Page 26 of Coming Up Roses
I glance across at the barn. No sign of Abigail, Sadie and Katie. I’m surprised because I didn’t see them out on the farm. I’d have thought we would cross paths on my way back in from feeding out to the Herefords. Maybe they went somewhere else, though I can’t think where they could have gone that I wouldn’t see them.
I climb out of the cab, dropping to the gravel with a satisfying thud. My farm duties are done for the day and now I have most of the morning and an entire afternoon to do whatever it is I want. The problem is, I don’t knowwhatI want to do.
I should go home and clean. The bathroom is in dire need ofit and I need to repair a dodgy piece of timber on the front porch steps. But my bike is sitting right there and because I’m never going to pick housework and chores over a ride, I stride over to it and wheel it towards my ute.
A quick ride and I’ll come back and be responsible.
Movement near the paddock catches my eye. Aurora and Scout are just inside the gate of their paddock. Someone with a head of dark hair is between them.
There’s only one person here with hair that dark.
Abigail.
I watch as she slips the halters off both horses and gives them a final pat before she heads back into the barn. I glance at the next paddock over. Paddy isn’t where he should be.
What is going on here?
I kick down the bike stand and once it’s stable, head straight for the barn. Did Katie and Sadie not show up? But if that was the case, I don’t think Abigail would have taken the horses out of the paddock. She seemed content to wait when I was here earlier.
I stride across the yard and pause in the barn door. Paddy, Henry’s old gelding, is tethered to the railing we get the horses ready at. Abigail is leaning against him, her arms wrapped around his neck and her face pressed into his mane. Her fingers are knotted in his thick, dark mane and she lets out a low keening sound, almost like an injured animal.
“Abigail?” I ask, taking a tentative step forward.
She jerks violently, spinning away from the horse towards me.
Tears streak down her cheeks and at the sight of me she lets out a broken sob.
“Abigail.” I race towards her, instinctively wrapping my arms around her and pulling her into my chest. “Shit. What happened?”
Abigail doesn’t speak, she just shakes her head and presses her face into my worn-out old t-shirt. I should start wearing something a little nicer if I’m going to have hot women pressing themselves against me. Fucking hell Flynn, now is not the time forthosethoughts.
Abigail’s arm is wrapped around my waist, her other hand gripping my shirt, fingers tight in the fabric like they were in Paddy’s mane when I first walked in here.
I hold her close while she cries, one hand cradling her head, and I wait, murmuring soft words against her hair.
Her sobs peter out and when they do, I can feel the moment she realises how wrapped up in me she is. Her whole body tenses and she tries to pull away.
I don’t let go. “What happened?” I say softly against her temple.
Abigail sighs and softens against me again. I want to melt into her. I want to take away all this pain. She shakes her head against my chest.
“Why aren’t you riding?”
“Sadie tripped over,” Abigail whispers. “Katie took her home.”
“Is Sadie okay?”
“I think so,” Abigail says, leaning back in my arms to look up at me. She isn’t trying to run away this time, so I release my holda little to allow the movement. “A few grazes, but Katie didn’t seem too worried.”
I don’t understand why she’s this upset. Sadie trips at least once a week and Abigail doesn’t even seem particularly concerned about Sadie’s safety. If it’s just a few grazes and Katie isn’t worried, then I don’t understandthisreaction.
Abigail’s vivid green eyes are staring up at me, still filled with tears. I manage to keep my mouth shut, to stop myself asking why she’s this upset. It’s a fight, but I manage it.
“I—I froze,” Abigail whispers. “Sadie went down and I just … I panicked. I don’t know what happened.”
“You had another panic attack?” I ask and while I ask it like a question, it isn’t really one.
“Yeah … I guess I did.” She tips her head forward, her forehead coming to rest on my collarbone. “I haven’t had one in so long.”
