Page 16 of Wilde Hearts

She let out a long breath. “I’m glad you’re here. I hate that it took your father having a heart attack to bring you home…but I’m very happy you’re here.”

Guilt hit me so hard that I found it hard to breathe.

“I never meant to cause you, Dad, or Ensley pain.”

Her eyes met mine. I knew she wanted to say more. Call my bullshit, because I knew damn well leaving and staying gone for so long had done exactly that—caused unimaginable pain.

“We should get back to check on your father. I can give you the key to my room if you’d like to head there and rest for a bit.”

I nodded. “It would be nice to take a shower and get out of these clothes. I’ve been in them for over twenty-four hours. A storm moved through Banff, and we were stuck at the airport waiting it out for a while.”

Reaching into her purse, she took out the room key and handed it to me. “Granby Resort Hotel. Room 407.”

I took the key card and slipped it into my wallet. We stood and headed back to my father’s room, both of us silent as we walked. Not long after returning to his room, the doctor came in and gave us an update on when my father would be released. They wanted him to stay at least two more days, then they’d likely release him.

“Dad, why don’t you try to get some sleep?” I said, after we had talked for over an hour about my time in Banff since their visit last summer. My father was genuinely curious about my work and about the ranch itself. They didn’t see much of it last year, or the year before, when they came out for visits. I’d taken them around to see all the sites, instead. Banff was so beautiful, and I really enjoyed my time there.

But in the end, it wasn’t River Falls.

“I am a bit tired.”

My mother gave me a look. “You go to the hotel and rest, too. Not just shower.”

I nodded. “We can take shifts.”

She simply smiled.

Standing, I made my way over to my father and kissed him on the forehead. When Mom started to stand, I said, “No, don’t get up.” I kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll be back in a bit.”

“I mean it. Take a nap, Colt. You look exhausted,” she ordered.

I laughed. “A nap sounds like heaven right now. I’m not even sure about the last time I ever took a nap.”

She squeezed my hand. “Get something to eat, as well. You hardly touched the food at the café.”

I said my goodbyes and, an hour later, I’d showered and changed, then laid down to catch a bit of rest. I set my alarm so I wouldn’t sleep too long. I texted my mother that I’d bring dinner later, so she didn’t have to eat at the hospital café again, then closed my eyes and quickly drifted off.

It felt like only five minutes had passed when my alarm blared.

I swung my legs off the bed and stood. The quick two-hour nap helped more than I thought it would. I was honestly surprised I hadn’t dreamt about Ensley. I often did, and since I’d seen her in the flesh earlier, I thought for sure she’d occupy my dreams, but I’d slept deeply for those two hours, for which I was grateful.

I changed out of my sweats and slipped on jeans and a long-sleeved shirt with the Lazy T Ranch logo. I grabbed my baseball cap, put it on since my hair was a mess, and headed out of the room toward the elevator. I pulled out my phone and checked my email. The owner of the Lazy T had emailed me with a few questions. I hated that I’d left him high and dry, but I did recommend Charles, one of the ranch hands, as a great fit to take my place. The kid was young, but he knew everything that happened on the ranch.

The doors to the elevator opened and I stepped inside. I could see out of the corner of my eye that someone else was already in the elevator, but I didn’t look up. I turned and reached for the lobby button, seeing it was already lit. The moment the doors shut, I somehow knew who was there with me.

I glanced over my shoulder and saw Ensley, so far in the opposite corner that I thought she was trying to climb the wall.

“Ensley.”

She started to say something when the elevator came to an abrupt halt.

We both froze for a few moments, neither of us saying anything. I went to reach for the elevator phone when the damn thing jerked back to life.

Looking at her, I let out a laugh. “That would have been awkward to be trapped in here together.”

She didn’t say anything, only offered me an icy stare.

The doors opened to the lobby, and she quickly slipped out and practically sprinted away.