Love At First Sight (Southern Bride 1)

He nodded. “I will too.”

“Mike, you stay here in case she comes back…call me,” I said. He nodded.

Gage and I rushed to the main barn.

“Who do you want?” he asked as we stepped in. This was just one of a few different barns the Parkers had on their ranch. Chloe’s grandfather kept his prized horses in this one, along with the horses the family rode often.

“I don’t care. Just give me a fast one,” I said.

Gage brought over Walter, a blue roan. I started to take him out of the barn. “Dude! Walter has never been ridden bareback. At least put some reins on him.”

I let out a frustrated groan as Gage handed me the reins. I slipped the bit into his mouth, threw the reins over his neck, then jumped on him when we got out of the barn.

“Call me if you find her,” I said, looking back at Gage who was saddling up a horse.

“Same. I texted Dad that we were here, so he knows we’re looking, too.”

I kicked Walter, and he took off. If I knew Chloe, I knew exactly where she’d gone.

Racing across the pastures, I cursed myself for not being honest with her that day she told me she wanted more. For giving up on trying to talk to her. For not telling her I loved her when she stood in her dad’s office and said she was marrying that asshole. I’d never hated myself like I did in that moment.

When I rounded the bend, I saw her horse. Letting out a sigh, I brought Walter down to a trot. The old hunters’ cabin was where Chloe’s Aunt Amelia used to write a lot of her romance novels. She now only released a book or two a year, and the cabin pretty much sat empty. Chloe and I would come here and talk for hours when either of us needed to get away.

I slid off Walter and tossed the reins over his neck, allowing him to graze with Chloe’s horse, Lizzy.

Slowly, I opened the door and found Chloe sitting on the chair. It was a small cabin with the bedroom in a separate room. The living, dining, and kitchen were all one giant space. It was dusty and looked like no one had been here in years. The last time anyone had been here was probably the night I almost told Chloe her how I felt about her before we left for college.

“Chloe Cat?”

Her head lifted, and she started to cry harder. “You found me.”

With a small smile, I nodded. “I made you a promise I would be here for you.”

She started to cry harder and made her way over to me. When she wrapped her arms around me, I held her tight.

“It’s okay, princess. It’s okay.”

“He’s gone, Rip. He’s gone.”

I ran my hand up and down her back as she sobbed into my chest. There was nothing I hated more than hearing her cry. I wanted to take her pain from her. Any way I could.

“I’m here. I’m right here.”

Her legs felt like they were giving out, so I reached down and lifted her. She buried her face into my chest as I walked over and sat down on the small couch. I held her, letting her get it all out. When she couldn’t cry anymore, she lifted her head and our eyes met. My heart felt like it did a full somersault.

“I’m so sorry he’s gone, Chloe.”

Her chin trembled as her gaze moved across my face. It landed back on my eyes.

“You came. You actually came.”

“Of course, I did. I promised you.”

The corner of her mouth lifted slightly. “Thank you.”

I brushed away her tears with my thumb.

She swallowed hard and closed her eyes as she spoke. “I made it in time. I was with him when he passed. It was like he…was w-waiting for me.”

More tears slipped free and rolled down her cheeks. I used both thumbs to wipe her face again. “He loved you just as much as you loved him, Chloe.”

With a nod, she pulled in a deep, cleansing breath, then exhaled. The warmth of her breath on my face had my insides pulsing with the need to kiss her. Make her forget this moment. Make her forget Easton. Make her mine.

Chloe cleared her throat. “I’m sure everyone is worried.”

“Your dad, Gage, and Trevor were out looking for you.”

Her eyes met mine again. “How did you know I would be here?”

I shrugged. “I know you probably better than you know yourself.”

Her lips pressed tightly together before she gave me a sweet smile. “I guess you do.”

Chloe wrapped her arms around her body. “I needed to be alone for a few minutes. Come to terms with the fact that I’ll never see him again.”

“That’s understandable.”

She nodded.

“I texted Gage to let him know I found you. He said he would let his dad and Trevor know. I think they were all heading back to the house.”