“Yeah, I did.”
“You still invested in rodeo stock and you even invested in a hockey team. That says something. You kept a hand on what you loved.”
He looked at her and held her gaze. “I did that too. Sometimes I wonder who that man was who was itching to get out of here so badly.”
“I get it.”
“You do?”
“I think so. I didn’t grow up in Sweet.” She tossed him a wry grin. “Something you seemed keen on reminding me the first day we met.”
“I was just making a point.”
“Point taken. After my parents died, Missoula didn’t feel like home anymore. I had friends there, but it wasn’t the same. Home wasn’t the same. You’re right, things change. And sometimes you can change with them. Sometimes you miss what you lost. Sometimes a lot. But I didn’t miss Missoula like I thought I would.”
“Wasn’t it strange when you first got here?” he asked. “I mean, you’d never been to Sweet and suddenly you’re in a totally different type of environment living on a ranch.”
“It was strange at first. I didn’t know Trip like I know him now. I didn’t know Levon or Dusty or Hal. But I got to know them when I got to know Tenterhook. He was my reason for coming, and why I stayed. He’s the last piece of my parents that I have.”
“That alone can’t be the reason you stay in Sweet. You could take Tenterhook anywhere. There are farms not that far from New York City.”
“New York City is a bit out of my league,” she said with a chuckle. “For starters, where would I go ice skating now that I finally know how to and don’t have to do it with a cast?”
“Central Park. I go there.”
The shocked expression on her face made him laugh.
“You do need to get out of Montana, Tabby. There is a whole big world out there.”
Her expression changed. “I couldn’t leave Trip. Especially now that Levon is gone.”
“Why not? You’re not family. From what I understand, Trip has family living in the next town. He wouldn’t be alone.”
“He’s not my blood family, but he’s become my family. He gave me a place to call home when I had none. He’s done so much for me. He’s like that old uncle who gives you candy or slips a few dollars to you under the table when your parents aren’t looking. It wouldn’t feel right to leave him even if I could take Tenterhook across the country and settle someplace else like New York.”
He knew what she was saying. He’d be leaving here eventually. He’d spent the last twelve years building something in New York that was hard for him to walk away from, even if Sweet wasn’t the same town that he thought was holding him back and reminding him of things he couldn’t have all those years ago.
A noise in the barn pulled her attention away from what Kas was saying.
“What was that?” she asked.
Kas turned around and looked down the center aisle. “It’s probably Trip.”
“No, he went to his sister Brenda’s house for dinner. He invited me to go with him but I said no because…”
“Because of what?”
She took a deep breath. “Because I wanted to be with you. You’re going to be leaving soon. And you have this annoying thing about just dropping by instead of calling to let me know you’re coming.”
“I like the look on your face when you see me.”
“You do, huh? Am I that obvious?”
He brushed his finger across her cheek and smiled. His eyes were dark and filled with desire, something she’d come to love seeing when he looked at her.
“Only to me,” he said.
“I don’t know about that. I think Trip has his own ideas about…”
She stopped again and listened. “I didn’t hear a car. Did you?”
Kas glanced over at the barn. “The light in the barn just went out.”
“It must have been Dusty or Hal,” Tabby said.
“No, I saw them head to the bunkhouse a while back. I didn’t see them come back here. Get inside. I’m going to go check it out,” Kas said.
“I’m coming with you,” she said, getting up quickly. The blanket fell to the floor, but she didn’t bother to pick it up.
“Tabby.”
“Don’t you Tabby me. I’m coming.”
She was thankful he didn’t argue with her further. She wasn’t going to feel right going to bed tonight worrying about who may or may not have been in the barn.
She stayed behind Kas and they made their way to the barn. As Kas said, the lights in the bunkhouse were blazing bright and she could see Dusty and Hal sitting at the table engrossed in a game of cards.
Her heart pounded as they got closer to the barn door, she heard glass breaking.
Kas turned to her quickly. “Go back to the apartment.”
She stepped in front of him. “My horse is in this barn. You’re not going to keep me from him.”
“Lord have mercy, I’m never going to win an argument with you unless I throw you over my shoulder.”
“And even then you’ll get a challenge.”
“Stay behind me.”
He opened the door and walked inside slowly. The horses were restless, making noise and stomping in their stalls. The light he’d seen on in the barn was now turned off. She moved back as Kas and rushed down the center aisle to Tenterhook’s stall. She got about halfway when a figure came out from the grooming room. It took a few seconds for her to register who it was. Not because she didn’t recognize him, but because he seemed out of place here.
“What are you doing here, Tanner?” she asked.
“I heard you talking about leaving here. Moving to New York. I wouldn’t go packing bags any time soon, Tabby. That horse isn’t going to New York State or anywhere else. He’s coming with me!”
“What? Tenterhook is my horse.”
“What did you do, Tanner?” Kas said coming up behind Tabby and standing in front of her. “Did you do something to Tenterhook? Did
