8. Ricky

EIGHT

Ricky

I fidget and shrug my shoulder where the bandage feels like it’s sticking to the forming scab. I watch out the window and hope that I see her soon.

It’s almost four and I’m actually terrified that she’s decided to run again.

I should be pissed at her and want her not to show.

But I’m not. I’m dying to see her. And I’m curious about what the hell that phone call earlier was about. I heard her saying Angel and as soon as I heard her tone, I guessed that must be her sister. She didn’t sound excited to hear from her. As a matter of fact, she sounded pissed as hell.

I couldn’t hear what she said but the look on her face was shockingly agitated. And not just angry.

She was afraid.

I don’t like it. She said there was a reason that she ran and didn’t tell me and I have a feeling that she was telling the truth and it’s something to do with someone else’s story and that someone is her sister.

My phone rings and I grab it quickly when I see who it is. “Hey, Jace. You got anything for me?”

I know I should wait for her to tell me what’s going on. I know I should let her come to me.

But I have an uneasy feeling that she’s in over her head and I do not want to even think about what that might mean for her. What kind of trouble she might be in?

It makes me really nervous.

And I don’t like to be nervous.

“I haven’t found out a helluva lot. It hasn’t been that long since you called me!”

“I know, man.” I run my hand through my hair. It’s peppered with early gray and I’m feeling every one of my years right now. “I’m sorry. I just hate not knowing what’s going on with her. I feel like she’s in bigger trouble than even she knows.”

“All I’ve found out so far is that she does have an older sister named Angel. Who is nothing like her name suggests. The woman is an actress and has had a string of lovers about a mile long. She’s a good actress but it’s her other off-screen exploits that keep her in the gossip rags.”

“Shit! What the hell has she managed to get herself into and how is it affecting my girl?”

“I have no idea but it could be anything. She’s a pistol!”

“Okay. Keep on it. Let me know what you find out!”

“Okay. Well, it might take me a day or two and I might have to go out of town. Her sister lives in Vegas.”

“Okay. Just let me know as soon as you can.”

“Got it. I’ll be waiting.”

I hang up the phone and glance nervously at the clock on the wall. It’s getting later. Where is she?

Ten minutes later, a pair of headlights turn into the front gate and I finally take a deep breath for the first time in what feels like forever.

She came.

Her little car pulls up alongside my truck. I step out of the door and smile when I see Christopher hopping out of the vehicle with his mom’s help.

“Hey, buddy! How are you?”

The dark-haired boy charges up to the porch and hops out into my arms when I hold out my hands. Fire bursts into life in my shoulder and I gasp, feeling my head swim a little before I manage to shove that shit down.

“Christopher! Get down off of Ricky! He’s hurt.”

I smirk at her. “I’m not that hurt, baby girl.”

She flushes and ducks her head. “Okay, well, as long as you’re okay.”

“I’m good.” I smile at Christopher when the boy wraps his arms around me gently, his little fists resting on my shoulders.

“Are you hurt, Mr. Rick?”

I laugh at his name for me. “I’m just fine, Christopher. How have you been, buddy?”

“I’m so good. We got to see Aunt Angel but she wasn’t feeling good. She had a bandage on her belly. I saw it when she lifted her arms. She must have gotten hurt like you!”

My head whips around when Caro gasps and her pretty face pales. “Christopher!”

Huh. “We’ll talk about that later,” I promise her. Now I’m even more sure that she’s gotten herself involved in something really bad. Now that she’s finally back and we’re tentatively working towards something…I’m not really sure where we’re going but I want to know. And if there’s something threatening her, I need to know what it is and I need to know how I can fix it.

But for now…I’ve got a little boy to show the joys of ranch life.

“Hey! I hear that you want to see a horse?”

His dark head nods up and down quickly, his stormy gray eyes, so much like Caro’s, sparkling with innocent excitement.

“Well, I’ve got a little surprise. We’re gonna go to the barn and see one of my horses and then we’re gonna take a little trip.”

He pulls his hands out and claps his little hands excitedly. “Yay!”

Caro looks at me curiously. I lift a brow and she nods her head.

I shift Christopher to my hip and hold out a hand to Caro. She takes it without hesitation. Smiling at her, I lead her over to the barn and open the door, slipping inside, chuckling lightly when Christopher squeaks, his eyes the size of saucers.

“This is the guy I wanted to introduce you to. This is Harold.” A Shetland pony whickers inside the stall and I open the bottom, letting Christopher down. “Hold on to your mama’s hand.”

He immediately steps over to her and grabs her hand, his fingers tight on hers. She winces but keeps the smile on her face.

I slip a lead onto Harold and bring him out into the space in between the stalls, holding him tightly. “Would you like to pet him?”

His eyes widen, “Really?”

I nod my head. “Really. Harold loves to be petted by little boys!” He squeaks and tentatively steps forward, his eyes so big it’s a wonder they don’t roll out of his head. His hand reaches out and I watch Caro tense up. I move up behind Christopher and stand over top of the boy, hoping it eases her mind.

She glances over and sees me watching her, then looks away. But not before I see the relief in her eyes and the slight smile on her lips.

Christopher giggles when the pony’s soft muzzle skates along his hand. “Mommy, his nose is so soft.”

Smiling, I hold Harold’s lead gently, keeping the pony’s head where it is so nobody gets startled by a quick movement.

Caro reaches out a hand and runs it along the little roan pony’s withers, smiling when his skin jumps under her touch. I’m pretty sure I do the same damn thing when her fingers touch me!

Christopher backs away and Harold softly chuffs under his breath and his neck stretches out, looking for attention.

I lead him back to the stall, letting him loose and patting his shoulder. Then I slide back out and smile at Christopher, kneeling beside him. “Well, what did you think? Did you like your first horse?”

“He’s not as big as I thought he’d be.” He screws up his face like he’s thinking. I pat his shoulder and stand up.

“Yeah, horses come in all kinds of sizes but Harold is a pony, so he’s a bit smaller than your average horse. He’s kid-sized.”

“Hmmm. Does he belong to a kid?”

I wasn’t quite ready to announce that I had bought Harold months ago for one special little boy that I already thought of as my son.

“Not yet. We’ll have to see how things go.”

I can feel Caro’s eyes on me and I’m pretty sure she has a clue but she doesn’t say a thing. We have so much to work through, so much to think about that it’s all just too soon. After all, I was ready to run the last time she was here. And now? I just don’t know.

“Are you ready to take a special trip?”

Christopher’s head bobs up and down and I grin, grabbing his hand. “We’re in luck since there’s plenty of snow on the ground.” I glance over at Caro. “You’re gonna love this!”