I barked out a laugh. Only Shiloh could make me laugh when it felt as if I were burning alive. “I think you might know me a little too well.”
She moved into my space, wrapping her arms around me and pressing her face to my chest. “Don’t go murdering anyone just yet. Give Hayes a chance to deal with things the legal way.”
“I hate feeling powerless. And feeling that way when you’re in danger is a special kind of torture.”
Shiloh’s hands twisted in my flannel shirt. “You and I have both built this sense of control over things in our lives. But the truth is it’s just an illusion. A façade. No one can truly control the world around them.”
I rested my chin on Shiloh’s head, breathing her in. “I think I’ve done a pretty good job this past decade or so.”
“Because you locked out the world around you. Didn’t let anyone in. There are people in your world now—ones you care about.” She tipped her head back, searching my face. “Do you regret that?”
My hands went to her face, cupping her cheeks. “I could never regret you. Even when it hurts, I want to feel that pain because you make me remember that I’m alive.”
35
SHILOH
“Just like that. Perfect,”I said to Elliott with a smile as I patted Sky’s neck.
Elliott ran the brush over Sky’s belly. “It doesn’t hurt her, does it?”
My heart squeezed. Despite growing up in the environment this boy had, there wasn’t a mean or cruel bone in his body. He was all goodness and light. It was the same miracle Everly had managed.
“She loves getting groomed. I think it feels like a head scratch to her.” I reached over and demonstrated on Elliott.
He giggled. “That feels good.” He focused back on Sky and his task. “Can I help with this every time I come?”
I glanced over at Ramsey in question. He and Aidan were bathing another horse. Ramsey squeezed out a sponge. “I’ve been thinking I could use some extra help with the grooming,” he said.
Elliott’s entire face lit up. “Really?”
Ramsey nodded. “We’ve got a lot of horses around here. It takes a lot of hours to keep them looking good.”
“I don’t think I’ve even ever counted them all,” Elliott said.
Aidan grinned as he rinsed off the bay gelding. “Thanks, Ramsey,” he said so quietly I could barely hear.
“It’s me who should be thanking you guys. I can basically kick back and relax with all the help you’ve been giving me.”
I couldn’t hide my snort. Ramsey would never take it easy. This ranch and the horses on it meant too much to him.
Ramsey raised a brow as he stalked towards me. “You laughing at me?”
My gaze zeroed in on the sponge in his hand. “Ramsey…”
There was a devilish twinkle in his eyes that had me backing towards the open barn doors. “You wouldn’t dare.”
His lips twitched. “I wouldn’t?”
I let out a shriek as he lunged. I dodged the first attempt to fling water at me, but then Ramsey caught me around the waist and squeezed the sponge over my head. The sound that escaped me was enough to send Kai running. He barked and yipped, wanting in on the fun.
“I got him for you,” Aidan called.
I pinched Ramsey’s side, and he released me with a muttered curse.
“Now!” I yelled.
Aidan aimed the spray nozzle straight at Ramsey and let it fly. Ramsey was soaked in a matter of seconds.