24. Melody

24

MELODY

A s I stepped onto the familiar path leading to the barn, the gentle sound of hooves on gravel echoed in my ears, a soothing reminder of the life I had built alongside Stephanie. The sun illuminated the vibrant hues of the wildflowers that had stubbornly pushed their way through the cracked earth.

This place had become my sanctuary, a refuge from the chaos of my past. I had come to the ranch seeking shelter from a storm. In the process, I had found not only safety, but a family in Stephanie.

In the beginning, I had kept my distance, reluctant to share the scars of my history. But Stephanie had a way of making me feel at home without pressing for answers. She respected my silence, never prying too deep. Allowing me to reveal my truths at my own pace. It was one of her greatest qualities—the ability to nurture without suffocating, to support without demanding. As a result, I blossomed like the wildflowers around me, gradually shedding the weight of my past and learning to embrace the present.

But as the weeks turned into months, I couldn't help but notice the shadow that had settled over Stephanie. She was usually a beacon of light, radiating warmth and positivity, but now her laughter was less frequent and her eyes held a depth of sorrow that I couldn't ignore. There was an emptiness in her gaze, a silence that spoke louder than words. I could sense that something was off, and that the walls she had built around her heart were slowly closing in.

I worried for her, and after a while, a sense of urgency washed over me. I needed to help Stephanie, to break through the invisible barrier that had formed between us. It was hard to watch someone so vibrant become a shell of her former self, and I was determined to do whatever it took to bring her back to life.

"Hey, Steph!" I called out as I entered the barn, spotting her leaning against the stall door, deep in thought. The soft whicker of the horses welcomed me as I approached, and I felt a flutter of hope that perhaps today would be different.

She turned at the sound of my voice, her lips curling into a faint smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Hey, Melody. Just . . . thinking," she replied, her voice carrying a weight I hadn't heard before.

I took a step closer, concern etched across my face. "Is everything okay? You've seemed a bit . . . off lately. You know I'm here if you want to talk, right?"

She hesitated, the flicker of vulnerability passing through her features before she masked it with a shrug. "Yeah, I know. Just . . . a lot on my mind, I guess." Her words were a gentle reminder of her

usual reluctance to share. I felt a pang of frustration mixed with empathy.

"Stephanie, you don't have to carry the world on your shoulders alone. Whatever it is, I'm here. You don't have to pretend to be strong for me." I stepped closer, hoping to bridge the distance between us.

For a moment her facade cracked, and I caught a glimpse of the turmoil swirling beneath the surface. "It's just . . . everything with Ashlyn. It's complicated," she finally admitted, her voice barely

above a whisper.

The mention of Ashlyn sent a rush of understanding through me. I had witnessed the bond they shared, and how the love that was supposed to be a lifeline had somehow turned into a source of pain.

"What happened? You can talk to me," I urged gently, my heart aching for her.

Stephanie sighed, running a hand through her hair in a gesture of frustration. "I don't know, Mel. I thought everything was perfect, but now it feels like it's all falling apart." Her voice trembled slightly. "I've always believed in love, but now I'm starting to see it differently. Humans are predators, Mel. They take what they want and leave behind a mess for someone else to clean up."

I reached for her hand, squeezing it tightly as I met her gaze. "You're not a victim, Stephanie.

You've fought so hard to build this place, to create something beautiful. Just like I have. We can't let others define who we are or what we believe in."

She nodded slowly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I want to believe that, but it's hard when someone you care about hurts you. Lies to you."

"Maybe it's time to confront her," I suggested gently. "Sometimes the hardest conversations lead to the most important truths. You deserve clarity and so does Ashlyn."

Stephanie remained quiet, her mind clearly racing with thoughts. The weight of her worries was palpable and I knew I had to stand by her side, to remind Stephanie of the strength that resided within her.

"I'm with you, no matter what. Just remember that," I added, squeezing her hand one more time before releasing it.

As I watched her gaze drift back toward the horses, I silently vowed to support Stephanie through whatever lay ahead. She had pulled me from the shadows of my past and now it was my turn to help her find her way back to the light. The ranch was our sanctuary. Together, we would weather whatever storm came our way, one step at a time.

I arrived at the small café early, choosing a table by the window where I could keep an eye on the street. My heart was heavy with the weight of the conversation I knew was coming. I had seen Stephanie's pain, the way she had withdrawn into herself after Ashlyn had left. I hated seeing her like that—so closed off, so distant from the person I knew.

And now, sitting here, waiting for Ashlyn, I felt a mix of emotions. Part of me wanted to protect Stephanie, to shield her from more hurt, but another part of me believed that everyone deserves a chance to tell their story.

When Ashlyn walked through the door, I almost didn't recognize her. The striking beauty that had once captivated so many was still there, but it was hidden beneath layers of hurt, tiredness, and

something that looked like deep-seated loneliness. Her face was pale and drawn below her cowboy hat. Her hair looked like shit. She carried herself with a weight I hadn't seen before. As she approached the table, I could see the desperation in her eyes.

"Melody," she said softly, her voice tinged with exhaustion as she slid into the seat across from me. "Thank you for meeting me."

I nodded, taking in her appearance. Her hair, usually so perfectly styled, hung limply around her face. Dark circles shadowed her eyes and there was a hollowness to her cheeks that spoke of sleepless nights and endless worry. This wasn't the Ashlyn I had first met—the confident, vibrant, almost intimidating woman who had won Stephanie's heart.

This was someone broken, someone who had lost her way.

"Of course," I replied, my tone careful and measured. "But let's be clear from the start, Ashlyn. I'm not here to plead your case to Stephanie."

Her eyes widened and I saw the flicker of hope in them dim slightly. "I—" she began, but I held up a hand, stopping her.

"I mean it," I said firmly. "This isn't about me convincing Stephanie to give you another chance. She's been through a lot, and I won't do anything that could hurt her more than she already has been."

Ashlyn looked down at her hands, which were trembling slightly. For a moment, she didn't say anything. I could see her trying to compose herself. When she finally looked up at me, her eyes were filled with a raw, desperate need.

"I know I messed up," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know I hurt her, and it kills me to think that I might have lost her for good. But Melody, please—if I could just talk to her, explain everything . . . "

There it was, the pleading I had been expecting. I could see the regret etched into every line of her face, but I couldn't let myself be swayed by it. Stephanie was my priority, and I needed to be sure that this was the right thing to do.

"Ashlyn," I said, my voice softening just a fraction, "I'm not going to make any promises. But I do believe that everyone deserves a chance to tell their side of the story. If you're willing to be honest with her, to really lay it all out there, I'll arrange for you to come to the ranch and talk to Stephanie. But you have to promise me something."

She nodded quickly, relief washing over her features. "Anything," she said, the desperation in her voice unmistakable.

"I need you to promise that you'll be honest. No more secrets, no more half-truths. Stephanie deserves to know everything, and she deserves to hear it from you. And more than that, I need you to promise that you'll be the woman I know you can be. Not just for her, but for yourself. You have to be better than the person who hurt her."

Ashlyn swallowed hard, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I promise, Melody," she said, her voice trembling. "I'll be honest with her, and I'll do whatever it takes to make things right."

I studied her for a long moment, searching her face for any sign of deceit. But all I saw was sincerity and a deep regret that seemed to emanate from her very soul. I wanted to believe her. I wanted to believe that people could change. That Ashlyn could be the woman Stephanie needed her to be.

"Okay," I finally said, leaning back in my chair. "I'll talk to Stephanie. But remember, Ashlyn, this is your chance to make things right. Don't waste it."

Ashlyn nodded, her expression a mixture of hope and determination. "Thank you, Melody. I won't waste it. I promise."

As I watched her leave the café, shoulders slumped under the weight of the world that she carried, I couldn't help but feel a pang of empathy for her. Ashlyn was fighting her own demons, just as

Stephanie was, and maybe—just maybe—this conversation could lead to something good.

But as I walked back to the ranch, I knew that the road ahead was uncertain. Stephanie had built walls around her heart, and breaking through them wouldn't be easy. But if there was one thing I had learned from my own journey, it was that sometimes, you had to face the darkness before you could find the light.