“I don’t regret him one bit. Not even when he’s misbehaving. Sometimes, I think he saved me,” I admitted.
A few years ago, before I got him, I was in a rough place. The anxiety caused by the fear that my father would somehow get out of prison combined with homesickness and grief of not speaking to my mom had accumulated and manifested into depression. Even though I had Lucky, Pancho gave me another routine to follow. And training him was unpredictable, so he always made things interesting.
“I’m really glad you two found each other,” Hayden murmured.
I offered him a soft smile. “Me, too.”
The rest of the drive to Goldfinch was quiet, but the tension had eased between us. Crazy what a little bit of fresh air could do for a person.
Once I’d gotten the keys to my pickup and loaded Pancho into the cab, Hayden stopped me before I could climb into the driver’s side.
“You should stay,” he blurted. “In Silver Creek. At least until the end of the season, that is. You still don’t have a horse trailer, and I do. I don’t want you to be stressed trying to buy a new one while competing and maintaining your spot in the standings.”
“Oh, well, I—” I stumbled over my words. “I guess I could.”
“It’s really not a—wait, yes? You’ll stay?” His features lit up, hope shining in his eyes.
“Yeah, Hayes. I’ll stay.” I offered a soft smile before clarifying. “Just until the end of the season, though. Then I need to figure out how to get a new trailer. Let me pay you rent, too.”
“That’s not necessary.”
I stopped him, holding up a hand so he’d let me speak. “Yes, it is. You wouldn’t let anyone else stay with you for free. Just because we… It’s necessary. Please. Just let me do this.”
“Okay, fine.” He raised his hands in resignation, although I was convinced he would try to sneak the money back to me at some point.
“Thank you. I’ll see you back in Silver Creek, okay?” I climbed into the driver’s side. Pancho was already waiting for me to roll down the passenger-side window so he could stick his head out. When I reached over to close my door, Hayden grabbed it, holding on to it for a second.
“Drive safe. I’ll see you at home.” He closed the door gently, giving me a small wave before walking back over to his vehicle.
Home.
My brain latched onto the word and the weight it held.
Could Silver Creek ever be home for me? I wasn’t sure.
I’d never really had a home before, and I questioned whether I deserved one, especially one where Hayden was concerned.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
hayden
I’d convinced Sierra to stay with me for the rest of the rodeo season, and a weight felt like it had been lifted off my shoulders. She may not have believed that the fire and saddle tampering were related, but I had this nagging feeling deep down in my gut that told me otherwise. Maybe she was right, and I felt that way purely because of my dad being a police officer, but I also believed that one could never be too safe. Best case, nothing happened. Worst case, the events were related, and we had to put extra security measures in place to prevent further harm.
Next week, we’d head out on the road to Pendleton, Oregon. It gave me some comfort in knowing I’d be with Sierra at all times in case something went wrong. But also if something did happen while we were on the road, it would only solidify my theory that someone was targeting her—someone who was also competing in the rodeo circuit.
I pulled into my driveway after a long trip of thinking. My brain never shut off—couldn’t shut off—when it came to Sierra. It was always eitherbrainstorming ways to get her back, wondering how everything went wrong all those years ago, or dwelling on her safety.
Some may have called it obsessive or possessive, but it didn’t come from a place of control. I just genuinely didn’t know what I would do if I lost her again.
Sierra got home not too long after I did, parking her pickup next to mine. Dark spots formed half-moons under her eyes, and her shoulders were hiked up halfway to her ears. I could tell the last few weeks had taken a toll on her, and I wanted to do whatever I could to help relieve her stress.
She pushed through the front door without a word, and an idea hit me as I followed her inside. My plan wasn’t anything too crazy, just something to take the edge off and, selfishly, spend more time with her.
While sleep was important, there was a difference between resting and wallowing in bed, and I feared the latter was what Sierra planned to do. Besides, other than going to Rudy’s and running into town for errands, I didn’t think she’d had much of an opportunity to explore Silver Creek.
“Grab a jacket, some of the sandwiches in the fridge, and Pancho’s leash.” I tapped her on the shoulder before she could get settled on the couch or disappear into her room. “Oh, and whatever other snacks you like.”
“What? Why?” A puzzled look flashed across her face.
