I may have overdone that part, but I’m irrationally happy about it.
My jealous side came out to play, and I didn’t hold it back at all. I let her dig her claws in, and now I’m worried I’ve embarrassed her in the process.
He told me so much, and I gave him so little in return. As I always do.
As we turn onto the road that leads to Gold Rush Ranch, I catch her checking her phone, since neither of us had reception going down the connector.
I want to look out and see who is sending him messages. Woodcock hasn’t stopped and neither has his father. But now she acts angry with me, so I don’t ask.
When we arrive at the luxurious racehorse training facility, I look at her again. All the blood has drained from his face and his eyes are glued to the screen, his finger hovering over it, trembling.
I look back toward the perfectly paved circular driveway, careful to turn wide enough to avoid a curve with the trailer. This place looks expensive to fix.
Where Wishing Well Ranch is all wood posts, dirt roads, and rustic finishes, this place is all glass, white vinyl fence posts, and modern touches throughout.
There’s a damn spider hanging over the barn entrance.
And below her is Violet.
Smiling.
And sobbing.
As soon as I park the vehicle, he runs to the truck, his face smudged and appearing next to me as he yanks the door open.
I’ve barely set my Blundstones on the asphalt when the words burst from his lips.
“They’ve found it!” You are safe. Salvo comes out like a sob, and she throws her small body towards me, her arms tight around my neck as I lift her off the ground.
They found him. You are safe.
They found him. You are safe.
They found him. You are safe.
The words resonate in my brain. If I repeat them enough times, I may assimilate them.
I feel the wetness of Violet’s tears. The little sister I still have. My chest opens. Because I’ve been so focused on how Beau’s disappearance felt to me, I forgot to think about the others.
I have been selfish. So fucking selfish.
-They got it. They got it, Jas.
I put my arms around her as she cries on my shoulder and my eyes fill.
-Where? As? I murmur against her hair.
-Don’t know. We’ve all tried calling you, but it goes to voicemail. No coverage, I guess. All I know is that they found him and he is receiving medical attention. I’m sure Dad will have more news.
We both sigh and I let her slowly fall to the ground. It’s so small, but now it seems even smaller.
She turns her head and sees Sloane standing at the front of the truck, looking at us, tears streaming down her face.
-Alright? -His voice breaks and his hand flies over his mouth to contain the sob.
Violet nods and opens her arms to her cousin to hug her. Sloane flies towards her, the two women hug each other and cry.
I wipe my nose and tilt my head toward the sky, hoping that the welling tears will spill again wherever they came from.
The sky is fucking blue, like Sloane’s eyes. Not a cloud as far as the eye can see. It’s not the first time I wonder what Beau is looking at right now. Bright hospital lights? An aircraft carrier of some kind? The back of your eyelids?
I see Cole, Violet’s husband, approaching us. It seems dark and foreboding, but it is not. Well, unless you’re the fool who scorned his wife, then he has the same military switch as Beau.
The switch is turned on and they become the man who can kill you with his bare hands.
He nods at me as his hand slides over the back of Violet’s neck, and I want to touch Sloane with the same comfort, the same possession.
When his wife turns to him and disappears into the cage of his arms, it is Sloane who turns to look at me.
“It’s okay,” he says again.
I nod, feeling my throat tighten and the bridge of my nose sting.
She approaches me at the same time I approach her. All the tension between us melts away because of how desperately we need each other. One of his hands grabs my shirt, while his right slides inside the jacket and rests on the tattoo. I squeeze her tightly and, when her forehead rests on my chest, I let my lips fall to the top of her hair.
As usual.
“We’re all fine,” I respond gruffly against her hair.
Pure relief runs through my veins.
She snuggles against me and I snuggle against her. We cling to each other as we have for most of our lives.
Because, no matter what happens in the world, everything is better with her in my arms.
24
Sloane
Sloane: Give your boys hugs for me. And yourselves. I can not believe it.
Summer: I can’t stop crying. I’m so relieved. We send you hugs.
Willa: I’ll hug Cade for you if you fuck Jasper for me.
Sloane: When I fuck Jasper, I’ll fuck him for myself.
Summer: Ooooooo! Possessive I like it.
Willa: Wait. Did you say WHEN?!
I am happy and exhausted at the same time. I’m back in a huge truck, but this time, Violet is behind the wheel. I’m sitting in the front passenger seat, and her three closest friends are in the back.
Billie, who has the gift of making us all laugh, proclaimed that unloading hay is a ‘boy’s’ job and that we should all go get wine and drink it straight from the bottle. It’s a little scary, if I’m honest.
It’s like Willa.
On crack.
Then there is Mira, with her black hair, her piercing eyes and her knowing smile. I feel like he knows all my deepest, darkest secrets just by looking at me.