Summer's Desire (23 page)

“
Oh no, she is pure evil.
Hopefully
,
Jonas will get over it. He’s such a nice man
He’s
a retired
soldier
you know.” She
hugged him tighter.

“ Yes I do
know
. Is he n
icer
than me?”

She laid her
head on his chest before answering. It was all too hard. Of course Holden was
nicer but it wouldn’t be right to lead him on. Her future lay elsewhere.
The family needed time alone to heal and she wasn’t part of the family.
Her stomach clenched as a lump formed in her throat. She didn’t
know what to say, so she said nothing. Remembering the feel of his arms around
her, and the way he smelled of soap and leather was imperative. She needed to
remember so she
’
d have something to hold on to when she left.

She wished
she was brave enough to tell him of her decision. She had enough money saved to
take her pretty far and she’d talk to Rolly about listing the Bar and Grill for
sale. The rest of her inheritance would be deposited in her account within the
month. Holden’s strong hands rubbed her back. Little did he know he was
comforting her for the decision she’d made to leave. Her body ached to make
love to him one more time, but it wouldn’t be fair to him. Finally, she felt
him relax and his breathing became even. It took everything inside her to leave
the comfort of his embrace. She choked back a sob and covered her mouth with
her hand. Quickly and quietly
,
she packed a few of her belongings. She could buy new things
later, she couldn’t take a chance on Holden waking up.

Taking on
last look at him was a mistake. He looked so serene and his hair fell over his
brow enticing her to brush it back, but she resisted the urge. She tiptoed out
of the room and down the stairs.

“Leaving?”
Matt asked.

Summer’s
heart sank. “Yes. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine,
Summer. Everything around here has been pretty messed up lately.”

“No, it’s not
fine but it’s for the best. You and your brothers need to heal.”

Matt nodded. “Does
Holden know?”

“No, I’m
taking the coward’s way out. I want you to have a new beginning.”

“I’m going to
miss you. Come back when you figure out that your new beginning is here with
us.”

Tears poured
down her face as she nodded. There was nothing left to say. She slowly opened
the front door and quietly closed it behind her. Her life was in pieces and she
wasn’t sure how’d she go on from here but she didn’t have a choice. She got
into her car and drove away.

*
*
*
*

Waking with
the sun, Holden hopped out of bed. It was nice to wake up in Summer’s bed. He
planned to propose to her and they’d wake up together every morning. She was
his heart and it was time that she knew it. Now that their problems were behind
them, they could work on their relationship.

He was
surprised to see Matt sitting at the kitchen table looking as though he lost
his best friend. He hope
d
it wasn’t something to do with Mindy Sue. He’d hoped that they
would be happy together. Young love could be fickle.

Holden pulled
back one of the kitchen chairs and sat across from Matt. “Woman problems?”

Matt’s eyes
were bloodshot as though he hadn’t slept. “You could say that. Holden, Summer
left last night.”

He felt gut
kicked and it suddenly became hard to breath. “What are you talking about?”

Matt shook
his head morosely. “She said we needed to heal and she wanted us to have a new
beginning.”

“Anything
else?”

“Yeah, she
was crying something awful. I don’t think she wanted to leave.”

Holden ran
his fingers through his hair. Was it all women or only the ones he got mixed up
with? Damn, he never should have trusted her to stay. “I’ll go over to Caleb’s
and talk to her.”

“I don’t
think she’s there. I think she left town.” Matt’s eyes grew moist.

“Well, that’s
that. I guess I better make some coffee and then breakfast.” Holden tried to
act as though his heart wasn’t breaking. He had too much to do and his brothers
were going to be upset.

How he got
through the day, he’d never know. Mark didn’t say much, he just spent his day
in the barn. Luke was pissed as hell and he kept muttering about liars. John
cried a
n
d
Holden wish
ed
he could have cried with him. That wasn’t an option. He was their
rock and he had to be strong. The house seemed empty without her. He expected
to see her at every turn. Loneliness pumped through his veins.

Finally,
everyone went to bed. Holden sat on the front porch in the dark. Her betrayal
was too much to b
are
. As he remembered their last moments together he wondered if she
had already planned to leave. How long ago had she made the decision?
A
complete ass is what he was. He’d been planning a life together and she’d been
planning her escape. It hurt bone deep and he was at a loss as to how to deal
with his pain. Peering up into the night sky, he wondered how they would get
through the next few days.

*
*
*
*

Holden was
weary. It had been almost a week since Summer had left and things hadn’t gotten
any easier. He worried about her. A for sale sign now hung in the front window
of the bar and grill. Somehow that made the whole situation real for him. On
top of that Mrs. Ruth refused to take Mrs. Grady’s chickens. It had something
to do with someone winning first prize with a pie. All he knew was that he had
to take the chickens out to Stone McCoy’s place. He had an empty chicken coop.

It wasn’t a long drive to Stone’s place, and when he arrived, Stone was
outside waiting for him.

“I wouldn’t
worry, Holden,” Stone told him
as
he helped put the chickens in his coop
. “These biddies
will want their chicken
s
back in a day or two. By the way when are you going after your
woman?”

“She left,
end of story.”

“Oh hell,
Holden, sometimes you have to go after the prize and from what I know of Summer
she is the best prize for you. Have you seen how that little gal looks at you?
She loves you, swallow your damn cowboy pride and go get her.”

Holden
shrugged his shoulders “If she wanted me she would have stayed.

“Well, I
heard she left to give you a new beginning and she was crying when she left.”

Holden gave
Stone a hard glare. “Who’d you hear that from?”

Stone
grinned. “Your brother, Matt. I called to see how you were. I can only tell you
that I have a past love that I’d give anything to be able to find. You just
have to drive to the next town. Cherry Street I believe, the house with the
blue shutters.”

 
“You know something Stone, you’re a real pain
in the ass. Thanks, I have a drive to make.” Holden jumped into the driver’s
seat of his truck and gunned the engine. He was headed for Cherry Street.

*
*
*
*

Summer glanced
around her rented house and sighed. There was one nice thing about living in a
new town, no one knew her. The one bad thing about living in a new town was the
loneliness. She’d been waiting for the air conditioner technician to come. The
heat was brutal and no matter what she did, she couldn’t stop perspiring. Any
other day, she’d go and sit in a cool café, instead of sweltering. Good thin
g
it was a month to
month lease, she couldn’t imagine staying here permanently. Once she received
the money for her inheritance she’d be able to afford something much nicer. She’d
been looking for a job, applying everywhere she could. She thought that the
bartending job would probably come through. It wasn’t easy without references.
Paul was dead and she didn’t want anyone to call the O’Leary’s place. She
needed a clean break from them. They were ever on her mind, especially Holden.
He most likely hated her now for sneaking away in the night. He wouldn’t
understand, hell, she wasn’t sure she understood the whole thing. Summer longed
to go back but she refused to be a detriment to those boys.

She wondered
if Holden had taken them to get back to school clothes or if Matt had his cast
off yet. She still had nightmares and checked and rechecked the doors and
windows at night. Pouring herself a glass of iced tea she put the cold glass
against her forehead hoping it would cool her. She heard a truck pull up and
put the glass on the counter and hurried to the door. She quickly opened it and
was stunned to see Holden.

Her heart squeezed
painfully. “What? How? You’re here.”

He stared at
her as though he was trying to memorize her face. His Adam’s apple bobbed up
and down. “Stone knew where you were staying.” He continued to stare.

His black
hair was longer, and he had
circles
under his eyes
. He seemed suddenly hesitant as though
he realized he made a mistake in coming. She half expected him to turn and
leave. Tears formed in her eyes as she realized just how much she loved him. Holden
leaned down and put his lips against hers. He kissed his way to her hear
t
. “Don’t cry, it
breaks my heart to see you cry.”

Summer pulled
back. “It does? It breaks your heart?”

He drew her
into a bear hug and rocked her back and forth for a minute. “I love you.”

“I’m no good
for you.
But y
ou
love me? Really?”
Summer pulled back to see his eyes. They were filled with love, real love.
Tears poured down her face faster. “I didn’t think, I didn’t know…”

“I never told
you and I should have. I thought you knew how I felt and I prayed that you felt
the same.”

Summer nodded
her head. “I do love you and that’s why I left. I’m no good for your family. As
soon as the boys go to school, they’ll be outcasts because of me. I couldn’t
bear that.”

“Honey, there
are only two people in town that might still have something to say about you,
but they have something to say about everyone in the town. Nothing has been
right since you left, hell Mrs.
Grandy
and Mrs. Ruth
won’t share the chickens, Yukon has been moping. Luke thinks it’s his fault and
John is lost without you.”

“I don’t
know, Holden.”

“Why is it so
damn hot in here?”

“The air
doesn’t work.”

“Summer
please grab your things
.
I want you home with me. I can’t sleep at night worrying about
you, missing you. Honey, I love you so damn much.” He put his hands on the
sides of her face, framing it. “I wouldn’t care if the whole town was talking
about you. I’m empty without you.”

She bit her
lip wondering what to do.

“Summer, I
want us to have a life together. I know it’s asking a lot with my four brothers
and all but I want you to be my wife. I want—”

“Yes! I love
you too. I have for a very long time. I thought I was doing you a favor by
leaving, but I just made both of us miserable. I love your brothers
and
you once said
that you were a package deal. I happen to love the whole package.”

“Excuse me, I
hate to interrupt and all but do you still want the air fixed?” They had been
so lost in each other, they didn’t notice the repairman.

“Hell, yes.
I’d hate for the next tenant to swelter to death. I’ll show you where it is.”

The repairman
laughed. “I already know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to repair that old
thing and it probably won’t be the last.”

Summer turned
to Holden. “I can be packed in no time. I seem to travel light.” She started
toward the bedroom. “What about my car? Should I follow you?”

“No, honey. I
want you with me. I’ll send someone to come pick it up.”

His answer
ignited her heart.

Epilogue

Summer and Holden stood
arm in arm watching the beautiful Montana sunset. It was the end of summer and
fall would be coming soon. Holden had proposed again, this time with a
beautiful diamond ring. Summer’s heart melted every time she looked at it. She
breathed in the clean air and smiled. Coming back had been the right choice for
everyone. Matt finally got his cast removed and became a real leader to his
brothers, teaching them about training horses.

“So, Mrs.
Grandy
has the chickens now?” she asked, then chuckled. “It
took a while for them to get over their fight.”

“You don’t mess with
someone’s prize winning pie recipe nor do you borrow
it. Stone was glad to see the chickens
gone. Rolly called; he found a buyer for your bar and grill. Some woman named
Autumn bought it.”