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“Don’t we all.”

“Maybe you could talk to her,” Gram said. “See what she’s thinking.”

“Yes, please do,” her mother said. “I’d hate to see her go. I’d really like to get to know her better.”

Vaughn nodded and stared out through the windshield. Natalie’s thinking about leaving Phoenix? While she understood why, she didn’t like the idea. In fact, it made her feel sick inside and panicked. Her heart was racing. She had to talk to her. Had to stop her. She couldn’t leave. Not the ranch, nor Phoenix.

“I’ll talk to her when we get home.” This was something that could not wait. She didn’t want Natalie taking off like she did last time. And knowing Natalie and the way she feared confrontation and her ex-husband, she just might try to pack up and sneak off, thinking it was the safest way to do it.

God, were any of them safe right now? What with Ricky and Pedro roaming free and doing as they pleased to make their life hell, and Natalie’s ex-husband lurking somewhere, none of them were safe and it was an awful feeling.

Her head hurt just thinking about it all. And her back was damn near killing her from sitting so long. Thankfully, they were almost back at the ranch.

Gram exited I-17 and turned off onto the private road. They drove for a few minutes before they passed an oncoming vehicle. Gram slowed and pulled over as the SUV drove by, not bothering to slow for them at all. Vaughn turned and tried to get a good look at the driver, but he’d blown by them, kicking up dirt along the way.

His tag said Arizona, so he was local.

“Who was that?” her mother asked, looking behind them as well.

“Some asshole,” Gram said, pulling back onto the dirt road.

“I don’t know,” Vaughn said. “I hope it wasn’t Natalie’s ex.”

“She said he drives a fancy Mercedes,” Gram said.

Vaughn glanced behind them once again, not having a good feeling about the mysterious SUV. Where was he going so fast and more importantly, where was he coming from?

“Do you think it was those ranch hands who’ve been bothering you?” her mother asked.

“No. They don’t have the money for a nice SUV like that. And the driver looked to be alone,” Vaughn said. “Whoever it was had to be coming from the ranch, so I guess we’ll soon find out who it was from the others.”

“I guess so,” Gram said as she slowed to turn onto the drive.

But Vaughn still had a bad feeling. And she hoped, as they drove up to the damaged gate and cameras, that she wouldn’t find more chaos ahead.

Chapter Forty

Natalie stood in the corral rubbing down O’Malley and trying her best not to pace when she saw Vaughn’s truck pulling up the drive. She made herself wait patiently, until they’d parked in front of the house before she left the corral and walked over to meet them, swallowing the rising ball in her throat as she did.

Vaughn crawled slowly from the truck and Natalie hurried to her side as Vivian slid out and gripped her other arm. June went ahead and opened the kitchen door as they led her inside.

“Who was here?” Vaughn asked, while wincing in pain.

Natalie didn’t answer. She didn’t want to upset her until she was safely lying down, either on her bed or the couch. But Vaughn didn’t let up.

“We passed him on the way in. He was speeding. Driving like a madman in some expensive SUV.”

Natalie silently prayed as her heart about beat out of her chest. It was happening. Right now. Her time at the ranch had finally come to an end. Oh, God. What would happen next? No matter what, she wouldn’t let anything happen to Vaughn, June or Vivian. Even if that meant she had to take off again, this time for good.

“Natalie?” Vaughn said as they entered the house.

“Do you want to lie on the couch or your bed?” Natalie asked, still trying to put her off.

“I want you to answer me,” Vaughn said. She stopped her progress and looked at Natalie. Natalie motioned toward the couch.

“On the sofa first.”

Vaughn grimaced but listened, walking to the couch where she slowly sat and allowed Natalie to remove her shoes to put her feet up. Once she was settled, she grabbed her hand, not allowing her to walk away.