Page 41 of Unfinished Noise

“Hey, girl,” Jamie murmured, brushing her coat. The rhythm calmed Jamie—long strokes, soft bristles, the familiar smell of hay and leather.

Across the aisle, Alfie brushed Thunder, humming under his breath. Thunder flicked his ears, leaning into the brush as if he’d missed Alfie.

All the horses had come from the ranch in Montana. Spencer had gifted each of them one, including Nathan. Jamie smiled at the memory. Spencer had been so proud, so excited, as if giving everyone a horse was the most natural thing in the world.

Jamie was about to saddle Daisy when the stable door creaked open.

“There you two are!” Tom’s voice echoed through the barn.

Jamie stiffened. Alfie froze mid‑brush.

They turned around slowly.

Tom stood there in his uniform, hands on his hips, looking like he’d been searching for them all morning.

Jamie’s stomach dropped. Oh, no. Spencer called him.

“Where were you two?” Tom asked.

Jamie frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Your Daddy Spencer wants you to call him,” Tom said. “And your Daddy Nathan wants you to call him, Alfie.”

Alfie’s face went pale.

Jamie’s heart thudded. “How do you know that?”

“Spencer called me,” Tom said. “He said you left the hotel room. They can’t reach either of you.”

Jamie rubbed the back of his neck. “We were going to call later. When they’re awake.”

“Jamie,” Tom said, tone firm, “he said to call as soon as I find you. Both of you call now. I’m not leaving until you do.”

Jamie sighed. “Our phones are home. Charging.”

“Then you two need to come with me,” Tom said. “I’ll take you home, and I want to see you each call.”

Jamie muttered, “I can’t believe Daddy Spencer called you.”

Tom raised an eyebrow. “Believe it.”

Jamie had tightened Daisy’s girth when Tom’s boots echoed across the stable floor. Alfie stiffened beside Thunder, brush frozen mid‑stroke.

Alfie’s shoulders crept up toward his ears. Jamie stepped a little closer to him.

“We were going to call later,” Jamie said. “After the horses. After things calmed down.”

Tom shook his head. “No. Spencer said to call as soon as I found you.”

Jamie exchanged a quick glance with Alfie—one that said Do we have to? Can we have a little more time?

Alfie whispered, “We just got here.”

Jamie nodded. “Yeah. We’re not running off. We needed space.”

Tom softened a little, but not enough. “You two left the hotel without a word.”

Jamie’s jaw tightened. “We left a note.”