Page 40 of Wrangled and Tangled (Raven Peak Ranch #1)

“ H eath’s on TV!” Briar shouts as soon as I see her racing toward me. “He’s at the station!”

Waving her phone around, I can see a live feed of something resembling the news, but it’s got hearts floating up from the bottom corner.

“What are you talkin’ about?” I ask, reaching for her phone so I can look at it without getting whiplash.

“Heath! He’s on the TV, and they’re talkin’ about those murders,” she screams as if I’m not standing beside her. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I look at the missed text from Heath telling me he left for the police station.

It’s good news that he’s been exonerated–something we celebrated last night–but I would’ve gone with him if he’d wanted me to. I’ve gotten to know him well enough to see that he must be nervous standing there listening to everything. But maybe he doesn’t need me.

The thought hits me in the chest, and I catch the newscaster asking about the rodeo.

“The rodeo has been given the okay to resume operations, as we have reason to believe the two murders are connected and that the killer has moved on,” Detective Royce states, and my heart sinks as another question is lobbed, this time at Heath.

“Mr. Macabe, when will you be returning to the arena?” A female reporter asks.

His smile is wide, teeth on full display as he says, “I look forward to returning when the time is right. I’ve missed my team and the thrill of the ride.”

My heart sinks, receding so far into my chest it presses against my spine, and I have to get away from Briar before I lose my breakfast.

Handing her phone back, I mumble something about checking on the garage and hop in the truck. Shooting a quick text to Mawmaw to come back to the ranch so Briar won’t be left alone, I head to The Raven. I need to sit in the back room and drink myself stupid.

Drown my fears in a bottle. It’s the one thing I never did after I lost Pearl. I couldn’t. I had to be strong and responsible for my girl, but now?

Now, I plan to numb myself into oblivion for being so blind.

Once a playboy, always a playboy.

“Whoa,” Uncle Scott says, stopping me on my way into the back entrance of the closed bar. “What’s going on?”

“I need a drink or seven,” I tell him.

He nods, bringing the box in his arms inside and setting it on a table before he walks behind the bar. I didn’t expect anyone to be here, and I’m not sure I can hold myself together long enough to pretend I’m not spiraling.

I knew he would return to the rodeo. I knew he would, yet I let myself fall in love with him. I thought he was falling for me too, and I know he loves Briar. Their relationship’s grown just as much as ours, and she loves, respects, and looks up to him.

Shit.

This is what I was worried about from the start. I didn’t want my little girl to get her heart broken, and I’ve gone and gotten mine broken instead.

“What’s going on?” Uncle Scott asks, putting a cold glass of my favorite beer in front of me. “Heard Heath was cleared, thought that would be celebratin’ news.”

Swallowing down half the glass, I try to hold back the tears, but it doesn’t work. One traitorous drop slips free of my will and slides down my face.

“He’s going back to the rodeo, and I’m the idiot who thought maybe, just maybe, he fell for us like we had for him.” Whispering that into the empty bar makes my heart constrict even more.

“How do you know he’s goin’ back?” Uncle Scott asks, unbiased as always.

“He said as much during the police interview,” I spit, downing the rest of the beer.

I’ve missed my team and the thrill of the ride.

It won’t stop echoing inside my head.

“And you’ve talked to him about this possibility?” His question makes me pause. We haven’t talked about it, as if it’s a taboo subject. If I don’t ask, he doesn’t have to tell.

Shaking my head, he laughs. “Well, I’d say you two probably need to talk about it.”

“Let me have one more before I do that?” I ask, drying up my face and gathering myself.

He chuckles and pours me another, sliding it across the bar and leaving me by myself while he stocks.

Once I’ve drunk the last drop, I steel my nerves and head outside.

We’ve got some things to discuss, and I guess I owe it to Heath to hear what he has to say. Walking to Mawmaw’s, I need to make sure Briar’s good and make sure Mawmaw can keep an eye on her while I talk to Heath.

Her truck is gone, and so is Lucy’s. I pull out my phone and send a quick message to my girl before I panic.

Me: Where are y’all?

Briar: Mawmaw brought me to Clara’s

Me: Oh, are her parents there?

Briar: Dad! *eye roll*

I can’t argue with her via text, and if she’s already there she’s not going to answer my call. Instead of making a fuss, I head to the house to wait for Heath.