Chapter 1
Abby
Rock Springs Texas has always felt like home. Ever since my parents died, and I spent time there on Sage's ranch, it's where my heart wants to be.
Don't get me wrong. I’m so thankful to The Rutherford’s for taking me in, while I went to school. Some of their kids have become my good friends, and I love the people I go to school with, but it's just not home.
Becoming a midwife, has consumed my life, and this is the first break I’m getting, and of course, there was no other option than to come home to Rock Springs. When I head back to Arkansas after the summer, I start all of my hands-on training, so I figured I should take this break, while I can.
When I see Sage, waiting on me near baggage claim, we have one of those drop our bags and hug each other moments you see on TV. She’s the closest thing I have left to family.
"God, I missed you! I'm so glad you’ll be here for a few months," Sage says.
"It's all she's talked about for weeks now." Colt, her husband, says, giving me a quick side hug.
"That makes two of us," I tell him, as we head to baggage claim for the rest of my bags.
Once we get both of them, Colt insists on carrying them out to their truck. He's a true southern gentleman to the core.
"Let's sit in the back and talk," Sage says.
"Like hell woman. I have a bench seat, so scoot that cute little ass over here. I'm not driving an hour not being able to touch you," Colt says.
This makes me laugh. Sage and Colt had a rocky start. They dated in high school, broke up, and then life kept them apart for many years, before they got their second chance. Now, you can't keep them apart if you tried.
Sage looks at me and rolls her eyes, before turning to get in the truck. Colt holds the passenger side door open for her, and then smacks her butt, as she climbs in.
"I know you rolled your eyes at me. You’ll pay for that later," he tells her.
Once I climb in and settle, he closes the door and climbs in on his side. He buckles up and makes sure Sage is too, before pulling her closer to him.
You can see the love these two have. There’s no doubt about it. Too bad I don't feel that way about William.
William is what many would deem the perfect guy. He has a great job, and he's successful at it. He treats me like gold and gets along with The Rutherford's. They love him and like my friends. He goes to my church, supports me going to school, and my visit here this summer. He's everything my parents would want for me. My mom hinted at it many times, and both Mom and Dad thought the world of him. He would visit his aunt and attend our church with her. Though, he’s everything I should want, I feel nothing for him.
When he holds my hand, when he kisses me, or even when we talk about the future, I feel nothing. Nothing. I might fool myself into thinking I’ll grow to love him, but I know that's not true, when there’s another man, who makes my heart race with just a glance my way.
I want to love William. I do, I really do. I think he's a great guy and will make a great father one day. So, I hope some time apart will make things clearer.
"We’re going to church on Sunday. You are coming with us, right? Pastor Greg needs some help with the summer carnival, and it might just be up your alley," Sage says.
Damn.
Just the mention of Pastor Greg has my heart racing. I haven't told anyone how he makes me feel, and I need to get it together in front of Sage and Colt.
"Yeah, it would be fun to do something other than study this summer," I tell her.
For the rest of the drive, she updates me on what has happened, since the last time I was in town. I was here for Christmas, when Sage's brother, Blaze, and his wife, Riley, gave birth to their daughter, baby Lily. Not to be confused with Riley's best friend, Lilly.
After I left, Riley's best friend, Lilly, married her now husband, Mike, and started rescuing horses that have been showing up from what the cops believe is an illegal rodeo.
Sage's other sister-in-law, Ella, had her sister get engaged, and her brother wound up married in Vegas. Sage's sister, Megan, also had her baby girl, Willow.
It's not until she starts talking about how the church ladies are still wanting to get Pastor Greg set up with someone, that I don't really want to talk anymore. Thankfully, this is also when we’re pulling into the ranch.
I always loved this place. Several years ago, they expanded and bought the ranch next door, so most of Sage's siblings live on one side, while Sage's parents still live in the main house on the other side, and they run the whole ranch together.
The main house on this side has always been called Sage's place, because it's her biological family's land. That’s the main reason they bought the place and remodeled it. It's huge too with fourteen bedrooms and nine bathrooms, and that includes two master bedroom suites. One on the family side, and one on the guest room side. There’s also an entire housekeeper’s one-bedroom apartment downstairs, but as far as I know, it hasn't been used for as long as I have known Sage.
"So, you have three choices of where you can stay. We have the senior ranch hand cabin open for the summer, you can stay in the housekeeper’s apartment downstairs, or the guest master bedroom upstairs," Sage says.
"Take the master bedroom," Hunter says, as he and his wife, Megan, come out to greet me.
"Okay, that's fine by me," I say, while Colt and Hunter take my bags upstairs, and the girls pull me into the kitchen.
It's a full half hour of updating Riley, Sage, Megan, Ella, and their other sister-in-law, Sarah, on my progress with school.
By the time I make it upstairs to unpack, I’m exhausted, and I still have to head back down for dinner.
As I finish unpacking and lay down on my bed, my phone rings. When I see it's William, I cringe. I should have called him, when I touched down in Dallas a few hours ago, or when I got to the ranch over an hour ago.
He's video calling me, so I sit up and fix my hair really quick, before I answer.
"Hey, there. I wanted to make sure you got in okay." He says with a smile.
There’s no doubt about it, he's a handsome guy with his chiseled jaw and perfectly styled brown hair. He's skinny, clean cut, and has a smooth baby face.
It's just the complete opposite of Pastor Greg, who looks like a cowboy, has a hard body with rippling muscles from helping people around town, and is rough around the edges. He’s always in jeans and a nice button-down shirt on Sundays, and a flannel shirt the rest of the week.
Damnit, why am I thinking about Greg again?
"Yeah, sorry I didn't call. I just got to my room. Everyone was here and wanted to talk soon, as I walked in."
He gives me a soft smile that I’ve seen fluster other women. "I figured as much. Sage pick you up from the airport?" He asks, propping the phone up, while removing his suit jacket and rolling up his sleeves. He must have just gotten home.
"Yeah, and her husband, Colt. They filled me in on everything I missed on the way here, and as soon as I walked into the house, everyone wanted to know about school and you."
That makes him smile again. "You worked hard at school, and you deserve this break with your friends. I’ll miss you like crazy, though."
"I know, but you know what they say about distance and the heart." I try to joke without lying to him.
I don't want to say I’ll miss him, when I'm not sure if I will. I watch for a sign that he picks up on it. His smile dulls only a fraction, before he nods his head.
"Yeah, I've heard that, and I guess we will see, huh? You having dinner with them tonight?"
"Yep, family dinner every night is mandatory. I swear, they’re like one of those 1950s families that sit down to eat together, no matter how busy it is. Honestly, it reminds me of my parents." I tell him, putting on a fake smile.
"Okay, I think I'm going to go to my mom’s for dinner tonight, so text me, before you get to bed," he says.
"I will. Enjoy dinner with your mom."
"Talk soon." He hangs up.
I flop down on the bed again. I want to make my parents happy, and it's why I agreed to the courtship with William. The church my parents attended wasn't great, but they did believe in courtship, and my parents supported that, as do The Rutherford's.
Courtship means all my dates with William have been with a chaperone. The more I've been on my own and around Sage's family, the less of a fan of courtship I’ve become, but it's what my parents would have wanted for me. Just like I know they would have wanted William for me. My mom liked him and always said as much.
I'm about to get ready for dinner, when there’s a knock on my door.
"Come in."
Sage peeks her head in.
"Got a minute?" She asks, closing the door behind her.
"Of course."
"Okay, Colt told me to mind my own business, but you’re one of my best friends, so I’m going to say this, and I promise to drop it, unless you want to talk about it again. Just know I’m always here, and no judgment ever."
"Oh, for cheese’s sake, just spit it out," I say the phrase my momma always said to me that made me laugh. It buys me time to regain my thoughts.
"I don't know William, but I do know you, and I just don't see that spark there. I don't want you to settle. Settling kills your soul. I want you to fall head over heels in love, and find someone who you can't live without. Find the someone who you would have turned this trip down for, because you didn't want to be away from him."
I sigh, "It's nothing I haven't already been thinking. Though, I was hoping this trip would provide me with a bit of clarity. I'm not ready to talk about it just yet."
"Well, when you are, you can talk to me, or I can call a girl's night, and you can spill your guts over margaritas, chocolate, and tacos, and then get all of our opinions. It's up to you."
I stand and hug her. "Thank you. Now feed me."
That seems to break the tension, and we head downstairs.
I'm used to family dinners like this with The Rutherford's. Only here, I feel more at home. I'm part of the conversation, I know who they’re talking about, and time flies. I don't want to get up from the table. At The Rutherford's, I don't know anyone they talk about, and I wrap up dinner as quick as I can. Such a night and day difference.
Later that night, when I’m back in my room and laying on the bed, I text William.
Me: Hey, I'm heading to bed. Will be up early for church tomorrow.
William: What's the church like there?
Though, we go to church every Sunday, and the church there is good, I love the one here in Rock Springs so much better.
Me: It's a small country church, and everyone knows everyone. They’re putting on a summer carnival, and I agreed to help.
William: That's what you used to help your parents with. You’ll have a lot of fun, and I can come down for the weekend and see the final product.
Me: Yeah. Plus, Rock Springs may be small, but they throw some events that will put Little Rock to shame.
William: Make sure to send photos. I’ll let you get to sleep. Talk tomorrow.
Me: Goodnight.
Mom, dad if you are listening. All I need is a sign. One little sign.
