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Chapter 45: Cole
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2022-11-24 14:09:48Related chapters
The Love Barn Chapter 46: Scarlett
BY EARLY AFTERNOON Scarlett's stomach insisted she go home to at least eat. Ingrid and Kasima followed her up to her place even though they both had a lot on their plates. What would Scarlett do without friends like them?She pulled into the drive and before her door was open both Benji and Garth had appeared on their porch looking in her direction.Of course they'd know.Everyone was probably talking about AK being in town and at Cole's house.Scarlett didn't want to talk about it with them. She was hurt and confused by Cole's silence. The things Ingrid had told her she'd heard Cole say didn't help alleviate the stress.But she and Cole were in a relationship. They'd agreed on that. It had to mean something.She was determined not to go crazy girl again. When he got off work, they'd talk about this.Scarlett got out of the Jeep and with the help of Ingrid and Kasima gathered her laundry."Here, let us help," Garth said as they closed in."Please, not right now," Scar
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 47: Cole
Cole HADN'T SLEPT well. At all really.It started with discovering his sheets in the dryer and realizing that Scarlett had washed not only her things, but his as well. By that point it was close to midnight and though she was a night owl, he didn't want to risk waking her up. Besides, he didn't know what to say to her.He'd flown off the handle and snapped at her earlier. He'd said things he couldn't take back, that he wished he hadn't said.The only thing Scarlett had ever done was be kind to him, and this was how he repaid her. By being a dick. Deep down he knew he was angry and that his issues with Allie would always overshadow what he had with Scarlett. Which meant he couldn't fix his relationship with Scarlett until things with Allie were finally resolved.Pip took off out of the kitchen yapping away.A shadow moved past the windows.It was time.He didn't know what to think about this or how to react. If he'd been in love with Allie, truly in love with her, this con
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 48: Cole
Cole studied Allie and did his best to keep his emotions in check. "Why did you tell Scarlett we were still engaged?"Allie's face crumpled yet again. Her distress was clear from the lines to the wide eyes."I panicked. I do what I always do and just said something. I was going to slip over here when no one was around, grab my things and just leave. Get out of here. But then Scarlett wouldn't let me in and we stood there. We went back and forth forever. Then Mom and Dad showed up. They figured out what I was going to do, and they showed up here.""And cleaned me out? They took shit that wasn't ours.""I know. I'm sorry. I'll fix it. Is Scarlett mad?"Cole squeezed his eyes shut, her voice echoing in his mind.She'd been uncertain, he'd heard the waver in her voice and known she was trying to not jump to conclusions. But the stress had gotten the best of him and he'd screwed it all up."I messed things up there. I didn't choose my words well," he said."Are you going to
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 49: Cole
Cole WOULD HAVE never thought he'd ride in an ambulance with a pet patient. That was the kind of strange thing that just didn't happen. The first responders had no such hesitation. Cole had managed to patch the pony up so she could await Dr. Green's expert attention before the bossy paramedic woman who called herself Jenna bullied Cole back into the ambulance.Two hours and a couple dozen stitches later he stood shambled out of the Emergency Department onto the curb outside still wearing clothes stiff with human and equine blood. According to Luna's texts the pony was fine and her wounds superficial. It had been a close call for the both of them."You're alive," a familiar voice drawled.Cole turned his head to face Benji Lively sitting on the tailgate of his truck. He was parked in one of the prime spots near the doors. Cole squinted at Benji, taking in the cool glare, which Cole figured he deserved.The pain meds hadn't worn off yet. He might as well get this beating over wit
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 50: Scarlett
Scarlett HAD SOMEHOW managed to not only hold herself together through the conference, she'd enjoyed it. It was just a matter of luck that the only session she'd gotten to on Monday was about spotting new trends on social media. It was what Scarlett loved doing, and she'd been able to contribute to the discussion in such a way that it helped her forget the man and problems she'd left in Texas."Here, drink one more with me." Noemi Flores slid a dangerous, pink drink in a pretty glass toward Scarlett."I don't know if this is smart." Scarlett eyed the drink. She'd kept herself to a one drink a day max. Any more than that and her heart would take over."Oh, come on. Drink with me, please?" Noemi turned her big, beautiful brown eyes on Scarlett."How do you do that?" Scarlett sighed. "Fine.""When we get home you're coming out with me for some real drinks." Noemi speared her with a look. "I want to know what you aren't talking about.""Nothing," Scarlett said too fast.Noemi
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 51: Cole
Cole PULLED THE door to The Watering Hole open and stepped inside the old bar, his stomach twisted up in knots. He hadn't been here since that night he and Scarlett had played darts.That had been the best week of his life.Scarlett was there.He'd gotten to hang out with his siblings.And then it all went to hell."There's the hero of the week," Jessica called out from behind the bar running down the middle of the room."Did you see the damn paper this morning?" Cole bellied up to the bar, scanning the room. Sure enough, both Benji and Garth were tucked into a corner with some other guys. Cole briefly met Benji's gaze. The brothers hadn't spoken to Cole since the pony incident. He still wasn't sure why they'd waited for him at the hospital, but he needed to talk to them."Oh, hot damn, yes I did." Jessica's brows rose. "That's not happening, right?""Hell no. The Humes paid for that ages ago and they still ran it. Shit.""That's not good." Jessica leaned an arm on th
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 52: Scarlett
Scarlett WISHED SHE was coming home after two weeks away with more pep in her step or some kind of new self awareness. What she had was an action plan to starting up a very small, wedding planner side business and a keen awareness that she was not cut out for snow. Noemi's invitation to join her for the week had been kind. A godsend even, but Scarlett was glad the whole thing was over.The time had come for ice cream and sad movies at home alone. The trip hadn't cured her of her broken heart; it had merely distracted her while her misery continued to wait patiently for her return to reality.Benji and Garth had been kind enough to stock her kitchen with a few essentials, but there was a distinct lack of both wine and ice cream. She was willing to bet that move was intentional.While Scarlett wasn't ready to face the residents of Ransom yet, the need for consumable emotional support won over.How many people could regale her of Cole's every waking moment for the last two weeks o
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 53: Cole
"I CAN'T DO this." Cole gripped the edge of the table and stared at his half-drank beer."I don't know why you're doing this." Will David shoved his hands through his hair. Cole could feel the other man's gaze on him. "What purpose does this serve?""We can't do anything differently right now," Benji said. "Look, Scarlett's gone straight to pissed. It wouldn't matter what you went up the hill to tell her, she'd tear you a new one. We stick to the plan.""Nothing good will come from talking to her now," Garth agreed."I don't know." Cal sighed and met Cole's gaze. "Whenever I screw up the longer I wait the worse it gets with Eve.""It's been two weeks," Garth said. "Even if you went up, there planning to ask her to marry you, she'd probably take your head off first."Cole swallowed and fought the urge to wipe imagined sweat from his brow.Did Garth know Cole had considered that solution? Cal had talked some sense into Cole, pointing out his recent engagement might tarnish
Last Updated : 2022-11-24
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The Love Barn Chapter 167: Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER...SCARLETT SAT STRETCHED OUT on the old, wooden swing content to watch the circus going on over in the flower garden.Mom threw her hands up and said something Scarlett couldn't hear. She chuckled and knew the others were likely beside themselves trying to figure out how to make Mom happy.They all called Noemi's mother Mom now. It just felt right. Garth stood next to Mom, shaking his head at the others. Noemi bent, fussing no doubt over the way the blankets lay or how the bow sat.Benji and Dixie had the whole light kit out and three cameras.All the attention was focused on the bundle of joy currently sleeping soundly in the cradle Garth had carefully restored. It was one of a handful of old things he'd found in the barn and kept. Judging by the initials on the bottom of the old crib, generations of Livelys had slept in that thing.And now so would her baby.Scarlett smiled and sank further into the cushions Cole had set up for her. She was still ex
The Love Barn Chapter 166: Noemi
Noemi WHIPPED HER CAR into the driveway. With it being so early and since everyone had family visiting the street was packed with cars. Garth's truck barely fit in the one open spot.Where the hell was he?What was he doing?Why was he talking to Ángel?A Jeep pulled across the drive behind her, Cole and Scarlett getting out."Why can't you answer your phone?" Scarlett demanded.Noemi threw up her hand as she caught the sound of a deep, rumbling voice."Benji? Hey, we're already here." Scarlett's voice faded as Noemi crept toward the fence and the gate her mother always left open between the two properties.Ángel sat in the swiveling chair at the head of the table on his parent's patio.Garth had a tight grip on one of the other chairs, his back toward her. He was leaning forward, his entire focus on Ángel, who was staring back at Garth like he'd just sprouted a second head or something."You're only going to get one shot at this. If she's decided to give you anothe
The Love Barn Chapter 165: Garth
Garth HAD ALWAYS THOUGHT the hardest thing he'd ever done was bury his parents and accept responsibility for Benji and Scarlett.That had been easy. A simple process and an obvious life altering decision.Neither of those moments had anything on what he was about to do.Garth stood on the front porch of the brick house and glanced to his left, where Noemi was likely sleeping. He hoped that she was getting rest. She never took off except for holidays and if he remembered correctly, she had events this weekend. With any luck, she'd have someone in her corner that would look after her properly.He turned his attention back to the door. There was one of the new, electronic doorbells. He pressed it, listened to the chime and waited.It was early still, but he hadn't been able to make himself wait any longer.After a few moments the locks clanked and the door swung open.Ángel stood on the welcome mat in sweatpants, a T-shirt and a hoodie draped over his shoulders. His hair was
The Love Barn Chapter 164: Noemi
Noemi HADN'T SLEPT ALL night. Most of the time when she wasn't sleeping it was because she was up at all hours trying to pull the last bits of a wedding together. There was purpose to the sleepless nights.All she'd done since getting home around two was sit in the guest chair at her desk and stare at the clear surface. She couldn't claim to have done a lot of thinking in those hours. Mostly she'd sat, stared and let her mind wander. She'd poked at corners she normally ignored, examining her feelings, her thoughts and all the other uncomfortable bits of her life.She excelled at leaving relationships.There were only two men in her life who had ever left her.Her father.And Ángel.Noemi had left every other man before he could get tired of her. She'd known she had the habit, but she hadn't paused to think it through like this until tonight. It was easy to pretend that she didn't have time for men and relationships that weren't going somewhere. She could spin all the excuse
The Love Barn Chapter 163: Garth
Garth GRIPPED THE WHEEL of his truck and drew in a deep breath. He knew it was his imagination. Noemi's perfume wasn't really lingering, he just wished it were.Another car rolled up to the stop sign at the bottom of the hill. Garth waved and pressed the accelerator, heading into town.It was tradition for the guys to meet up at The Hole in town for beers on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Benji had already texted, wondering where he was. Scarlett and the girls were up to something. All the normal things were underway. Except for him.Garth felt stuck. Like he couldn't move.He rolled the problem around in his head as The Hole came into view.The little parking lot was full and people had taken to finding spots along the street. It would no doubt be loud in there, full of people ready to start talking about the Christmas tours, when they were bringing the tractors to Main Street to help decorate and so forth.He just wasn't in the mood.Garth turned the wheel away from the
The Love Barn Chapter 162: Noemi
Noemi KNEW TODAY WASN'T her best work. She'd gone through the whole day in a fog that had nothing to do with the large, Thanksgiving meal she'd eaten yesterday or the Black Friday shopping she'd done that morning.Once again she had to wonder at a bride choosing to have her wedding the day after Thanksgiving. If Noemi was going to have a wedding-No.Not going there.She shook her head and turned her attention back to packing up the arch and removing the flowers. She had about an hour to get the rental pieces ready to go while the wedding party ate dinner. There were still a few things to make sure went off without a hitch. The cake needed cutting and the bride wanted Noemi to keep the speeches short, but there was time before that got started.It felt like she'd lived in a daze the last forty-eight hours.Wednesday night she'd chosen to not go to the annual meal her family had with Ángel's. She couldn't be in the same room with him and act like she wanted to be there. Not
The Love Barn Chapter 161: Garth
Both Garth and Noemi glanced at the door.Benji laughed loudly and a single pair of heavy footsteps came creaking up the stairs mixed with Dixie's softer voice.Noemi covered her mouth with her hand and glanced at Garth. Her eyebrows were almost at her hairline.He just shook his head as something-probably one of the pictures on the landing-clattered to the ground. Another burst of laughter followed by hurried footsteps into Benji's room and the slam of a door."Well, I guess no one knows we're in here," Noemi said dryly."No they do not." Garth put thoughts of his brother out of his mind. It wasn't the first time he'd ignored his brother's antics. "What's really going on, No-No?"She blew out a breath and let go of his hand. For a moment she fussed with her boots, unzipping them and getting more comfortable, sitting cross legged in the middle of his bed. He didn't say anything, just watched her face, how lines developed and went away as she thought through what was botheri
The Love Barn Chapter 160: Garth
Garth STARED DOWN AT where he'd thought he'd seen Noemi.Except Noemi didn't wear flannel. He could count on one hand the number of times he'd seen her wearing jeans and have fingers leftover. But he was fairly certain that had been her."Garth?" Adeline's voice brought him back to the moment.He blinked down at this funny, sweet woman, but she didn't stir anything in him. Not like Noemi."Adeline?" He took her hand in his. "It was a pleasure meeting you and I hope we see you around. Scarlett's intentions introducing us were good, but..."She smiled a knowing smile and turned her hand in his so she could give it a friendly shake. "I can tell. She's a special woman. I appreciate the history lesson.""Thanks, Adeline."If he'd met her at another point in his life, he'd have been interested. But it wasn't the burning connection he'd had with Noemi. Nothing could compare to that.Garth headed for the stairs, taking them two and three at a time. He skirted the tables between
The Love Barn Chapter 159: Noemi
Noemi PARKED HER CAR out on the grass along with all the other cars.She could do this.Hopefully Garth wasn't angry with her. Well, he could be a little angry. She'd deserve that much. She just hoped he'd hear her.Noemi began walking with the crowd, toward the festival clustered around the barn. Her heart gave a twinge as she got closer to the houses.She hadn't told anyone she was showing up, partly because she was nervous and feared she'd chicken out. Through all the jumble of thoughts, the one thing she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was that she loved Garth.As the crowd folded her into their midst, Noemi realized there were a lot more people there than she anticipated. How was she going to find Garth in all this?"Noemi?" a familiar voice called out.She turned and saw Scarlett standing with a basket of something hanging from one arm and a toddler perched on her hip looking at Noemi with wide eyes."Hey." Noemi fidgeted with the hem of her T-shirt.Scarlett gr
