CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
D ad stares straight ahead while a familiar vehicle approaches the gate. “Think they’ll come clean?”
“One will,” I assure. “The other is more your problem than mine.”
We’re standing at the bend in the driveway when the women pull in. Paisley’s eyes are wide on mine through the windshield. My sister is making a point to look anywhere else.
“You got this?” Dad gestures at the mess that just arrived on our doorstep.
I grunt. “Only one way to find out.”
He claps a palm to my shoulder. “Proud of you, son. Your mother would be too.”
I clench my eyes shut and give him a nod. “Thanks. That’s… nice to hear.”
“Nice to hear,” my dad echoes on a chuckle. “That wife of yours will make a fine fella outta you yet.”
“Wouldn’t go that far.” But if that’s how Paisley wants me, I’ll bend to do her bidding.
“You’re a good man.” Dad smiles before his expressions sobers. “Gonna track down Jimmy and get this sorted.”
I was there when he got his call earlier to apologize, but my uncle hung up before we got any valuable information. “Let me know what I can do.”
“Enjoy being young, and mostly carefree. It’s a fleeting gift.” And with that, he ambles off in his bow-legged stride.
Bianca runs into the house before I can grill her. My wife slinks toward me like there’s molasses stuck to her soles. She flashes a sugary grin meant to butter me up. I’m about to fall for it until I get a look at her cheek. My knees almost buckle at the sight.
But I’ll be no use to her then. I straighten to my full height, ready to raise hell. “What happened?”
She lifts a palm to where there’s a dark bruise already forming. “Just a little mishap. Probably looks worse than it is. Didn’t stop to ask for ice. Bianca scooped me up and we got the fuck out of Dodge.”
“Who did this?” My tone is deceptively quiet.
“She feels really bad, or so I’m told.”
Every muscle in my body flexes for a fight. “Don’t bullshit me. Give. Me. His. Name.”
“Not he. She,” my wife reiterates. “Echo moved too quickly when I approached her in the trailer. Her head swung at me and knocked me out cold. Should’ve known better considering her agitated state.”
My glare narrows on her mottled skin. “Who took her?”
“Some guy.” Paisley shudders, going a bit pale.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “What’s his name, wife? ”
“He didn’t bother introducing himself. Probably doesn’t have to,” she mumbles absently.
My molars grind. It’s more than we got from Jimmy, but there’s not much to go on. The list of suspects is short regardless. Only a few are dumb enough to cross me in this town.
Bianca reappears with a bag of frozen peas clutched in her hand. Her motions are stilted while she unloads Echo. The mare whinnies once her hooves touch grass. A chorus of neighs from the herd welcome her home.
“There’s something about that horse,” I ponder as Bianca approaches with the buckskin. “Seems to get herself wrapped up in drama.”
A crease forms between Paisley’s brows while she gingerly probes at the shiner marring her cheek. “That’s not Echo’s fault.”
“Still,” I grunt. “Maybe it’s time I actually got rid of her.”
Paisley whirls on me, blue fury sparkling in her eyes. “That’s not funny.”
“You should take her off my hands.”
“What?” Her voice is barely a whisper.
“We want you to have her, sis.” Bianca passes the lead rope and peas to my wife.
The mare is quick to flank her as if they’re already a team. Paisley’s palm trembles when she rubs along the buckskin’s nose. She ignores the frozen vegetables completely. Indecision hangs thick in the air like incoming rain.
“I can’t accept her.” The rejection is weak while she presses the makeshift ice pack to her injury.
“She’s meant to be yours,” I insist. “Mom would want you to have her. ”
“No,” Paisley blubbers. “That’s too much.”
“We already decided,” Bianca cuts in. “That’s why her disappearance was extra upsetting.”
“You’ve talked about this?” Awe is bright in her features.
My sister grins, but the expression wobbles. “It’s not like she’s going anywhere. I can take her for a spin whenever I want.”
Paisley’s eyes are glassy. “Really?”
“Well, yeah. But I’m about to have my hands full,” Bianca mumbles.
I freeze on the spot. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’ll find out. Eventually,” she evades. “Love what you’ve done to your room, by the way. Pink is definitely your color. Tah-tah!”
My glare watches her flee the scene. “Bianca is hiding something.”
“That’s her story to tell,” Paisley whispers.
“What do you know?”
“Not much, but I promised.” Her shrug is cagey.
“Is she in danger?”
“Ummm…” My wife squints into the distance, choosing to leave me hanging.
“The fuck?”
“She’s probably fine.”
“Gonna get to the bottom of this.” I’m about to stalk after my sister when Paisley’s arm hooks mine.
“Hey, old man. Calm down.”
I bristle at the name. “Not the time, wife.”
“It is. Your sister needs space. If she wants help, I’m sure she’ll ask.” Her measured reasoning deflates my agitation .
But only slightly. My body is still strung tight. “I don’t like this.”
“That’s exactly what I said, but we made it out okay.” She shifts the peas on her face.
“I can’t believe that you went with her.”
“Wasn’t going to until she told me that Echo was at stake. Couldn’t let them hurt her.” Paisley sways into the horse who nuzzles her in return.
“Your text was shit.” Just three short statements that gave me nothing but a crumb of relief.
My wife winces. “That was on purpose. You weren’t allowed to know where we were going.”
“Why not?
“The creepy dude gave Bianca specific directions to follow. At least I’m assuming it was him,” she says absently.
“What does he look like?”
“I’ve already said too much.” She buttons her lips.
“Too much,” I grumble. “You’ll never let me forget it.”
“Probably not.” Paisley sidles closer, fluttering her lashes at me. “But I love you.”
“Say it again.”
“I.” Her lips peck mine. “Love.” Another kiss. “You.” She slips me some tongue on the last one.
I groan into her mouth. “Fuck, I can’t stay mad at you.”
My wife pulls away, searching my expression. “Were you actually upset?”
“Nah, but I can pretend to be.” My palm molds to her ass and yanks her against me.
Paisley flattens herself on my chest. “And why would I want that?”
“I’ll make you beg for mercy,” I rasp into her ear .
She mewls and sags into my grasp. “What else, boss?”
“Eat you for every meal.”
Her whimper spurs me on. “More.”
“Spend the rest of my life making passionate love to you,” I breathe against her parted lips. “And then you’ll never forget this is real.”
Our noses bump when she nods. “Nothing fake between us ever again.”
“We’ll fix a bunch of shit around the farm. Chase cattle and chickens. Have a couple kids to expand the family.” My palm wanders to her flat stomach that I can picture growing round. “Keep convincing you that I’d be lost without your twinkle. Those sparkles will brighten my darkest days.”
“And then we’ll ride off into the sunset.”
“Bareback on one horse,” I add.
Her gaze is bleary when she blinks up at me. “I’m very happy that you coerced me into marrying you, husband.”
“Best damn decision I never planned to make.” My thumb traces the shape of her upturned jaw.“You’re stuck with me forever, wife.”
Paisley leans into my touch. “No regrets.”
“Or limits.”
“And so much more than in name only.”
“Everything,” I rasp before sealing our fate in a kiss.