“Just because you and I have had bad experiences doesn’t mean that all women are that way.”

  Caden stopped walking and turned to me. “Would you have married Caroline if she hadn’t been pregnant?”

  No one had ever asked me that question, but I knew plenty of people had wanted to over the years. My parents topping the list.

  I pushed a hand through my hair and looked down the aisle of the barn. The smell of horse manure and hay filled my nostrils. I wanted to close my eyes and take it in. Instead, I focused on my best friend again. The guy I’d told everything to my entire life.

  I let out a breath and shook my head. “No, I wouldn’t have. Truth be told, we probably would have broken up eventually. We were just two different people who wanted two different things in life when it came down to it.”

  “You told me that night you got wasted, when you found out Caroline was pregnant, that you were positive she got pregnant on purpose. How did you know?”

  My hand rubbed at the back of my neck as I looked into his eyes. “We were starting to grow apart, and she got paranoid that I was cheating on her at school. She later told me she panicked and stopped taking her birth control pills. Said it was the only way she could make sure we stayed together.”

  “She told you she got pregnant on purpose?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, after Rhett was born. Claimed she wanted to come clean about it and start fresh. I did love her, don’t get me wrong. Would I have asked her to marry without the pregnancy?” I shrugged. “I don’t think so, Caden. I really don’t, even though we had a lot of good times. And we weren’t planning on having any more kids. Brooke was a happy accident. Then things changed between us, but I didn’t think it was anything any other couple might experience. Until we started fighting all the time. I asked her for a divorce the day she got into the car accident. That’s what we were fighting about.”

  “Jesus. I’m sorry, Levi.”

  With a half shrug, I attempted a smile. “It’s not like it’s your fault.”

  “Yeah, but I knew she liked me way back when, and I kind of pushed her in your direction to get her off my back.”

  Smiling for real now, I replied, “I wouldn’t have Rhett or Brooke if you hadn’t done that.” A sudden pain pierced my heart. “Or at least, wouldn’t have had Brooke for the short amount of time that I did.”

  Caden drew in a deep breath and let it out. We heard voices and turned to see Mrs. Wilde, Caden’s mother, talking to his youngest sister, Emeline.

  A strange sensation filled my chest at the sight of the latter.

  “Just the person we were looking for!” Caden said, hitting me on the back and walking toward his sister.

  Emeline called out to her mother, then turned and stilled when she saw us. Her smile slowly fell, replaced by a look of shock.

  I hadn’t ever come across Caden’s sister on my trips back home to River Falls. She was either in college or off doing something whenever I was in town. Now, looking at her, I was stunned to see the young girl who used to chase us around the ranch, begging us to let her hang out, was now a grown woman. And a beautiful one at that.

  “Look who I found!” Caden stated.

  As we drew closer, I could see Emeline’s beautiful blue eyes sparkle.

  “Hey, Em.”

  Her cheeks turned a slight shade of pink as she watched us approach. “Levi! What are you doing here?” She closed her eyes and gave a brief shake of her head before focusing back on me and giving me a bright smile. “I mean, it’s wonderful to see you.”

  She stepped forward and hugged me. A strong smell of vanilla with a hint of lemon penetrated my senses, and memories of a younger Emeline flooded my mind. She’d always had a smile on her face, and if she wasn’t riding a horse, she was usually talking about them.

  After giving me a slight squeeze, she stepped back. “I was so sorry to hear about Brooke. I hope you and Caroline got my card.”

  I nodded. “We did. And the flowers at the memorial were kind of you.”

  “It was the least I could do. Are you and Caroline in town visiting your folks?”

  I shook my head. “I’ve moved back to River Falls.”

  Her brows shot up. “You have?” Turning to Caden, she said, “You didn’t mention anything about Levi moving back.”

  Caden held up his hands in defense. “I just found out not that long ago myself.”

  She smiled at her brother, then turned back to me. “So, what made you guys decide to move back?”

  Caden and I exchanged a quick look. “I just decided that Rhett and I needed a fresh start elsewhere, especially since he’s been having a difficult time adjusting to the loss of Brooke.”

  “You and Rhett?” she asked quietly.

  I nodded. “Caroline and I are divorcing.”

  She blinked a few times, opened her mouth to speak, then quickly shut it. When she didn’t say anything, Caden cleared his throat. That seemed to snap her out of her shock.

  “Wow, I…I’m so sorry to hear that.”

  Shrugging, I replied, “Don’t be. It’s harder on Rhett than it is on me. It’s been a long time coming.”

  Emeline looked at her brother, then back to me. “I just can’t imagine how difficult this is on poor Rhett. Will you share custody?”

  “That conversation would require more time, plus I wanted to talk to you about camp for Rhett. Are you free for lunch?”

  “Um,” she glanced at her watch, “I’ve got a few things to do, but I could join you guys.”

  Caden quickly piped up. “It’ll be just the two of you. I’ve got a meeting at one.”

  Her head snapped back to look at me, and for a moment, I thought for sure she was going to decline the lunch entirely. Instead, after a pause, she nodded. “Are you going to be around here for a bit longer, or should we meet somewhere in town?”

  “Caden asked me to come and take a look at a horse; so how about if I give you thirty minutes? Is that enough time?”

  “Which horse?” she asked her brother.

  Caden laughed and held up his hands once again. “Just want him to take a look at Aurora.” Before she could say anything else, he added, “Nothing’s wrong. Just with it being her first foal, I wanted to make sure all was okay.”

  “Caden, you do realize I’m in charge of this area of the ranch?”

  He grinned. “I do believe I’m still your boss.”

  Emeline rolled her eyes, and I had to look away before I laughed. Same stubborn Emeline…and Caden. They were two peas in a pod.

  She finally looked back at me.

  “Thirty minutes?” I asked again.

  “Yes,” she said with a smile. “Just come by and get me. This is my office.”

  She pointed to a room that used to be the tack room.

  “You’re not sharing your office space with the tack, are you?”

  Emeline let out a laugh, and it made my chest flutter. What in the hell was that about?

  “No, we moved the tack room. It’s just an office now.”

  I nodded and replied, “Then I’ll see you in a few.”

  “See you then.”

  Turning, she quickly headed into her office, shutting the door with a soft click.

  I pulled my eyes from the door and turned to Caden, who motioned for me to follow him. We went through the barn and turned a corner, and I heard a horse nickering.

  “That’s our Aurora. She’s the most vocal horse I’ve ever met.”

  I smiled. When we approached a stall, the horse looked up. One ear was forward, the other back, indicating her attention was divided at the moment.

  “Who’s in the next stall?” I asked.

  Caden looked at me. “How’d you know there was a horse in there?”

  “Well, there wasn’t one in the stall we passed, and Aurora here has her attention divided between us and something else. I’m guessing another horse next to her.”

  “There’s a mare in there with her three-day-old foal.”

  Pointing to the door, I asked, “May I?”

  “Yep,” Caden replied. “Please do.”

  Walking into the stall, I spoke in a soft voice. It didn’t take long for Aurora to give me her full attention. She was a sweet horse, and she nickered a few more times.

  “She is vocal.”

  “Told you.”

  “She’s eaten today?”

  “Yes.”

  I moved around her and took a good look from all sides. “She’s dropped, and her sides are sinking in a bit.” I moved to the back and attempted to lift her tail, to which she protested slightly. “Her tendons are getting looser, that’s a good sign.”

  Glancing under the horse, I took a look at her udders. I glanced at Caden and asked, “Do you have cameras in the stalls?”

  He frowned. “No, I honestly haven’t thought about adding any. I’ll have to talk to Emeline about it. She runs the equine part of the ranch, as she mentioned, so she knows the budget best, along with my mother.”

  “How many months have you known she’s been pregnant?”

  “Eleven months.”

  I nodded. “I know you know this, but once her water breaks, if she doesn’t birth the foal within twenty minutes, you need to give me a call. First-time moms may not exhibit any signs of labor, so I highly recommend using a camera. Also, I suggest getting the horse and foal in the next stall out. If Aurora is agitated by the noise from next door, she’ll hold off on her labor.”

  About two minutes later, Emeline walked up with Marshall. “Sorry to interrupt. We’re going to take Kamaria and Lynx out to give Aurora some privacy. She’s easily distracted, and I don’t want their presence to hinder her labor.”

  Caden smirked. “There’s a reason she’s in charge over here.”

  I chuckled. “Who names these horses?”

  Caden pointed in the direction of Emeline. “That would be my sister.”

  She glanced back and smiled. “Do you have an issue with Kamaria and Lynx’s names?”

  I held up my hands in surrender. “Not at all. They’re…unique.”

  Emeline brought the foal out first and started in the opposite direction from Aurora’s stall. “They’re all named after stars or constellations,” she stated, as she pointed up. “This is Kamaria.”

  “And Lynx?” I asked. “That’s a star?”

  “It’s a constellation. Mom named her.”

  I looked at Caden, who shrugged. “I’ve learned not to question or argue with my mother and sisters. They have a strange way of doing things, but it always works.”

  Marshall walked out with Lynx. “I like her name,” he said with a smile.

  “I’m sure you do, Marshall!” Caden laughed. He turned to me. “The princess now has her privacy.”

  I turned back and ran my hands down the mare’s neck. “There you go, girl. You have this whole side of the barn to yourself. Let that little one come out so you can get to feeling like your old self again.”

  Leaving the stall, I softly shut the door. Caden started walking in the direction Emeline had gone. “You’ve got to see this filly. She’s nuts.”

  “Aren’t they all?”

  We walked out to the indoor arena, where Emeline was just letting the filly off her lead.

  The young horse took off running around its mother with utter happiness. Lynx kept a close eye on Kamaria, and at one point, I swore she rolled her eyes. She was obviously a very protective mother, and she made it known to her foal that she wasn’t happy with her carefree behavior.

  I moved my gaze to Emeline, who smiled, watching the young one play and kick. I was struck by how beautiful Emeline was. Her brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and her body had definitely grown shapely over the years.

  With a quick shake of my head, I focused back on the horses.

  “She’s amazing,” Caden said.

  Looking at him, I asked, “Who?”

  He nodded in the direction of his sister. “Emeline. I always thought my mother and Ensley had the gift with horses, but after watching Emeline, it’s clear she’s more than just a horse lover. I swear she can read their minds. You should see her when one comes in from an abused or neglected situation, and no one else can even get near them. But Emeline, she just walks up to the horse and within no time at all, she’s running her hands all over them, making them feel safe. I don’t know how she does it.”

  “Natural horsemanship. Or as some call it, a horse whisperer.”

  Caden smiled. “Well, that’s Emeline, for sure. She’s got a gift.”

  I turned my attention away from his sister and asked, “How’s the cattle side of the ranch? Any issues?”

  He shook his head. “All good. We’ve started to push the last of the cattle up the mountainside for grazing. We’ve gotten one harvest of hay, and plan on doing another cut on the south pasture once we get the cattle off.”

  I glanced back at Emeline, only to find her laughing with a guy I hadn’t ever seen before. “Who’s that?”

  “That’s Jon. He’s one of the new ranch hands we hired this year,” Caden answered, looking in the same direction.

  “He’s young.”

  His shoulder lifted with a shrug. “He’s twenty-eight, if I remember correctly. I think he has the hots for Emeline.”

  I looked back at Caden. “And you’re okay with one of the ranch hands flirting with her?”

  He burst out laughing. “I do not tell my sister what she can and cannot do. Either of them, actually. Besides, I trust our guys, and I know my sister. She makes sure the ranch hands know she keeps her business and her private lives separate.”

  We both turned to see Emeline laugh again and put a hand on Jon’s arm. As if sensing us watching her, she turned and glanced our way, instantly dropping her hand. She tilted her head as if questioning why we were looking at her.

  Turning, I started back for the barn. “If you don’t need me to take a look at anyone else, I should give my mom a call and see how Rhett’s doing.”

  “No, just Aurora. I’m sure I’ll hear it from Emeline that I went around her to have you come out, but I wanted to play it safe. She’s one of my favorite mares.”

  I smiled. “I get it.”

  “When will you start officially at the vet clinic?”

  “I’d like to get settled in with Rhett first. It’s going to be hard to find a place, so I need to get it into my head that I could possibly be with my folks for a while. I told my dad to give me about three weeks. That affords me some time to find someone to watch Rhett while I’m at work. I don’t want to depend on my mother all the time. I’m hoping he can meet some kids before school starts in the fall, so he feels like he fits in more. That’s why I want to talk to Emeline about camp. I know it’s for underprivileged kids, but I was hoping I could get a pass.”

  Caden nodded. “Well, if he comes to one of the camps, I’m sure he’ll meet a few kids his age. I’m not sure if they have any open spots, and I’ll be the first to admit, I have no idea how Emeline runs the camps. But I know they have different age groups. The camps have actually gotten smaller over the last few years. The need isn’t there as much as it was in the beginning, which is a good thing.”

  “Yeah, I figured they might be full. I know it’s last minute, but I’m hoping I can pull the whole your-brother-is-my-best-friend card to see if she’ll get me in.”

  He laughed. “I don’t think you need that card. From what I remember, my baby sister always had a crush on you.”

  I stopped in my tracks and gaped at him. “What?”

  He narrowed his eyes and gave me a look. “Come on, Levi. You can’t tell me you never realized she liked you.”

  I glanced back at Emeline, who was now talking to Marshall, a serious expression on her face. “I had no idea she had a crush on me.”

  He frowned, looking bemused. “I thought that was why you always went out of your way to be nice to her.”

  “No. I just thought she was a sweet girl, and I liked her.”

  His brow raised.

  “In a brotherly way, Caden.” His brow went a little higher. “Okay, maybe not in a brotherly way toward the end. It was hard not to notice her once she got into high school.”

  He smirked. “Well, I highly doubt she’s still crushing on you. But I’m glad I told you.”

  Confused, I asked, “Why?”

  Laughing, he simply shook his head.

  Before I could press the issue, Vivianne, Caden’s mother, appeared at the other end of the barn entrance and smiled at us.

  “Levi Turner, what in the world?”

  I smiled. “Hello, Mrs. Wilde.”

  She waved me off. “Call me Vivianne; how many times do I have to tell you that? I practically raised you as one of my own!”

  Laughing, I gave her a quick hug.

  Caden spoke next. “Levi and Rhett have moved back to River Falls.”

  Vivianne smiled, but I could see the confusion in her eyes. “Caroline?”

  “Divorced. Well, about to be, anyway. Just waiting for her to sign and send the papers to my lawyer.”

  She gently squeezed my arm. “I’m sorry to hear that, Levi. And I know I said it at the funeral, but I’m even more sorry about Brooke.”

  “Thank you, Mrs…er…Vivianne. And no need to be sorry about me and Caroline. It’s been a long time coming.”

  “Will you share custody of Rhett?”

  I shook my head. “No, I have full custody. Caroline gave up custody, but has visiting rights, of course.”

  A look of surprise washed over her face. “She gave up custody?”

  “The accident impacted Caroline in a pretty big way. I told her if she ever changes her mind, we can open it up for discussion, but that once we moved to River Falls and Rhett started school, this is where she’d have to live.”

  “I’m sure it was an unbelievably terrible thing to lose a child like that, for both of you.”

  When I didn’t say anything, she went on.

  “What about Mitch? Has he seen Rhett since you’ve been back?”

  Mitch was Caroline’s father. I nodded. “He has. With him getting ready to retire early, he probably hasn’t had a chance to let Ladd know we were back in town.”

  Vivianne smiled. “I’m sure that’s it.”

  We both knew what I said was a lie. Mitch and Ladd were not only business partners, but best friends. Yes, Mitch was several years older than Ladd, but they still spoke every single day.