“A damn shame is what it is. Andi don’t give a shit, and it’s not like the boss’d let Ryder run the place.”
“Sooner we get back, the sooner we’ll know.” I kicked my horse into a lope. Tad did the same. Like I’d hoped, a good canter made it hard for him to rant.
I didn’t care what Tad had to say.
All I wanted right then was to hear Rock’s voice.
We were near enough to the bunkhouse to get a phone signal, finally. I felt a vibration in my pocket.
At the barn, I dismounted and walked Ogre off to cool him down. I was dying to take out my phone, but Ogre needed my attention. With each chore, my excitement built until I was almost giddy with it. I put Ogre up in his stall, watered and fed, and then stepped out into the fading afternoon light.
Finally, I checked my phone. Rock’s message was short.
Hey yourself.
I told the guys I was taking off to hit the john, but in reality I headed for the chicken yard—a place where I could feel Rock’s presence all around me. Between the whimsical painted chicken coop and the “ladies,” as Rock referred to his fancy little chicken posse, Rock was everywhere.
How’s the boss?I texted.
Don’t know yet. Stable. They’re doing tests.
Elena?
She’s okay. She and Foz are resting now. Nobody got any sleep last night. Can I call? I’d like to hear your voice.
I made the call. He answered with a breathless, “Hey.”
“What are you up to?”
“Slept some.”
“Have you eaten?” I couldn’t help asking. He was supposed to keep a routine.
“Yeah. Plus I ordered dessert from room service. It’s not here yet.”
“Fancy.”
It made a nice picture; him tucked in a comfortable room somewhere, waiting for a piece of pie or cake.
He spoke first. “I’m so sorry I caused that mess for you last night. I can’t believe Sterling called the sheriffs—”
“You didn’t cause that. Him neither, probably.” I wondered, though. The timing of the deputies, coming like that, right when he was so mad didn’t feel like a coincidence. “They do surprise searches all the time. I’m used to it, anyway.
“It’s not right.”
I reminded him, “It is right, because I killed a man.”
I don’t know what he made of my statement. He was silent while I let myself into the fenced-off area. One of the hens strode over and rubbed alongside me like a cat.
“One of your chickens is coming on to me,” I told him.
“Bearded? Blue legs?”
“Yeah.”
“Sophie.” Rock replied almost immediately.
The fluffy, weird-ass thing gazed up at me with smitten chicken eyes. “She really digs me, I think.”
