I sat there and listened to her tell me all about her life in the city. How she was a Chef--that both impressed and surprised me, how she spent her spare time reading or writing poems she was sure no one would ever want to read, to how she loved children and volunteered at the children's hospital every chance she got. I also found out she was 25, two years shy of my 27.

I watched her, completely enamored by every feature of her life and how her eyes lit up when she talked about something she really loved, like sipping tea on rainy days, or a really good parmesan risotto. She was so animated as she spoke--like a child who was finally able to speak after hours of being told to keep silent. I found myself jealous at any mention of Mark and wondered if he paid attention to those tiny details of her life she unknowingly gave me.

When she stopped talking, she offered me a shy smile.

"I'm sorry, I've been talking too much."

"No. Not at all. You have been helping. I haven't thought about the pain, and I enjoy hearing about your life."

"You do?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

"I don't know. Usually people don't seem interested, so I have just kind of gotten to where I don't talk much about myself. I would rather keep things that excite me or things that I love to myself. That way, if it's stupid to someone, then I don't have to know and have it be tainted in some way."

I jerked my head slightly back to get a better look at her. The space we were in prevented much movement. We were side by side with my hurt leg opposite of her. I searched her face, her soft features highlighted by the streams of light coming in from the sun through the crevices between the rocks. She held such a fragile truth in those doe eyes of hers, it came close to breaking me.

"Anyone who has ever told you that the things you love are stupid, does not deserve to be in your life." I was beyond serious. It made me more than mad to know that she felt she had to make herself small, just to appease others. "Never dim yourself, just because others can't handle your light. You are a star Grace."

She looked at me with such a raw and powerful emotion, my breath caught in my throat. I wanted to kiss her. So fucking bad. But, I knew that wasn't up to me. She held my gaze, daring me to look away first, but there was no way in hell that was going to happen. She finally caved and turned her head, clearing her throat. I wanted to know what she was thinking, but I didn't push it.

"My dad used to call me his star. He used to say I was made to light up the world; that I lit up his. Of course, he also nicknamed me Mustang, because I was so wild and loved to run free." She chuckled inwardly. "My love of horses actually came from him. When you had me ride Star, it reminded me of him, and times when I was truly happy."

I was momentarily speechless. Of all the nicknames and of all the horses, it had to be Star. I noticed how she spoke of her dad, and it was obvious how much she loved him. Unfortunately, everything was past tense when she spoke of him, so I knew there was a painful story there.

"What happened Grace?"

She looked away from me and took a deep breath. She slid down and laid her head against my chest, and I wrapped my arm around her.

"He was the best. He and my mom were so happy. We lived here, in Wyoming." She paused, and I was slightly stunned at the fact that my home used to be hers. "We had a nice house and a few acres of land. My dad had horses growing up, and he wanted me to have that same experience. So we had two horses that we would ride all the time."

I felt her smile against me, causing one of my own.

"I swear, my daddy underestimated my love for riding. I'm sure if he knew I would bother him nonstop to ride, he would have never introduced me to the world of horses. But I know he loved it, seeing me so excited over a love of his."

She started tracing circles on my abdomen, and I shivered under her touch.

"It was my fault. I wasn't supposed to go to the stalls at night, especially by myself. But I couldn't sleep and I wanted to see my favorite horse, Sunshine. I opened her stall, so that I could pet her better, but she got spooked by some thunder in the distance. She darted out. My dad had come looking for me around that time, and he found me yelling and running after Sunshine in the rain. He hopped in his truck to chase after her, because she had made it out the front gates down the road." She moved her hand and held it in front of her eyes, lightly shaking her head. "And that's when it happened."

I could feel her warm tears start to pool on my chest, and I rubbed her back in an attempt to comfort her.

"Go on Grace. What happened." Something inside me told me she needed to let this out, to let go. It was the same something that told me the exact thing. But in that moment, her pain tortured me more than my own.

"The rain started coming down hard. His car hyrdoplaned. He lost control and the truck rolled and--." Full on sobbing interrupted the end of that sentence, but she didn't need to tell me the rest. I let her cry as I held her close to me. I kissed the top of her head and rested my chin there.

I wasn't sure how long we stayed like that, but when she was finally calm, she wiped her eyes and spoke.

"I haven't spoken any of that outloud in a very long time."

I squeezed her arm in an attempt to hold her closer and offer comfort. "I'm glad you told me."

"Colt?"

"Yes Grace?"

"You are insanely toned."

I busted out laughing, completely thrown off by her. She was something else entirely and absolutely everything all at once.

The jolt of my laughter shook my leg, and I winced from the pain, cursing under my breath. The pain was searing and sharp. It felt as if I was getting sliced by a flaming knife. Grace sat up and looked at me, fear etched in her face.

"I'm worried Colt. Your leg could get infected."

"I'll be okay. Now that we know we're not too far, there's nothing to worry about."

"You mean besides getting mauled by another mountain lion? Let's see, moose, bears, mountain lions...what else was on that list?"

"Bobcats."

"Well that's just great. Bobcat here we come."

I chuckled and squeezed her leg.

"I got attacked by a mountain lion. You think I'm really scared of a little bobcat? I got another leg afterall." I winked.

"So not funny." Even though the playfulness in her tone gave her away.

I peered put of the hole between the rocks, and sighed. I could still make out the lion and quickly spotted the reasons for its extra aggression. Laying beside her, were two cubs. My failed attempt at scaring it away made even more sense. I chose to not tell Grace. She was worried enough.

We needed to keep moving; we were losing daylight. But that was also the problem. I was injured, and despite my ego, I knew it would slow us down. I also wasn't too sure if I would be able to make a good shelter for us to camp the night in just in case, and animals like damn mountain lions, three of which decided to have their own camp out next to us, thrived at night. I sighed and looked to Grace.

"I think maybe we should just stay here the night. We'll head out as soon as it is light out. But who knows how long it'll take to find and make good shelter just in case we don't make it back tonight. With my leg...I don't know. What do you think?"

"I think I trust you. So, let's stay here for now. Not exactly the Hampton's, but I can think of worse places to be."

At that moment, any place other than right next to her was far worse.

With Grace's help, I managed to put my shirt back on as the cool evening air approached, and we huddled up even closer together to keep warm. My stomach was growling, my throat in need of something to quench its' thirst and my leg throbbed with an unbearable searing pain which threatened to steal my sanity, but Grace's body curled tightly next to me kept my mind occupied. She soon fell asleep, her head resting on my chest, as I laid awake thinking of Grace and then fell asleep dreaming of the brightest star in the night sky.

We have finally seen an insight into Grace and a part of why she feels empty. More revelations are to come. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and are enjoying the connection our two characters have as they grow closer❤

Please don't forget to hit that star!⭐ Something so small but that makes a big difference ❤

As always- stay safe, stay kind, stay authentically you💕