Page 67 of Steadfast

They went straight to work while Oakleigh checked fences and accounted for the cattle. She had assumed that Sawyer wasbeing neurotic when he had herded their most valuable bulls to the pasture closest to the house. Although she knew he had no faith in her to take care of the ranch’s interests, she couldn’t help but feel grateful now.

Oakleigh leaned forward in the saddle as she attempted to count each of the bulls tramping and shuffling nervously in the rain. Her soaked jeans clung to her legs, making her skin crawl. She couldn’t wait to peel them off, pull on her cozy, soft yoga pants, and curl up in front of the roaring fireplace.

Nearly able to feel the warmth of the crackling fire and plush leather couch, she was pulled back to the reality that the ranch house now felt hostile and unwelcoming.

The whole vibe is ruined, and it’s Mia’s fault.

The moment the boys got home, and the weather cleared, she planned to send Mia packing. Maybe without her around, Paisley would finally recognize just how toxicMiahad become.

She sighed.

Paisley had cut her the deepest.

There was a time not long ago when Paisley couldn’t even stand Mia. Now the two were thick as thieves, bonded over their common enemy.

It all felt hopeless.

Pushing it out of her mind, she got back to the thrilling business of counting cattle. She pointed at each one as she went and counted out loud.

“Wait, this isn’t right,” she muttered. She swiped the raindrops off her lips as she sat high in the saddle. Hoping to identify which bull she had missed, she raised her chin and brushed a loose strand of wet hair out of her eyes as she craned for a better view. She repeated her count, pointing at each animal and assigning them a number.

There were supposed to be twenty-eight animals in the West Pasture that afternoon.

Swinging out of the saddle, her boots hit the ground and splashed in the mushy grass. She pushed the gate open, and treaded lightly to not startle them any further. Oakleigh figured all she needed to top off her horrendous day was to be trampled by a herd of angry bulls. Without a doubt, Mia and Paisley wouldn’t even bother to look for her if she went missing.

She felt her heart sink as she knew precisely which one was missing. It was Callaway Ranch’s next star bull and their most valuable asset.

Lil Slim.

Any wandering animals would have been a problem—Lil’ Slim being nowhere in sight was a full-blown crisis. She interlocked her fingers across her brow as she contemplated her next steps.

“Don’t panic, Oaks,” she said, giving herself a quick pep talk. “We’ve got this.”

She hurried back to her tall, brown horse as quickly as possible without slipping on the wet grass. Lifting the leather flapon her saddle bag, she retrieved her walkie. Her suede jacket had absorbed every droplet of rain and felt heavy on her arms as she pressed the radio to her lips.

“I need everyone back to the house. Now!”

There was no point in waiting for a response. Oakleigh knew all too well that there wouldn’t be one. Their spitful silent treatment would hold firm, even in the midst of an emergency. She saddled up and dug her heels in, bringing her horse to a gallop as she guided it back to the barn. It was no weather for riding, and it was time to make use of the ranch’s all-terrain quads.

She clattered up the steps and yanked open the front door, fully expecting her team to be waiting obediently in the entryway. Despite knowing she would have to deal with their snarky attitudes, under the circumstances, Oakleigh would still be relieved to see them.

“All right guys, let’s go—” Stepping into the darkened foyer, she felt her words dissolve.

Oakleigh found herself completely alone in the quiet house.

She felt her stomach lurch as she swiped the rain out of her eyes with the back of her wrist.

“Paisley?” She hollered. Her voice echoed off the log walls and bounced across the vaulted ceilings.

She went quickly through the living room and into the kitchen, making a quick mental note to mop up the muddy tracks on the hardwood floor before Maeve arrived back home

“Mia?”

Running up the stairs, she threw open every bedroom door.

“Audrey?”

They were nowhere to be found.

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