He’s silent for a moment. “Lark Gatlin?”
“Yes, she was helping Sadie with her horse, and Cloud returned without Lark. I’m worried. I’ve been out searching, butI’m never going to find her and…I need to find her. I have to make sure she’s all right.”
He clears his throat. “I’m not sure what to say.”
“Say you’ll help me find her. It’s…complicated, but…Lark is…well, I need to talk to her and explain. Just send a search party or something.”
I hear Jimmy cover the phone with his hand, then the muffled sound of him talking to someone. After a few seconds, he comes back on the line. “Tristan, look, I don’t know what’s going on with you and Lark, but the reason I can’t come look for her is because I’m with the Gatlins now.”
“What? Is she okay? Do you have her?” I ask the questions in rapid fire.
He doesn’t say anything for a few beats. “Before I answer anything, can you tell me the nature of your relationship with Lark?”
“I love her,” I say instantly.
Jimmy lets out a deep sigh. “I was worried that was the case. Then I suggest you come down to the hospital.”
I rush back to the ranch and drop my horse off to Veronica. I don’t say anything to her other than to put him up for me. She asks questions, but I’m already heading to the main house.
Jimmy wouldn’t give me any other information, just that it wasn’t great and I should get to the hospital.
Sadie is on the front porch with my dad, who’s holding her on the swing.
“Daddy?” Sadie asks. “Did you find her?”
I shake my head. “No, but someone did. I have to go to the hospital.”
“Can I go?” Sadie asks quickly.
“No, baby, I need you to stay here with Grandad.” I look to my father. “I have to make sure she’s okay.”
“I’m sorry, Daddy. I shouldn’t have.”
I go to her and pull her to my chest, then kiss the top of her head. “It’s okay. I’ll tell her when I see her, and everything will be fine.”
Sadie’s tears fall, and I glance up at my dad. “I have to go to her.”
My father nods slowly. “All right. Sadie and I will stay here and wait for your call.”
I expected him to say or do something to stop me. To remind me that we don’t particularly care about Gatlins or their health. He doesn’t, and while a part of me wants to ask him why that is, I don’t.
I need to get to her. To see whether she’s okay. To tell her I’m sorry. That I love her. That I’m willing to do anything she wants, if she’ll just forgive me for being a stupid ass.
The entire drive, my mind is going in circles. Hating that we fought. Hating myself for not going to her before and telling her how sorry I am.
I knew the minute she left that I’d fucked up.
I just wasn’t ready to face it.
I needed time to work through it. To come to my understanding, but I was a fool.
I didn’t need time. I just needed her.
As I park the car, everything feels like a blur. I make my way through the front door, and Jimmy is there waiting for me.
“Where is she?” I ask, not wasting any time.
He puts his hand on my chest. “She’s in the ICU. Look, I don’t think you should go in there. The family is distraught, and I think?—”
