UNTAMED

23. Rosie

“Why do you have to be so tempting all the damn time, angel?”

My mind swirls with a mix of giddy excitement, anxiety, and overall confusion. Holden has never called me anything other than by my last name, Dixon, which he associates with my father and uncle.

I look down at the sleeping cowboy in my lap. His biceps and shoulder muscles are taut as he curls his arm around my legs, effectively holding me in place on his bed. There’s a jagged one-inch scar between the muscles I’ve never noticed before. My fingers reach out to trace it softly. He doesn’t stir, still passed out. My hand moves up to the scar on his jawline that I stitched up. My finger traces the pink line, where it’s still healing.

Footsteps sound in the hallway, soft enough that they must belong to Dolly. I nibble my bottom lip, hoping that she’s not looking for me. We generally do our own thing in the afternoons—at least until it’s time to prepare for dinner.

Holden’s warm body is making me feel sleepy. It’s like when we’re in his bed, we reach a truce. He doesn’t hate me here because he needs me to sleep.

Why that is, I’m still scrambling to understand. I’m assuming it’s something to do with his time in prison.

Nightmares maybe?

Him waking up and immediately holding a knife to my throat makes me think he was attacked in his sleep a lot.

But then wouldn’t he want to sleep alone, with the door locked?

None of it makes any sense, and I highly doubt he’s ever going to share with me why. I’ve already saved up enough money to start nursing school. If I keep sleeping with him at this rate and save every dime, I might be able to work less hours at the ranch and focus on school.

My phone buzzes in my back pocket. I pull it out, seeing my aunt June’s name with a text icon.

Aunt June

No one has heard from her. I think it’s time we file a missing person report. I’m getting on a plane this afternoon. Can you meet me tonight?

My pulse quickens. Cold fear filters through me, sending tremors through my body. My fingers fly across the screen as I text her back.

Rosie

Yes. What time? Should we bring my father in on it?

Aunt June

Yes, I’m calling him now. Let’s meet at his house. Maybe she left a note he missed.

Don’t panic, deary. We will find her. She might’ve met someone.

Rosie

Okay, thank you for coming. See you soon.

Holden doesn’t move for hours. I’m strangely comforted by his even breathing and the way his hold around me never loosens. I finish the old movie, and another one starts. They’re actually really good films, and I love the way the cowboys drawl. I can’t stop picturing Holden as one of them as I run my fingers through his hair.

I chew my fingernails down to the quick as worst-case scenarios with my mom run through my head. I text her again, telling her I love her and miss her. It’s been weeks now since her last reply to me.

Around four o’clock, my aunt texts me that she landed and is getting an Uber. I know she’ll be here in an hour, and I need to tell Dolly what’s going on.

Holden’s breathing hasn’t changed, but his grip around me has loosened. Using one of the pillows, I slowly inch out of his grip and stick the pillow in his arms. He curls around it, exhaling.

I tiptoe out of the room, checking the hall for occupants before sneaking out and shutting the door behind me. Dolly’s door is cracked open. I tap on it before pushing it slightly open.

“Doll?” I whisper.

She’s sitting up in bed with a book in her hand. She likes all genres, but lately, she’s been reading romantasy.

She looks up at me. “Hey, do you need help with dinner?”

I step farther in, wringing my hands. “Actually, I was hoping I could order y’all some pizza. My mom … well, I haven’t been able to get ahold of her. My aunt thinks it’s been long enough that we should go to the sheriff.”

Dolly’s gray eyes widen as she closes her book. “Oh, Rosie. I’m so sorry. You really think she’s … missing? I thought she did this sometimes?”

I nod, tears threatening to spill. “She does. That’s why I haven’t done anything or gone to the sheriff. She disappears, goes on benders, meets people. One time, she did this with some guy on a yacht and didn’t have service for ten days. This is different somehow. No one’s heard from her in weeks. At the very least, I need them to look into it. Maybe pull up her phone records.”

Dolly slides off the bed and walks over to me, gripping my forearm. “I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do? Do you want me to come with you?”

I shake my head, sniffling. “No thank you. My aunt is here, and we’re starting by talking to my dad and searching the house for a note or some kind of clue. She at least would’ve packed before leaving.”

Dolly nods, message received. A Redford at my dad’s house is a recipe for disaster even if it’s only Dolly.

“Okay. Text me when you have an update. And of course, don’t bother coming in tomorrow, however many days you need.”

I smile, pulling her into a tight hug. “Thank you. You’re an amazing friend. There’s a frozen lasagna and some premade chili in the freezer. Instructions are on the bag for baking if y’all don’t want pizza.”

“Go. We can fend for ourselves. Don’t worry about us.”

My eyes soften as I look at my best friend. She’d go with me if she could—I know that.

“Thank you. I’ll text you.”

My carbarely sputters to life. I exhale a sigh of relief as I turn out of Redford Ranch’s endless driveway onto the dirt road. My phone starts to ring as I come up to a Stop sign.

My father’s name is on the screen. I swipe to answer it, a ball of dread forming in my stomach.

“Hello?”

“Rosie, where are you?”

I press my foot down harder on the accelerator. “I’m on my way, Dad. I have to make a quick stop at my apartment first. Aunt June told me she’d be there at five. Am I late?”

He’s silent on the other end for about ten seconds.

“Dad? Can you hear me?”

“Yes, hold on.”

I purse my lips and wait for him to respond. A herd of cows with the double R brand on their back end are right up against the barbed-wire fence as I speed past.

“Okay, I’m sorry, honey. I was dealing with some unimportant work stuff. So, you and your aunt are concerned for Sheri? When did you last speak to her?”

I try to remain calm while debating my response. I’ve been bringing up my concerns to him for weeks, but he hasn’t shown any interest until now.

“It’s been weeks, maybe three? Almost a month. Aunt June talked to all their mutual friends. No one has heard from her.”

A twist in my gut brings a wave of nausea on. I press on the brakes, slowing as I approach a Stop sign. It’s too dark outside for it not even being five o’clock in the evening. The deep gray clouds in the sky are threatening to downpour. Lightning strikes silently in the distance, but the thunder cracks a few seconds later.

“Rosie, where are you? I feel like it’s not safe for you to be driving right now.”

I come to a full stop, my vision blurring slightly as my mind swirls. “I’m … I’m fine. I’ll see you soon.”

My fists grip the steering wheel firmly.

He sighs. “Okay, sweetheart. Be careful.”

“I will.” I end the call.

Raindrops begin pelting my windshield as I arrive at my apartment complex. A thousand unsavory scenarios are spinning through my mind as I mount the steps leading up to the third floor.

My mother is gone.

No one has heard from her.

Is she okay?

Does my father even care?

Yes, he’s going to help.

I twist the knob to my apartment door, still deep in thought. The living room is dark as I fumble around for the light switch.

Did I lock my car?

My body twists back around as I try to remember if I was too distracted to click the Lock button on my keys. I start walking back toward the door.

Okay, I just need to grab a few things, and I’ll be out of here.

I need some extra clothes for the night since I very well could end up staying over at my father’s house with Aunt June. A crack of thunder sounds above my head, followed by the pitter-patter of raindrops. My skin tingles with a very palpable fear holding me in place. I reach for the switch to turn on the light, uneasiness swelling over me. My fingers finally make contact with it, and I flip it on.

My breath catches in my throat as a masked figure in all black stands directly in front of my face. A scream begins to curdle in my throat, but the figure reaches out a hand to cover my mouth as someone else comes up behind me.

“Hello, Rosie,” the man whispers.

Then, I remember … I was too distracted to realize that I never had to unlock my front door.