35. Chapter 35
35
“Are those fine-looking horses outside yours?” Jameson asked. I’d brought the horses for Mr. Vears, as promised, but the man was yet to arrive. Secretly, I hoped he wouldn’t come. The two young mustangs were a delight to train. Esta named them herself, and I knew she’d be glad if I brought them home with me. She’d bonded with the mare the most. Buttercup had a keen scent for sugar cubes and would nibble at any pocket until satisfied. I had a soft spot for Mr. Jones, his haughtiness reminded me of Dalton.
“Are you interested in buying?” I turned my focus to my old friend, Jameson.
He wanted me to visit his home in the wildlands and was becoming frustrated with my reticence. I could tell by the set of his jaw. There was a time when his offer was salvation. But I’d long since cooled my heels on youthful impenetrability. My omega was my priority, and she needed me more than the wildlands did.
Jameson was so different, and yet so similar to my memories of him. When he walked through the door, I thought I was seeing a ghost. Except Jameson had changed in the years since he left with his family to the wildlands. He used to be a head shorter, now he was a head taller, with a body built from toiling on the land. There were lines feathering out from his eyes, but the kind from smiling, not despair. He looked so well it shook me.
“You always were a magic hand with horses, like you could speak their language. There are plenty of mustangs in the wildlands, but few people who would break and train them as well as you.” He arched his eyebrow in silent invitation.
That surprised me. I thought the wildlands were more barren than the land around Misery Creek. If the mustangs were anything like Dalton, they’d survive anywhere.
“We can’t talk here, but I am interested. Especially as you said, there are no humans?”
What if we could make a better life in the wildlands?
Could we really leave the ranch?
My jaw tightened. There was a war in me. Hope and adventure against loyalty and safety. But was Misery Creek still safe? I couldn’t hold Esta, and dance with her without getting glares every five seconds.
“Promise me you’ll visit, just once. I’ll protect your precious omega, and you’ll see the wildlands aren’t what you think. It’s been waiting for you, Ruck, and you know it.”
I jerked my head back, eyes wide as Jameson crossed his arms over his chest.
“Esta isn’t mine. She’s Hale’s wife.”
Jameson’s eyes rolled to the ceiling, and he lowered his voice, so the milling crowd didn’t hear his next words. Underneath my collar heated.
“That’s horseshit, and if you visit the wildlands, you’ll see exactly why.” He scrubbed at his neat stubble and lifted one shoulder. “You won’t get judgment from me, Ruck. I know the situation you’re in very well.”
He tilted his head to the two other men he’d arrived with, crowded together at the back of the room. I didn’t know them. One was born in the wildlands, apparently. They leaned against the back wall, and, even though there was room, pressed their shoulders together like they needed support.
Like a pack .
I made a noise, swallowed by the music and the animated conversation around me. Esta’s efforts with the Spring Dance were a revelation and it would be the talk of the town for the entire calendar year if the excitement of tonight was any gauge.
Jameson heard news of Hale’s wife planning the night, which is what drew him out. We’d played together as children, adventured as teenager's, before his parents ventured into the wildlands. I never once considered he even survived, not with the rumors about how dangerous it was. But he’d not only survived but thrived.
“I shouldn’t even be saying anything, but seeing you tonight, I can’t hold my tongue. You deserve better than what Misery Creek can offer you. These humans—” he bit off as Mr. Whit pressed by him, escorting his wife to the dance floor.
The elderly couple were a staple of the town and were well versed with difficult relationships. Mr. Whit was a beta, and his wife was a human. But there were so many other humans who were determined to treat us like animals. Dr. Goodman flashed into my mind, and I clenched my fists.
“Evening Ruck, I’ve been trying to find your sweet sister-in-law to thank her but can’t find her anywhere. Haven’t she and Lucinda done an amazing job?”
Nella, the sheriff’s wife, passed by and ran a curious palm down my suit with an approving click of her tongue.
“These suits, such fine work. My feet might fall off tomorrow, but it will be worth it.” Nella chortled as she slipped through the crowd.
I searched, looking for Esta’s striking hair or a flash of her mint dress that she’d worked so tirelessly on. But she was nowhere in the throng. Hale was talking to the mayor, accepting apologies with great reluctance. My stomach twisted, and unease crawled down my arms.
Was it my own? For a moment, I couldn’t tell.
“Jameson, maybe I’ll visit you on my own first, just to make sure. The rumors make it seem unlivable, and my—Hale’s wife has been through enough hardship.”
Jameson’s jaw softened, and he nodded.
“I think you’ll really like it, Ruck.” He wandered back to his friends, and I marched through the crowd to rescue Hale.
“You know she always had her heart set on you. Her husband does his best, but his priority is the bank, and she just gets bored and needy. I should have realized she couldn’t have done all this. Claudia is wonderful, but she isn’t the best at sewing. In fact, when she was younger…” The mayor trailed off as I approached.
Hale visibly sagged as I interrupted.
“Excuse me, mayor, but I need to borrow Hale for a moment.”
The mayor wiped his forehead and bumbled out another apology, which Hale took with a clenched jaw. Claudia was the last of my worries, and being sent home in disgrace would hopefully teach the girl some tact, but it was unlikely.
“What is it? They’re just about to serve dinner, and I am hankering for some of Esta’s pie.”
Her baking skills improved since the first effort Bram ruined, and it symbolized something to us all now. Our coming together as a pack. She and Oliver spent many hours in the kitchen during winter. His touch was a great incentive for her to improve. Now her apple pie was as good as any I’d tasted.
I was still searching for Esta when I noticed Oliver standing by the entrance, talking to Madam Silver. What was the brothel madam doing here? My feet moved without me realizing. Hale trotted after me.
“I don’t know where Esta is,” I admitted, and Hale’s head whipped up. He scanned the room once, twice. He overtook me, heading for the double-door exit.
“She must be outside.” He muttered, noticing Oliver and Madam Silver. “What’s she doing here?”
I didn’t like the double standards that were placed on Madam Silver. Her brothel was part of the reason Misery Creek hadn’t faded away into the desert. Hell, it was where Oliver spent most of his childhood. But society turned a blind eye to the women who lived there and the men who visited. It was a necessity that wasn’t welcome on occasions like this. Madam Silver didn’t look dressed for revelry, though, and her pinched cheeks were only pink because of painted makeup.
“The man I’ve been needing to speak to.” Madam Silver saw Hale and ushered him closer. “I don’t want to come into your little dance. My girls and I know our place, but listen to me. It’s urgent.”
“Come outside.” I ushered everyone away from the door, conscious of the looks we were getting.
Madam Silver didn’t roll her eyes like I expected; only wrung her hands. My stomach twisted again, and I searched for Esta outside. There were a few groups of people, Designated on one side and humans on the other. Red circles flared intermittently as they smoked.
Esta wasn’t out here.
The stars were bright tonight, though, and she did like to look at the stars.
“One of my girls heard a commotion out the window. She thought it might be customers getting up the nerve to come inside. That happens sometimes, you know.” She shared a look with Oliver which he didn’t return. His frown deepened.
Agitation coiled my muscles, my tongue caught between my teeth.
“Spit it out,” Hale snapped.
“She swears she heard someone say, run, Esta. A woman’s voice. There was another scuffle and whispering. Do you know where your wife is, Mr. Hartlock? I came as soon as she told me. I’m hoping it was the wind, but I couldn’t let myself rest until I assured myself.”
Oliver exploded, not waiting to hear anymore before he tore back into the hall to search for Esta himself.
“She’s not there.” My voice croaked, a great twist in my stomach taking control. I was going to throw up. My head pounded. There was nothing in our connection, and that inflamed the fear.
Hale shook his head with rough denial. “She must have misheard. My wife is perfectly safe,” he swiveled his head with increasing panic. “She is. Esta is well.”
The crowd of people outside the door abandoned their cigars and were listening with interest. The smell of cigar smoke wafted up my nostrils.
“I didn’t want to take the chance. She’s a sweet girl. But if you’re certain it’s nothing,” Madam Silver said.
I waved my hands, placating both the rising tempers. Oliver skidded on the gravel as he ran out of the hall, Jameson and his friends on his heels. His eyes were wild, and he rubbed his chest. I couldn’t feel Esta either, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t been taken. She’d been a low thrum inside of me tonight, pleasure spiking occasionally as she saw how much everyone was enjoying the dance. I could still feel her, the connection quiet, but there.
“She’s not inside.” Oliver’s voice cracked, and he grabbed Hale’s arm, shaking it. “Esta wouldn’t leave without telling one of us.”
Madam Silver’s eyes widened, and I knew she was putting together our secret, but I couldn’t find it in me to care. Esta was mine, and I needed to find her. The important thing was keeping her safe. Hale let out a low moan.
“I thought I saw a cart heading toward your farm earlier.” Johnny Seedwar called out, tossing his cigar on the ground. “Remember seeing her fair hair and thought y’all headed home early. Is something amiss?”
“I need you to find the sheriff and have him meet me at the ranch. Esta’s in danger.” Hale ordered as two red slashes appeared on his cheeks. His eyes glazed as his hands turned to fists. We were losing him to the very same panic that choked my insides as well.
Madam Silver cleared her throat but waited until Johnny raced inside. “He’s having a drink at the bar, but I’ll let him know.” She turned on her heel and hurried back to the brothel.
My heart caught in my throat as we raced to our cart. My two horses were waiting, unsaddled. The three of us worked in panicked silence. Even if they’d spoken, I wouldn’t be able to hear them. There was a roar in my ears that stole every sound and dulled everything around me.
“Take the mustangs. I’ll take the one from the cart and borrow a saddle.” Hale tossed the reins at me, and I snatched them from the air. Driving the cart to the ranch would take double the time. I didn’t argue, jumping onto the saddle. Oliver hoisted himself up, and we tipped our heads at Hale.
“Find her, please.” Hale’s face crumpled as we both raced away, and I knew why.
He didn’t have his mark on Esta, but we did. If anything happened to her, we would be the ones she needed close. He was her husband, but that meant nothing compared to a bond. The bond was steady but quiet, much too quiet.
Esta was alive, but that didn’t mean she was well.
“Go faster,” I urged Buttercup, glad my buyer never showed. Oliver dug his legs into Mr. Jones’s side and pushed him faster into the darkness. We were going too fast. It was dangerous to ride when the road was barely visible. The horse could take the wrong step, and we’d end up with a broken neck. But I couldn’t slow down. The shadows felt like wings. Above us, the stars glittered, reminding me of their namesake.
I wouldn’t stop until I got to her or died trying.
I’m coming, Esta. Please be safe.