Page 45 of A Cowboy's Claim
Which is what Sadie usually said while shaking a finger at him. Anytime he’d complained about someone in town ignoring the rules or not doing their job right.
He smiled at the memory.
Smiled bigger because the next image that arrived was even brighter and hotter.Sydneyshaking a finger in his face.
Yeah, he definitely had a type.
Moving on was hard, but right.
“Definitely a few changes coming,” he said firmly. “Still think High Water was a good idea, Sadie, but we’re gonna need to tighten the reins a little.”
He leaned into the reclined angle of the bank. The grass beneath him was cool and refreshing, and water bubbled over rocks at the bend in the creek only a few meters away.
“You’d have seen this coming, I bet. You’d have warned me. Not that you would’ve warned me off, but you were good at seeing what might happen so we’d be ready for it.”
Except neither of them had seen her cancer coming. It was something that happened to other people. It was something that people got over.
Sometimes the memories filled him with frustration. But today, oddly, he had a sense of peace.
It wasn’t what they’d wanted. It wasn’t whatanyonewanted, but Sadie had simultaneously foughtandplanned. When she died, Declan had found she’d gone through all her things and left notes and gifts for all her family and friends. He hadn’t known she was doing it.
Back in the here and now, Declan rose and headed for home. The quiet time had refreshed him, and he was ready for anything.
A few minutes later when Cobalt rounded the corner of the trail, finally rising out of the hollow, Declan’s phone pinged with far more dings and bells than should be legal.
“There are moments I envy past generations not having a beacon in their pocket.” Still, he tugged his phone free since Cobalt was doing the driving anyway.
He listened to both messages from Sydney, slightly bemused that he hadn’t heard the GPS alarm go off when she left town. Definitely no cell service in the hollow. He’d have to remember that.
The tone of her voice in the second message made him sit up a little straighter, though. Declan tapped his heels into Cobalt’s sides, hurrying her along a little.
If Sydney had headed to the ranch house, she was probably there by now. He tightened his grip on the saddle and kept Cobalt moving at a steady pace. Whatever Sydney wanted, he was grateful she’d been willing to tell him she was coming over. It was time for them to deal with the?—
Shit.
He’d absently opened an unread message. Petra had sent one only a minutes ago, which was odd. She and Tansy both teased that he was the worst at responding and usually resorted to phoning. Either she was feeling chatty or hoping he’d heard from his brothers.
But the instant he clicked the link open, all amusement evaporated.
Blackbird. Barn.
That’s all the message said, but Petra knew exactly what that meant. It was a call for help and a warning not to arrive with guns blazing.
Whatever was happening at High Water, he needed to be there—now.
10
Sydney sent off a quick note to Petra to warn that she was coming over, not really expecting a response.
She knew her friends loved her—but showing up unannounced at High Water as if she lived there? That still felt wrong. A remnant of the rules that her grandparents had laid down while she lived under their roof and attended university?—
No, her grandfather, not her grandma.
Oh, Grandma Bel still wanted her to be polite, but Grandpa Nate definitely hadopinionsabout the way things were supposed to be done. Funny how knowing some of Grandpa Nate’s beliefs were outdated didn’t stop them from shaping her instincts.
Turning down the road into High Water, Sydney checked for the usual ever-present activity. She wasn’t sure how many ranch hands were in residence at the moment, but there always seem to be somebody in the yard or moving to and from the barn to the house.
She knew there were no rentals in the artists’ studio over the dorms and residence. With Tansy’s leg still in a cast, the place wouldn’t be taking new bookings for a while. They’d only had a few already in place that they coordinated with the new cook at Buns and Roses to take care of the catering.
