At first, I’d told my colleagues that Tally was traveling for her job—but they kept asking when she would be back. Wondering when we could all get together and have drinks or go out to dinner. They were so excited we’d gotten married. Eventually I’d told them that we decided it wasn’t going to work out and she’d moved to London for work.
“Heading home now.” I shut down the computer. “I’ll walk you out.”
“You don’t have to do that.” Doctor Gibson was already stepping into the hall.
“Oh, I think my mom would disagree.” I gave her a brief smile. Letting a woman walk to her car in the dark alone? Mom would tan my hide.
We chatted about one of her student’s thesis proposals on the Oxford comma debate on the way to the parking lot. As soon as I was in my truck, I closed my eyes and forced myself to breathe. Why did every second have to be such an effort?
Because my wife didn’t ask me to go with her. That’s why. I dropped my head against the steering wheel and focused on breathing.
When I pulled onto the road, a nondescript black sedan pulled out behind me. Twelve miles later, on the winding back road that led to Seddledowne, I slowed, watching it in my side view mirrors. I couldn’t tell much in the dark, but the man had brown hair and was maybe around my age. I kept an eye on him, though I wasn’t sure what I’d do if I was being tailed. Ford kept a gun in the glove box of histruck. As did Dad and Holden. But that wasn’t how I rolled.
A few miles later, I pulled over to get gas and the man kept going. I didn’t relax until the gate closed behind me on Ford’s ranch. I chuckled as I came down into the valley of the little house. Every light was on. Ford’s jeep was in the grass. But Holden’s car was here too. Looked like we were having a mini-welcome home party. Nice. I cut the engine. The door flung open when I reached the top step.
Ford was standing there, grinning, his eyes clear and bright. Not a hint of redness. His smile remained in place but his forehead was crinkled in confusion. “What the Duck Dynasty?”
I fondled my beard, tugging it to a point at the end. “You likey?”
Holden scoffed behind him. “Literally no one likes that on you.”
Ford belly laughed. “It’s terrible.” He glanced over at Holden who’d stepped up beside him. “You hold him down. I’ll find the clippers.”
I laughed and pulled Ford into a tight hug. “Missed you, man.”
He pounded me on the back. “Missed you, too,” he said like we’d always been up in our feelings with each other. “But seriously? What is happening with your face?”
“It’s just hair.” I stepped back and walked into the house, shoving out the ache I felt every time I came home to find my wife not there. It still smelled like Tally. The caramel latte scent was embedded into the drywall, hitting me in the senses every time I walked through the door.
“I got it.” Ford snapped his fingers. “It’s like No-shave November except it was No-Shave No-Ford. But I’m back now. Feel free to head straight to the bathroom and weed-whack the whiskers.”
“That’s what it’ll take.” Holden chuckled. “An industrial powered weed eater.”
“Ha. Ha.” I set my bag on the floor by the couch and plopped down on the cushions. My muscles ached from constantly being on high alert but I didn’t know how not to be. Every tiny noise made me think Tally might be around the next corner.
Ford collapsed onto the lazy boy across from me, grabbed the side handle, and kicked his feet up.
But Holden stayed standing, his chest rising and falling with too much exaggeration.
I bounced my heel against the cushions. “Sit.”
“Yeah.” He lowered himself next to me but he didn’t sink into the couch. And it was sink-worthy. Tally had picked it out.
Ford sat forward, studying me. “Ash? Like I’m trying to think of something to say. There should be a lot to talk about. I’ve been gone for two months but I can’t focus on anything except the Santa beard. Is there a midnight snack hidden in there for later?”
I rolled my eyes and laughed. My family pestered me about it incessantly. I never answered their questions about why. Mostly, I’d done it because Tally would’ve hated it. Would’ve teased me until I had no choice but to shave it off. Or, possibly, she would’ve done it herself while I was sleeping. It was my metaphorical one finger salute at her for leaving.
Holden, sitting stiffly on the edge of the cushion, released a huge yawn.
I nudged him with my foot. “What are you even doing here? Don’t you like to get up at the butt crack of dawn? It’s way past your bedtime.”
“I came to see Ford. And…” He gave me a brief smile. “I wanted to let you know that the US Marshall contacted me again.”
I sat up with a jerk. “Did he say where Tally is?” We never would’ve known about the Marshall being in town if Jeff hadn’t caught him snooping around Ford’s property and started to call the cops. When he’d told Jeff he was a US Marshall, Jeff kept him there, and mercifully called Holden instead.
Holden’s jaw clamped. “No. Trust me, I begged, and when he wouldn’t budge, I tried to trip him up, hoping to get him to give up any information.”
Both of my hands rammed into my hair. The despair threatened to eat me alive but I shoved it down. It wouldn’t fix anything. “Well, did he say if she’s okay?”
