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“And he came out of the womb drinking coffee,” Liam adds.
“How’s the foal?” I ask Dr. Garrison, choosing to ignore my asshole brothers. Another day, on more than couple hours of broken sleep where the love of my life did not just run off, I might heckle them more. But this morning, I just don’t have it in me. I’m saving what little extra energy I have to form a plan. One that involves Macy giving us a real chance, no matter what that looks like.
“All his vitals are holding steady and her temperature is stable. He nursed around three a.m. and Molly had some grain shortly after.” Both mother and baby are nestled together in the corner sleeping.
“I’ll have to let Paps and Macy know.”
“Macy swung by earlier.” I can tell by Dr. Garrison’s tone that he’s surprised I don’t already know this. I feel his lingering stare as I sip coffee from my nearly empty I hope you have the day you deserve mug. “She didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
I feel three sets of human eyes—and a few animal ones too—stare at me. A knot forms in my stomach.
“She’s headed back to Fort Collins.”
“Yeah, in a couple days.” Unless I can convince her to stay. Convince her to give us a chance.
“No, this morning.”
The single word is a gut punch that threatens to knock my ass to the ground. I brace myself against the stall door to keep from toppling over. When I told Macy I loved her, I did it knowing she’d get spooked. But I thought she’d hide out at Wyatt’s house for a day or two until I showed up and coaxed her out. I didn’t expect her to get on the road five minutes later.
“You’re sure?”
“She left ten minutes ago.” Wyatt says, approaching the stall. His expression is unreadable. Or maybe I’m just too caught up in my own shit right now to figure out if he’s mad at me or indifferent.
“She shouldn’t be driving. She hasn’t had any sleep.”
“Then you better hurry up,” Wyatt says.
It takes a few seconds for what he’s saying to register. And a few seconds more for me to catch the slight grin. He must know exactly why she’s running. It’s a relief to know he’s on my side instead of wanting to break my nose for running Macy off. “Dr. Garr?—”
“Go,” Dr. Garrison says, waving me off. “I’m good here.”
When I don’t immediately move, Weston pops to his feet and steals the now empty coffee mug from my hand. “I know we’ve had our heads in the sand for a while now, but I assure you. You’re not in this alone, anymore,” he says.
Liam nods in agreement.
“Don’t lose my mug.”
“Get your ass on the road,” Weston’s sharp tone stirs Molly. I might be imagining it, but I swear the mare lifts her head and glares at me.
Gumby looks up at me with those damn puppy dog eyes, like he might start bawling if I don’t make it in time. I reach down and scoop the pup into my arms, hugging him against my chest, pressing my chin to the top of his head. Right before I set him down and bolt to my truck, I whisper against his fur, “Don’t worry, bud. I’m going to bring our girl home.”
CHAPTER 18
Macy
Speeding down the highway, Emerald Creek in my rearview mirror, I use the back of my hand to wipe away the tears that won’t stop falling. “Stupid Ryder Stone.” The words tremble from my lips. “Why did he have to go and tell me he loved me?” I demand to the empty Jeep. “Why did he have to ruin the memory of what we had? It was supposed to get me through the next few years. Dammit!” I curse.
A shrill scream from the backseat seconds my frustration, causing me to jump in my seat. I scream half an octave higher than the goat who just popped up and jerk the wheel. My Jeep fishtails a bit, stopping my heart, but I still manage to swerve off the highway onto a gravel pullout, clutching the steering wheel for dear life. It’s only by some miracle that my Jeep stops short of a very sharp drop off.
My heart restarts, pounding violently, threatening to burst right out of my chest.
“Gertie?”
The brown and white goat no bigger than a border collie jumps into my passenger seat so we can have a better conversation. She tilts her head, staring at me all while chewing on a purple gardening glove. I swear she’s grinning. As if it’s the most natural thing in the world for her to be riding shotgun.
“How did you?—”
