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Someone held my shoulders, gave me a little shake.

I blinked and my vision cleared. Warren gripped my arms and studied my face with concern. Cheryl was over his shoulder on one side, Eddie on the other.

“Eva?”

“I’m fine.” I shook him off and pushed away.

I wasn’t. I wanted to thank Cheryl for all she’d done. But I was drowning. Victor’s words right before the class started swirled and grew louder in my ears.

“I need some space,” I said. “I’ll be back later.”

I fled the small crowd as fast as I could, hoping no one followed me. I needed to breathe.

I jumped on Acorn bareback, and as I held on to her mane, I nudged her with my heels through the paddock gate, then closed it behind us. I leaned forward, held tightly to her silky hair, and kicked her sides.

She bolted forward, and Birkstrom disappeared behind us.

Warren

“That’s not the first time she’s run away from me.” Cheryl handed me the truck keys and winked. “I guess I have that effect on people.”

I couldn’t find the energy to smile at her joke, and she deflated a bit. Eddie wandered back to help the guys clean more of the damaged cabins.

Cheryl put a hand on my arm. “Don’t worry about her. She’s tough.”

I wasn’t sure Cheryl knew all of what Eva was facing. The nightmares on top of nightmares, and the looming threat that piled on even more of her greatest fears. The burden she’d brought home from years of combat.

Eva wanted to save people and animals. With the Merricks burning down pieces of her ranch bit by bit, she didn’t even have a hospital or headquarters to fall back to.

I started to follow Eva’s path, but Cheryl pulled my arm to stop me. Her humor was gone and her gaze was heavy with meaning. “Perhaps she should work this out on her own.”

I straightened and faced her. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve heard a rumor that you might be moving to DC.” Cheryl crossed her arms. “So maybe she needs to sort through all of this without you.”

Cheryl, the queen of gossip.

“I would never hurt her.” Not intentionally. Wasn’t the plan in August to leave? I wouldn’t have anything other than a few spare weekends to visit Phantom—to see her—once I started my term as senator. “Have you told Eva?” I asked.

“No. This one’s on you, soldier.” Cheryl stepped closer and lifted her eyebrows at me. “A client would wait here while their trainer took some time alone.”

I knew that was true. I shouldn’t go after her.

“See you at the banquet on Saturday,” Cheryl said.

“I’m not sure that makes sense to attend right now.”

“After the splash she made yesterday?” Cheryl pointed at me. “If you want her to line up new clients to get this place back up and running, you’ll get her to Seattle.”

Moments later, she departed, along with the groom she’d brought, driving the borrowed truck and trailer.

Eva hadn’t bothered with a halter or saddle. Acorn was well trained, but what if she fell, hit her head?

Cheryl’s advice rang through my mind. Would I send the wrong message if I went to find her? If it had been Eddie who ran off, would I be as concerned?

Eva had been clear about our relationship. Client and trainer.

I knew where she was going—her sanctuary at Beacon’s Bluff. I remembered the route, and Autumn did too.