Chapter Eight

Owen

 

“Owen?” I turned to see Tracy standing over me. My eyes opened. I took a look around, realizing I was still in the hospital waiting room.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

I slid up in my seat, stretched, and then reached for my cold coffee sitting on the table next to me. “Is she in surgery yet?” I asked.

“They just took her back. Have you been here all night?” Tracy asked.

I nodded, sipped my coffee. “I better get home,” I said, quickly standing and trying to escape the conversation I didn’t want to have. “How long until she’s back?” I asked.

“They said about four hours, then two in recovery, before she’s back in her room,” she said.

“Cool,” I said, patting her on the back as I started to walk out.

Of course, she was behind me, and then beside me. Miss Pushy Busybody wasn’t going to let things go that easily. “When did you get here?” she asked.

“After I left Mr. Thompson’s.”

“And you haven’t left since?” she asked with that sappy tone in her voice and eyes to match.

“I fell asleep. That’s all,” I insisted. Her eyes batted in my direction. “Wipe that sappy look off your face,” I said, pushing open the exit doors.

“She asked about you,” she said, following me to my truck.

I stopped at the door, listening to her tell me about how she thought I viewed her as a charity case, and how it was all Tracy’s fault. “It’s not your fault,” I told her.

I climbed into my truck, started the engine, and winked at my overly involved cousin. “Are you coming back when she gets out of surgery? I know she’d love to see you,” she said.

I waved, pulled out of my spot, and headed down the road. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I was worried about her, that’s all. Why did it have to be anything other than that?

Charlie walked out of the barn as I pulled up. “How is she?” he asked.

“A few broken ribs, a broken arm, but she’ll live,” I answered.

We walked back into the barn to check on Carlos. He was strong, eating on his own, and seemed happy to see me. I laughed when he shoved his nose against my arm as I walked into his stable. “He’s doin’ much better,” I said.

“Charlotte has the magic touch,” he smiled.

Yes, she does. More than he’ll ever know.

“So, she make it out of surgery?” he asked.

“She’s in there now.”

“You headin’ back up there after she’s out?” he asked.

What is with everyone?

“Probably not,” I replied, gripping a handful of grain to toss in Carlos’s bin.

He shook his head, narrowing his eyes on me as he watched my every move. “What?” I asked.

“You’re being stubborn,” he insisted.

“How do ya figure?” I asked, half-smiling as I spoke.

“You know you like this girl,” he said.

“Look, I’m not the one who keeps walking out,” I defended.

“It seems to me she’s been hurt pretty bad. Sounds like someone else I know,” he said.

My stomach flipped upside down. I knew he was referring to me, and I knew it was about Lana. He had been there for all of it, except the fucking my fiancée part. Thank God he’d had enough sense not to take part in that fiasco. He was the only true friend I really had. “It’s not about Lana,” I said calmly. “I’m over that,” I insisted.

I was over it, or at least, I was over her. Maybe I did still have some trust issues to get over, but it still wasn’t me that walked out or ran out. It hurt like hell when I got home that day to find her already gone, and it wasn’t no walk in the park when she grabbed her clothes and left me at the pond. I wasn’t ready for that kind of pain again. I was doing just fine without it.

“I’m too busy for a relationship,” I snorted.

“Bullshit,” Charlie scoffed. “I’ve watched you night after night go into the lonely, empty house and eat a sandwich in front of the TV. You don’t go out, you don’t spend any time with friends, and you certainly don’t date. You need a life, Owen. You deserve one,” he argued.

“You’re my friend. And I work all day, so yeah, I’m too tired to go out,” I snapped.

“You need more than just a friend in your life. And, this place, hell, you’ve got it running like a well-oiled machine. You don’t need to work so hard anymore, you know that,” he said.

He was right. The ranch was finally running smoothly. After years of hard work, the majority of it was now self-sustaining. What did need done, Scott and Charlie could take care of without my help. “I like working out here,” I said.

He nodded. I watched his eyes shift back and forth on me as he leaned against the stable gate.

“This was your dream. But, your dream included a family. You chose the wrong girl, that’s all. But, looks like you found the perfect one now,” he said.

“Nobody’s perfect,” I chuckled.

Carlos continued eating as I brushed his mane. Watching her nuzzle him, caress him, and offer her maternal spirit to nurture him to health had been pretty spectacular, almost perfect.

“She loves animals, she’s beautiful, smart, doesn’t mind getting dirty, and for whatever reason, she seems to really like you,” he said with a smile.

I stared into the old man’s eyes. They were filled with wisdom. I knew that. I didn’t want to listen, but I knew he was right.

“I’m heading home,” he said, patting me on the back.

“It’s Sunday, and I want to spend some time with my wife, maybe even the kids if they aren’t too busy,” he said, winking as he walked out of the barn. “Enjoy your sandwich,” he called out as he opened his truck door.

My heart ached. I was filled with confusion. Should I give it one more try? What if she runs away again? It will hurt a thousand times worse the next time if I let her get any closer to my heart.

I was a mess from birthing a foal, so I patted Carlos on the head and went into the house to wash up. A hot shower, some breakfast, and maybe a fresh cup of coffee would clear my mind. Then I’d know what to do.