Home was exactly how Iremembered it, right down to the rusted squeal of the front gate as I opened itfor Logan’scar.
They’d hear the gate all the wayup at the house, and by the time we got there, there’d be a welcome party.
Not forme, but sothey could all gawk at the newcomer. Logan wouldn’t know what hit him.
“Please don’t judge me basedon these people,” I said, climbing back into the SUV.
Logan chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’mplanning to judge them based on you.”
Logan was on my side. He’dalwaysbeen on my side,and there was no reason that should change now.
Where there should have beena cloud of dust kicking up behind the car, there was only the squelching of mudunder the tires as we rolled along the drive.
A pretty brindlethoroughbred I’dnever seen before gazed at me from the stables. That had to be Biscuit. Grandmahad mentioned her, but never sent a picture.
One good thing about beinghome, I guessed. I’d missed the horses. I’d missed the horses so much that onetime there’d been a petting zoo in the park and I’d cried over the tinyShetland pony kids were pestering with hay.
Gabe had laughed his ass offat me, but he’dalso hung around while I sat and let it eat out of my hand for a few minutes,breathing in the familiar smell. I hadn’t regretted leaving the horses for thesake of my own sanity, but in a perfect world I would have liked to have both.Horsesandfreedom.
I’dmade do with having just the one, now maybe I could make do with having justthe other. According to Grandma, Maisie was running the business into thegoddamn ground and was too proud and stubborn to ask for help.
“Friend of yours?” Loganasked, nodding to the horse.
I shook my head. “Newcomer. Allthe horses I knew are long gone.”
“You’ll have to make newfriends, then.”
Yeah. And as much as I lovedhorses, they weren’t quite the same as actual human friends.
My phone buzzed.
Gabe:settlingin?
Logan pulled up in front ofthe house next to my dad’s SUV.
Just arrived. Did you getthe storm we got?
My whole family poured outof the house at once, Dad in the lead, Grandma bringing up the rear. She caughtmy eye, wry apologies written all over her face.
Gabe: yeah. Wonderedif you got caught in it.
We did
I miss you and I want tocome home,I didn’t add.
This was home now. I wassafe here.
Safe for a given value ofthe word, anyway.
“Hey,” Logan said beside me,voice soft. “Keys are still in the ignition. I can take you anywhere.”
Tears pricked at my eyes. Ittook every fragment of willpower I could scrape together not to sobtake mehomeat him.
He would have done it, too. Icould see it in his face. He understood what this place was for me.
“Ash, I…”
A knock on the windowstartled him out of whatever he’d been about to say.
