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I left Glenda staring at me with a snarl on her face as Olivia and I walked away looking for an empty booth. We sat down and Olivia didn’t waste a minute on pleasantries.

“You didn’t show up for dinner, Travis. I thought you would at least do me the courtesy of letting me know if you weren’t coming.”

“I never said Iwascoming. I said I’d think about it. Which I did and decided it was another useless move for me. A waste of time and would only add to the anxiety I’m already feeling. I have to steer clear of shit like this, Olivia—for medical reasons.”

She stared at me while she pondered my words. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Travis. How can our situation affect you…medically?”

“Trust me, it does. And I have no inclination to explain the inner workings of my feeble brain, Olivia. I saw you at the funeral with Ravary, so what’s the point of us talking? No point at all and you’re only messing me up more. It’s best if I don’t see you at all. Period.”

Olivia remained calm in the face of my rant. “I did break up with Miller, but he doesn’t know many people in Coyote Creek, and he asked me to sit with him at the service. That’s all it was.”

Out of words, I nodded. “I’ve got to get home, Olivia. I need sleep. Billy is coming home tomorrow, and I have stuff to do.”

“I could help you.”

“No, thanks. I can handle it myself.”

Olivia’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t want us to part this way, Travis. I love you with all my heart.”

“I can’t take the chance, Olivia. A relapse is out of the question. I’m not going back to the hospital.”

“I have no idea what you’re referring to, Travis. Please don’t push me away like this.”

Chapter Eight

Tuesday, April 26th.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

My sleep was crimped with troubling dreams of war and chaos, flashes of blinding light and exploding IEDs. Unsurmountable problems with no solutions, and I woke up irritable on the razor edge of battle.

The house felt cool, so the wood I’d stoked the stove with before conking out hadn’t lasted through until morning. Billy was king of the woodstove. It wasn’t me.

I started a pot of coffee while the dogs were out, and I was headed for the shower when Billy called.

“My dad is bringing me over later. Probably after lunch by the time I’m up and my mother fusses over my leg and lets me go to the truck.”

“If I’m not here, you have your key.”

“Sure. I’m good.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “I’ve got to get out of here. My mom is treating me like I’m in kindergarten.”

“We’ll catch up later and it will all work out. Brenda coming with you?”

“Hell no. Don’t even suggest it.”

I laughed.

After Billy’s call, I poured myself a coffee and sat at the kitchen table for a thinking moment. I considered the Olivia mess. She had dumped Ravary—or said she had—and that would wash back on me. For sure it would. I could actually feel it coming like I could still feel the sand in my eyes, my nose, and my throat. The dreams were too real.

Don’t let her mess you up.

I reached for my meds and took them right away. I can’t forget the pills. Not ever.

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

Molly was in a good mood every morning now that the dogs were back. They crowded close to her desk and most days Max tried to squish his big body underneath but couldn’t quite do it.

I’d been working on reports in my office for half an hour when Molly called to me from the squad room and said I had a visitor.