The atmosphere at the Carson residence was a sharp contrast to the stifling weight of the barn. Stepping into Mama Carson's kitchen and receiving a genuine hug felt like a reset button. Out on the tailgate of Blake's truck, with the basket of food between us and the Texas sky beginning to darken, the frustration of the afternoon finally started to bleed away.
"You turned it off," Blake noted, nodding toward my phone as I shoved it into the basket.
Colt wouldn't stop," I said, leaning back against the cab. "He was obsessing over the clock before I even got out the door. It's like they have this image of how things are supposed to go, and it doesn't include me having a life that doesn't revolve around them."
Blake handed me a glass of tea. "It sounds like they're trying to fence you in, Cam. You've spent your whole life running wide open on this ranch. You can't put a horse like you in a small pen and expect her not to kick the rails out."
I sighed, looking out over the fields. "That's exactly what it feels like. They tried to tell me I shouldn't be training the three-year-old after the fall. They try to redirect the conversation whenever I stand my ground. It's exhausting."
"Then don't let them redirect," Blake said firmly. "You're the one who raised those twin foals. You're the one building new cattle pens and keeping Grandpa's legacy moving. If they want to be part of your life, they have to walk beside you, not in front of you."
He moved closer, letting me lean my head against his shoulder. The familiar scent of hay and laundry soap on his shirt was grounding. Blake had been there for every broken bone, every failed vet check, and every victory I'd ever had. He didn't see me as something to be protected or possessed; he saw me as a partner.
"I liked the attention at first," I admitted quietly. "The way they looked after me when I was hurt... it felt good to be cared for. But I didn't sign up to be managed."
"You're a one-man woman, Cam," Blake said, his voice low. "Having two of them might have seemed like a dream in those books you read, but in the real world, it's double the opinions and double the jealousy. You need someone who knows how to let you lead when you need to lead."
I closed my eyes, listening to the crickets starting up in the tall grass. Tomorrow, I'd have to go back. I'd have to face the silent treatment from Cash and the interrogation from Colt. But for tonight, the phone was off, the stars were coming out, and I had my best friend reminding me exactly who I was before those two trailers ever pulled into my driveway.
"I'm going to tell them," I said. "Tomorrow. No more redirects. No more 'midnight' curfews. They either figure out how to respect my freedom, or they can take their horses and their sponsor stickers back to the rodeo circuit."
"That's my girl," Blake murmured, bumping his shoulder against mine. "Now, pass me a sandwich. I'm starving."