Stud in Texas (Rugged and Risque 4)

“Are you ever going to be ready to talk about it?”

Sky rubbed her temple where a dull throbbing took up residency. “I’m doing what you alluded to that night after Pietro’s. I joined a group. It’s helpful. I’m trying to work it all out in my mind. My soul,” she added with a pained laugh. “I don’t know. I guess more than anything, I’m just really, really angry about everything that happened, and I have to find some way to release all this anger.”

“And to stop blaming yourself.”

She swallowed hard. “I don’t know if that’s gonna go away. Not when I’m constantly thinking about what could have gone wrong. Who could have been hurt that night at the ranch, other than me.”

“No one was hurt, darlin’.”

She nodded, though of course he couldn’t see it. “Anyway, I’ve got to go. Think about the joint custody. We can fill out the app together—although, I guess that would only make Caleb chuckle under his breath since you, he and Dalton are the ones who decide upon the new owners for each horse.”

“He’ll get a kick out of it.” The line was silent for a moment, then Sam said, “But it’s not necessary for me to file with you. Regardless of what physical arrangement we make with Midnight, you know we’ll grant you full ownership, right?”

Her breath caught. Her eyes squeezed shut. Then she said, “Thank you. I can’t tell you how much that means to me, Sam. I love that horse.”

I love you too.

The words echoing in her head took her by surprise. Sky said, “I’ve got to go now. Thanks for considering a setup on your property for the horse.”

“I want to keep talking, Sky. Maybe not tonight, but regularly.”

“I have to go, Sam.”

She disconnected the call. Pulling her legs up to her chest, her feet pressing against the cushion on the sofa, she rested her chin on a knee and gave serious thought as to what to do about Sam Bennett.

Then she made another call.

“Skylar Anne Travis,” her father said when he opened his front door and swept her into a bear hug. “What a wonderful surprise!”

Sky hung on tight, emotion washing over her. “Daddy. I’m so sorry it’s been so long since I visited.”

“You’re a busy girl.”

She pulled away and said, “Never too busy for family. From now on. I promise.” Turning to her sisters beside her on the porch, she added, “Macy and Morgan wanted to see you too. We’d like to meet Tara.” The new girlfriend. Although Sky suspected the relationship was more serious than her father had let on, since he’d been so nervous to unveil Tara and have everyone meet her, including his own sister, Ruby.

Bill Travis reached for her again and said in a low voice, “I’ve been so worried about you, Sky. Even when you’ve called to say you’re fine, I’ve been so concerned about you lately.”

“I know, Daddy.”

“Tara too,” he said. “She’s been ribbing me to take a trip to Wilder to see you, but you kept saying you were all right and I didn’t want to push too hard.”

“Daddy, it’s okay,” she insisted. “I’m getting through it all. I’ve learned that I can’t pretend it didn’t happen or that no one knows about it—I can’t hide out, hoping people will ignore it. I have to face the whole situation and find a way to move past what happened to me in Nashville and in Wilder.”

He squeezed her tighter.

“Daddy!” she squealed. “You’re crushing me!”

Immediately releasing her, he said, “Sorry. Sorry.” He cupped her cheeks with his hands and added, “This isn’t an easy thing for a father to deal with.”

“I know,” she said. “That’s why I’m here. To talk about it, so you can get past it too. I spent last night with Macy and Morgan. They’ve been upset as well. But we can deal with this as a family, right? Tara included?”

Through warm, watery brown eyes, he said, “You bet, kid. It’ll all be okay.”

Tears tumbled down Sky’s cheeks, but being with her family made her feel less off-kilter. They toured the house, she and her sisters selected guest rooms and spent the weekend. Sky hadn’t felt this close to her family since her mother had died, and though it was a tragedy that had brought them together, as was sometimes the case with families, she knew their bond had been strengthened by the outreach…and the acceptance on everyone’s side.

A week later, Sky had her first-ever Luckenbach singing debut. She hadn’t yet found that place inside herself where she could belt out the songs she’d recorded in Nashville, nor was her newer material ready for a live audience, so her set was based solely on the songs from her first CD. No one seemed to mind her performance didn’t include fresh and unexpected tunes. They sang along with her, danced, cheered and made her feel right at home—in Luckenbach tradition.

Her sisters were in attendance, as well as her father and Tara. Sky hadn’t told anyone other than them that she was performing. She needed to get a strong set down pat before she invited Reese and Caleb out.