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“I’m fine. I need you to go to the Stop and Go on Fuller and pick up Garrett, please. Right away. Can you do that? She was supposed to be picked up hours ago, and my dad—”
“Yeah.” I can hear the jangle of his keys. “Yeah. Winnie. It’s cool. I’m five minutes out. I’ll get her and call you as soon as I have her, okay? It’s going to be fine.”
“Yeah. Okay. I’m gonna call the lady who’s with her and let her know someone is coming.”
A minute later, I end the call, and I realize Camilla has pulled over the truck and she and Maria are watching me. I look up into their concerned faces and immediately burst into rib-busting sobs.
“I t-told youuuu. I told y’all! It’s not about me. I can’t everleave them because if I’m not there, shit likethishappens. He doesn’t take care of them. She’s fucking ten years old, and she was walking home in ninety-degree weatheralone. A stranger stopped her. God. What if some pedophile stopped instead of Jenny fucking Carter? What if she got hit by a car? I’m two hours away! I told her I would take care of her, and I’m not there!”
“Oh, no, Win—” Camilla starts to say, but my phone is ringing in my hand, and I answer it.
It’s Case. “I got her. She’s all hopped up on Dr Pepper, and she and Pax are starting a burping contest in my back seat. She’s fine. Everyone is okay. Jenny Carter seems very nice, and she said to let you know Garrett was extremely polite.”
I shake my head. “Thank you, Case. I don’t know what I would have done—I’m so sorry to interrupt your—”
“Winnie Sutton, stop that shit right now.” He lowers his voice. “I know you’re beating yourself up, and this is not your fault. Understood?”
“Sure,” I lie.
He sighs. “We’ll revisit this when you get home. Jesse’s at home?”
“Yeah. I need to call him. He’s probably freaking out.”
“Call him and tell him Pax and I are coming to get him. I promised Garrett some ice cream. I bet the kid could eat.”
“Oh,” I rush to assure him, “you can just bring her home. You don’t have to—”
“Too late. Already turning down your street. No need to call Jesse. I’ll send Pax in so he can scare the shit out of his little sister’s boyfriend.”
I can’t help the strangled chuckle that slips out.
There’s a smile in his voice when he says, “That’s better. See you in a few hours, Winnie. Be safe, okay?”
“’Kay. Thank you.”
We hang up, and I gesture for Camilla to keep going in a “nothing to see here” kind of way. Which is rude, but I’m exhausted, and all I want is for this trip to be over now.
“All worked out?” Maria asks hesitantly.
“For now. Case and Pax got her.”
“Well, that’s good, then. I bet she’ll be excited to spend time with—”
But I lower my window again and turn up the radio. Within minutes, I’m asleep.
I sleep the whole way back to the ranch. We woke up early, and I’m feeling fuzzy from the emotional roller coaster of a day, so when Camilla waves off my offer to help her unload the horses, I don’t argue. It’s not until I arrive at a darkened house I realize Case still has my siblings and my dad’s never even been home today. I shoot Case a text to let him know I’m in town and then grab my keys and hop right back into my car. I drive to the VFW in silence and park next to my dad’s old truck. It’s Saturday, so that place is hopping as much as any small-town bar can be, and I wave at the bartender, a big-bellied, nosy sort with more hair on his face than the top of his head.
“Hey, Jer. Is my dad in the back?”
“Winnie Sutton, as I live and breathe! Girl, you’re all grown. Haven’t seen you in an age. What can I get you?”
“Still only nineteen, Jer, and I’m not thirsty. Dad’s in the back?”
He nods, and I wave before moving past several pool tables, booths, and neon signs toward the loud crowd of men surrounding the electronic dartboards. I recognize my dad, sitting with his back to me on a stool. He’s got a handful of bottles onthe tall tabletop in front of him, but I doubt he’s drunk. My dad’s not a big drinker; he just likes this place. He hides in here with these guys, slinging beers, bullshitting over darts, and reliving the glory days. I tap on my dad’s broad, flannel-clad shoulder, and he spins on his stool, smile dying on his lips when he sees it’s me.
“Hey, Dad. Been here all day?”
“You’re back! I thought you wouldn’t be back until late afternoon.”
