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I screamed for Nancy’s life, for Valerie’s pain.
I screamed for my son.
I screamed for the lost years between my brother, for Hallow Ranch.
I screamed for everyone trying to take it from me.
I screamed for my unforgiving father.
I screamed for Momma.
My knees buckled, and when they hit the soft, cool grass below me, my chest caved in as the pain I’d been burying for years came rushing to the surface. I felt my hat fall off as I looked up to the sky. My body shook with emotion as I struggled to breathe.
I failed them.
I failed Mason. I should have been a better brother.
I failed my son for not giving him a decent mother.
I failed Hallow Ranch because it was becoming harder to protect it with each passing day.
I failed Valerie. I won’t be able to stop the pain. One look at her mother, and I knew—she didn’t have long. That was another reason why she agreed to come out here, why I kept showing her pictures. I would FaceTime her to show her the herd and the land around it. The way she looked at me today…I knew.
Valerie wanted to go home weeks ago, but I couldn’t—I couldn’t watch her go, so I held on. My selfishness resulted in time she could’ve had with her mom. Precious, precious time. Nancy would be gone soon and there was nothing I could do to protect Valerie from that pain.
I’ve felt that pain. It was rooted deep within me, and you can never escape it.
I wasn’t going to be able to protect her from it. Valerie was happy. I could see it. I saw it in her eyes when I was buried inside of her this afternoon. She was happy and now that her mom was here…
I was foolish for keeping her here. I should’ve let her walk away.
Love is truly blind, shielding you from the pain that is to come.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Valerie
Denverwasgone.
Shortly after we got Mom settled, he excused himself and left without giving me a second glance. Dinner had come and gone. Now everyone was being served the apple pie t I made this afternoon.
The house was filled with comfortable conversation and laughter, and Denver was missing all of it. The boys didn’t seem too worried about it, and Jackie was surrounded by men, so I don’t think she noticed, but Mom… Mom had a look in her eye, one that I’d only seen a few times in my life. I couldn’t figure out what it meant.
My fingers tingled and my stomach churned as I stared out into the darkness from the front porch. I heard the screen door open and shut behind me, laughter flowing from the house. My eyes never left the darkness, hoping to see any sign of movement.
Smoke, where are you?
It had been hours since he stormed out.
A presence stood by my side—a shadowloomed over me.
“He’ll be back,” a deep voice rumbled. I flinched in surprise.Mags.
I wrapped my arms around myself as a chill coursed through me.
“Is he alright?” I asked. The sad truth was that I was in love with a man who was still a mystery to me. There were things about him I had yet to learn, despite him sharing his deepest, darkest memories with me. I had a gut feeling there were more.
“Kings always will be alright. That’s just who he is,” he said, leaning against the opposite post. I gathered the courage to look at the quiet man. He was wearing dark Wranglers, a black t-shirt, his cowboy hat, and boots. His tattooed arms were crossed over his chest. I could see some of his dark hair poking out around his ear. He had a strong jaw, dusted with dark stubble. He had a beard when I first arrived. Everything about Mags was dark.
