Brooke’s voice was careful. “She’s asking questions, and I’m running out of lies.”
I swallowed. “I’m on my way.”
“Wyatt,” Brooke said, and there was steel under the softness, “is Tessa okay?”
I stared out at the road. “I don’t know.”
Brooke breathed out. “Then you need to be honest with your kid.”
“I will,” I promised.
I hung up and leaned my head back against the seat, eyes on the ceiling for a second, letting the weight settle.
Holt drove toward the barn.
My mind kept circling one brutal, simple truth.
Tessa hadn’t just left the ranch.
She’d left me and Maddy. And I hadn’t realized until now how much I’d started thinking about her in my day-to-day life.
When we pulled up the drive, Maddy spotted the truck immediately. She was still in her riding clothes, hair pulled back, cheeks flushed from effort. She looked older than she had a month ago. Like life had been teaching her lessons she didn’t ask for.
She walked toward me fast, not running, but close. Brooke followed behind at a slower pace, eyes sharp and worried.
I stepped out of the truck.
Maddy didn’t bother with hello. “Where is she?”
My throat tightened. I crouched slightly, bringing myself closer to her height even though she was nearly there already.
“I don’t know,” I said carefully. “But I’m finding out.”
Her eyes filled, fast and furious. “Did she leave?”
I swallowed. “It looks like it.”
Maddy’s mouth trembled. She pressed her lips together like she was trying not to let the sound out. “Why?”
“I think she’s scared,” I said, because it was the cleanest truth I had. “And tired. And she thinks leaving is the only way to stop the pressure.”
Maddy shook her head hard. “That’s stupid.”
“It might be,” I said gently. “But when people are overwhelmed, they do things that feel like the only way to breathe.”
Her eyes flashed. “Did she say goodbye to you?”
The question hit deep. I forced myself to keep my voice steady. “No.”
Maddy’s face crumpled for a split second, then she straightened, anger sliding into place like amour. “So what are you going to do?”
I stood, slow. “I’m going to make sure the ranch doesn’t get taken from her. And then I’m going to go get her.”
Maddy’s gaze locked on mine. “And you’re going to bring her back.”
I hesitated, because I couldn’t promise what wasn’t mine to promise.
Maddy saw it. Her voice went sharp. “Don’t do that thing you do when you don’t want to tell me the truth.”
