This was a nightmare.
A tiny silver sedan rolled into the ranch yard.
My attention locked on it instantly.
The joking vanished.
The laughter stopped.
Every protective instinct I possessed came alive.
The car slowed.
Parked.
And Sadie stepped out.
The tension disappeared immediately.
Relief hit me so hard it was almost embarrassing.
Unfortunately.
The Magnolia Ladies noticed.
Of course, they noticed.
Mrs. Jenkins patted my arm.
"There it is."
"What?"
"That look."
I frowned.
"What look?"
"The one a man gets when the woman he loves comes home safely."
I stood.
Finished with this conversation.
Finished with all of them.
Finished forever.
"I'm leaving."
"You can't."
"Watch me."
"Sadie's walking this way."
I stopped.
