Page 22 of Outlawed

I press my head against hers, and she holds steady, sensing my sadness. I feel her trying to soothe me, but I’m not sure I’m ready to be soothed just yet. I get her ready to go and climb on, giving her a kiss before I click my tongue. She takes over, knowing what I want. I shut out everything and everyone and just ride. Willow picks up speed, moving faster and faster until the world becomes a blur. By the time she slows down, my face is damp with tears, but my heart feels a little lighter.

A knocking sound hits my brain, making me sigh. I wait for Willow to stop before I slide off her. I look around to make sure I’m alone and then pull my power to the surface. The house reacts, stroking an imaginary hand over my head in comfort. Somehow it now knows about Dawn.

I climb over the fence and walk through the flowers, moving to the section that holds the deadliest. Sitting beside it, I trail my fingers over jade green leaves and tiny purple flowers when I hear his footsteps.

“I was worried,” Austin admits as he sits down beside me.

“I’m fine.”

“And yet you’re stroking a plant that would kill most people.”

“I’m not most people.”

“I know,” he says softly.

He’s quiet for a moment, so I let my eyes close and listen to the soothing sounds of the pasture. The slight breeze rustling the flowers, the hum of bees pollinating them, and the chirp of crickets basking in the waning light.

“Riggs called Jen.”

“Shit, I forgot.”

“It’s okay. He has it covered. Jen talked to David. He’s keeping Hannah overnight. She’s excited to have a sleepover with the girls. Jen will pick her up tomorrow and bring her home.”

I nod and swallow. She deserves that. One last night as a carefree child before it’s all ripped away from her.

“I know now is not the time, but⁠—”

“If you ask me what’s going to happen now between you and me, I’ll thump you.”

“Okay, that’s fair.”

I sigh, rubbing my hand down my face. I look over at him and find his eyes on me. “I don’t know where we go from here. There is no book on how to get over shit like this.”

“I know.”

“Do you? Because you’re looking at me for answers I don’t have.”

“I just don’t want you to hate me anymore.”

“I wish it were that simple.”

“Do you want me to leave? The ranch, I mean.”

“Would you go if I said yes?”

“Probably not.”

“You’re so lucky my powers don’t work on you right now.”

“I have a machete you can borrow.”

“Of course you do. I forgot who I was talking to for a second.” Actually, that thought brings me up short. “You said you got out of the business. Could you find Porter without all those resources?”

“I said I got out of that business. Not that I was out of business completely.”

I sigh, fighting the urge to take him up on his machete offer.

“I can find him, but I don’t doubt Shepard can too.”