Page 91 of Honey Bee Hearts

“Gotta go,” Rhett says, standing from the table. “I’ve got paperwork to do.”

Gunnar takes another drink of his orange juice before standing up, too. “And I have to look for a way to stop Houdini from getting out. Damn horse broke through his stable gate again.”

Trent doesn’t say anything, just waves at me as he leaves, his gaze lingering before he disappears.

And then it’s just Colt and me sitting at the table. He’s staring at me, his eyes locked on mine, as he eats his toast.

“What?” I ask, watching him carefully.

The corner of his lips quirks up. “I have a lot to get done today,” he says.

“Okay,” I reply, looking at him weirdly.

He stands and comes around the table, looming over me. I look up at him, and when he reaches for the scarf at my neck and tugs it down, I tense. His fingers graze the marks there, made by the collar still hanging around my neck. He’d left it on me whenI slept. I woke up to it still around my neck, a tiny heart-shaped lock keeping it in place.

“Why not leave it seen?” he asks.

“I can’t walk around with a dog collar on,” I reply with a scowl.

His eyes flicker with something dark. “Can’t you?” but he seems to remember we’re not quite alone when Mel appears with a bucket for the dirty dishes. “Could you watch Dolly for me today?”

I blink. “Of course. Jethro will enjoy having company.”

He nods, his lips splitting into a grin before he tips his hat to me and turns away.

When I leave the big house, Dolly is sitting on the porch beside Jethro. Her tail thumps happily when I come outside, and I pet her.

“Come on, Dolly,” I tell her. “You’re with me today.”

Four days now. That’s all I have left here. I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to return back to Florida to a lonely apartment and the devil’s humidity. I take a deep breath as I stand in the middle of the yard, taking in the clean mountain air and the feeling of sadness encroaching on my heart.

Not only do I not want to leave Circle Bee, I don’t want to leavethem.

Trent with his silent submission and his shop raccoon.

Gunnar with his bright smile and his rescue rooster.

Rhett with his refusal to believe his trauma shaped him and his silly-named queen bees.

And Colt with his stoic control and his failed police dog.

I look down at Dolly with a frown. “I don’t think you’re bad at your job,” I tell her. “Maybe you were just misguided. I’m sure you can find whatever it is you search for.”

She boofs at me and wags her tail before looking over at the barn. I frown and follow her gaze. When she realizes I’m looking,she boofs again and stands, taking a few steps before looking back at me.

I sigh. “Last time you took me to a locked door, girl,” I tell her. “I don’t know if it’s a good idea this time.”

She boofs again, more insistent, and I groan. “Fine,” I say. “But only because you deserve to have someone following you around as you relive your glory days.”

Jethro wags his tail as he gets up to follow. Dolly leads us across the yard just like before, her tail wagging as she sniffs the air. When she approaches the barn again, I sigh.

“We talked about this Dolly,” I tell her. “It’s locked.”

She bays and closes the distance between the door, pawing at it and whining.

“It’s locked,” I tell her again, putting my hands on my hips. But at my words, she bays louder. When Jethro joins in, I roll my eyes. “You want me to show you? Fine!” I close the distance and grab the door handle. I jerk on it. “See, it’s. . .”

The door pops open.

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