Chapter 31

Butte Meadows, Nebraska - July 1874

A playful grin stretched across Jeremiah's face as he watched Violette take off like a shot. He'd given her a head start, a courtesy that quickly evaporated as she tore ahead, a blur of brown hair and determination. This city girl, barely over five feet tall, rode with a grace and ease that contradicted her slight frame. He dug his heels in, urging his own horse forward, but Violette was a streak of fire, leaving him in her dust.

As they rounded the designated oak tree, the finish line, Jeremiah knew defeat was imminent. He pushed his horse a little harder, but it wasn't enough. Violette reigned in a few feet past the marker, a triumphant grin splitting her face. In that moment, Jeremiah realized losing this race was the sweetest victory. He hadn't seen Violette smile so genuinely, so carefree, since Gabrielle's disappearance.

"Looks like we know who the real rider is, don't we?" She crowed, dismounting with a flourish.

Jeremiah chuckled, a hint of admiration in his voice. "You're not bad, city girl. I'll give you that."

"Don't worry," she teased, a playful glint in her eyes. "I won't tell everyone you got beat by a girl."

Violette's gaze drifted across the vast expanse of the meadow, the setting sun painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. Fireflies, like tiny blinking stars, began to emerge against the fading light.

"It's beautiful here," she sighed.

"What's Baltimore like?" Jeremiah asked.

"There's a shop for everything you could imagine," Violette replied, a touch of wistfulness in her voice. "I always enjoyed going into the city with Gabrielle, but it hasn't been the same lately."

"Why's that?"

Violette hesitated, chewing on her lip. Gabrielle had warned her not to discuss their family troubles, especially their precarious financial situation. But Jeremiah felt different, safe.

"My father passed away four years ago," she finally confided.

"I'm sorry," Jeremiah said softly, his eyes filled with empathy. He reached out and took her hands, his touch gentle.

"I was twelve, Gabrielle was fifteen," she continued her voice barely a whisper.

"Wow, you really are close in age," Jeremiah remarked, surprised. "I thought she was much older."

Violette let out a small laugh. "She would hate you for saying that!"

"She doesn't look old," he countered with a grin. "But she sure acts like a mother hen sometimes. Worse than my own sister, that's for sure."

Violette couldn't help but smile. "I guess she's had to grow up fast," she said thoughtfully. "She wasn't always so fussy, you know. It's only been like this since last year."

"What happened last year?" Jeremiah prompted gently.

Violette took a deep breath. "When she turned eighteen, she inherited the family business. It was all tied up in a trust until then, with lawyers handling everything." A wry smile touched her lips. "My father wasn't the best at managing finances. The books were a mess when she took over. She's been trying to sort it all out, find an advisor or someone to handle the business side of things."

Jeremiah's eyebrows shot up. "Wow, that sounds complicated. You must be really rich then, huh?"

Violette shook her head. "No, not me. Just Gabrielle. It's the Laurent family fortune, from her biological father. Our mother married my father after he died."

"And your father is Buck's father?" Jeremiah clarified, piecing together the puzzle of their complicated family ties.

Violette nodded. "Yes."

"Sounds like a tangled web," Jeremiah whistled.

Violette offered a small smile. "It is, a little."

A comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the chirping of crickets and the gentle rustling of leaves. Jeremiah continued to hold her hand, his fingers warm and comforting against her skin. The world seemed to shrink, their worries momentarily forgotten under the vast, star-studded sky.

"Are you going to go back to Baltimore with Gabrielle, or will you stay here?" Jeremiah finally asked.

Violette pondered the question. "I'd like to get to know Buck better," she admitted. "We haven't had much chance to connect."

"You should stay," Jeremiah blurted out before he could stop himself. A blush crept up his neck as he realized what he said. A blush crept up his neck as he realized what he'd admitted. His words hung in the air.

Violette's smile widened, a flicker of surprise dancing in her eyes. "Stay?" She echoed, her voice barely a whisper.

Jeremiah cleared his throat, momentarily flustered. "Well, yeah," he stammered. "I mean, it's kind of nice having you around. Besides," he added, a playful glint returning to his eyes, "who else will beat me in a horse race?"