Chapter 9
Coyote Canyon, Texas - July 1872
Honor squared her shoulders, repeating a silent mantra: "Be brave. Be strong." Her fingers trembled as she brushed her hair, a nervous habit. Buck was leaving in a few minutes, and the finality of it threatened to crack her carefully constructed mask.
Justice wouldn't suspect a thing. He knew nothing of the unspoken connection that had bloomed between her and their guest. Buck hadn't made any promises, and Honor, despite a flicker of hope, wouldn't stoop to begging. He either felt it too, or he didn't. That was the harsh truth.
"Honor!" Libby's shrill yell shattered the tense silence.
With a startled gasp, Honor rushed out, smoothing her dress as she went. She plastered a smile on her face, but it felt hollow. Just outside, the scene unfolded like a practiced play. Justice, oblivious, offered Buck a hearty farewell. Buck returned the gesture, a warm smile for Libby and a final, lingering hug for Honor.
"Goodbye," she choked out, the simple word heavy with unspoken emotions. Tears pricked her eyes, threatening to spill over.
Buck closed his eyes as their embrace deepened. He desperately wanted to imprint this moment onto his memory—the warmth of her body, the sweet scent of her hair tickling his nose. He inhaled deeply, savoring the feeling of her closeness.
The urge to hold on forever was a battle he had to wage internally. But logic, as cold and harsh as the approaching winter, held him back. This wasn't his world. He had no right to disrupt the peaceful life she had.
Thankful that their connection had remained innocent, just stolen kisses shared under the summer sun, he broke away. No declarations of love, no promises whispered in the dark. It was a bittersweet comfort.
"Take care," he said, his voice gruff with suppressed emotion. Then, before he could second-guess himself, he mounted his horse and rode away. The distance grew, mirroring the distance that now stretched between their hearts.