Page 65 of Ashes of the Past
“I’ll be fine, Mom,” I say, trying to sit up a little straighter. The movement sends a sharp twinge through my side, but I grit my teeth and push through it. “I’m not staying here a minute longer than I have to.”
“Then you’re coming home with me,” she declares, crossing her arms like it’s not up for debate.
“Mom, I’m not a kid,” I protest. “I’ve got a place. I’ll go back to the ranch.”
“The ranch?” she says, her voice full of disbelief. “You need rest, not… whatever chaos is waiting for you there.”
“It’s my job.”
“And you won’t take it easy like you need to. You’ll get pulled into helping and…”
Joanne chimes in, trying to play peacemaker. “Maybe he just needs to be somewhere familiar. The ranch is home, after all.”
“I won’t push myself too hard, Mom. My body won’t allow it. But it is my job, and I need to be there.”
My mom sighs but doesn’t argue further. I know she’s not happy about it, but she’ll let me have this one. For now.
“I’ll drive you home,” she says when the discharge papers are finally signed. The ride is quiet at first, but she can’t help herself for long.
“Brynn is such a sweetheart,” she says, glancing over at me. “She’s been so strong through all this. And she’s so pretty, don’t you think?”
I groan, leaning my head back against the seat. “Mom, don’t start.”
“What?” she says, all innocence. “I’m just saying, she’d be a good match for you.”
“She’s not looking,” I say firmly, staring out the window. “And neither am I.”
“Funny how you mentioned she wasn’t looking first. You don’t have to be looking to find someone special,” she counters, her tone annoyingly smug. I don’t have to look at her to know that she’s grinning back at me. “Sometimes it just happens.”
I shake my head, but I don’t argue further. There’s no point. Once my mom gets an idea in her head, she’s like a dog with a bone.
When we pull into the ranch, the sight of the barn stops me cold. The charred skeleton of what used to be a sturdy, dependable building looms against the sky. My chest tightens, and for a moment, it feels like I’m back there, the heat and smoke choking the air, the chaos of it all overwhelming.
“Jack?” My mom’s voice pulls me back. I realize I’ve been staring, my fists clenched so tightly my knuckles are white.
“I’m fine,” I say, though my voice is rough. Anger bubbles up, hot and sharp.
Who the hell could have done this? And why?
With the wind and no rain, this could have taken the entire ranch and all the people on it.
I grip the door handle so hard that I’m surprised it doesn’t break off in my hand.
“It’s going to be okay,” she says softly, resting a hand on my arm. “They’ll find out who did it.”
I nod, but the anger doesn’t fade. If anything, it burns brighter.
Whoever did this is going to pay. One way or another.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Brynn
Thursday morning, I wake up early to check the pastures. Jack is in no shape to be on a horse, so I’ve gone back to making the ride with Nick. Tabby has been covering the shop in the mornings for me. All the animals that were in the fire are fine and have been moved to the other barns on the property.
When I step into the stable, I’m surprised to see Jack already there. I’ve been back to doing all the ranch chores, now that we’re down two ranch hands with Lane gone, too, and Jack sleeping most of the time so he can heal. He shouldn’t be out of bed yet.
I stand in the doorway, watching him as he moves stiffly, his hand brushing along the edge of a stall as if grounding himself. He shouldn’t be out here. He’s barely out of the hospital, and every step he takes looks like it costs him more than he’d admit.
