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Sky came up on the poles and paused, Crow stopping on a dime as if he’d read her mind. “I think that—”

My phone ringing interrupted her, and I pulled it out, surprised to see it was my dad. Since it wouldn’t cause issues if we paused, and Dad wouldn’t call unless he needed me, I held it up.

“Sorry. One minute.” I tapped the screen and held it to my ear. “What’s up?”

“Don’t panic,” Dad said, his voice that eerie calm I’d only heard a few times in my life. When panicking was absolutely the right response.

“What’s wrong?” I demanded, anxiety crawling up my throat.

“Laura showed up at the school, drunk and causing a scene. The sheriff had to be called. Your mom is heading—”

“I’ll be right there. Tell her not to leave without me.”

“Son, she’s got—”

“Five minutes.” I hung up on him. “I have to go.”

I didn’t wait for Sky’s response, just took off. I had to get to Shiloh. He trusted me to protect him and he needed to see I would always come for him. Ez was a little surprised we were running, since I hardly ever pushed him faster than a lope. But once he realized I was serious, he got with the program.

The ground was mostly frozen, and the thump of his hooves on the dirt would be satisfying if I wasn’t worried out of my head. I’d never been so glad I updated the gate between the properties to be automatic than I was in that moment. It swung open and I didn’t even stop to make sure it closed. I spurred Ez on, and his huge hooves ate up the ground, racing toward the house.

Mom was in her SUV when I arrived, idling at the turn off to the drive. I pulled back on Ez’s reins. He didn’t want to stop, since he was having so much fun, but he listened because underneath it all, he was a very good boy. I hopped off and wrapped his reins around the hitching post by Barn 1. It was a very sloppy job, but he was trained for it, and I’d text Crew to come get him once I was in the car.

I barely had the passenger door closed before Mom took off, driving too fast.

“What happened?”

She shook her head, gaze fixed on the road, determination hardening her features. “Principal Meyers called. Said Laura was drunk off her ass, banging on doors and windows, and wouldn’t listen to anyone. Just screaming Shiloh’s name. I don’t know if he heard. I don’t know anything more than that.”

“Fuck,” I bit out.

“Fuck indeed,” she murmured, and it got a brief smile out of me, because Mom was incredibly judicious with her curse words.

The drive to the elementary school was the longest fifteen minutes of my life, and I’d been deployed. I was so tense my muscles hurt. Lucky for us, the security guard knew my mom, and so it was a quick few minutes to get visitor passes. We headed straight for the office, Mom power walking and me needing to jog to keep up.

Three women met us inside, and Shiloh was sitting in one of the chairs, arms wrapped around himself, eyes wide and staring at the floor. He looked up after a second and stood, then he ran right into Mom’s waiting arms.

“Mimi,” he said, in a hiccupping voice, and then started crying. Mom immediately knelt down and hugged him close.

“Bodhi,” one of the women said, and I turned. It took me a second, but I recognized her as Danielle Meyers. She’d been Judson and Keegan’s second grade teacher. Apparently she was now the principal. “This is Michelle Weaver. She’s with the Department of Human Services. Ms. Weaver, this is Bodhi Harrington.”

I fought to keep my face neutral even as my stomach dropped out. If DHS was here it couldn’t be good.

“Ms. Weaver,” I acknowledged. “What can you tell us?”

She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. Then she motioned with her head to the side, and the two of us stepped farther into the office. I looked back at Mom and Shiloh. Mom was holding his face and using her thumbs to wipe his tears, talking softly. Shiloh was nodding.

“Mr. Harrington,” Weaver began, her voice sounding tired. “Because of the circumstances of today, and what Ms. Bennett was shouting, I’m here to take custody of Shiloh.”

Rage boiled in my gut. I kept it in check, but barely. “My parents have guardianship.”

She nodded. “I saw the document. And it’s…Look, can I be blunt?”

“I wish you would,” I said, a growl in my voice.

Another nod. “I’ve spoken with Principal Meyers and I’ve seen the document, as I’ve said. It matters little in this situation unfortunately. What I can say is that Shiloh is not unknown to us, there will be an emergency hearing within seventy-two hours, and your parents have options. Everything will be assessed and Shiloh’s best interest will be what matters most.”

I got that she was trying to tell me something, but I didn’t understand what. But I also understood that I couldn’t push. She was there for Shiloh, and until she knew that the best place for him was with Mom and Dad, at the ranch, she wouldn’t commit to anything. I did nothing to ease my worry and my anger, but it would have to do for now.