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“Yes,” she sighs. “He wasn’t too happy about leaving the bar, but what can we do? We locked it all up and did the best we could.” She shrugs.
“I’m sorry; I don’t think you two have met. Krissy, this is my friend Addie.” I introduce the two and let them talk while I keep my eyes scanning the room. I recognize a lot of the people here, but none of them are from the ranch.
“Dakota, do you need anything? They have coffee and tea over in the corner. I think they also brought out some snacks, but it wasn’t much from what I could see. I heard they are getting more things coming within the hour.”
I shake my head. “No, I’m not hungry.” At the mention of food, the burger and fries I ate earlier threatens to come up as more people walk in the door that aren’t from the ranch. Surely I should be able to recognize someone from there by now. Will they be going to a different evacuation spot? Where will they bring the animals?
Most importantly, why didn’t I think of this earlier?
“Hey,” Krissy says gently, placing her hand on mine, taking a seat next to me on my cot. “What’s going on? What aren’t you telling me?”
“Have you heard from Wyatt?”
“He texted me about ten minutes ago that they were just leaving the ranch. Why? Have you heard something?” Panic rises in her voice.
“No, I’m sure they’re fine. I just… I don’t know. Chance sounded off when I called him after getting the alert. I’m just anxious for him to get here, I guess.”
“I’m sure they’re fine. They’re tough cowboys, after all.” Krissy gives me a smile, letting me know that she meant for me to laugh, but I just can’t find myself able to do it. “Seriously, what’s going on Dakota?”
“I’m worried he’s going to do something stupid.”
“What do you mean?” Addie asks, moving over to sit on the other side of me.
“He, uh, told me he loved me on the phone.”
“What?!” Krissy and Addie both exclaim at the same time, gaining us a few wide eyes from the people around us.
“Before he hung up the phone, he said he loved me, or that he thinks he loves me with how much he knows about love, but I don’t know. Who says that out of the blue, in the middle of a fucking wildfire evacuation if you’re planning on seeing the person soon?”
They both stay silent, looking at each other past me, stunned.
“Please say something,” I plead.
“I’ve got nothing,” Addie says.
Krissy takes a moment before speaking. “I’ve known Chance my whole life. I know he talks a big game, but he has a big heart.”
“Deep, deep down,” Addie adds. I throw my elbow into her side before she adds a whispered, “Sorry.”
“He doesn’t show it often,” Krissy sends a pointed look at Addie. “But when he does, he’s all in. I’ve seen it with his friendship with Wyatt, and with the men on the ranch. He knows how to love, Dakota, he just doesn’t have experience with it. If he says he loves you, he means it.”
“I hope it’s enough for him to come here and be safe with me,” I whisper, staring at the door.
“One thing you need to know about being with a cowboy, the ranch is always going to be tied with being the most important thing in his life. That land has been in his family for generations. He’s not going to leave it without a fight.”
“That’s what I’m scared of.”
“But now you’ve also given him something else to fight for. Once he’s sure the ranch, cattle, and men are safe, he’ll come to you. I know he will.”
“That’s what I’m scared of,” I whisper.
What if the ranch isn’t safe? What if he gets all the men and animals out, but it’s the land he stays behind for?
What if he doesn’t leave at all?
Looking down at my phone, I see my text to Chance is still unread. No response. No calls.
“He’ll be okay,” Addie says, knocking her shoulder into mine.
