A flicker of a scowl appeared on Bill’s face, but it was gone so quickly, I wondered if I’d imagined it. “Not a lot of purpose to them then, huh?”
My own scowl threatened. Phoenix edged closer to me as if recognizing the insult. “The purpose is life. Respect. Freedom.”
Bill gave his head a shake. “At the cost of our ability to thrive?”
Phoenix danced at my side, almost trying to herd me away from Bill. I pressed my lips together and continued rubbing a hand up and down Phee’s neck. “I think there has to be a balance, a way for ranchers to run their businesses successfullyandfor the mustangs not to lose any more of their home.”
Bill tapped his hat against his leg. “I wish you could understand things from our perspective. Maybe you should come up to Pine Meadow with me, meet some of the smaller ranchers who are really affected by this.”
A trickle of unease slid down my spine. It wasn’t just because this man didn’t see the value in my precious horses. It was something else. Phoenix let out a whinny. I took a step back, thoughts swirling and connecting.
Bill had a ranch between Sutter Lake and Pine Meadow. And he leased near where the mustangs resided. He’d been a stoic supporter of increasing the lands available to ranchers. He never raised his voice at those speaking on behalf of the mustangs, never called us names. But I remembered the flash of rage I’d seen on his face when there had been a town hall meeting about the proposal.
My stomach churned. Was I standing with the man responsible for all the heartbreaking loss my mustangs had endured? I took another step back, making a show of looking at my watch. “I’d better get going. I need to pick up Noah.”
Bill studied me as he moved out of my path. “Of course. We can discuss the horses another time.”
The muscles I hadn’t realized were strung bow-tight eased. The events of the past few months had to be catching up with me, that was all. I gave Phoenix one more pat and headed for the fence.
I bent to duck between the rails when something flashed in my peripheral vision. Blinding pain hit me as my head knocked against the fence. I crumpled to the ground, everything around me blurring, my vision tunneling.
“I really wish you wouldn’t have put those pieces together.”
43
Tuck
I keyedin the code to the gate and drummed my fingers along the steering wheel as I waited for it to open. My mind circled the same thing over and over. Jensen. How could I convince her to give me a second chance?
My truck bounced over a ridge in the gravel road as I made my way down the lane that curved around the ranch house and towards Jensen’s property. Movement flashed in the corner of my eye, and my head jerked.
The shiny, dark brown coat shimmered in the sunlight as the horse galloped down the road. I slammed on my brakes just in front of the ranch house and jumped out of my truck. I held up my hands. “Phoenix. Whoa, girl. It’s okay.”
She danced in place, throwing her head back in a whinny.
“What’s wrong?” I glanced up towards Jensen’s pastures, unease settling in my gut. “How’d you get out?”
The front door of the house opened, and Andrew strode out. “How’d Phoenix get out?”
I slid closer to the mare. “I’m not sure. You seen Jensen?”
“Saw her drive past the barn, oh, I don’t know, maybe two hours ago?”
I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and hit her contact. It rang and rang before clicking over to the voice mail that hadn’t changed in over five years.You’ve reached Jensen…
I tapped end on the screen. “Will you try her?” My hand tightened around the phone. I hated that my own stupidity meant that I didn’t know if she was avoiding me or if she was actually in trouble.
Andrew arched an eyebrow but pulled out his phone to call his daughter. While I waited, I came around the back of my truck, searching out a halter and lead I knew I had buried in there somewhere. My fingers brushed nylon rope, and I pulled.
When I ducked out, there was a furrow between Andrew’s brows. “No answer.”
I handed him the rope and halter. “Can you get Phee? I’m going to drive up there and see what’s up.”
Andrew nodded. “I’ll walk Phoenix up.”
As Andrew took a few steps towards Phoenix, the mare danced away. I held up a hand. “Phee. It’s okay.” I pitched my voice low. “I gotta go find Jensen, so I need you to go with Andrew.” The mare studied me and then took off at a gallop back towards the pasture. “Oh, fuck.”
Andrew gripped my shoulder. “She’s just heading home. We’ll drive up and get her back in the pasture. See what’s going on.”
