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No one would know.
A breath.
“And I can’t keep wondering,” I whispered, sending my thoughts toward the clouds, sending good wishes to the men who’d always been gruff, but who I’d loved.
Part of this town.
Part of my childhood.
Part ofme.
I dropped my head back, resting it against my seat, breathing deeply. I clenched the steering wheel, blinked back tears.
Then I straightened, put the car in drive again, and kept driving.
To Gramps’ ranch.
Bailey’sranch now.
I grew up here, but I’d never begrudged her having this place. For one, it had been in her mom’s family. My family had some land on the far side of town, but they’d never been ranchers, and it wasn’t in my heart either. I’d loved coming here, baking and cooking in the old kitchen with Gran, hearing Gramps tell old stories about what the town had been like when he’d grown up there (and I called them Gramps and Gran because every kid in River’s Bend had been welcome at this place, and then every kid had subsequently called and known them as Gramps and Gran). For another, my niece—myfriend—had spent her summers here, and she’dlivedhere at times growing up. Helping Gramps take care of the herd, riding horses, knowing and working on every inch of the property, the barn, the house.
It was Bailey’s in a way that it would never be mine.
But it was mine too.
In a way that would never be Bailey’s. Because of the time I’d spent with Gran.
Because the peace and acceptance I found here was—
Everything.
Nowandthen.
So, I turned off the ignition, reclined back in my chair, and closed my eyes.
For once, I didn’t find peace that night.
But I did eventually find sleep.
And alertness, only a few hours later, when the sun rose early, glaringly bright through my windshield and highlighting the blackened hills.
Alertness that brought a new day.
A fresh start.
I turned on the ignition, drove carefully away from the ranch, and back into town.
To the rink, parking in the shade of one of the few surviving trees—my designated spot (or at least I’d made it that way), before heading for the trailer.
Unlocking the door and leaving it open.
Moving quietly down the hall, into my office.
Feeling relief (andnotdisappointment) when I found it empty.
Changing clothes. Assuming the role of mayor.
Sitting at my desk.
