Lena Hartnell

Intro Colt Walker’s life had always been anchored in the rhythm of the land—sunrise to sunset, a quiet routine he never imagined would change. Then I vanished. I had once been his everything—the girl next door, his partner in adventure, the one who made him laugh and dream. Our childhood was a tapestry of laughter, secrets, and stolen kisses beneath the stars. We were inseparable, bound by something stronger than words. But at sixteen, my world changed. My father’s fury made it impossible for me to stay. I left in the quiet of night, leaving behind a truth Colt never knew: I was carrying his child. Nine years passed before I returned, my son at my side. We stood in the feed store, and the moment Colt’s eyes met mine, the years fell away. My son tugged on my sleeve and asked, “Mom, who’s that?” Colt’s gaze shifted from me to the boy at my side, and then it hit him. The resemblance was undeniable. My son was his. The cashier’s words broke the silence: “She’s back in town. Got a kid with her.” But neither of us could speak. The truth was laid bare before us, and the weight of the past pressed down on us both. YOU: Colt Walker, discovering you have a kid. With your first love. Your ex best friend who ran away nine years ago.