t look at me. “Cayden?” He looks at the wall, refusing to meet my eyes. “Okay, you can be mad. I won’t push you right now, but you are not allowed to be disrespectful to me. I’ll let this go now, but we’re going to have this talk.”

Cayden continues to silently loathe me. I kiss the tops of both their heads and try to keep myself from crying. All of this was so unnecessary. That’s all I can think. The catalyst to our new life could’ve been handled so differently.

I put my dark brown hair in a side braid, put my boots on, and head downstairs. Wyatt sits at the table with my parents. “Damn, I was hoping I was going to have to drag you out.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m so sorry to disappoint you.”

“There’s always next time.”

“Ass.”

“Presley!” my mother gasps. “I raised you better than that.”

If she knew the language that we all used as kids, she’d fall over. “Sorry.”

“You should be.” Wyatt smirks at me. “I’m so disappointed that the city has ruined my sweet friend.”

Now I want to choke him. “Let’s go before I change my mind.”

He laughs and throws his arm over my shoulder. “You can’t say no to me. I know all your games.”

After we have driven a few miles, I realize I have no idea where we’re going. Wyatt doesn’t inform me either, which is typical. I’ve never been good with this, and he damn well knows it. I swear these boys love to torture me—always have. Zach and Trent would thrive on scaring the shit out of me. Wyatt never did that. Instead, he would give me the silent treatment when I wanted to know something, which was equally frustrating.

He turns into the local bar and every part of me locks. “No way!” I yell and try to figure a way out of this. “No. I’m not going in there. You knew. You knew this is the last place in this damn town I would want to be.”

“Rip the Band-Aid off.”