Page 71 of Dirty Cowboy

We hang up, and my unease shifts into something heavier.

Where the hell are you, Emma?

I dial my parents. Straight to voicemail.

“Dammit.” I rake a hand through my hair.

Think, Waters.

Then it hits me—the stables. Maybe she took Dash for a ride and lost track of time. I grab my boots and sprint outside.

The second I step into the barn, my stomach drops. Shadow’s stall is empty.

No. No, no, no.

I let out a sharp whistle. Dash thunders across the pasture, hooves kicking up dirt. I waste no time saddling him, swinging up and digging my heels into his sides.

“Emma!” I shout, my voice slicing through the open land.

Nothing.

I push Dash faster, heart slamming against my ribs, the wind cutting against my skin as I race across the open field. The afternoon sun burns overhead, but the heat barely registers. My focus is locked on one thing—Emma.

The sky dims, streaked with gold and deep indigo. My mind spirals—What if she got lost? What if she fell? What if Huntz?—

I grit my teeth and steer Dash north along the river, the panic clawing up my throat unbearable.

Then, just as the sun begins its descent, I see a lone figure bathed in twilight, standing by the water’s edge. Her silhouette is framed against the water’s shimmering surface. Shadow drinks beside Emma, completely at ease. Relief slams into me so hard I nearly forget to breathe. My grip tightens on the reins.

I slow Dash to a gallop, my chest heaving. She’s alive. Thankfuck, she’s alive.

But that relief is laced with pure, unfiltered frustration.

She scared theshitout of me.

"Emma!" I call out, my voice sharp, carried by the wind.

She turns and waves like nothing is wrong and like she hasn’t just scared the hell out of me. I jump off Dash before he fully halts, closing the distance between us in two strides. My hands clamp onto the reins, gripping them hard enough to turn my knuckles white.

I should be relieved. Iamrelieved. But all I feel is that raw, burning panic in my chest.

“What the fuck were you thinking, taking Shadow out?” I bark.

The afternoon sun blazes in the western sky, relentless and unyielding. Sweat trickles down my back as I duck into the stable, the scent of hay and warm earth wrapping around me. The sudden shade is a welcome relief, but the thick air inside clings to my skin, making me feel sticky and restless.

My phone buzzes in my palm, its vibration a sharp contrast to the stillness of the barn. I glance down, the glow of the screen cutting through the dim light. Three missed messages. Probably from Greg. Probably about work. A flicker of guilt twists in my stomach, but I shake it off and dial his number, plopping down on a stack of wheels as the call rings.

“Hey, beautiful. How’s my farm girl?” Greg’s voice is teasing, light.

“Good. Sorry, just got your messages. What’s going on?” I swipe at a strand of hair clinging to my cheek, swatting away a stubborn fly.

“I thought you’d want to know your brothers haven’t been in the office since you left,” he says. “Gabe’s here, holding down the fort, but it’d be nice to have you back.”

I sigh. “They’re probably with Dad. He’s not doing great.” The weight of those words sits heavy on my chest. “Is Gabe managing okay?”

“Yeah, he’s fine. I just miss you,” Greg says, his voice dipping slightly.

I chuckle. “Bored, are you? Maybe you should come here—this town is full of surprises. Actually, I’m glad I caught you. I need a favor.”

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