23. Eli
Chapter 23
Eli
A fter nearly twenty-four hours and several tense moments in the hospital, my mother and I finally got the news that my father was going to survive. They’d managed to pump his stomach and flush enough fluids through him to save him from the alcohol poisoning. However, due to the intensity of the event, his mind wasn’t quite back where it needed to be. And considering the frequency of his episodes, they wanted to admit him into a facility where they could more closely monitor him until they could balance his medication. It could be weeks or possibly months before that happened.
I held my mother in the waiting room after the news was delivered, apologizing to her over and over again. It was my fault the alcohol was in the house to begin with. I thought I’d hidden it well enough, but in the end, it didn’t matter. She didn’t blame me of course, but she should have. I felt so guilty I could barely think.
That’s why it wasn’t until after the news that I even thought to call Colt. He’d been on my mind several times since I’d followed the ambulance to the hospital. But There wasn’t any time to call him or dwell on it much. Now that I did, I was afraid what he would think of me.
I hadn’t intended for him to find out about my job offer in that way. I wanted to tell him about it and let him know that I was staying in Sagebrush. With him. Of that, I was certain. Still, I’d kept it hidden from him for more than a couple of days while I tried to figure it all out. I could see the betrayal in his eyes when I admitted to it, and I knew I had some apologizing to do.
The first thing to do though, was take my mother home so she could get some rest. I shot Colt a quick text, letting him know we were on the way home. And, two hours later when we pulled into the driveway, I still didn’t have a reply. The moment I got out of the truck, I saw why. The house was locked up, everything was where it should’ve been, but Colt’s truck was missing.
He was gone.
After I took mom inside and got her to bed, I checked my room only to find that empty too. The bed was made, all Colt’s belongings were gone, and the entire place was spotless. The only thing out of place was my closet. Things were still pushed aside where Dad had gotten into it and my favorite hoodie was missing.
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my phone and dialed Colt’s number. To my surprise, there was no answer. I tried two more times before I gave up and headed downstairs. Maybe something happened to his phone during the episode with my dad. And I didn’t blame him for leaving after all that. But I knew there was only one place he’d go.
The Baker Ranch.
I climbed back into my truck, exhaustion weighing heavy on my bones, but determination pushing me forward. The familiar dirt roads kicked up dust behind me as I made my way to the Baker Ranch. The sky was just beginning to lighten, a pale pink glow on the horizon promising a new day.
As I pulled up to the ranch house, I saw Colt’s truck parked out front of the house. My heart clenched, hoping he was inside, safe and sound. I killed the engine and took a deep breath before getting out.
The screen door creaked as I approached, and Caroline stepped out onto the porch, her long braid swinging behind her. Her eyes were sharp, assessing me with that no-nonsense look she was known for.
“What can I help you with, Eli?” she drawled, crossing her arms. She paused, giving me a good once over. “You look like hell.”
I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a weary sigh. “I feel like it too, Caroline. Is Colt here?”
Caroline's expression softened slightly, but her posture remained guarded. “He is. Showed up in the middle of the night lookin' like a kicked puppy. Didn't say much, just asked if he could crash here for a bit instead of the apartment out back.”
My heart sank. “I need to talk to him. To explain...”
“I don't know what happened between you two,” Caroline interrupted, her sternness more pronounced, “but that boy's hurtin' something fierce. You sure you wanna disturb him right now?”
I squared my shoulders, meeting her gaze. “I have to. This is all just a big misunderstanding. Please, Caroline.”
She studied me for a long moment, her face faltering slight. “I’m afraid you can’t.”
“Can’t?” I scoffed, taking a step forward. “Why the hell not?!”
Caroline suddenly turned stony, her intensity matching my outburst. “Because he don’t want to see you right now. I’ve been given specific instructions, and that’s the end of it.”
“But you don’t understand!” I cried. “Hell, I don’t understand!”
“Well, that’s too damn bad, Eli.” She gazed down at me, her features unmoving. “Colt’s hurt real bad right now and you’re gonna give him the time he demands.”
“I’m not leaving until I see him!”
Caroline unfolded her arms and stomped down the stairs. She walked right up to me, poking a hard finger in my chest. “I ain’t scared of you, Eli Daniels. But you best be fuckin’ terrified of me. I’ve put men twice your size in the hospital.”
“Caroline—”
“No, Eli,” she barked, poking me again. “You’ve worn out your welcome. When Colt wants to talk to you, he will. For now, go back home and start practicing your apology.”
I stood there, stunned into silence by Caroline's fierce protectiveness. Part of me wanted to argue, to demand to see Colt, but I knew it would be futile. Caroline was as stubborn as they come, and if Colt had asked her to keep me away, she'd do it come hell or high water.
Deflated, I took a step back. “Can you at least tell him I came by? That I need to talk to him?”
Caroline's expression softened just a fraction. “I'll pass along the message. But don't you go expectin' anything, you hear?”
I nodded, feeling utterly defeated. As I turned to leave, I heard the screen door open behind me. My heart leapt, hoping it was Colt, but when I spun around, it was Logan standing there instead.
“Everything alright out here?” he asked, his green eyes darting between Caroline and me.
“Just fine, Logan,” Caroline replied, her tone softening as she addressed her brother. “Eli here was just leavin’.”
I caught Logan's sympathetic gaze. He knew. Of course he knew. Colt probably told him everything.
“Logan,” I started, desperate for any information. “Is he okay?”
Logan hesitated, glancing at his sister before answering. “He's... he's hurting, Eli. Give him some time.”
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Tell him I'm sorry. Please.”
Logan gave a small nod, and I turned back to my truck, feeling the weight of their stares on my back. As I climbed in and started the engine, I caught a glimpse of movement in one of the upstairs windows. A flash of red hair. Colt.
My heart leapt into my throat. I wanted to call out to him, to explain everything right then and there. But before I could even open my mouth, the curtain fell back into place, and he was gone.
With a heavy sigh, I put the truck in gear and pulled away from the Baker Ranch. The sun was fully up now, casting long shadows across the prairie. As I drove, my mind raced with all the things I wanted to say to Colt. How sorry I was for keeping the job offer a secret. How I'd already decided to stay in Sagebrush, with him. How much he meant to me.
But Caroline's words echoed in my head. Colt needed time. And after everything that had happened with my father, maybe I needed some time too. To process, to think, to figure out how to make things right. Still, I couldn’t help realizing how much this felt like the last time we fought in high school… when everything fell apart.
When I got back home, the house was quiet. Mom was asleep and my mind wouldn’t stay still. But instead of dwelling on how bad I felt, I forced myself to pick up the broom and start sweeping. The entire living room was covered in broken glass and lamp shards from my dad’s episode. I couldn’t help noticing how much it felt like I was sweeping up little pieces of my heart, as cheesy as that might be.
As I swept, my mind kept drifting back to Colt. The hurt in his eyes when he found out about the job offer. The empty room upstairs. The flash of red hair in the window at the Baker Ranch. Each memory felt like another shard of glass piercing my heart.
I was so lost in thought that I didn't hear the front door open. It wasn't until I heard a soft “Eli?” that I looked up to see Caroline standing in the doorway, her usual bravado replaced by an uncharacteristic hesitancy.
“Caroline?” I frowned, leaning on the broom. “What are you doing here?”
She stepped inside, closing the door behind her. “I came to check on you. And to apologize.”
I blinked in surprise. Caroline Baker apologizing? That was a first.
“Look,” she continued, her voice softer than I'd ever heard it, “I may have been a bit harsh earlier. Logan told me about what happened with your daddy. I'm sorry, Eli. That's a tough situation. Is he alright?”
I nodded, not quite sure how to respond. Caroline's sudden appearance and change in demeanor had caught me off guard. “He… uh… He’ll live,” I replied. “But he won’t be home for a while.”
She nodded knowingly and glanced around the room, taking in the mess. “Need a hand cleaning up?”
“I... yeah, actually. That'd be great,” I said, still a bit dumbfounded.
Caroline grabbed another broom from the closet and started sweeping alongside me. We worked in silence for a few minutes before she spoke again.
“Colt told us what happened,” she said quietly. “About the job offer and all.”
I froze, my grip tightening on the broom handle. “Caroline, I?—”
She held up a hand, cutting me off. “I ain't here to judge, Eli. Just to listen, if you want to talk.”
I let out a long breath, feeling some of the tension leave my body. “I messed up, Caroline. I should've told him about the offer right away. I was just... trying to figure things out first.”
Caroline nodded, her eyes understanding. “Colt's been through a lot, you know. Those accidents at the rodeo shook him up more than he lets on. I think finding out about your job offer scared him. Made him think you were gonna leave him behind.”
“But I wasn't,” I insisted, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “I'd already decided to stay here in Sagebrush. With him. I just wanted to surprise him with the news.”
Caroline's lips quirked into a small smile. “You two always did have a knack for misunderstandin' each other,” she said, shaking her head. “Reminds me of when you were kids.”
I let out a humorless chuckle. “Yeah, we were pretty good at that, weren't we?”
We continued sweeping in companionable silence for a while, the rhythmic sound of bristles against the floor filling the room. As we worked, I felt some of the tension in my shoulders start to ease.
“You know,” Caroline said after a while, her voice thoughtful, “Colt's been different since he came back to Sagebrush. Happier. More settled-like. I reckon that's got a lot to do with you.”
I paused, looking up at her. “Really?”
She nodded, leaning on her broom. “Really. I've known that boy since we were in elementary school. He's always had this restlessness in him, like he was searching for somethin'. But lately, it's like he's finally found what he's been lookin' for.”
Her words made my heart swell with hope and ache with longing all at once. “I feel the same way about him,” I admitted softly. “Being with Colt... it feels like coming home.”
Caroline's expression softened further. “Then you gotta fight for him, Eli. Give him some time to cool off, sure, but don't you dare give up on him.”
I nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. “I won't. I promise.”
We finished cleaning up in silence, both lost in our own thoughts. As Caroline was getting ready to leave, she patted me on the shoulder. “I ain’t much of the prayin’ sort, but I’ll keep your family in my thoughts.”
“Thanks, Caroline.”
“Just give Colt a couple days alright? I’m sure he’ll come around.”
“I… I’ll try,” I nodded, hating the icy feeling building in my chest. The thought of being away from him for that long tore me up, but if that’s what Colt needed, I’d give it to him.
“I’ll do what I can to help,” she replied, seeing the worry traced in my expression. “Take care of yourself.”
“You too.”
And with that, I was left standing in my living room alone. Colt was gone and all I could do was wait and hope that he would come back to me.
I just hoped history wasn’t going to repeat itself.