Page 62 of Ride the Sky

Ford arches a brow. “Tossing that word around a lot for someone who says it’s just business.”

“Been married longer than you,” I say coolly.

Ford’s jaw drops. At first, I think he’s going to hit me. Then he laughs. “Got me good, you little shit.”

We stand snickering in the hallway. It feels damn good to laugh for a second.

“D?” Ford inclines his head.

We all swing our heads to look at Davis, who’s been silent for the last few minutes.

“I told Dakota Fallon would be okay,” Davis says, emotion catching in his throat.He turns to the wall, hiding his grief behind a big hand. “And she isn’t.”

I understand my older brother’s duty. His promise to his wife. His promise to Stede. But it’s my turn now.

I turn to Davis, my heart clenching, and look him dead in the eyes. “Listen, D, I know you’re worried about her. But I’ll make sure she’s okay. I swear it.”

His mouth curves up at the corner. “I know you will.” Davis claps my shoulder, and the guilt from the last few days leaves me. “Although, I can’t say I’m thrilled about y’all goin’ off on some sort of choose-your-own-adventure game.”

“They’ll be okay,” Charlie says. “They’re in town. If they need anything, they’ll call.” He looks at me. “We’re all here.”

I shoot him a grateful look.

Me and Fallon. Playing house. Just what we fucking need.

Dakota and I arrive in Resurrection at four in the afternoon. Blue skies, jagged mountains, crisp alpine air. As we speed past the welcome sign, my stomach flips.

The last two days have been a blur of motels and freeways and gas stations. But here we are.

This isn’t how I wanted to come back. For the last nine months, I buried Resurrection far in my mind. But now…

Now I’m here and have to make the best of it.

Although, after ten days spent in the hospital, home seems pretty good at the moment. I’m ready to get back to life. Or some semblance of it. I’ve been given exercises to continue doing at home, a referral to a PT in town, and a pharmacy of pills.

While everyone else packed up my shit, including my horses, and headed back to Resurrection, Davis, Dakota, and Wyatt stayed with me through my time in the hospital. Wyatt slept in a chair beside my bed, refusing to leave my hospital room except for all the times Davis threatened bodily harm until he showered and changed.

“How are you feeling?” Dakota’s quiet voice fills the space. “You must be so stiff.”

“I’m fine, Koty. Christ,” I grumble. I swear she’s asked me at least ten times today. Stiff from the commute, I shift in the backseat. The pain in my hip is unbearable, as if someone has litmy leg on fire. Not like I’d tell Dakota that. My sister’s become a mother hen. Almost worse than Wyatt. He’s been a gnat. Hovering, always hovering.

I glance behind me through the rear window. Davis and Wyatt hot on our wheels.

There was no way I was driving back with Wyatt. Just us. I confessed too much in the hospital as it is.

Fear needles its way under my skin as Dakota turns onto Melody Drive. My charmingly quirky lavender cottage is tucked at the end of a dead-end street. Located between Runaway Ranch and Resurrection, it’s a perfect mix of desolate and quiet.

“We’re here.” Dakota’s voice rises in pitch. Too cheerful, too optimistic. “You’re home.”

I turn my gaze to the window.Home.

I hate that word. I had thought Arizona would be a new life, a new purpose, but it’s all gone. Poof, a blink of an eye, a bad ride on a bull. Now what do I have? Now who am I?

“I did it,” Dakota says as if reading my thoughts. “Broken bones. Going back home. You can, too.”

I look down at my hands. When I think of all the shit I gave her after she came back home. I was an asshole. I look up to say something, to apologize. Instead my words fall short.

“Oh god.” I groan as my ivy-covered cottage comes into view. A fleet of big rigs line the street. “She didn’t.”

---