Live for Me (Hallow Ranch)

by Brittany Ann

I, Abbie Spears, would never be able to lie to Beau Marks, even when a lie was the only thing that could save his life.

What was coming to Hallow Ranch?

My stalker was back, and this time, I knew he wouldn’t let me escape.

I proposed to her the day after I’d taken this photo, ready to give her the goddamn world, and she destroyed mine with a single word. No.

Abbie Spears was branded into my soul.

I’d been denying my feelings for her for too long and I was done pretending she wasn’t my entire world. She was past, my present, and I prayed to God she was my future.

Abbie deserved love, and I was going to give it to her. Day after day. Year after year. Until I was old and gray. Until my lungs stopped working. Until my heart stopped beating, I would love Abbie the way she was destined to be loved.

I’d just killed a man, but I didn’t care. I only cared about her.

“I’ve been in love with you since the fifth fucking grade, Abbie. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you,”

It was a secret between the four of us; Pop, me, Mase, and Abbie. Not even Denver knew I’d killed my first man at the ripe age of seventeen.

No one was coming to save me, and I had to accept that.

There was nothing in this world my wildflower couldn’t do.

“No one is allowed to hurt you, not even her. You understand me?” “You shouldn’t have to protect me all the time,”

“Protecting you comes with the job, Wildflower.”

“And what job is that, Beau?” “...

Someone was trying to hurt my wildflower?

I was a cowboy in love, and my woman was in danger.

I may not be hers anymore, but she would always be mine, whether she wanted me or not.

I’m coming, Wildflower. I never broke my promise.

I hated storms, but I loved the rain.

“You have two minutes to grab your shit and get your ass in my fucking truck,”

“I made you a fucking promise all those years ago, and unlike you, baby, I intend to keep my promises. All of them.”

“You have another thing coming if you think I’m stepping out of this house without you, Wildflower.”

“I will always care about you, Abbie Spears. Don’t you ever fucking forget that, and don’t you ever—fucking ever—thank me for doing so,”

“Abbie, if you got rid of the fucking boots I bought you, I’m taking you over my fucking knee right here and now.”

My strong, resilient wildflower.

I had to get her safe first and take care of her stalker. Only then could I hunt down every single man she’d touched since me. Fuck me, I had a fucking to-do list.

“Call the cops, and I’ll redden your ass”

That was just how it was between me and my wildflower. We were fire and gasoline. Either we’d rise in the flames together, or we’d let them consume us, destroying us completely.

I was ready to spend my life fighting her tornadoes, chasing them down, loving her through it all.

I wasn’t the type of man to leave my woman in danger, no matter how much she hated me.

“—killed a man with my bare fucking hands for touching you once,” he cut me off, his voice filled with malice. “I have no issues doing it again.”

I hated myself for letting this cowboy love me.

Hallow Ranch wasn’t my home. And Beau Marks wasn’t supposed to be in my life. He was in the past, with no place in my future.

Abbie Spears ripped my heart out and smashed it underneath her boot when all I did was fucking love her like she pleaded to be loved.

She was still my stubborn, gorgeous wildflower, standing tall in a field hounded by harsh winters, scorching summers, and powerful storms.

I didn’t want to be happy for her. I wanted to be happy with her. I wanted her to be happy with me.

You’re free now, Abbie. It’s just you and me, riding off into the sunset now, baby. I love you, Beau.

“This place was your safe space, and it was my own version of hell.”

“And now, the roles are reversed.”

“You hurt Beau again, I’ll ruin your life.”

Beau was one of the strongest men I knew, but also one of the most dangerous.

“Leaving me again, Wildflower?” As if I had a choice the first time.

“Regret doesn’t look pretty in your eyes, Abbie.”

“If you think I’m going to just watch you walk away from me again, you’re out of your goddamn mind.”

“If you think I’m going to let you go again, you’re out of your goddamn mind.”

“You can’t say things like that to me,”

“The hell I can’t,”

For a few fleeting moments, I wasn’t Abbie, successful journalist. I was just Abbie, Beau’s wildflower, and he was still the same old Beau, the man who supposed to be my husband, my everything.

No, I wasn’t fucking claiming her again, even though it was the only thing I wanted. I wanted Abbie Spears. Always had and always would.