Chapter 17
Sage
Springs. Y’all Come Back Now!
Leaving town this time is just as hard; knowing I’m leaving on good terms helps a little.
To calm my heart, I used the Bluetooth and call Colt.
“Hey, baby. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, just passed the leaving Rock Springs sign and had some flashbacks. I just needed to hear your voice. Remind myself this isn’t like last time.”
“Well, I’m always a phone call away, and I’ll be here waiting when you get back. Just try to make it sooner rather than later.”
I laugh.
“I just passed the city limits, and I’m wanting to turn around. I can promise there will be nothing stopping me from getting back to you.”
“Tell me about Abby.”
I smile. “The night I left, I drove all night, and my first stop was Memphis. I pulled in at daybreak and stopped at this cute little B&B. The lady who checked me in was Grace, Abby’s mom. Her parents ran the B&B. I had planned to stay a few nights to see Graceland and explore a bit. Because of them, I stayed a month. Their housekeeper was on maternity leave, so I filled the spot and got my room and meals for free.”
“You took many odd jobs on the road.” I can hear the smile in Colt’s voice.
“I wanted to save my money, so anytime I could work for my room, I took it. It’s how I made so many friends. Abby is a sweet girl and an only child. Her parents have no family, so the B&B falls to her. But the church her family belonged to has super-strict rules. They don’t think she can own the property without being married. From what I’ve learned, they will try to force her to marry. She wants out. Her parents were letting her find someone out of the church to marry. They would never force her, but the church will.”
“Sage, is it going to be safe for you there?”
“I have a conceal and carry permit in Tennessee, and I brought my gun. It won’t get that far, Colt. The church is used to a submissive woman. I scare them, and they don’t want anything to do with me. Once I’m there, we will take care of everything, then pack her up and bring her home so she can plan her next steps on her own.”
“What about the B&B?”
“Abby doesn’t want to run it. It was her mom’s dream, but she isn’t interested. They have a few standing offers on it, so we’ll look at closing it. Her parents were older and had everything set up to make this easy on Abby.”
“What does Abby want to do?”
“She wants to be a midwife, and the church approved because she could be the church midwife. That’s not what she wants. She wants out of the church and those rules, but she’s still very conservative. I don’t think she’ll want to live on her own.”
“Well, you know everyone will welcome her here.”
“Yeah, and I’d love for her to stay, but I don’t think she’ll be happy here. She isn’t a country girl. She likes people for the most part. I’ve been racking my brain. I know a family in Arkansas. They’re a larger family and conservative like her, but they aren’t strict. Their church is a good one. Once she gets settled, I’m thinking of taking her up there to see how they fit. Maybe she could stay with them. She’d be happier, I think.”
There’s a pause in the conversation before Colt speaks again.
“I miss you already, Sage.”
“I miss you too, Colt. I plan to drive straight through. Can we video chat when I get in? It will be late though.”
“Call me any time. I’ll always answer. I always want to hear your voice and see you. I love you, Sage. You be careful.”
“I love you too. And I promise I will.”
When we hang up, I crank up the music and try to enjoy the drive on the open road as I used to all those years ago
I pull into the B&B around six a.m. and just take it all in. The memories of the first time I walked through that door, the fun and laughter that filled its walls, and the pain of walking away when I did.
I climb the steps to the large wraparound porch of the white 1850s home. That was the start of my journey all those years ago.
Before I even get the chance to get to the door, Abby meets me with a huge hug she and her mamma are famous for. It feels like home even though I haven’t been here in years.
“Sage, I’m so glad you’re here. I didn’t know who else to call.”
I hug her back just as tight. “Well, I’m here, and we’ll get through this. I think time is a factor. The quicker we can take care of everything and get you back to the ranch, the better. You can mourn there, okay?”
She nods. “I’ve been so scared, I haven’t had time to mourn.”
“We need to look at their will and what legal rights we have. The biggest thing will be to get this place sold. You sure you still want to do that?”
“I love this place, but yes, I have no interest in running it. The couple I want to sell too had their honeymoon here and have returned once or twice a year. They love the place as much as my mom did. More than I do. They’ll be here tomorrow.”
“Perfect. Let’s get inside. I need to let my family know I made it, and I need a few hours of sleep.”
“I thought maybe you would share my room again?”
I smile. “I’d love to. I know I wouldn’t want to be alone.”
She gets me set up, and I get ready to sleep for a bit and do a video call to Colt.
“Hey, you make it in okay?” he answers in a groggy voice. He’s still lying in bed and looks sexy as hell with his sleepy face and hair tousled. It sends a jolt south seeing him like this. My panties are soaked instantly.
What I wouldn’t give to be there with him right now and wrap my arms around him and pull him on top of me…
I need to stop this train of thought. It won’t make my time here any easier, and it’s making me miss him even more. It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours yet.
“Yeah. I talked with Abby a little and just got to my bed. I’ll be catching just a few hours of sleep when we get off the phone.”
“I couldn’t sleep without you here. I tried to sleep in my own bed but gave up and came to your room. You don’t mind, do you?”
I groan. “Thinking of you in my bed will make it even harder to sleep. But, Colt, wouldn’t you say that it’s our bed now?”
His smile lights up his whole face. “Damn right it is.” Then I watch his face grow with heat. “What are you wearing, baby?”
I laugh. “Nothing sexy.” I pan the phone down. I’m in one of his shirts and a pair of sleep shorts.
“You look damn good in my shirt.”
I laugh. “I miss you, Colt.”
“I miss you too, Sage. I should have gone with you. I didn’t think it would be this hard.”
“We meet with Abby’s parents’ attorney later today, and the couple that wants to buy the B&B will be in tomorrow. We need to make funeral arrangements, and I will text you soon as I know anything.”
“Okay, call me before bed?”
“Video call, I promise.”
“Love you, Sage. Be safe.”
“Love you to, Colt. I will be.”
Despite how much I miss Colt, sleep pulls me under soon as I close my eyes.