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The next hour passed quickly as Roe learned about the different kinds of brushes and what worked best to get dirt out of a naughty horse’s coat. Stinkbug was a character. At one point while Roe was combing his mane, the horse had stolen the wallet from his back pocket.
It was nice to let go for a while. Stinkbug listened raptly as Roe told him all about Mack and Lacey. How Mack got shot and Lacey was getting married. How Roe was in love with a man after only knowing him for about a month. How everything was so much better with Mack than it had been with James.
Talking through his thoughts cleared up a few things for him, and before Roe knew it, Diane and the kids were back and ready to go. Tommy’s eyes were a little swollen from crying, but he looked loads lighter then when they arrived.
That decided things for Roe. “I’ll meet you all at the car, okay? I need to talk to Noah for a minute.”
He walked off before anyone could change his mind, though he felt Wally following a distance behind him. Not like he could move very fast.
Noah was shoveling out a stall in the smaller barn. He looked up when Roe came into his line of sight.
“Hey, Roe. Did you need anything?” Noah asked.
Roe shuffled from foot to foot. “My grandpas would have really liked your ranch,” he said and signed.
A proud smile spread across Noah’s face. “Thank you. I think we do a lot of good. For peopleandhorses.”
“I donated to the animal sanctuary in Hobson Hills last week,” Roe went on, letting out a slow breath. “I would really like to donate to the ranch if you wouldn’t mind.”
Noah gave him a surprised look. “Yeah, that would be great. We run on grants mostly, but more insurance companies are paying for equestrian therapy then they used to. Horses eat a lot, though. Donations are always welcomed.”
Roe wiggled happily. “Perfect. I’ll send a check over tomorrow. We’ll be back, Noah. I have more to tell Stinkbug, and I think it helped the kids.”
“Thanks.” Noah waved as they left the barn.
Wally smirked at Roe. “I’d bet you my next paycheck that he won’t be expecting your check to be over a hundred dollars.”
“I donated fifty thousand to the animal sanctuary.” Roe shrugged. “I’m thinking at least that much for Noah’s ranch. If I’m going to live in Hobson Hills, I’m going to take care of and invest in my community.”
“Freaking millionaires,” Wally said, shaking his head.
Roe sniffed. “Loriston doesn’t realize what it’s lost.”
A little while later, they were home. Tommy went straight to Fergie and the guinea pigs while Beth went to make a snack.
Roe smiled when he saw Lacey and Renee in his studio, fingerpainting with Benji and Arthur. Well, pawpainting in Arthur’s case. He left them to it and went upstairs to hunt down his alpha.
Mack sat up in his bed reading a book. He looked so cute in his reading glasses, and Roe’s fingers itched for his drawing pencils. He’d only been staying in Mack’s room for a couple of nights now, but it was nice with warm sand-colored walls and rich brown blankets on the king sized bed.
Mack had even set up beds for both Fergie and Arthur under the window. Mmrr was a white ball of fluff curled against Mack’s side on the bed, having decided to help him rest and get better.
“Cain called while you were gone,” Mack said, holding his arm out to Roe.
Roe slid onto the bed and cuddled against Mack’s free side. “What did he have to say?”
“James and Gabriel have been charged with murder for hire. Bollinger turned on them just like Wally said he would.”
“Yes!” Roe pumped his fist in the air. He slid back off the bed and paced around, body jittery with the relief running through him. “I’m free, Ian!”
Mack nodded, looking thoughtful. “Cain’s pursuing charges against the local police too. Bollinger told him that James paid off the sheriff in Loriston and several of his deputies.”
“That makes sense.” Roe stared out the bedroom window. “I think I’m going to sell the house in Loriston.”
“Good,” Mack said, coughing to clear his throat. “You’ll stay here, right?”
Roe spun around. “Of course. I thought we settled that at the hospital.”
“I love you,” Mack said, slumping down in the bed. “If I thought you’d say yes, I’d marry you tomorrow.”
