Page 80 of Bull Rush

Hazel starts bawling her eyes out at the sight of it. I turn to comfort her, but she just pushes past me, a sob racking her body as she pulls her hair up into a bun off her shoulders and ties it off.

“Haze, it’s going to be okay.” I approach her just like I did Wolfsbane, slow and steady so I don’t get the brunt force of her anger.

“It’s not, Ramsey. It’s happening again. Everything was so quiet, and then you come back, and now all of this.” She has to take a deep, stuttered breath between the crying and the irritation from the smoke. She can barely get her next words out. “It was so quiet before. So quiet, and then you come back, and now it’s people breaking in and horses being set on fire.”

“The horses are all okay. We got them all out.” I feel guilt and my own tears claw their way up my throat.

“They’re not okay. One of the rescues reinjured her bad leg rearing up into her trough in her panic. I saw Johnny Boy had a big gash on his face when Kell brought him out. We have to get the vet here.” She shakes her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. “And it could have been so much worse. When Wolfsbane wouldn’t come with me…” Her words fade into another sob, and I reach for her, wrapping my arms around her shoulders and pulling her close.

“I’m sorry. I know it was fucking terrifying. I was scaredtoo. But they’re all out. We’ll get the vet here tonight. I’ll pick him up myself if I have to.”

“Kell’s already on it.”

“Hazel?” a woman’s voice calls, and I turn around with her to see the older woman approaching us. “Oh, my sweet girl. I am so sorry. This is terrifying!” She runs to Hazel and practically knocks me over trying to get to her, pulling her into a tight hug.

“They could have died, Amelia!” She sobs into the woman’s shoulder, and she rocks her back and forth slightly like she’s a colicky baby.

“It’s okay. You’re okay. I’m so sorry!” Amelia repeats, and I’m irrationally agitated that this woman is comforting my wife instead of me. It feels like she’s edged in on a private moment, but I don’t want to argue in front of everyone.

“It doesn’t feel okay. I can’t believe this is happening.” Hazel raises her head for just long enough that she can peer over Amelia’s shoulder and see the flame lick through the roof of the stables. The sound of another crash on the inside is enough to tell us that it’s not going to end well.

“I know, and with all the worries you already have. Life’s unfair, sweetheart. The bad luck that sometimes comes into our life; it just isn’t fair,” Amelia reassures her and looks up at me, her eyes traveling over my form and not finding much she likes. “You. Why don’t you go get her some more water? She needs it.” The older woman instructs me, and I can’t really disagree.

I head into the house as the sirens blare in the distance, no doubt making their way down the state road from town to the ranch as I climb the stairs. I glance back over my shoulder as more of the stables collapses, and the smoke billows high into the air.

Whoever did this is going to pay. My brothers and I will make sure of that much.

THIRTY-EIGHT

Hazel

Amelia comfortsme as I finish crying my way through the aftermath of the stables fire. Kit brings me another water from the inn and a small plate of dinner that she insists I eat while I sit at the picnic table outside. The embers are still smoldering as the fire department finishes their work, and I feel like I should be doing something—anything—to begin picking up this mess. The idea of just walking away and letting it all sit here like this is killing me inside.

“There’s nothing you can do right now but take care of yourself.” Kit’s brows raise as she gives me a pointed look and motions to the plate.

Grace has come back out to the ranch and told me to take the night off, promising me it’s no big deal for her to work the night shift. I feel guilty, though, since she’s only just come off of one the night before, but she won’t hear any arguments. I’m grateful I have staff that feel like family; people whohave my back like this in a crisis. If I didn’t, I’d probably be losing my mind more than I already am.

After I eat, Dakota and Marlowe show up to lend some support too. Dakota brings several cases of beer for me and the guys, including my brothers, who’ve all made their way over here. They’re currently on the porch with Ramsey looking conspiratorial as they have some sort of hushed discussion and motion erratically to different spots on the ranch. It’s another thing I should be worried about. The four of them are bound to be plotting something I’ll want to know about, but I simply don’t have the energy. My whole body feels heavy with the weight of the day, and I can only bring myself to stare at what’s become of the place.

Marlowe brought leftover donuts and gives them to the first responders as they pack up their equipment. Distributing them like they’re magic and will somehow cure everyone of their exhaustion. I smile at the way she insists on handing one to the grouchy fire chief, who only takes the sprinkled pink sugared dough when she makes him taste it. His bushy eyebrow popping up in surprise is one of the few highlights of the day. That and the fact all the horses survived with seemingly minor injuries.

The fire department is leaving, and the police department is wrapping up the last of their witness questioning. A short while later, they’re giving Ramsey and me their information, and he’s reluctantly stuffing their card into his pocket as they drive away. I see him shake his head, muttering something to Bo as they agree about something.

I hear Anson and Bo starting to say their goodbyes a few moments later, and soon everyone else is as well. I stand for the assembly line of hugs and reassurances. People say all the right things and promise me that it’ll all be okay as they pile into their cars and drive away. Leaving me staring at what’s left ofthe stables in the darkness, the moon illuminating the giant crater in the roof and the pile of rubble underneath it. One full side of it collapsed and the whole structure is dangerously canting over like it’s bowing to a higher power. The latest victim in whatever feud the Stocktons have managed to land themselves in. The only solace is that, at least this time, no one lost their life.

“I hope the police don’t come back tomorrow,” Ramsey grumbles as he walks up behind me.

“I’m sure they will. They’re going to want to investigate more. You need to tell them about the situation you and Bo encountered in the pole barn. Tell them what happened. That they attacked you.” I give him a hard look, but he’s too busy staring at the aftermath to see my reactions in the darkness.

“No. I don’t want them involved.”

“Why not?” I raise my voice slightly, frustrated with Ramsey’s reaction to this. Usually, I side with him. I’d rather not have the police involved in things if they don’t have to be, but the kind of people that would kill horses to make a point seem like the kind of people I don’t want to deal with on my own. At some point, Ramsey will leave, and I’ve got to keep everyone here safe.

“Because I don’t want my parole officer involved in this. I don’t want to go back to prison on some fucking technicality. I’m supposed to stay out of trouble, even if it comes to me.”

“You were defending your own property.”

“You think the cops will care about that? They look at me and my record. They see a high-profile murder case. They see the tattoos and that video of me beating the life out of a man. They don’t remember that it was the guy who tried to kill Coop. That hurt Bea. They don’t see a man just trying to defend his family, Haze. They see a family with a history ofcrime. It’s too risky to involve them. I don’t want to bet my life and yours on the right one coming to help us.”

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