“Oh, no.” Olivia sounded genuinely upset. “What did you do then?”
“Enlisted. Did two tours, but I hated it. I worked at Wranglers Ranch in Tucson for a while. Tried to rebuild my faith in God.” He heaved a sigh. “Then I got into equine-assisted learning. Eventually I came to the Double M and—” He shrugged. “That’s my story. My stupidity in marrying Eve cost me my dad and my home.”
“I’m so sorry. You never saw Eve again?”
“No. And I never wanted to,” he muttered, tension building in his head. “Until today,” he grated.
“You never fell in love again?” Olivia’s hand went up in the automatic way she had of smoothing her hair over her damaged cheek. Funny, but unless she drew attention to it, Gabe never even noticed her scar.
“No.” Even now, memories of that youthful over-the-top love and the gut-wrenching pain of knowing it wasn’t reciprocated burned inside. “Eve ended my dreams of love and family. I grew up fast and I gave up dreaming.” The words emerged sounding bitter. But then he had a right to be bitter, even more so now.
Why didn’t you tell me we have a son, Eve?
“And that’s enough for you?” she asked, a frown marring her beauty.
“I have a good job with horses, which I love. I live in a great community and I get to be part of The Haven’s ministry. Someday I’d like to have my own spread, but...” He shrugged. “Really, why do I need a house and land?”
“I’m sorry, Gabe.” Olivia’s softly voiced words offered comfort, but he wouldn’t take it.
“So am I. My stupidity in marrying Eve killed my dad. I’ll never forgive her for that.” Why had he told Olivia that? What good did it do? Out of the corner of his eye he saw Eli standing in the doorway. Surely the boy hadn’t overheard his snarky comment? “Let’s go enjoy those doughnuts,” he said with forced cheerfulness.
“Wait.” She stepped forward to rub the dust from his cheek. “Now the twins will allow you to eat doughnuts,” Olivia said with a grin.
Truth be told, Gabe wasn’t sure he could swallow anything right now. What he desperately wanted was to lose himself in the forest surrounding them and read the letter that burned a hole in his shirt pocket.
Later, he promised himself grimly. He’d read Eve’s paltry excuses for keeping his son a secret later.
Copyright © 2019 by Lois M. Richer
ISBN-13: 9781488042768
The Rancher’s Legacy
Copyright © 2019 by Jessica Koschnitzky
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The Rancher's Legacy (Red Dog Ranch Book 1) Page 19