Page 86 of Awaiting the Storm
Across the room, the three men shake hands, still smiling. Still toasting.
“I don’t understand. Why would they want Giles?”
“They’re going into horses.”
I cut my eyes to him. “What do you mean?”
He sighs. “I’ve heard rumors. Whispers around town that Holland was interested in turning part of Ironhorse into a horse ranch. That they’ve been buying horses. Then, yesterday, I saw a surveyor up on that land you sold to them, so I asked questions. They said they worked for a contracting firm out of Jackson that was starting a large-scale project to build an outdoor and indoor arena and other things up there.”
I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut.
“What? And you didn’t say anything?”
“I was going to when I had all the facts. And proof. But then I saw Giles and …”
“I thought he cared,” I whisper, mostly to myself.
Carl’s jaw tightens. “Yeah, well, men like him and Ludlow only care about one thing. Making money. And they don’t care who they have to screw over to get it.”
I stand up, stiff and slow. My hands tremble as I brush them down the front of my jeans. “I need to go.”
Carl doesn’t try to stop me. Just watches with sympathy in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Matty. Really.”
I walk past the bar, past the laughter, past the weight of betrayal settling on my shoulders. I don’t look at Caison as he approaches the hostess. I can’t bear to see the look on his face when he realizes what I’ve seen.
“Matty?” His voice rings out in surprise as I push through the double doors.
I just keep walking.
The cold air hits me like a physical slap as I break into a sprint.
“Matty, wait!”
I climb into my truck, lock the doors, and start the engine. I shift into drive and stomp on the gas pedal, shooting past him as he scans the parking lot.
The tears start to fall as I’m on the highway.
My phone starts ringing on the seat beside me. I don’t even bother looking at the screen. It’s either Caison or Carl, and I don’t want to talk to either of them at the moment. I just want to drive.
And I do.
Until the tears run dry.
Istand here in the parking lot, watching her taillights as she turns onto the road headed out of town.
She doesn’t look back. Doesn’t slow down. Doesn’t even hesitate. Just jerks a hard left and hits the gas.
And my heart sinks.
Shit.
What just happened?
I yank my phone from my pocket, thumbing her name faster than I can think. It rings once. Then again.
Straight to voicemail.
I let out a curse and grip the phone tight, resisting the urge to throw it across the parking lot.
