Chapter Twelve

The late-afternoon sun hung heavy on the western side of the sky as Gus stepped out of her truck and skipped up the steps to the ranch house. She had nailed the interview for the park project. They only thing that she and her landscape architect had going against them was a lack of experience, but hopefully their volunteer work and ideas helped give them points in their favor. They would find out the results in a week.

She couldn’t wait to share the news with Colton. He had been wonderful this morning, preparing breakfast, and helping her stay calm despite all the fluttery nerves dancing around her belly. They had fallen into the habit of staying together at night, and it had quickly become a natural routine.

Her body felt heated just thinking of her nights with Colton, and a thrill of getting to see him rushed through her.

She rapped on the door and waited for someone to answer. Unable to contain her energy, she bounced up onto her toes as she listened to the footsteps on the other side.

The door flew open, and Ty stood, pale-faced, his brows pinched together.

“Gus,” he barked. “Thank god. Have you seen Colton?”

“Excuse me?” Automatically, she glanced behind her at the bunkhouse. The lights were off. A tiny trickle of uncertainty dimmed her happy mood. “No, I haven’t seen Colton. He was supposed to be on the ranch.”

She tried to smile at him, positive this was a big mistake. That Colton was off running errands, or somewhere on the property and hadn’t shown up. There was no way he would just leave. Not after she finally let her guard down.

Right?

Ty didn’t smile back. “I returned an hour ago, and I haven’t seen him. Our lawyer is asking.”

Her heart lurched in her chest, and a feeling of nausea swept through her.

Pushing the door open wide, Ty stepped back so she could enter. At their kitchen table, she spotted an older man, with thin wire-framed glasses perched on his nose, a briefcase sitting next to him. Rich Patterson—she had helped with an addition to his house a few years ago.

“Is something wrong?” Her voice hit a notch too high when she asked the question.

“I’m here to check on the Hartmans,” the lawyer said smoothly. “When was the last time you saw Colton?”

Confused, she turned to Ty. “This morning before I left for my interview. Colton’s here somewhere.”

“He’s not answering his phone,” Ty said grimly.

At that moment, a pair of heavy boots pounded on the porch’s wood slats. As one, the three of them turned to the front door, and Jace walked in.

“Oh, hell, thank god,” Ty said. His body seemed to melt with his released tension. “Where’s Colton?”

Jace looked from Ty to the lawyer to Gus. He sucked air in between his teeth. “He left. Just a few hours ago. He had to fly back to San Francisco.”

And just like that, her golden, warm, happy dream burst.

For a minute, all she could do was stare.

Colton was gone. He left, without a word. Just like last time.

“Why?” Her voice was a whisper.

“Someone is embezzling from his company, and he went to address it,” Jace said quickly.

“Did he say when he’ll return?” the lawyer asked.

“As soon as possible,” Jace said quickly, but didn’t expand, giving Gus the suspicion that he didn’t know.

“Right,” Ty snapped. He turned to the lawyer. “Colton is out, but he knows the terms of the will. He’ll be back.”

Rich grimaced and stood. “Well, I need documentation. Have Colton contact me. I will need to see dates and receipts to document time away and time returned. I need this for all trips, as you know. I know he’s left once before, and a month’s worth of time will evaporate very quickly.”

“Right,” Ty bit out. “We’ll have him contact you as soon as possible.”

The lawyer stood and looked around the place, as though documenting all the changes. Then, grabbing his briefcase, he pulled his hat on and headed out. “I’ll be tracking you guys,” he warned.

Then he was gone, leaving all three of them staring at his departing back through the glass in the front door.

“I’m sure he’s going to return,” Jace said.

“That’s what we thought the last time he left,” Ty snapped. “Did he give you a timeline?”

“Only when he got his business sorted,” Jace said, the certainty falling from his face. “He did say as long as it took. You don’t think he would abandon the ranch, do you?”

“He already did once before,” Ty snapped. “That lawyer is going to be watching us like a hawk after this.”

She wrapped her arms around herself. Colton was gone. Just like last time. Just like when she lost her mother—gone so fast, there was no time for her to process. She and Colton barely had a chance to genuinely enjoy their time together.

“Gus.” Ty reached for her, as though to hug her, but she stepped back.

“He didn’t even call. He would have called if he planned to come back.” Her head spun as she tried to make sense of the situation. Just this morning, she had kissed him goodbye and promised to meet him tonight for dinner. “What about Rocking H? What about you two? What about—” She didn’t finish the last sentence. She swallowed against the tightness in her throat as emotions threatened to spill over. She forced herself to stop. She couldn’t cry over Colton. Not again. Not in front of Ty.

She pulled out her phone to double-check that he hadn’t left a message or called.

Nothing. Not even a text.

This was why she didn’t want to let herself fall for him. Because who knew when he would take off and leave her on her own all over again? Who knew when he was going to return? Or if he was going to return. Even Jace didn’t look certain.

“He’s not going to be back by tonight, is he?” She felt dumb asking the question. But her emotional brain was trying to make everything okay. That if he made it back on time, they could still make their dinner date, and, most importantly, nothing would change.

Jace slowly shook his head, his steel-blue eyes dim. “I don’t know. I—” He hesitated, and then shook his head. “I took him to the airport this morning. He’s probably in California by now.”

She tugged at the sleeves of the cute little jacket she had pulled over her sundress. An outfit that she had picked out with Colton in mind.

“I’m going to go. I’ll see you later.”

She needed to get off this ranch now. She couldn’t do this anymore. Even if Colton did come back, she couldn’t live each day wondering if he was going to be around or not.

Rushing out of the house, she headed to her truck. The sun on her back now felt too hot, and her dress felt clammy against her skin.

Sinking into the driver’s seat, she stared numbly out the windshield.

If Colton wanted to leave, fine. She just hadn’t expected it to end so quickly. The least he could have done was told her.

Sobs choked up into her throat, threatening to spill out.

Gus pressed the back of her hand against her mouth. Not now. Not here on Rocking H.

She swallowed them back and started the truck. The starter rolled over once, twice, then finally the engine roared to life.

Colton was gone again. Only this time, she was going to be wiser. There was no way in hell that she was going to wait ten years for another opportunity with him.

It was time to move on.