She sits up, open-mouthed. A tear slips down her cheek. “You have to find out what happened to her,” she whispers.
I turn to look up at the dark peak of Sovereign Mountain towering in the distance.
“I need to go back one more time,” I say.
It’s a relief to hear the words after carrying them inside me for weeks. She leans into me, wrapping her arms around my torso. We both know how hard it will be for me to return after finally getting away, but the need for closure is stronger. Della loved Kayleigh, and we both owe her a debt for the part she played in saving our family. If I don’t return and find out what happened, we’ll live with that shadow over us forever.
“I just need to know,” she says, voice breaking.
“I know, baby, and I’ll go,” I say. “When the haying season is over in a few weeks. The fall meet starts up then. I know where Brothers will be on the first day of the races.”
“Thank you.”
I bend to press my lips to her head. We stay like that for a long time as the sun drops below the mountain.
Then, we go upstairs to bed.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
JENSEN
ONE MONTH LATER
I don’t know if I feel anything at all, standing on the edge of the road. It’s the beginning of fall. It smells like it, a little burnt, a little cool. Straight ahead is Brothers’ office building. I know I’ll find him here on the first day of the fall meet.
I feel older, but I think I’m at peace.
Leaves skitter over my boots. I tap the cowboy hat he gave me against my thigh. A car horn beeps. The streets are more empty than usual today, with everyone at the racetrack.
In the past, I never visited the downtown office. Now, I realize why Brothers never brought me here. There’s an aura of sadness around it, like it’s a point in time that stood still. The row house walls are gray brick, clean but well worn. The antique windows are shuttered with dark cherry wood that looks like it was placed decades ago.
Over the door hangs a sign.
Brothers Boyd.
I can make out the faint spot where the first word wore out—the origin story of the man who made me, who broke me, and gave me everything back in the end.
A car moves slowly. I wait until it’s gone before crossing the street. The short stairs are painted deep green to match the door. There’s a brass plaque below the porch light that reads Private Residence, No Solicitors. Ignoring it, I lift the knocker and let it fall with a bang that echoes up and down the road.
A woman opens the door. She’s in work clothes, a pencil dress and short heeled shoes.
“Can…I help you?” she says.
I clear my throat. “Jensen Childress to see Brothers Boyd. Is he here?”
She shakes her head. “No, you just missed him.”
“Where is he? I flew in. I can’t miss him.”
“I can’t just tell people where he’s at. It’s not safe.”
“He knows me,” I say, dipping into my pocket to pull out the picture. She takes it and stares down at it. Then, she glances up at me with narrowed eyes.
“Wait a minute…I know who you are,” she whispers. “He said you went home, that you weren’t coming back.”
“Are you his…woman?”
She shakes her head. “No, I’m his secretary. Brothers doesn’t… He doesn’t have anyone. I don’t know if he ever will again.”
