Kendall met Trent early the next morning. She, David, and he were on horsebacks, together with the few other helpers on the ranch, as they rounded up the cattle to gather them. The thousand-acre ranch had over five hundred cow-calf pairs. They would cut a circle, group a number of them to be sold. David already had a buyer, as he informed her.

The tall, well-built, dark-haired cowboy with a sunny smile and light brown eyes was easy to get along with. He was charming and was in his early thirties and owned a ranch nearby. He was David’s relative, so they were basically families living on the huge ranch.

“Do you do this in the Philippines?” Trent asked her as their horses galloped side by side.

“Huh?”

“Ranching.”

“Oh, no! But I studied it for David. I did help a few neighbors with a couple of cows back then.” She grinned. “I helped an old neighbor in walking the cows to a new grazing place on some afternoons.”

He laughed. “A couple of cows, huh?”

She nodded with a bright smile.

“So, when did you learn to ride a horse? You seem to be so good at it.” He looked at her and her posture while riding the animal. She didn’t want to think he was checking her out.

“To be honest, five years ago. When David’s family visited me on my college graduation, we went to Baguio City afterward, and I learned horseback riding there. Jack was really good at teaching…” Her voice trailed off and she swallowed. Even for her, it was hard to mention Jack’s name. She blinked the tears that formed in her eyes.

Trent nodded. “You’re a fast learner,” he observed.

She smiled toothlessly, as a sign of thanks.

“I can imagine you had an enthusiastic teacher in Jack.” He chuckled and his eyes looked far ahead.

She agreed with him but silently. She turned her gaze to the cattle before them.

♥ ♥

It was a long day for all of them, but Kendall didn’t forget she still had to visit Jack’s grave. She noticed Blayze, who was seated in the rocking chair, taking a glimpse of his expensive wristwatch.

“Time for us to go,” he announced.

She blinked at him, surprised. “Y-you waited for me?”

“I told Uncle David I’d go with you after your work.” He gestured at the cows in the corral.

“I-I’ll just take a quick shower. We don’t want to spread my sweat-horse-and-cow perfume in your pretty car. Or else, your honey might think you let a cow or a horse ride in there.”

She turned on her heels before he could say anything. She heard him chuckle and just closed her eyes. Why did she even mention his “honey”? She sounded like a jealous ex-girlfriend! Or wasn’t she? Her words didn’t even make sense. How would even a cow or a horse fit into his expensive sports car?

She felt her blood rush to her face. It was mortifying!

She fled to the stairs and went into her room. She immediately pulled a pair of blue faded jeans and a striped blue and white long-sleeved shirt, as well as underwear. She went into the bathroom and took a quick shower, just as she told him. She just glazed her lips with a lip gloss and patted her face with pressed powder afterward. A spray of her favorite cologne finished it all off.

She looked at herself in the mirror. She didn’t bother drying her hair and went downstairs. Or else, he might grumble about her taking her time changing. He was never the one to love waiting for someone. Unlike her, who had stretchable patience. Well, that was in the past. She didn’t want to think of it now.

“You do know that people don’t go out here with damp hair,” he commented while driving toward the local cemetery.

She was told it was only a ten-minute or so drive. But with the sports car, it could cut the time in half in spite of the uneven road. Just that, Blayze seemed to leisurely driving it, at five miles per hour!

She turned to look at him, eyes merely in slits. “Were you a hearse driver when you left the Philippines? Shame on this speedy car!” she sneered.

“Why did the damp hair topic jump to a hearse driver?” he retorted.

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t care if my hair is damp. It’s going to get dry anyway!” she grumbled, crossing her arms.

“You’re not in the Philippines where people are used to go out of their homes with damp hair, fresh from their shower. Here—”

“Oh, spare me your scolding! I know what you mean. Who’s in the local cemetery anyway? It’s only us and the dead people! And dead people won’t make a comment on it.” She made a face before she looked away.

He harshly let out a sigh. “I drove a truck.”

Her head snapped, turning to him. “What?”

“I said, I drove a truck… after I left the Philippines.”

Her heart thumped. Were they going to discuss the past now? Were they going to talk why he left then? Yes, she wanted to know. But was he going to explain himself in the least?

Her throat suddenly felt constricted. She poured a lot of tears when he went away, without saying goodbye. She realized right away that their relationship was no more… that they would never see each other again. And yet, here they were. She felt like the wound in her heart reopened. It hurt like hell!

“I don’t care what you did,” she said in a small voice and looked at the trees, cows, and cowboys they passed by. “It doesn’t matter anymore.” She swallowed the big lump in her throat. Feigning not to care anymore was hard for her. But she had to pretend because apparently, he already moved on. In fact, he already has a “honey”!

“I was a race car driver a year later,” he continued to say, ignoring what she said.

She didn’t comment on that either, while her heart cartwheeled and beat up her rib cage like crazy she could hear it loud and clear. She just hoped he hadn’t heard it.

“I had an accident, but it wasn’t so serious. Then I stopped racing. You can say I’m afraid to see the race tracks again.”

She swallowed and secretly looked at him in the corner of her eye. He smirked a little while his eyes were on the road.

Somehow, she felt her heart drop when she heard about his accident. She wanted to ask what really happened, but didn’t. She wanted to know but was afraid he’d think she cared. She did care, but she didn’t want to show it or let him know about it. She wanted him to think she was over him and didn’t care about him at all. Not anymore. They were finished. Done! The end.

“Then, a friend told me about an audition for a small role in a TV series. He thought I had potential. I never thought I had it but I went all the same. I was ecstatic when I got the part.”

‘So, that’s why you never came back. You made it big, and you don’t want me around, I see.’

“Have you seen me on TV? I’m sure ‘The Throne Rivals’ is everywhere.”

She didn’t answer. She was never a fan of TV series. For her, it was just to while away time and time for her was golden. Even with David’s financial assistance, she worked her ass off as a food chain crew. She had no idea when the assistance would be cut off despite their close relationship. She didn’t want to depend on it and in case get disappointed if David did stop sending her money. She had no time for TV then. She was exhausted by the time she came home. She would just do her projects and homework and barely even go out with her one and only best friend Samantha. She suddenly missed her now.

She noticed Blayze take a glance at her, but she remained silent.

“So… you haven’t seen it,” he said in a regretful tone.

She ignored it. “When are we going to get there?” she asked instead in a clipped voice. She noticed his glance at her but she looked away.