Page 70 of Christmas with the Cowboy
“Of course, Lex’s horse,” Trenna snapped. “She’s gone. The gate is down, but there are tracks and I’m going to follow them.”
Reed brought a hand up to his forehead as he looked out the kitchen window. It was a clear night, and the moon would be rising soon. But it was also cold. Not a night to be tramping after a horse alone.
“Wait for me.”
“No. The longer I wait, the farther away she’ll go.”
“Or she’ll go to the neighbor’s, seek out other horses.”
“Unless she gets scared and runs onto the mountain.”
“Wait for me.” The silence that followed told him that she had no intention of waiting for him. “Take your phone so I can find you.”
“I don’t have a halter.”
“Check the stock trailer.”
“The compartment is locked.”
“I’ll bring a halter. I’m leaving now.”
He ended the call and started to reach for his coat, then instead headed down the hall to Lex’s bedroom and tapped on the door before cracking it open.
“I have to help Trenna with something. I need you to hold down the ranch. I have my phone if you need me.”
“What’s up with Trenna?”
“Lost animal emergency.”
“That big dog?”
“I need to go.”
“Should I go with you and help you look?”
Reed shook his head. “I need someone here. If Mom and Dad have trouble on the road, I may be out of cell service.” Also, his younger brother was supposed to arrive the next morning, but Cade had a penchant for driving instead of stopping for the night, so Reed expected him sooner.
“That makes sense,” Lex said reluctantly.
Reed patted the doorframe. “Be back soon.”
“You don’t have to.”
He stopped and turned back. “What?”
“You don’t have to be back soon. Because of me, I mean.”
“I don’t…”
She gave him a frustrated look. “Trenna needs you, and…” Her voice trailed before she added in a surprisingly adult tone, “…I don’t.” She lifted her chin, before adding, “Right now, anyway, so go.”
Reed hesitated, thankful as hell that his daughter had said, “Right now.” She threw a small pillow at him.
“Go.”
“Right.”
Reed strode back down the hall to the mudroom with a dozen questions swirling in his brain as he climbed into his winter gear before grabbing his keys off the hook and heading out the door into the biting air of the winter night.
