Chapter 11 Emma
T he afternoon sun blazes in the western sky, relentless and unyielding. Sweat trickles down my back as I duck into the stable, the scent of hay and warm earth wrapping around me. The sudden shade is a welcome relief, but the thick air inside clings to my skin, making me feel sticky and restless.
My phone buzzes in my palm, its vibration a sharp contrast to the stillness of the barn. I glance down, the glow of the screen cutting through the dim light. Three missed messages. Probably from Greg. Probably about work. A flicker of guilt twists in my stomach, but I shake it off and dial his number, plopping down on a stack of wheels as the call rings.
“Hey, beautiful. How’s my farm girl?” Greg’s voice is teasing, light.
“Good. Sorry, just got your messages. What’s going on?” I swipe at a strand of hair clinging to my cheek, swatting away a stubborn fly.
“I thought you’d want to know your brothers haven’t been in the office since you left,” he says. “Gabe’s here, holding down the fort, but it’d be nice to have you back.”
I sigh. “They’re probably with Dad. He’s not doing great.” The weight of those words sits heavy on my chest. “Is Gabe managing okay?”
“Yeah, he’s fine. I just miss you,” Greg says, his voice dipping slightly.
I chuckle. “Bored, are you? Maybe you should come here—this town is full of surprises. Actually, I’m glad I caught you. I need a favor.”
“For you? Anything.”
I lean forward, elbows on my knees. “I need you to get in touch with McMurrey. I need the deed information for a couple of properties out here and an external audit of the Waters' ranch financial records.”
Greg hums thoughtfully. “Send me the details, and I’ll get on it. What exactly are we looking for?”
“Any irregularities in the books, market service rates, and the deeds.” I pause. “Did I already say deeds? I need them urgently.”
“You did.”
“Sorry. I feel like a chicken running around without a head.”
“A what?” He laughs.
“Did you know piglets aren’t born pink?”
“No, but now I do. Sounds like you’re having fun.”
“That part wasn’t fun. Kissing Eric was fun.”
Greg sputters. “Wait. You kissed him?”
“No, he kissed me,” I correct. “In front of his parents. We were pretending.”
“Interesting.”
“Greg, focus. The properties—Waters' and the one north of here. Should be under John Huntz.”
“Got it. Now, tell me, when are you coming back?”
I lean my head back, staring up at the wooden beams above me. “I need a few more days. Eric needs to fall head over heels for me first.”
Greg’s laughter fills my ear. “Emma, if he doesn’t, he doesn’t deserve you.”
My chest tightens. “He will. Also, I’m sending some papers to corporate. Just… Don’t let my brothers see them. Forward them straight to the board.”
“Understood. And if they sit in on the meeting?”
“They won’t. They’re too focused on Dad.” I chew on my lip, stealing a glance at the time. “I need to call my mom before I lose signal.”
“All right. I should have everything back to you in a couple of days. Love you.”
“Love you back.”
I hang up and immediately dial Mom. This time, she picks up on the second ring.
“Emma! Oh, darling, I miss you so much,” she says, her voice warm but tired.
“I miss you too, Mom. How’s Dad?”
“The new mattress is a blessing. Fred slept through the night and most of today, which is good. His body needs the rest to fight.” She sighs, and my stomach knots. If he’s sleeping more, that means his body is struggling harder. “How’s everything out west?”
I force a smile, even though she can’t see it. “Eric delivered piglets last night. I got to brush Shadow. Joanne and Ethan say hello.”
“That’s wonderful. And has Eric fallen in love with you yet?” Her voice is full of teasing amusement.
“Mom!” Heat prickles my cheeks.
“Oh, Emma, we all know you’re head over heels for that man.”
“Only you and Dad know,” I correct quickly. “And it has to stay that way because if Tristan and Julian find out, they’ll kill us both.”
She laughs softly. “Don’t you worry about your brothers. They’re busy with…” She trails off, hesitation creeping into her voice.
“With what?” I press.
“Work,” she says too quickly.
“What else, Mom?”
A pause. Then, “Tristan has a consultation today with a new doctor.”
My breath catches. “What’s wrong with the old one?”
“Nothing’s wrong. They’ll be working together. Dr. Nguyen is coming by to discuss immune system support.”
I nod even though she can’t see me. “I’m hoping to come home after the weekend.”
“Good. That’s good, Emma.” Her voice softens. “I miss you, my love.”
“I miss you more,” I whisper. “Give Dad my love.”
“I will, sweetheart.”
We say our goodbyes, and I lower the phone, my fingers tightening around it as my emotions coil inside me.
A soft neigh pulls me from my thoughts. I look up. Shadow watches me, her dark eyes keen and thoughtful.
“What is it, girl? Have you been calling me?” I whisper, stepping closer.
She shifts on her feet, restless.
And for some reason, a shiver runs up my spine.
"Why are you stuck in here alone while your friends roam the fields?" I whisper, brushing my fingers along Shadow’s velvety muzzle. An urge to set her free tugs at me, but Eric’s stern warning plays in my head like a relentless drumbeat, pounding against my growing curiosity.
I grab a grooming brush and head toward the back where the saddles hang. As I push open the storage door, expecting the usual neat arrangement of equestrian gear, my breath catches at what I actually find.
Oh.
Oh.
Hanging from a beam above the saddles is an array of whips and chains—not the kind meant for horses. My fingers trail over a feathered whip, curiosity curling through me like smoke.
“Eric,” I murmur, letting my hand hover over a thick, perfectly coiled rope. “What exactly have you been up to, my dirty cowboy?”
A smirk tugs at my lips, heat licking at my skin as a dozen images of him—shirtless, all muscle and control—flash through my mind. Shaking off the distraction, I grab the brush and return to Shadow, her ears flicking back as I approach.
"Hey, girl." I extend my hand, letting her take in my scent. "Remember me? I’d love to take you for a ride."
She presses her nose into my palm, her breath warm and steady. I ease the stall door open, stepping inside with slow, measured movements.
"Good girl," I whisper, working the brush through her dark, silken coat. The rhythm of grooming soothes me, grounding me in the moment, tethering me to the steady rise and fall of her breath. My fingers move from her strong neck down her back, brushing away dust and tangles. She stays still, trusting me, and something deep in my chest swells with pride.
Once she’s ready, I grab the saddle pad, smoothing it carefully along her back before lifting the saddle into place. Her body shifts beneath my hands, muscles tensing, then relaxing.
"Are you gonna be gentle with me?" I whisper, tightening the girth and making the final checks. Shadow bows her head as if answering, a quiet promise between us.
I lead her outside, the sun pressing warm against my skin. Shadow prances beside me, light on her hooves, her energy mirroring my own bubbling excitement.
With one smooth motion, I swing into the saddle.
"Easy, girl," I murmur, nudging her forward. She responds instantly, slipping into a steady trot as the landscape unfolds around us in golden streaks of light and dust.
Wind whips through my hair, carrying the crisp scent of fall, damp wood, and the distant smoke of burning leaves. We gallop faster, the steady rhythm of Shadow’s hooves drumming against the earth, until she suddenly veers east.
"Shadow, that way!" I steer her north, but she doesn’t listen.
Her body tightens with determination as she heads for a white fence in the distance.
"Where are you taking me, girl?"
As we draw closer, a herd of horses comes into view, their sleek bodies moving in a graceful tide across the field. Shadow slows, then stops entirely. A chestnut stallion steps forward, breaking away from the others. He moves toward us, cautious but confident, his coat gleaming like polished copper beneath the sun.
"Hello, pretty boy," I whisper, watching as he inches closer. Shadow lets out a soft, answering neigh, the sound vibrating through my body.
“Is that your man, Shadow?” I murmur, running a hand down her neck.
The two horses meet at the fence, their noses touching in a tender, unspoken exchange. Shadow shifts beneath me, leaning into the stallion’s muzzle. The connection between them is instant, electric. I watch, mesmerized, as he brushes his muzzle against her neck, his touch lingering like a silent vow. My chest tightens with something raw and unfamiliar.
“Your daddy’s not going to believe this,” I whisper.
With one last gentle nuzzle, Shadow turns away, and I guide her back toward Eric’s property. The ride should be peaceful, but an uneasy feeling creeps along my spine when a broken-down barn and a partially charred house appear in the distance. I slow Shadow to a halt, my gaze locking onto the ruins ahead.
“This must be the Huntz property.”
A cold shiver slithers down my spine as I slide from the saddle, the air suddenly too thick, too heavy. The silence here isn’t just still—it’s suffocating, as if the land itself is holding its breath.
I slide off Shadow’s back, my boots hitting the ground with a soft thud. The fence ahead leans precariously, its splintered wood barely holding together. Tying Shadow under a tree, I follow a narrow, overgrown path through the tall grass. A breeze whistles through the ruins, carrying with it the scent of scorched wood and something else—something metallic, almost oily.
The door groans as I push it open, hinges protesting after years of abandonment. The air inside is thick, heavy with the ghosts of whatever once stood here. My skin prickles as I step through the threshold. The floor creaks under my weight, the charred remains shifting like they might collapse at any second.
Shadows stretch across the ruined walls, flickering as if they, too, remember the fire that tore through this place. I swallow hard, moving deeper inside, careful to avoid the worst of the debris. Soot clings to my fingers as I brush against a crumbling doorway.
Then I smell it—oil.
It clings to the air, a sharp, biting scent beneath the charred remains. My boots disturb a thick layer of dust, kicking up remnants of a past that refuses to be buried. I sidestep a rat, its lifeless body curled in the corner, before my eyes land on something that makes my stomach twist.
Five barrels. Lined neatly against the far wall.
My pulse pounds in my ears as I navigate around a pile of fallen bricks, my gaze drawn to something small and bright—yellow. A discarded hair clip, so wildly out of place in this decaying ruin, that it stops me in my tracks.
A stack of unopened mail sits on a dusty shelf, envelopes curling at the edges. Nearby, empty cans of beans line the charred kitchen counter. I reach for one, bringing it to my nose.
It’s fresh.
A single spoonful lingers inside. Someone has been here. Recently.
A shudder rolls through me, and I set the can down, forcing my breath to steady. I need to get out of here.
I turn to leave, but something catches my eye—faint white markings along the hallway wall. I step closer, my heart thudding as I realize I’m looking at a map.
Chalk drawings, smeared and faded but still visible: a winding river, an arching bridge, a dense forest. My fingers brush over an X marked deep into the design, leaving a streak of soot in its wake. I wipe my hand on my jeans and pull out my phone, snapping a quick picture before Shadow’s impatient neigh cuts through the silence.
I don’t stick around to find out what else lingers in this place.
Jogging back to Shadow, I press a calming hand along her side. “Sorry I took so long, girl.” I swing into the saddle, casting one last glance at the hollowed-out shell of the house.
We turn north, following the river. The trees sway overhead, branches whispering against the wind, their leaves thick and lush. After a ten-minute ride, I slide off Shadow and sink into the grass, letting the steady flow of the water calm my nerves.
For a while, I just sit there, letting my mind drift. Then, a familiar voice cuts through the stillness.
“Emma!”
Eric.
I push to my feet and wave, his silhouette moving closer.
He barely slows Dash before jumping off and stalking toward me.
My smile dies.
"What the fuck were you thinking, taking Shadow out?"