Page 70 of Saddles

“Are you going to talk to her today?” I ask quietly.

A tinge of jealousy runs through me.

He gets to see her, but I don’t.

That irritates me.

“Yea, I have a note to Dix to let me know when she’s done at the clinic.”

“Wade?” I struggle to keep my tone level. “Go easy.”

He chuckles, which pisses me off more.

“I’m always nice to the ladies. You gonna be there?”

I’m wishing I was, if only to run interference. “No, waiting on Sawyer to come up.” It’s only half true.

An hour ago, I wouldn’t have left. But the reality of knowing she’s down there, having to deal with all of this bullshit makes me wish I had arranged to leave with her.

“Oh, well, I’ll keep an eye on her for ya. Don’t you worry.” With another laugh, he hangs up.

I want to throw the sat phone.

I’m on a fucking rollercoaster, and I can’t decide if I’m jumping off in a peak or a valley.

Because I don’t know if I can handle this ride.

Chapter 22

April

Numb.

Or maybe I’m just an idiot.

I thought he’d at least say he wanted me to stay.

He must have been playing nice until I left.

The snowy ground slips away, but I don’t want to watch.

I feel like I left a piece of my heart behind, and it makes me angry that he doesn’t even care.

Well screw him.

All of them. Everyone.

I don’t need any help. I can do all this shit by myself.

“We’re landing, you’ll feel a bump.” The speaker crackles in the headset.

I almost forgot it was there.

A whirl of white keeps me from seeing very far outside, just vague shapes of buildings poke out around us.

The shock of cold when the door opens startles me out of my pity party, and I follow the man in the jumpsuit out past the rotors to a small group of people.

There’s two tall men in cowboy hats, each with their arms draping around a woman.

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