Ties that Bind (Sunshine & Shadow Book 3) by Alie Williamson Read Free Book Online

that
when you’re super stressed out.” He unbridled the horse and began undoing the
latigo on his saddle. “Wait, why are you even back? I thought you were super
busy with the movie and…Lex.”
         April noticed his hesitation. She said, “I quit.
Lex…wasn’t right for me. He wasn’t the person I thought he was.”
         Kip’s fists clenched around the leather strap. “What
did he do?”
         “His relationship with Violet just sort of…got in
the way. Look, please don’t worry about it. I’m here now.”
         He smiled at her. “You are. And in time, too.”
         “In time for what?”
         “Debbie’s winter solstice party on the twenty-first.”
         “Oh right, I totally forgot about that.”
         “We haven’t missed a year since I started working
here five years ago. And it just didn’t seem right to go without you. Now I
won’t have to!”
         April smiled. She wasn’t sure a party was what
she needed. But as it was tradition, and for Kip’s sake, she would try to enjoy
it. She had a few weeks to get back into life on the ranch before the party
anyway, and she hoped when the time came she would be acclimatized enough to
relax and have fun with her friends.
         Kip made her life easier. He was by her side
nearly twenty-four seven. April worried it would become annoying, having him as
her constant shadow, but the company turned out to be nice. It reminded her of
being in the city, where one was never really alone. They chatted about life and
the way the summer season at Blue Haven had gone. Kip graciously avoided any
Lex talk.  
         Chinook was also happy to see her, and the pair
enjoyed the snowy mountains together almost every day. April had missed riding
her horse. He seemed to read her mind; they were so in sync. Chinook was the only
horse she could truly relax on, because she knew without a doubt that he would
take care of her in any situation. They were bonded.
         For April, getting used to the quiet again was
the hardest part of moving back to the ranch. She couldn’t hear traffic, or
people, which had become a comforting white noise while living in the city. It
was too quiet here, missing something.
         The night of the solstice party was snowy. Heavy
flakes fell down from the sky, adding to the already-thick blanket that seemed
to cover the world. The light from the house cast colorful rainbows onto the
white canvas, untouched as of yet because no-one wanted to leave the house
until they absolutely had to.
         April got ready in her room, straightening her
wavy hair and pinning it back, so that it wouldn’t fall into her eyes. She had
become accustomed to wearing makeup in the last few months, and tonight she
wore basic mascara and eye liner, with some clear lip gloss. She looked at
herself in the mirror one last time, tucked a flyaway hair behind her ear and practiced
her false smile.
         Downstairs, Kip waited for her.
         “Where’s everyone else?” she asked.
         “Just headed out. We’re taking my truck, that way
I can bring you home if you want to leave early.”
         April looked at him, slightly shocked.
         “I know you’re not exactly excited about
tonight,” he said. “So I figured this way, as soon as you’re ready, we can come
home.”
         “Thanks.”
         “You ready?”
         April nodded, following Kip to the door, trying
to find the strength to be excited about the party. They ducked their heads,
hurried through the snow and jumped in the truck, leaving the second set of
tire marks in the clean snow as they left the ranch.
         The solstice party was an annual affair. Half the
town was usually there, each bringing appetizers and good cheer.
         Debbie Freeman lived closer to town, on a small
hobby farm set on six acres. She was a middle-aged woman with a welcoming smile
and warm eyes. April liked her very much. She would