Page 89 of Dark Horse

“I won’t be alone. The girls are here.” I needed to call Marlowe and Bristol and let them know I’m okay. I’m sure Hazel already has, but I know they’ll want to hear from me since I told them not to bother coming to the hospital today when I found out I was leaving.

“I mean, on the ranch. If it’s as dangerous as Grant let on. Dakota, there’s a lot you don’t know about this family. There’s a lot I can’t tell you because you’re better off not knowing. But I don’t want your association with us to end up with anything worse than what’s already happened. You could have died in that explosion, and if it turns out not to be an accident—” Hazel’s tone turns more serious.

“You don’t think it was an accident then?”

“I don’t know. But… the fire at the barn last year wasn’t, and neither were a lot of other things that went wrong over the years. I don’t know what Grant has told you yet, but, it’s bad.”

“I mean. I was suspicious about some of it.” We exchange awkward glances. I know she probably can’t tell me the family secrets. As close as Grant and I have gotten, as much as these people feel like family to me, they’re not. I can understand wanting to keep some things quiet.

“Like I said, it’s better if you don’t know all the dirty details. I’d rather let Grant share things with you. But I couldn’t live with myself if something else happened. I think you’d be better off coming back with us to Cincinnati. You could stay with me, and we could come back here together. Give yourself some time to recover and plan what you want to do next. I’d say Hayden’s there too, but it feels like maybe that ship has sailed.”She gives me a questioning look, and I know what she’s asking without saying the words.

“You could just ask, you know.”

“Okay. Well, I know he could have had other reasons to be there, but it was awfully early in the morning, and the way he was panicking about you being hurt at the hospital… I’m kind of making some assumptions. You can tell me they’re the wrong ones.”

“No. You’re right to assume, but I don’t know what we are. Or if we’re anything. Things have been different between us this last year, and then it started escalating. Last night was the first time we actually slept together. Feels like a pretty bad sign when the whole place explodes the next morning.” I laugh even though the tears are still threatening to fall again. Yesterday morning I’d been the happiest I can remember being in a long time. Today feels impossibly bleak in comparison, and I don’t think I’ve even fully comprehended all the consequences yet.

“If he’s anything like his brother, that just kind of happens. Usually not quite so literally though.” Hazel laughs and nudges me gently.

“It’s been fast and intense the last few weeks, but it felt natural like… Everything just led us here.” I sigh. “I don’t know that he feels that way. In fact, I think after this morning, he probably feels like it was all a giant mistake. Especially given how he feels about Jesse and the past and all that.”

“How do you feel?” She gives me a thoughtful look, her eyes searching mine.

“It was… it feltrightwith him. For the first time in a long time—maybe ever. We just get each other in a way that I don’t think is possible with anyone else. He knows me in a way I’ve never been able to let anyone else in. But… I feel like he’s gonna break my heart one way or the other. I’m not stupid. I know who he is. I know a man like him isn’t the kind you make a boyfriend out of. He’s not made of the right kind of material. Hell, he’s not even Ramsey material.” My lips twist to the side as I try not to cry again. “But I can’t stop hoping it works out somehow. Is that crazy?” The tears come anyway, and Hazel wraps her arms around me.

“I don’t think it’s wrong to hope. Not at all. Honestly, I think he loves you in his own way. He’s just bad at showing it sometimes. Even with his own family. And the history you two have—it’s obvious he cares about you deeply, Dakota.”

“I know he cares. That’s all I need to know right now,” I say softly, hugging her back. “I’m just scared he’s going to push me away after all this, and other than you and the girls, he’s the person I need right now. You know?”

“I know.” She brushes my hair out of my face. “Just be careful with your heart, okay? Don’t let him break you because you gave more than he deserved. I don’t want to have to fight him.”

“I won’t make you fight him.” I laugh.

“Good, because he did kinda squash his curmudgeon-ness for me and put up with a lot of my bullshit leading up to this wedding. But I’d cut him in a second if I thought he hurt you deliberately.”

“I know you would.” I offer her half a smile, and she rubs her hand over my back. “Speaking of. What are you doing about the wedding? Is there anything I need to do? I can help now that I’m out.”

“Absolutely not. Bristol, Marlowe, and Aspen put my brothers to work, and between them all, they called the whole guest list and got it all handled. Delayed until further notice. Ramsey’s already talked about a quick trip to Vegas this week or a courthouse in Cincinnati. That’s how our friends did it, but I’d rather wait and see. I still think we might be able to sneak ina wedding somewhere before the season. Just nothing quite so fancy like he wanted.”

“I’m so sorry, Hazel. I hate this for you. You two deserve the big wedding and the big fancy honeymoon. Could you still do that at least?” I squeeze her hand.

“We were able to get our money back. So I don’t know. I suppose we could still go if Ramsey wants to at some point. But again, with everything going on… I don’t think he could relax and enjoy it. I definitely couldn’t, but I’d try to make the best of it if it would help him get ready for the season.” She lets out her own long sigh.

“I mean it, if there’s anything I can do. I’ll just be sitting around until I find out what insurance will cover and what the fire department has to say about causes. I can be put to work!”

“I love you for that, but I’m thinking we just eat some of the wedding food and cake. I don’t know about you, but I could stand to drown myself in some buttercream frosting right about now.”

“That sounds perfect.” I grin at her.

“All right. Get yourself a shower and whatever else you need, and I’ll meet you back out in the living room in a bit. I’m gonna check on a few things, and then we can relax. Sound good?” Hazel smiles at me, and I hug her one more time.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Same.” She squeezes me tight and then leaves me to my thoughts, closing the door in her wake.

THIRTY-EIGHT

DAKOTA

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