The Ashtons - Cole, Abigail & Megan

smile, Russ added, “Things are about the same as always. I’m working in the vineyards during the week and riding bulls on the weekends. In fact, I’m getting ready to leave this afternoon for a rodeo in Pine Creek.”
    “I’m not buying that it’s the same old, same old,” Mason said, shaking his head. “You might be able to fool somebody else, but I know you better than that.” He placed his hand on Russ’s shoulder. “You still keep a beer or two in the refrigerator in the tack room?”
    “You know I do.” Russ had a sinking feeling that Mason wasn’t going to let the matter rest.
    “Come on,” the man said, motioning for Russ to follow him. “Let’s down a cold one while you tell me what’s put you into a tailspin.”
    Seeing no other alternative, Russ walked into the tack room and removed two aluminum cans from the refrigerator. He handed one to Mason, then popped the tab on the other and sat down beside his friend on the wooden bench by the supply cabinet. “There really isn’t a lot to tell. I met a woman. We shared a few good times, but now it’s over. End of story.”
    “I don’t think so.” Mason took a swig of his beer, then shook his blond head. “I know it’s none of my business, but you look too damned miserable for that to be all there is to the story.”
    “It won’t matter in another few days, anyway,” Russ said, shrugging. He tipped the can and took a swallow of beer. “The lady in question will be leaving Napa soon.”
    The can he held was halfway to his mouth when Mason stopped to stare at him. “Well, I’ll be damned. You’re talking about Abigail Ashton, aren’t you?” When Russ remained silent, his friend nodded. “I should have known. You’ve always had a thing for redheads, and she’s a real knockout.”
    “You’ve met her?”
    Mason nodded. “I stopped by the winery before I came down here to the stables. She was in the office and Mercedes introduced us.”
    Knowing that his friend wasn’t going to give up until he had the whole story, Russ blew out a frustrated breath and told him about Abby and how amazing she was. “But I ended things with her yesterday.”
    “Why?”
    “Because she deserves better than what I can give her,” Russ answered truthfully.
    Mason uttered an expletive that would have had Caroline washing his mouth out with a bar of soap if she’d heard it. “Where the hell is your head, Gannon? Don’t you think you should have left that decision up to her?”
    “One of us had to be practical.” Russ downed the restof his beer. “Let’s face it, a woman like Abby couldn’t be happy for the rest of her life with a guy like me.”
    “Okay, now I know you’re sitting on your brains,” Mason said, sounding disgusted.
    Russ crushed his beer can with his hand, then tossed it in the trash. “Name me one well-educated woman you know who’s found lasting happiness with a blue-collar man with nothing more going for him than the ability to grow a few grapes.”
    “How about my mother?” Mason looked smug. “She and my dad have been head over heels in love with each other for the past twenty-seven years. I’d say that qualifies as a prime example of lasting happiness.” Rising to his feet, Mason tossed his beer can, then picked up one of the saddles. “Chew on that little bit of food for thought as you drive down to Pine Creek. You can let me know I’m right when you get back.”
    “Did anyone ever tell you that you’re a smart-ass, Sheppard?” Russ grumbled.
    Mason laughed. “Yeah. You tell me every time you know I’m right about something.”
    Abby bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling as she hung the green silk dress she’d worn to the Ashton estate in her garment bag, then turned to finish packing her suitcase. She was glad she’d gotten acquainted with her California relatives, but the time had come for her to go back to Nebraska.
    Feeling utterly defeated, she sat on the side of the bed and stared at the brochure from the Wild Horse Flats rodeo she’d attended with Russ. She had no idea why she’d kept it. Normally, she wasn’t sentimental about those kinds of things. But as she stared at the colorful paper advertising the different events, a fresh wave of emotion swept over her.
    Why was he doing this to them?
    She hadn’t for a second bought into that line of hooey he’d tried to feed her yesterday morning when he’d told her it’s been fun, but now it’s over. He was too considerate, too