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I glanced in the rearview mirror, the road behind as empty as the one ahead. In this case, it was more than just a chance to set things right, to prove that Danny Lopes was more than his mistakes. It was a chance to do some real good, to rid Silver Creek of the poison seeping through its veins.
I turned off the main road, the familiar path to my place coming into view. The house was modest, a solitary figure against the backdrop of the Montana sky. I pulled up, the gravel crunching under the tires—a sound that usually brought a sense of relief, of coming home. But tonight, it was just noise.
With a deep breath, I stepped out of the truck, the cool evening air a brief respite. The house loomed in front of me, dark and still.
And as I stood there, I knew one thing for certain—I'd see this through to the end, no matter what it took. Because for Danny Lopes, this wasn't just a case. It was the path to redemption or ruin, and there was no turning back now.
Chapter Two
Heather
Ipaced the length of my childhood bedroom, the phone feeling like a lead weight in my hand. My heart hammered against my ribcage, each beat a reminder of the conversation I was about to have. I stopped in front of the window, staring out at the Billings skyline, the familiarity of it all suddenly suffocating.
Taking a deep breath, I dialed the number I knew by heart, the number that belonged to the man I was about to let go. The line rang, each tone echoing in the silence of the room.
"Hey, Heather!" His voice came through the phone, cheerful and unsuspecting. My stomach twisted into knots.
"Hey," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. I clutched the phone tighter, the plastic creaking under my grip.
"Everything okay? You sound... off," he said, his tone shifting to concern.
I took another deep breath, closing my eyes. "We need to talk."
There was a pause, the kind that stretches on forever. "Okay... talk to me."
I sat down on the edge of my bed. "It's about us... I've been thinking, and I... I don't think this is going to work."
Silence. Then, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you're in Chicago now, and I... I need to be somewhere I can work with horses. It's what I want to do; it's what I'm passionate about. And that's not really an option in the city."
"So, what? Are you breaking up with me?"
"I think it's for the best. We're heading in different directions, and the distance... it's not helping."
"You're kidding, right?" There was an edge to his words now, a hint of anger. "After all this time, you're just going to throw it away because of some fucking horses?"
I flinched at his tone, the sharpness of it cutting through me. "It's not just about the horses. It's about what I want, what I need. And I don't think that's something I can find here or with you in Chicago."
There was a heavy sigh on the other end. "So that's it then? Just like that?"
I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting back the tears. "I'm sorry. I really am. But I have to do what's right for me."
The line went quiet, the silence heavy and suffocating. Then, finally, "Fine. If that's what you want. Goodbye, Heather."
I let the phone slip from my hand, landing softly on the bed. My heart ached, relief and sorrow washing over me. I knew I had made the right decision, but that didn't make it any easier.
I stood up, wiping the tears from my cheeks. I couldn't stay in this room, in this house, surrounded by the memories of a life I was trying to move past.
But as I stood there, the uncertainty of the future looming before me, I felt a twinge of fear. Was I ready for this? Could I really make it on my own?
"Time to find out," I whispered to myself, a small smile tugging at my lips.
I descended the stairs to the dining room. My dad sat at the head of the table, surrounded by a sea of pamphlets, each one flaunting a prestigious graduate program for veterinary studies. He looked up, his eyes softening as he took in my downtrodden expression.
"You okay?" he asked with concern.
I forced a weak smile, "Yeah, just sad."
