Lost and Found by Williams Nicole

Author:Williams, Nicole [Williams, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, mobi
Published: 2013-05-05T22:00:00+00:00

You can feel some people’s presences before you even lay eyes on them. Some of those presences are peaceful and put you at ease. Like Jesse’s. And some make you every shade of uncomfortable and disarm you. Like Garth’s.

The trouble with me, or one of the troubles with me, was that my what-was-good-for-me compass was seriously screwed up. I’d always known that to a certain extent, but only after coming to Willow Springs did I really notice it in a big way. I didn’t know what I wanted to do about it, if anything, but I was acknowledging it in a way I hadn’t before.

A dark, few-noted chuckle sounded from behind me.

Speaking of presences . . .

“What are you doing still lurking around?” I said, spinning around. “All the guys left a few minutes ago.” I hadn’t stopped staring at the spot I’d last seen Jesse and Sunny until the man in black interfered.

Garth smiled that dark one of his that would have made me shiver had it been any cooler out. “I’m good at . . . lurking,” he said in that deep, thick voice. “And yeah, the guys did leave a few minutes ago. One guy left even a few minutes before that.” Garth walked toward me, his horse following him. His horse had a dark mane and tail. Like owner, like horse. “But that sure hasn’t stopped you from staring at that same spot like you’re hoping if you look long enough, Jesse fucking Walker will magically reappear.”

My whole body tensed. I hadn’t heard such a harsh word delivered in such a spiteful tone in so long that it caught me off guard.

“Where did you come from?” I asked, shoving the cooler farther into the truck bed. The sooner I got into the cab, the sooner I could get away from Garth Black. I still hadn’t forgotten what he’d said to me at the rodeo or how he’d said the words with such cruelty. “I didn’t see you earlier. Do you just decide to show up for work whenever the hell you please?”

I heard him and his horse move closer. I didn’t flinch. I didn’t shy away. I knew guys like Garth, people like him. They got off on knowing they intimidated others. I wouldn’t give him that pleasure.

“I was here. I’ve been here all goddamned day, rounding up dumb cows and riding alongside dumber cowboys.” I slammed the tailgate closed, and when I turned around, I found Garth not even two feet from me. I came close to squirming, so I crossed my arms and stood my ground. “But I guess it’s no big surprise you didn’t notice anyone else just now. Because you, my infatuated little girl,”—I bristled at the little part. He didn’t mean my height.—“had eyes for no one but that golden boy atop his golden steed. Riding off to his golden tower and his golden family.”

I rolled my eyes. “And your point to this whole ‘golden’ story?”

Garth’s mouth lifted on one side. “Only that there’s no place for you in it.

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