Morning. Happy Thanksgiving. I’m in charge of the turkey because my brothers are both hopeless. Hopefully I don’t give us all food poisoning xx
It was quickly followed by another one.
Tally
I miss you. Can’t wait to come home tomorrowxx
And that was it. I was gone because she said this was home.
We spent the day eating, drinking, playing games with the kids and then once they were in bed us adults played poker. Peggy, Lily’s grandma, cleaned up because that woman had the best resting bitch face I’d ever seen. I’d have a couple of messages from Tally but not as many as I’d have liked. They were only responses from mine, too, which also felt a bit off. The last one she hadn’t even read, but like the sap that I was, I checked again anyway.
Me
What time do you think you’ll be back tomorrow? Just so I know when to be lying naked in your bed xx
Two hours and still not read. My stomach flipped at the idea that maybe she was driving home and couldn’t read it. Then I got to thinking that maybe she’d had an issue while driving home. She might need to swap out her tire. What if she’d broken down on that part of the road that was a blind bend without any lighting?
I’d halfway convinced myself to get on the road to Sweet Maple Falls when there was a loud knocking at the front door.
“I’ll get it.”
Everyone looked up from their cards, barely caring that it might be someone to let us know that Tally had been involved in an accident.
My feet skidded across the tiles in the hallway, and I almost collided with the coat stand as I grabbed for the door.
When I saw it was Glenn on the other side, I wasn’t sure which emotion I felt the most. Disappointment. Anger. Concern.
“Hey there, boss man.”
Anger heavily laced with ‘you annoy the fuck out of me’. “Hey Glenn, what can I do for you?” Irritated, I ran a hand through my hair. “If it’s ranch stuff then Davey is taking care of business today.”
“I was just wondering when erm…” He took off his hat and waved toward the stables. “When is Tally back?”
I blinked slowly, not sure whether warning him to back off would be enough. Maybe warning him and a knee to the balls would work.
“Why do you want to know?” My hands fisted so I shoved them to my hips to save me from punching him.
“I went by the stable and Dreamy seemed a little off.”
My back straightened. Dreamy was her baby and if anything happened to him while she wasn’t here. It would devastate her. I’d seen what losing Ariel had done to Gunner.
“Let me get my boots on.”
“So, you don’t think we should call Tally?”
I didn’t bother answering him. He didn’t deserve a response. “Gun, bro, we’re needed at the stables.” I began pulling on my boots and was hopping on one foot when Gunner walked into the foyer from the dining room.
“What’s up?” He was already reaching for his jacket from the coat hook.
“Dreamy.”
“What exactly?” His tone and movements became urgent as he looked at the open door. “Glenn?”
“He just seems off. I went past the stables, and he was making some noise. I mean I just thought maybe I should let Tally know. I can call her if you want while you two check him out.”
“Nope. Go get your Thanksgiving dinner.” There was no way that fucker was calling my woman. And how the fuck did he get her number anyway.
“Thanks, Glenn,” Gunner said as he pushed past me, nudging me with his elbow. “We appreciate you letting us know. Wild is right, go enjoy your dinner.”
