Tag’s cheek rolled as he clenched his teeth. He gave a slight nod,wanting to say more, but interrupted by a familiar voice calling out. “Taggart!”
Tag spun around to see a well-known chute boss, Tony, coming our way. As they shook hands and Tony embarked on a long spiel about how he had put in a good word for Tag with the higher ups, I nudged Cade off to the side so we could feed our horses their breakfasts and get the final rodeo events behind us.
TWENTY-ONE
Jesse
Istared out the windshield, lost in thought, the MP8 engine humming down the interstate. The gear stick vibrated in my hand, the white lines pulsing by. By all accounts, we had a great weekend and the horses upheld the Meadowbrook reputation, but…I sensed a storm brewing, dark clouds casting shadows over the sun.
Tag was worried sick—the rodeo barely held his attention today. He checked his phone constantly and talked to Bea every spare moment. I was ninety-nine percent sure she spent the entire day with him via his bluetooth. If it wouldn’t cost Meadowbrook a fortune to pack up and ditch Rio Grande, we’d already be home. The moment that final event ended, we ran.
Cade had cried himself to sleep in the passenger seat. I took a deep breath, trying to cleanse the tension bundling in my shoulders. I rolled them back, adjusting my hands on the semi’s wheel and gear stick. Moments like this made me wonder if I was doing a good job as a father. I really tried, but the truth was that Cade didn’t have much ofa life outside this ranch, and maybe I’d kept him too close over the years.
On the one hand, he was such a well-adjusted kid. He communicated well and possessed incredible work ethic. But, on the other hand, he melted when he was forced to separate from me. I was patiently waiting for the day he could break away with confidence, but we were six years and counting—no break away on the horizon. I constantly wondered if that was normal for a ten year old.
Because I had no idea whatCooper had involved himself with, I would not be taking Cade along when I went to pick him up. I told Cade he would stay and work with Tag. He burst into tears and they didn’t stop flowing until he dropped off to sleep.
I didn’t like leaving him behind either, but this was reality. We wouldn’t always be able to stay together. And I had to put my son’s physical safety over his emotional safety this time. God only knew what on earth Cooper had done or the kind of person Greg was. And I wouldn’t be rolling the dice with my child in the backseat.
Even if it was hell for both of us.
The truth was, Cade’s fears were the same ones that tortured me, too. These were the implications of loss, the long-term devastations no one even considered unless they were forced to walk the path themselves. Cade was terrified of losing me and he couldn’t even remember why.
I had to form a better plan for him tomorrow, regardless of Tag being willing to keep an eye on him. Tag had no flipping idea what to do with a happy kid, let alone one in distress. Bea was too sick to look after him, which left one person I had no business asking favors from.
Hollie.
A pit formed in my stomach at the idea of asking, but if he had a problem, she would help him—no doubt about that. She’d already saved his life once and was a skilled comforter, which I preferred to rough and tumble cowboys.
I watched the headlights streak over the white pulsing lines on the highway, my mind lulled by the gear stick vibrating in my hand. Asking Hollie for a favor after the way I treated her felt…pathetic, if I was straight up honest.
But I was running out of options.
Confident Cade was sound asleep, I dialed Hollie, the call immediately routing to the headset I wore while driving the semi. It rang long enough that I considered hanging up—it was late, after nine already. When I thought I was going to voice mail, her voice quietly answered, “Hello?”
“Hollie. Hi. I’m sorry for calling so late. Did I wake you?”
“Nope. I probably should be sleeping, but I’m reading.” She sounded sleepy. “Is everything okay?”
I drew a deep breath. “I think everythingwillbe okay, and that’s what matters.”
“Oh no. What’s going on?”
“Once I get the semi unloaded, I’m going to crash for a couple hours then drive out to Cooper’s mom’s house to pick him up—if he’s still there anyway. And I don’t feel comfortable taking Cade.”
She gave a soft hum of understanding.
“Janice is an addict and I know that Cooper has had dealings with plenty of unsavory characters. I just don’t know if I should?—”
“Jesse.”
I stopped.
“Cade can stay with us.”
Air rushed from my lungs, my shoulders falling a little. “He might be a nervous wreck, I don’t know.”
“I understand.”
