Evie is at Tillie’sagain.
What if she’d been alone at home with Tillie with the ranch hands at the bunkhouse? The thought scares me. This can’t keep going on. We need to end this…whateverthisis.
The sheriff shakes his head the entire time I speak with him.
Cade hasn’t moved from my side, one hand warm against my back like he’s afraid I’ll topple over. Once he was assured that I only had a few scratches and not a concussion, he gave up on trying to drag me to the clinic or get the EMTs here.
“I called Bodie. He’s just as shocked,” I tell Hugh.
“How did he hire him?”
“Came recommended from some people he knows in Aspen. He said he’ll send me their information by email and…you can talk to them and see how this happened.” I slouch against Cade. I can feel anger vibrate through him. It’s restrained, but it’s ready to spin out of control.
I remember when we were seventeen, sitting on the hood of his old Ford. He’d gotten into a fight with hisfather and stormed out. I remember reaching for his hand, prying his fingers open one by one, pressing my palm flat against his until he finally took a breath.
Now, years later, my head tips against him the same way, like my body remembers even if my heart doesn’t want to.
I grab his hand and pry it open until he’s holding mine.
“I’ll put an APB out for Gilbert. I doubt he’s gonna be at his place but…don’t you worry, Dr. K, we’ll hunt that son of a bitch down,” Hugh assures me.
“Are the Feds involved now?” I ask.
He shifts uneasily. “With your fire and the threat you received, yes, but not what’s goin’ on at Blue Rock. They don’t see the connection.”
Before I can blow up, Cade squeezes my hand. “Landon is the connection. Tell the Feds he came by and…it looks like Violet has been helping him silence the girls.”
Hugh arches an eyebrow. “When did this happen?”
“Sunday.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he barks.
Cade huffs out a breath. “I already got a job, Hugh. It’s running this ranch, taking care of my girls. I can’t keep runnin’ to you every time somethin’ flares up, alright?”
I put my hand on his chest. His heart is hammering, and I stroke, calming him. Another act that my body remembers, even if I’ve done everything in my power to forget.
“I’ll talk to the agent in charge.” Hugh tucks his hands in his pockets wearily. “You need more protection here, Cade.”
“We’ve decided already that someone is going to be on guard twenty-four-seven from now on,” Dodge interjects. “Dallas saw him but thought he was here for me or with me and didn’t pay it much mind.”
I know he and the hands are pissed about Gilbert.
“That’s good.” Hugh gives me an apologetic look. “I got no news about the fire, Dr. Kirk. But the Feds and the fire chief…we’re all workin’ on it.”
I tip my chin in acknowledgment. I don’t trust the cops—or the FBI or…whomever is trying to unravel this knot.
But you trust Cade, Sarah.
You’re here, aren’t you, holding his hand. Living in his house. Loving his daughter.
After Hugh leaves, the night settles heavy over Blue Rock. The yard’s quiet except for Bandit pacing, unsettled, and the low murmur of cattle down by the pens.
I nestle against Cade, too tired to keep my walls up. “We can’t keep doing this. Waiting for the next hit, the next fire, the next….”
His hand tightens. “You’re right.”
I look up at him, shadows etching his face into something fierce and unyielding. And before I can stop myself, I whisper, “So what do we do?”
