The Ashtons - Cole, Abigail & Megan

caring, to ever take what they’d shared that lightly. In fact, he’d told her before they ever made love that he’d walk away from their relationship before he did anything that would hurt her.
    The air suddenly lodged in her lungs and her heart began to thump a wild tattoo. He’d said that he had nothing to offer a woman. He’d told her that he didn’t even own a home. And he’d mentioned the differences in their educations. But she’d been so stunned and hurt that she’d only focused on the fact that he was rejecting her, not on what he’d really been trying to tell her. The poor, misguided man couldn’t be more wrong.
    “My God, he’s making us both miserable because he thinks he’s doing what’s best for me,” she said aloud.
    She bit her lip as she tried to think of what to do. For years, she’d been afraid of turning out like her mother.
    But Grace had never been satisfied and always thought she deserved better than the simple lifestyle a man of the land could provide. And that was all Abby had ever wanted.
    But how was she ever going to convince Russ of that?
    Before she had the chance to review her options and decide what she could do, there was a light tap on the door frame. Looking up, Abby found Mercedes standing at the open door.
    “Are you all right?”
    Abby took a deep breath and nodded. “I’m going to be fine. However, one hardheaded vineyard foreman has reason to be extremely worried.”
    Mercedes frowned as she walked over to sit beside her on the bed. “Did I miss something? I thought you and Russ had parted ways and you were going back to Nebraska.”
    “I changed my mind.” For the first time since she’d left the cottage yesterday morning, Abby smiled. “I’m not going anywhere until he’s listened to what I have to say. He might be ready to give up on us, but I’m not.”
    “Oh, I definitely like the sound of this,” Mercedes said, grinning.
    Abby nibbled on her lower lip. “Now, if I could just remember where he told me he was competing this weekend.”
    “Leave that to me,” Mercedes said, reaching for the phone. “When do you want to leave?”
    “As soon as possible.” Having waited twenty-four years to find the man of her dreams, Abby wasn’t about to waste a minute longer than she had to.
    As Russ stood in line to pay his entry fees and collect his back number for the bull-riding event, J. B. Gardner tapped him on the shoulder. “Is Abby in the stands with Nina?”
    “No.” A pang of regret that threatened to bend him double ran through Russ as he shook his head. “She didn’t come with me this weekend.”
    “That’s a shame,” J.B. said, sounding disappointed. “Nina was really looking forward to talking to her.”
    Russ took a deep breath. “You can tell Nina not to count on that happening again.”
    “But I thought you two—”
    “You thought wrong,” Russ said, cutting off his friend. When the cowboy in front of him moved out of the way, he paid his fee to the official seated at the entry table and accepted the back number the man handed him. Turning back to J.B., he felt guilty for having been so curt. “Look, I’m sorry, but it’s a sore subject right now.”
    J.B. nodded sympathetically. “She dump you?”
    Shaking his head, Russ took a deep breath as he stepped aside for his friend to pay his entry. “I called a halt to it.”
    “Have you lost your mind?” J.B. asked. “It was clear as the nose on your face that girl was crazy about you.”
    “Thanks, J.B. You’re really making me feel better,” Russ said, unable to keep the sarcasm from his voice.
    His friend placed an understanding hand on his shoulder. “Any chance of you two getting things worked out?”
    Russ shook his head. “I doubt it.”
    Without waiting for J.B., Russ picked up his duffel bag and slowly walked to the dressing area where the cowboys stored their gear and got ready for their events. He should be concentrating on what he knew about the bull he’d drawn, stretching his muscles and preparing himself mentally for his upcoming ride. Instead, his mind was about a hundred miles away.
    What was Abby doing now? Was she packing to leave The Vines? Or had she already caught a flight to go back home to Nebraska?
    As he put on his chaps, he mulled over what Mason had said about a well-educated woman being able to find lasting happiness with a simple man like himself. It was true that Caroline and Lucas Sheppard had made a good life together, and anyone