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“You know she could come back,” I point out, trying to ignore how angry I am that Garrett let her go.
“She ain’t coming back.” Garrett shakes his head. “She ain’t got nothin’ to come back for.” He heads back into the cabin and picks up the document from the floor.
“You gonna tell Maisie about her mom?” Wade asks, sitting in the chair we had Mom tied to.
“I feel like I should, she deserves to know what happened.”
“What a fuckin’ mess.” Wade shakes his head. While I do nothin’.
“Let’s go home.” Garrett slaps me on the back, I’m done with this day.”
“I need to stay here. I can’t go back to the bunkhouse.” I think about Dalton lying out on that table and I can’t stand it.
“You ain’t goin’ in the bunkhouse, you're coming home,” Garrett tells me firmly.
“I can’t. Not tonight. I’m too mad. I need my own space right now.” I stare at the floor and focus on breathin’.
“Come on, Cole, we ain’t leavin’ ya out here, not tonight. We should all be together,” Wade tells me.
“But we won’t be. We’ll never be together again. He was one of us.” I stare at them both. “I know it wasn’t for long, but hewas our brother. He died protecting our family.” I see the pain in both Garrett’s and Wade’s face when I remind them. “I ain’t comin’ home tonight,” I repeat. “Respect that.”
I breathe through my nose and squeeze my fists. I can’t be around anyone right now, least of all Savannah. Not after all she told me earlier. Right now I’m weak. I feel like I need her and I won’t let that happen to me again. Tonight is a reminder of how easily something can be taken from you.
“Come on,” Wade goes to argue.
“Leave him, Wade.” Garrett picks up on my vibe and tugs him toward the door.
“Lock the door,” Wade points his finger at me, “and if that bitch comes knockin’…”
“She won’t come knockin’,” I assure him.
“Sheriff Nelson is gonna wanna speak to you ‘bout what happened with Dalton. I want you home for breakfast tomorrow mornin’,” Garrett warns me, “Don’t make me come out here and get ya.” He points his finger at me before pulling me in and gripping the back of my head so our foreheads touch. “I need ya, Cole,” he growls under his breath.
“I hear ya.” I nod my head at him as he walks out the door. Then sitting down in the chair, I wait for them to leave and the truck lights to disappear before I reach into the nightstand and pull out the handgun. I check it’s loaded and slide the clip back in place, pulling on my jacket and stepping out into the night.
Maisie sits on the couch between me and Leia, cradling her little girl in her arms and staring at the blank screen on the TV.
“It all makes sense now. She was trying to make me crazy.” More tears stream from her eyes.
“She was a mad woman.” Leia strokes Breanna’s back. “I’m just so relieved you're all okay.” She smiles.
“Dalton’s not okay,” Maisie reminds us, looking heartbroken.
“Sheriff Nelson is over in the bunkhouse talkin’ to Mitch now,” I tell her what Tate told me. “The witness at the scene said she saw the car speed off and just managed to get the number plate. The police will know it was Teresa. She’s going to go down for this,” I assure her.
“If she lives.” Maisie sounds expressionless.
“Maisie, I know the boys wanted to talk to her, but surely they wouldn’t… Not their own mother.” I pull back in shock. I’m no fool, I know what the Carson men are about. But surely they aren’t capable of that?
“I hope they do.” Maisie strokes her fingers through her daughter's wispy hair. “I hope they tear her limbs from her body and slit her throat.” I’ve never seen my friend like this before,but after what she’s been through today I’m hardly surprised by it.
The door opens and Wade and Garrett step inside. My heart sinks when I realize Cole isn’t with them.
“You good?” Garrett crouches down in front of Maisie, cradling the back of Breanna’s head in his hand as he gifts his wife a sad smile.
“I will be. Did you kill her?” she asks with that same blank expression as before.
“No.” He shakes his head. “But she ain’t coming back,” he assures her, and before she can argue he interrupts.
