CHAPTER 05

S omewhere between drowning in cheap whiskey and knowing I needed to go, I forced myself to drive to Double Arrow. It took me forever to pull up the dirt drive leading to the entry arch. The thing hadn’t changed in seventeen years. Knotted branches joined together to create some stupid fucking aesthetic. And that goddamn hanging sign at the top?

Double Arrow Ranch: Where Everyone is Family.

Fuck that.

I furiously smoked my way through another cigarette while I stared at that goddamn sign. I couldn’t bring myself to drive under it. I needed to but fuck. I knew what was waiting for me down that drive.

Memories. Memories of shit I didn’t want to go back to. My life had been fucking hell since I ran to get away from Harrison. I’d accepted that my life was crap. I’d accepted just how fucking broken and worthless I was. I made do with working to get by, staying alone, and keeping my head down.

And never looking back. At least, trying not to look back. Sometimes, I couldn’t help but wonder if my past would catch up to me .

It did, and fuck me, I’d never be ready for it. All I needed to do was keep my head down, do my fucking job, and survive the year. I could do that. Would probably take copious amounts of alcohol, but I could do it.

I hoped to hell I could do it.

The main drive beyond the ranch entrance wound through a thick patch of trees and opened up to the main fields. It split three ways. That first path on the right would’ve taken me right up to Myles’ house. I’d leave that path alone. Considering Jackson had taken over, there was no doubt that it was his house now. I didn’t need any part of pissing him off just by existing in more of his space than necessary.

The middle drive went straight back to the stables. The whole ranch branched out from there. Fields for cattle, the barn, equipment storage, employee living, and everything else. It was the most traveled path of the three.

And if I took that far left path, I’d end up straight at Harrison’s house. That thought made my heart race. I wanted nothing to do with that. It could burn to the ground for all I fucking cared. There was no way I was going back there. I didn’t give a fuck if my old man was dead.

To the stables with me, it was. At least I’d always felt at home around the horses.

The stables were dark when I pulled my truck along the back of the old building. The red wood was peeling and in definite need of cleaning. Even the smell was off as I got out. Fuck, had they not been taking care of the goddamn horses? Hard to believe Jackson would let that happen considering the horses were his mother’s passion project.

I let myself in and let out a sound of frustration as I flipped the overhead light on. The herd had dwindled, and the stable was in crap condition. It needed a damn good cleaning, and the horses needed more attention than they were getting. It pissed me off. They deserved better.

I took a quiet survey as I walked down the center aisle. Most of the horses I didn’t recognize, but there were a handful along the way that I did. Older horses that Mrs. Myles had let me help take care of when I was younger.

Somewhere in the middle of my inspection, I stopped and stared at the horse with her snout hanging over the stall door. My chest tightened painfully. The soft gray leopard Appaloosa watching me was fucking gorgeous. My girl was gorgeous .

“Hey, pretty girl,” I whispered and held my hands near her snout. I wasn’t sure how to approach her. Did she even remember me? Bailey’s ears twitched as she let out a huffy breath. It took a moment but she pushed her nose into my palms. For the first time in a very long time, a genuine smile turned my lips. I ran my hands over her velvet snout as she pushed harder into me. “Oh, I missed you, sweet thing.”

Emotions choked up my throat, and I stepped closer, bringing her head against my chest. The fact that Bailey was still alive surprised me. She had to be twenty years old. Sure, it wasn’t uncommon, but I hadn’t pictured reuniting with her.

Pulling open the stall door, I took the time to inspect her head to toe. Her coat was dusty, her mane and tail needed a good brushing, and her hooves looked in desperate need of trimming. I frowned as I smoothed my hands down her neck once more. How she leaned into me was reassuring. At least I hadn’t quite lost everything.

“I’ve got you, pretty girl,” I promised. “I’ve got all of you.”