Chapter Twenty-One

Kenton left me to shower and change without interruption. When I was done, I beckoned him to join me in my room.  I was exhausted, both emotionally and physically, and I didn’t want to be alone.

The afternoon was barely approaching evening and I knew that the horses would need tending to.  I mentioned to him that I’d take care of them after I’d had a short nap.  He didn’t argue, but something told me that he’d tend to them himself rather than wake me up.

As I drifted off to sleep in his loving arms, I made a silent promise to myself that I’d toughen up and resume living in the morning.  I just needed one more night of self-pampering and nurturing while I absorbed the realization of my new life.

It was dark when I opened my eyes and sat up in bed.  I reached for Kenton, but he was gone. I looked at the clock. It was ten in the evening.  I’d slept for five hours.  Although I was still tired, my body had normalized enough that