Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

I 'm on the plane, staring out the window, trying to make sense of the whirlwind my life has become. The clouds drift lazily by, the sun casting a warm glow over the wings of the aircraft. The screen flashes on the back of the headrest in front of me, tracking where we're at in the air.

Each passing mile takes me further from the chaos of my past and closer to the peace I found at the Wild Thorn Ranch. Closer to the place I left my heart and the men I gave it to.

Greg is a distant memory, a mistake I'm leaving behind like a bad dream. I can't believe I let my dad control me for so long. I feel free, like an adult for the first time in…well…forever.

I pull out my phone, my fingers trembling slightly as I type out a message to Hadley.

Me: Hey Hadley, it's Emma. Look, I know you must hate me for leaving like I did, but I don't regret doing what I could to protect you, your brothers, or the ranch. But, that's all dealt with and well, pretty much I'm on my way back. Is there any chance you can pick me up from the airport? I really need to come home.

My heart pounds and my belly flips as I wait to see if she answers. It shows that she read it so I just have to hope she's not pissed at me and will reply. Thankfully for now my credit card still works so I'm using the plane's wifi to message. Lord knows how long that will last. I'm sure Dad will remember and cut them off soon.

My phone pings, her reply popping up on the screen. Biting my lower lip, I read it.

Hadley: Emma! I fucking knew you'd be back. Those twin shits owe me money. Also, I totally don't hate you. You did what you thought you needed to do. Kinda love how much you care.

Relief fills me as a smile finds my lips and I shake my head. Then I reread what she said. My stomach drops. Shit! Was I some game to them? A bet like in one of those cheesy Rom-coms.

Me: You were taking bets?

Her reply is almost immediate.

Hadley: No, but I told them you'd be back. I should have bet on it.

Man, I miss her.

Me: I'm on the plane now. Sorry it's short notice.

Hadley: Of course, I'll be there. When does your flight land?

I look at the screen and see we're still on track to land on time.

Me: Around 4 PM. Thank you so much.

Hadley: Don't worry about it. I got you. See you soon!

Hadley: And Emma…I'm so fucking happy you're back.

I don't reply but I feel the same. I feel lighter, happier, more confident and I haven't even seen Wyatt and Weston yet. At least I have a ride to the ranch. I could have taken a cab, but I didn't want to leave everyone totally blind by my arrival. If Hadley is happy to have me back, I hope the others will too. Now, I just have to hope the twins accept my apology and we can be together. I have no plan other than that.

Sure enough , we touch down just a few minutes before four, the familiar jolt of landing bringing a wave of nerves. I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. Each step through the crowded terminal feels like I'm on autopilot. The noise and bustle around me fade into the background, overshadowed by the quiet resolve I feel inside.

My heart races as I spot Hadley. Her familiar face brings a wave of relief that threatens to overwhelm me. She pulls me into a tight hug, and I feel a sense of belonging that I haven't felt in a long time.

"Hey, girl," she says, her eyes sparkling. "Let's get you home."

I give her a real smile. "Home. I like the sound of that."

Wrapping her arm around my shoulder, she grabs one of my bags and starts gabbing my ear off about everything that's happened around the ranch while I've been gone.

I feel like I've missed so much. But the two weeks with the twins show that a lot can happen in a small amount of time.

The drive back to the ranch has my stomach doing flips. What if they're too mad to speak to me? What if since I didn't respond to their calls or texts they've moved on? Oh God! What if they got over me by getting inside some other woman? I shouldn't be jealous since I broke it off and left without a word but I am, and I see red.

I swear if they sank their cocks in some other chick in the weeks I've been gone I'm gonna be the next person who shoots someone. I don't care if I'm irrational. You can't leave a voice message telling me you love me, and then move on with someone else a few days later.

I need to stop over thinking the worst or I'm going to get myself all worked up before we even get there.

The trees blur past the window, and the open fields stretch out endlessly, a stark contrast to the prison-like walls of my old life. The familiar sights and sounds of the country surround me, and a sense of peace begins to settle over me. The smell of fresh hay and the distant mooing of cattle create a comforting sound. But as we get closer, the anxiety builds again, knotting in my stomach like a coiled spring.

Finally, I can't help but ask, "How have the twins been?"

Hadley glances at me, her expression serious. "Not gonna lie to you Em, it's been pretty shitty. You leaving fucked them up real good, babe."

Guilt twists in my stomach, and I look down at my hands. "I didn't want to hurt them. That was the last thing I wanted to do. But my hands were tied. Greg would have tried to fuck all of our lives up just because he could," I sigh, rubbing at my tired eyes. "Do you think they'll forgive me?"

Hadley laughs, though there's a note of sincerity in her voice. "Yeah, I have a good feeling they will. You might have to be a cockwarmer for a while." She fakes a gag, making me laugh despite myself. "But they're head over heels for you."

As we pull up the long gravel road to the ranch, I feel like I'm going to be sick. I can do this. I can tell them all the things I should have said before.

We pull up to the house, and I take a deep breath, stepping out of the Jeep. The sun is setting, casting a golden glow over the fields, and I can hear the faint chirping of crickets starting. The ranch looks exactly as I remember, yet it feels like I'm seeing it with new eyes.

Each familiar detail—the weathered wood of the barn, the gentle sway of the tall grass—anchors me more firmly to this place I now think of as home.

Taking a deep breath, I walk up to the front door, my heart pounding in my chest. Just as I raise my hand to knock, the door swings open, and Bo stands there with a knowing smirk.

"Well hello there, little lady," he says, his tone teasing. "Decided to come back, did we?"

I feel a flush of embarrassment but manage a small smile. "Yeah, I guess I did."

Bo steps aside, still grinning. "The twins are in their rooms. I'll let them know you're here."

"Wyatt! Weston! There's someone at the door for you!" he calls, his voice carrying through the house.

I peek inside when I hear Weston's voice, tinged with urgency. "Dad, whoever it is, tell them to come back later. We don't have time for this. We gotta go get our girl."

My eyes widen in surprise. The words make my heart skip a beat, and I stand there, feeling a mix of hope and fear. He called me his girl. Maybe there is a chance this all works out.

"I will not tell them to come back so get your asses out here and send them away yourselves. They ain't here for me!" Bo smirks before shooting me a wink.

"Dammit, Dad!" Wyatt shouts.

Footsteps echo down the stairs and then, I see them.

They freeze, eyes wide, as if they can't quite believe I'm standing there.

"Red?" Weston says, his voice full of disbelief.

"Hellcat…" Weston whispers.

"I'm gonna leave you three to it," Bo murmurs and leaves us.

I give them an awkward smile and then the dam breaks and tears well in my eyes.

"Hi."

There's a moment of silence, and then they're both moving toward me, their faces breaking into wide grins. Wyatt pulls me into a tight hug, and Weston wraps his arms around both of us. I'm crushed between them, but there's no other place I'd rather be.

"We thought we lost you," Weston murmurs, his voice thick with emotion.

I pull back slightly, looking into their eyes. "I've been miserable without the both of you. I couldn't stay away. I was stupid to think otherwise. My old life… it really sucks. I never saw how fake and meaningless everything really was. Not until coming here and seeing what life really should be like. I've never felt more alive than when I was here with you."

Wyatt brushes a strand of hair from my face, his eyes searching mine. "What about fuckhead? Your parents? Hell, your things?"

"None of it matters. I'm divorced now and it's like it never happened minus the not so memorable memories. Dad sat me down and handed me a folder full of potential husbands but I couldn't do it. The idea of spending the rest of my life as a doll who only gets taken off the shelf for important events was suffocating and downright miserable. I can't live for him anymore. I need to take control of my life and live for myself for once. And I fell pretty hard for two twin cowboys on what was supposed to be my honeymoon."

Wyatt cups my face in his hands, his gaze intense. "I want you to listen real good right now, Hellcat, to what I'm about to say. We love you, Emma. And we're going to make sure you know it every single day. You're the only person on this earth for us. It's you, only you. There is no other person."

I nod, my voice steady as happy tears fill my eyes. "I love you too. Both of you. So damn much. I know it was only two weeks but it feels like a lifetime already."

Weston takes my face in his hands and looks deep into my eyes. "So you're here to stay? With us? Not in a cabin but with us here." There's so much hope in his eyes it kills me knowing I hurt them.

"Yes." I smile. "I kind of have to be because I gave up everything. The money, the house, the cars. I'm broke." I laugh and wipe my tears. "Dad said if I left, I would be cut off. I didn't care. None of it mattered. It's only materialistic things. I don't need them to be happy. I just need you two." And I mean every word of it too.

They exchange a glance, and then Weston grins. "Well, it's our job to take care of our woman anyway. You don't need all that fancy bull shit. We got you, Red. You won't ever truly need for anything."

Wyatt chuckles, pulling me close again. "You might not have the lavish lifestyle, but we can make you happy. And goats, we can give you endless goats."

I tip my head back and laugh, pure happiness flowing through me. "Money doesn't matter when you have love. And goats."

This is where I belong, with them, in a place where love and happiness aren't measured by wealth but by the strength of our bond.

We walk inside, and the familiar warmth of the house surrounds me. The earthy smell of the ranch creates a sense of comfort. Wyatt and Weston lead me to the living room, where we settle onto the couch.

I'm finally home.