Page 106 of Tapped

The plane starts to descend, and I glance out the windows at the mountains and landscape. I haven’t been back since I moved to Miami. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve been back in the last decade. When I was in college, it was different. But after that I blamed the academy, work, and more work. It’s the easiest excuse and not a total lie, so it sat on my conscience easier.

“I can manage my case from here. Tim will have my back after the baby comes. They’ll have a week to find the guy, and you’ll have a week to recuperate and relax.”

“Prepare for landing,” the pilot says over the speaker.

She lowers her voice. “Don’t make it sound like this isn’t huge. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

The only move I make is to slide my hand up her bare leg. “I can think of a few ways.”

A smile touches her lips.

The wheels touch the ground, and we bounce lightly before the pilot hits the brakes and we roll down the runway to a stop.

Evie leans down and presses her lips to Chase’s head. “Wake up, baby. We’re here.”

Chase stretches as he pries his eyes open as if he slept for hours rather than minutes. “When are we going to see the horses?”

Evie pulls her feet from me and wiggles them into her sandals. She ignores his question and repeats what she’s said at least ten times since we got on the plane. “Remember to use your manners. And if I see you jumping on the furniture, you will get the look from me. Micah said there will be plenty of places to run and play outside.”

I stand and offer her a hand to pull her to her feet. “Relax, Evie. He’ll be fine.”

Chase moves to the sofa on the other side of the plane. “Yeah, relax, Mama. I’ll be fine.”

Evie’s eyes widen, and her gaze shoots to me. “He did not just tell me to relax.”

The pilot exits the cockpit and opens the door. “Welcome to Bozeman, Dr. Litchfield and Mr. Emmett. I’ll be in touch through your father. I hope you enjoy your stay.”

“I hope they enjoy it too,” I add. “Thanks for the safe flight.”

“Thank you, Gary,” Evie says.

“My pleasure. Give me a minute, and I’ll have your bags ready. Is your ride here?”

I grab Chase’s booster seat and put a hand to Evie’s back. “I just got a text. It’s waiting for us.”

“Get your backpack, Chase,” Evie instructs and picks up her own bags and turns to me. “I can’t lie, I’m nervous.”

I give her a push to follow Chase who’s already out the door and on his way off the plane. “There’s nothing to worry about. I haven’t been back in years. When I explained what’s going on, they insisted. Hell, they’ll probably beg you to stay forever. They hate visiting me in Florida.”

The minute we step onto the tarmac, I see him. He stuffs his hands into the pockets of the same leather jacket he’s worn for decades. I can’t remember him being in anything else this time of year.

“It’s cold!” Chase yells.

Evie slips a sweater up her arms. “It’s not cold. You’re just used to Florida. There’s a sweatshirt in your backpack.”

My dad walks up and puts a hand on Chase’s head. “The wind whips through this valley this time of year. You stay here a few days and you’ll get used to it.”

“Who are you?” Chase asks.

“My name’s Hank. Who are you?”

I’ve learned that Chase requires a minimum number of words spoken a day, so I let him go for it. “Chase Litchfield Michaels. I’m going to go to kindergarten soon and my best friend is Lanie. And I don’t like carrots. I still have my training wheels on my bike, but I can read.”

My dad focuses on Chase. “Carrots are for horses, and there are no training wheels on a ranch. We just go for it. You ready to learn how to be a cowboy?”

Chase’s dark eyes widen. He turns to Evie and then back to my dad, and an expression falls over his face like all his dreams that he never knew to dream are about to come true. “Really?”

“There’s no free ride on a ranch. You’ve got to earn your supper.”

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