Page 77 of Roaring Fork Wrangler

Cord looked up when Buck approached in the SUV. “Nothing,” he said, climbing into the front seat and leaving me to sit alone in the back.

My mom had dropped me off at the hospital, so I rode to the Lilacs with them. By the time we got there, I regretted it. It was becoming evident that I was the source of Cord’s foul moods. I’d leave, or at least ask someone to come and get me, but I wanted to be there if the news of the arrest was released.

“So, um, is there anything I can do?” I asked when Buck pulled up and parked near the cottage’s front door.

Before either Cord or his brother had the chance to answer, my cell phone rang.

“Juni, where are you?” my uncle asked.

“At the Lilacs. We just got here.”

“IsCord there?”

“He is.”

“Tell him I’m on my way.”

When I turned around, both guys had gone inside. When I followed, I didn’t see Buck, but Cord had his hands on his hips.

“That was Pete. He said to tell you he’s on his way here.”

His gaze bored into mine. “Why?”

My eyes darted back and forth, and I shook my head. “He asked that he be the one to tell you.”

“I see.” He spun in a slow circle. “Was Mrs. Miller’s crew in here?”

“Actually, it was Sam, my mom, and me.”

He took a deep breath, then scrubbed his face with his hand.

There wasn’t a single time since the night Cord went missing when I’d allowed my anger to rise to the surface. He’d made me mad more times than I could count, but I’d tamped it down, reminding myself how close I came to losing him. Now, though, I’d reached my limit.

“I think what you meant to say was thank you.” I turned on my heel and stalked out of the cottage. I no longer cared about being with Cord when Pete told him about the arrest. In fact, I wasn’t sure when I’dbe ready to be around Cord again, especially when I reached the main residence and he hadn’t called out to me or followed.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Sam said, coming to the door when I knocked and finding me in tears.

“Can I come in?”

She stepped aside. “Of course.”

“First, I should tell you that Cord is home. Actually, he’s nothome—he’s here. His words, not mine.”

“I saw Buck drive in.” She pulled me over to the sofa, and we both sat down. “I’d ask what happened, but I think I already know.”

I hung my head. “He’s being impossible.”

“You’re being kind. I would’ve said he’s being an asshole.”

“It’s like I can’t do anything right. He actually seemed angry that we got the cottage ready for his homecoming. I can just imagine how he’ll freak out when he sees all the food we made and left in the refrigerator.”

Sam’s phone vibrated. “Your uncle is here.”

I nodded. “Cord is expecting him.” I figured within a few minutes, the word would be out, so I said fuck it and told her. “They’remaking an arrest.”

She didn’t look surprised. “Decker told Beau and me.”

“And here I thought it was a big secret. I didn’t even tell Cord when he asked me outright.”

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