This Place Called Home: Includes Bonus Story! (Forget-Me-Not Ranch)

by Sara Richardson

  He left her sitting at the table and went to the kitchen to finish the dishes.

  Mack followed him. “I would come to see you too. Just because I’m leaving doesn’t mean I don’t care. It doesn’t mean I don’t want—”

  “What?” He spun to face her. “What do you want?” He didn’t do this. He didn’t play games. He wouldn’t have kissed her—hell, he wouldn’t have even given her a second look—if he hadn’t wanted her.

  “It doesn’t seem like you know what you want.” He hadn’t expected her to stay at the ranch forever, but to run back to Denver the second her mom came looking for her? That told him a lot.

  For starters, it told him she wasn’t ready to walk away from her family’s moneyed existence, and he’d never fit into their world.

  “I don’t know exactly what I want.” Mack leaned into the counter next to him. “This is all new to me. For so long I only did what was expected.”

  As far as he could tell, nothing had changed. Nash roughly stashed another plate in the dishwasher.

  “I want to stay in touch though.” Her hand reached for his shoulder, but he jerked away from her.

  “I’m headed back out on the road.” He had coverage for the next few events, but he’d simply go back earlier than he planned. “After I help my aunt get things set around here, I’ll be gone the rest of the fall.”

  Looked like they’d have to seriously consider unloading the place. Agatha couldn’t keep this up all by herself, and he had a feeling once Mack went back to her life, she’d forget all about the ranch.

  “Nash…don’t be angry. Please.” She reached around him and shut off the water. “Try to understand.”

  “I understand.” The morning after he spent the night with the woman, she was taking off.

  At least it had happened now instead of in another week or two. Or five years later. He set the last plate in the dishwasher and closed it up. “I have to go visit the sheriff.”

  Slipping past Mack, he grabbed his keys and walked out the door before she could leave him first.

  Mack slipped into the dim stable, leaving the door open to let in some light.

  “Hi, baby.” She walked to the pony, who lay comfortably in a pile of hay against the fence. Kneeling, she petted his mane, and in response, the pony nuzzled his nose into her shoulder.

  “You’re looking better.” The animal was no doubt relieved to be away from whoever was keeping it shackled. The bandages Nash had applied still looked clean and intact.

  Oh, Nash.

  The blankets he’d had wrapped them in last night still sat in a heap near the wall. A few hours had changed so much. She’d gone from feeling warm and content in the man’s arms to empty and hollow when he’d walked away.

  Nash had shut down when she told him she was leaving. She’d seen the curtain come down in his eyes.

  It had only taken one second for him to write her off and then he’d run away before she had the chance to do anything about it, before she could get him to understand.

  If she was only thinking of herself, she’d stay here. With him. With Agatha. She’d let go of everything else.

  This place had helped her find more of herself, and she sensed she had even more to learn, but she couldn’t think only of herself. Her father had given her so much, and he needed her.

  There was a scratching at the door, and then it burst open. Jasper trotted over and maneuvered to sit right in her lap.

  Laughing through the threat of tears, she stroked his soft fur. “When are you going to learn you’re not a lap dog?” she asked, giving in a kiss on the top of his head. “And how did you learn to open doors?”

  “I opened the door.” Agatha appeared behind her. “I thought I might find you in here.”

  Mack inhaled against a rising sorrow. She’d come to love this woman so much. “I just wanted to check on the pony.”

  If she were being honest, she would admit she’d also hoped to run into Nash. After breakfast, she’d gone to pack up some of her things and then had taken a long walk in the woods, breathing in last memories of the stillness and beauty she’d found here.

  She’d hoped she’d given Nash enough time to run into town and return, but he was obviously still avoiding her.

  Agatha joined her on the ground, sitting across from her. “He looks like he’s perked up since yesterday,” she said, giving the pony a good pat.

  “I think so.” Mack studied the older woman. Agatha didn’t look very perky. Her face seemed a bit…duller. And was she moving slower? “Are you feeling okay?” she asked, hoping she wasn’t the cause of Agatha’s sluggishness.

  “I’m feeling wonderful,” the woman claimed, expanding her smile. She eyed the blankets in the corner. “It appears our new friend here had an angel or two watching over him last night.”

  An angel or two. She knew Mack had spent the night with her nephew out here. The woman seemed to know everything.

  “I didn’t want him to be lonely.” She couldn’t be fully sure if she was referring to the pony or to Nash.

  For those few hours they spent together in the stable, he’d been tender and open. But after breakfast, he’d reverted to the cold staring she recognized from those first few days she’d been at the ranch.

  “And Nash didn’t want you to be lonely,” Agatha said with humor.

  Mack strained her throat against more tears. When she’d been with Nash, she’d almost felt like she could never be lonely again, and yet here she was. “I have to go home, Agatha.” The words wobbled with a surge of emotion.

  She didn’t want to go. Didn’t Nash see that? Mack threaded her fingers into the dog’s fur for comfort.

  As if sensing she needed a kiss, Jasper licked her wrist.

  “I know you have to go, honey.” Her dear friend wrapped her hand around Mack’s arm, kindness flooding from her touch. “It’s okay. I understand. Family is important.”

  The Forget-Me-Not Ranch was important to her too. “I’m still going to work hard on the nonprofit. I can work on the website and I can still contact potential donors from Denver.”

  She was committed to making sure Agatha would get the resources she needed to stay on the ranch, even if Mack couldn’t be there.

  “I don’t doubt it at all,” Agatha said.

  “Nash does.” She swallowed against the hard lump forming in her throat. “He seems to have a lot of doubts about me.” Right before he’d walked out of the kitchen, he’d looked at her like he didn’t even know her.

  “He might have doubts, but eventually he’ll acknowledge the truth.” The older woman tucked a lock of hair behind Mack’s ear tenderly. “He’ll have to acknowledge you are genuine and compassionate. He’ll have to acknowledge you’re only trying to do what you feel is right. Even though it’s hard.”

  Agatha had so much faith in people. She had so much faith in Mack, even though she was leaving.

  She hoped she deserved the woman’s faith. “I told him I wasn’t sure what I wanted.” It was the only fair response to the question he’d asked her. What did she want? Did it matter? Could she be sure?

  Right now she had one foot in each different world, and the pull from both felt too strong. “I do care about him.” But she also cared about her father. About the company he’d spent his life building from the ground up. How could she turn her back on him? How could she turn her back on her team when they all counted on her?

  “I know you care about him,” Agatha said. “He knows it too.”

  “I don’t think he does. Or at least he doesn’t believe it.”

  Jasper whined and rested his head on her arm as though he could feel her sadness.

  “Nash has loved very few people in his life.” Agatha’s sweet smile grew sad. “He loves me, and he makes sure I know it by the ways he tries to take care of me.” She sighed. “He loved his mother very much. She left him and never came back. He loved his father, and his father gave up.”

  The woman shrugged as though there was nothing
she could do about any of that. “I don’t think he’s let himself love anyone since then. I guess you could say his grief built up walls that he doesn’t dare look beyond.”

  He did look beyond them with her though. She’d seen his heart. Guilt chafed against her resolve. “He feels like I’m abandoning him too.”

  Agatha nodded. “Of course that’s not true, but no one he loved has ever come back, you see. So it feels true to him right now.”

  But Mack would prove it wasn’t true. She had no idea what a future could look like for them, with her in Denver and him traveling, but she wasn’t ready to give up on him either.

  “Have you heard from him? I’d like to say goodbye.” She wanted to look into his eyes and tell him she would be back, that she would keep her promises to his aunt, that she would keep a promise to him if he would let her.

  “I’m afraid he won’t be back until tomorrow.” Annoyance clipped through Agatha’s tone. “He said he had to pick up some veterinary supplies in Grand Junction.” A roll of her eyes indicated she didn’t buy that story for one second.

  Mack didn’t either. He didn’t want to say goodbye to her. He didn’t even want to see her again. Tears filled her eyes. She didn’t wipe them away. Even if she did, more would come.

  “There now, Mackenzie.” Agatha leaned in, gathering her in a one-armed hug. “It’s going to be fine. Given a little time and space, I’m sure he’ll realize how much he loves you. Then he won’t want to let you go.”

  Mack drew up her head to stare at the woman. “Love?” The inner lining of her chest prickled with anticipation or hope or yearning. Maybe all three.

  “Love,” Agatha confirmed. “I can see it in him. Nash doesn’t feel a little bit of anything. He goes all in, honey. That’s how it is when someone has blocked their emotions and protected their heart so fiercely. There always comes a reckoning day. A day when they meet someone they can’t seem to keep out, someone who will change their entire life, and that’s a little bit frightening for them.”

  Yes, it was frightening. Mostly because it seemed so out of control—the emotions he’d stirred up in her, the desires.

  She’d never felt as out of control as she did when Nash touched her, when he pressed his lips to hers. It was like being caught up in a flood that carried her away to someplace unknown. Frightening but exhilarating too.

  Mack leaned her head to rest on the old woman’s shoulder. “Please tell him I wanted to say goodbye.” She had a feeling he would be out on the road before she could get back up to the ranch again.

  And he’d likely stay out on the road if he heard she’d come for a visit. “Tell him I won’t give up.” Not on the ranch and not on him.

  “I could tell him that until I was blue in the face,” Agatha said. “But this is Nash we’re taking about, honey. You’re going to have to show him.”

  Chapter 15

  Agatha helped Mack load the few belongings she’d accumulated over the last couple of weeks into her father’s fancy-dancy SUV.

  If you asked her, Mack had sure taken her time getting her things together and preparing for the journey home. Now she could see the crushed hope on the woman’s face.

  There was still no sign of Nash. He was a stubborn one, that boy.

  “Thank you for everything, Agatha.” Tears spilled down Mack’s cheeks as she reached out to hug her.

  Oh, the poor girl. Agatha patted her back. She didn’t know yet that this is where she belonged. She could go home, but it wouldn’t feel much like home for her anymore.

  Of course, Agatha didn’t need to meddle. In her experience, the universe had a way of stepping in right at the perfect time. She’d already learned that faith had more power than force.

  “I promise I’ll stay in touch. I’ll have a draft of the website up later this week and we can talk through the logistics.” Mack almost sounded like she was trying to convince herself.

  “I can’t wait to see it.” She gave the young woman’s hands a squeeze. “I know everything will work out my dear.”

  When Mack was ready. When Nash was ready. As much as they might try to deny it, she’d never seen two people more perfect for each other.

  “Tell Nash I’ll be back. Maybe you can convince him.” Mack’s shoulders fell as though she had been trying to be strong, but gave up.

  “I’ll tell him.” But it wouldn’t do either of them much good. She knew her nephew well enough to know he’d get back out on the road the first chance he had.

  And he’d likely try to sell this place before Mack had a chance to launch the nonprofit. But again, things would work out somehow.

  They had to work out.

  She walked Mack to the car. “Drive safe.”

  Just as she climbed in, Emery drove up in her old Ford and parked next to them. “Hi,” she called through the open window. “Where are you headed?”

  Mack’s lip started to tremble again. “Back to Denver.”

  “You’re leaving?” Emery got out of the truck and walked to where Agatha stood. “But what about the nonprofit? All of the plans you were making?”

  “We’re still making plans,” Agatha said quickly.

  Mack looked like she was on the verge of sobbing. “She can do plenty from Denver and come to visit as often as she’d like.”

  “Oh.” The news seemed to disappoint Emery. “Well, I’m sorry to hear you’re leaving. But as long as you keep in touch.”

  “I will,” Mack promised, sniffling. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “We can’t wait.” Agatha nudged Emery back a few steps so Mack could drive past them.

  The woman started up the engine and waved, wiping at her tears as she drove the car down the driveway.

  “She seems awfully upset.” Emery turned to Agatha with concern furrowing her forehead.

  “She’s torn.” It was as simple as that.

  “Then why is she going back?”

  “Sometimes it’s easier to choose obligation and duty rather than embracing an unknown path.” It surely felt safer.

  Agatha slipped her arm around Emery and started to walk toward the stable where their new friend the pony was still resting.

  “I know all about obligation and duty,” Emery said. “It rarely leads to happiness.”

  “I suspect Mack will figure that out in time.” And Nash would as well.

  Life was supposed to be more than work, more than fulfilling a job. But again, he would have to come to the conclusion on his own.

  “Come on.” Agatha swept an arm around Emery. “Let’s go take your new pony for a walk.”

  The woman halted and gaped at her. “My pony?”

  “He’s all yours.” Agatha’s heart swelled to see the joy in the woman’s eyes. “According to Nash, Larry Coombs told the sheriff he never owned any ponies. So it looks like we’ve acquired a new tenant.”

  “Really? We get to keep him?” Emery suddenly seemed embarrassed. “I mean, you get to keep him. I don’t have a place to put him. But I’ll help out all the time. I promise. I can be his caretaker if you let him stay.”

  “Of course we’ll let him stay.” Agatha opened the door to the stable. “And you’re welcome to stay too, you know. I can’t pay you just yet, but hopefully soon—”

  “I don’t need to be paid.” Emery rushed over to the pony and threw her arms around him. “Just getting to be here, to spend time with him, that’s more than enough.”

  Agatha started to walk over to join them, but halfway across the stable, the world seemed to tilt on its axis.

  It was that funny feeling again. The one that made things seem fuzzy and slower. It happened from time to time. Darn old age. She pressed a hand against her temple, trying to steady her vision.

  “What’s wrong?” Emery sounded far away. “Agatha? Are you okay?”

  I’m wonderful. Her mouth couldn’t seem to move, to form the words she wanted to say.

  Everything suddenly felt terribly unsteady, like the ground had started to shift
and shake. A grey fog billowed at the edge of her vision, seeming to grow, to consume everything else.

  Her body gave, wilting like the Columbines in the late fall.

  “Agatha! What is it?” Hands caught her, slowing her descent.

  “Please! Wake up! You’re okay!”

  The cries faded into a dull music, and that was all she could hear...a gentle shushing lulling her to sleep.

  Hopefully Nash had given Mack enough time to pack up her things and walk back out of his life.

  He stuffed the supplies he didn’t really need into the bed of his pickup and climbed into the driver’s seat. A two-hour drive would give him the perfect chance to clear his head.

  And yet it would take much longer than that for him to forget the woman. He would though. Forgetting things was one of his specialties. Once he got back to work, it would be even easier.

  Speaking of, he’d best call his boss and tell him he wasn’t going to be off work for a month like he’d originally thought.

  Nash pulled out his phone, but it rang before he could dial. He didn’t recognize the number, so he let it go to voicemail. Two seconds later, it rang again.

  With a sigh, he brought it to his ear. Those telemarketers were getting more and more aggressive. “Yeah?”

  “Nash?” It was a woman. The voice was familiar…

  “Emery?”

  “Yeah.” She gasped. “Listen, something happened to your aunt.”

  Dread flooded in, gripping him by the throat. “What? Is she okay?”

  “I don’t know.” The woman started to cry. “We were in the stable with the pony and she seemed fine and then all of a sudden she just got this faraway look in her eyes and she collapsed.”

  “Where is she?” Fear prickled across his skin. This was exactly what he’d been worried about all this time…

  “The ambulance came,” Emery sobbed. “They said they were bringing her to Grand Junction. That was over an hour ago. I had to find your number. I’m on my way to the hospital, but it’ll take me a while to get there.”

  “I’m there. I’m in Grand Junction.” He turned the key in the ignition and started the engine. “I’ll meet them at the hospital.” He hung up the phone and tossed it onto the seat next to him.