It was the first clear objective she’d had in over three months. The thought was a hollow ache in her chest. She wanted him. She wanted to curl in the stall next to him, lay her head on his flank, and sleep until the world wasn’t a scary place anymore.
Another gate materialized out of the darkness, this one a heavy black-painted steel, set between two massive stone pillars. A metal sign arched overhead, the letters cut from the same dark steel. She couldn’t make it out. She killed her headlights, hoping the ambient starlight would be enough.
As if the moon wanted to help, it broke through a thin veil of clouds, and the light caught the sign, and she could read what was written there.Stronghold Ranch.
That’s it.
A shudder ran through her, a tremor that had nothing to do with the chilly night air seeping through the truck’s vents. Her hand hovered over the gearshift. For a full minute, she considered putting the Jeep in reverse. She could turn around, drive away. Disappear back into the night. No one would ever have to know she’d come here.
He needs me.
“I need Rain.”
Her jaw clenched, and she shifted the truck into park, then killed the engine. The sudden silence was deafening, broken only by the frantic drumming of her own heart and the distant chirp ofcrickets. She got out and peered at the sign mounted on the gate, but couldn’t make out what it said. She moved closer, her boots crunching on the gravel drive.
PRIVATE PROPERTY.
Deliveries by Appointment Only.
All Visitors must be escorted.
For Access, text for Authorization Code
Her stomach plummeted into her boots. There was a phone number on the sign but of course she had no authorization code.
Why wouldn’t there be a freaking authorization code?
Of course, there freaking is.
She vaguely remembered the clipped, professional way Rowan had spoken to his team, the way he’d navigated the world of covert airstrips and private jets.
This isn’t the folksy horse ranch it used to be.
“Hello?” Her voice was a pathetic croak, but she cleared her throat and tried again, louder, this time. “Hello! Is anyone there?” But only the crickets answered while she searched the gatepost for a call button, an intercom, anything.
There was nothing but smooth, cold stone and the red, blinking lens of a security camera she hadn’t noticed before. It was aimed right at her.
Are they watching me?
Why aren’t they opening the gate?
They were ignoring her. She didn’t blame them for thinking she was a crazy person showing up in the middle of the night. She was a crazy person for doing it. But dang it, they had Rain, and while she knew he was probably better off without her, she hadn’t agreed to it. She thought she’d have more time to figure her shit out.
She looked back at the Jeep, then at the impenetrable gate, and briefly considered ramming the gate, but figured that would end in disaster.
Already cray-cray, remember?
No.
The word was a silent scream in her head. She would not give up. They had her boy, and she was going in there to see him. Her eyes scanned the gate and the fence that stretched on either side of it. The gate was at least ten feet high, and there were no easy handholds.
Well, that doesn’t look too friendly.
They obviously don’t like visitors.
Her gaze fell on the heavy cross-bracing and followed it up to the decorative scrollwork that formed the Stronghold ‘SHR’ logo in the center. It wasn’t a ladder, but it might be enough.
Climb it.
