“It’s not her,” Hudson confirmed.From the corner of his eye, he saw Conrad raise, run to a tree, and then vomit.
Travis was busy talking to the other sheriff.
Hudson tried to stand on wobbly legs.It was Cassie who made it to Conrad first.She placed a hand on his back and rubbed soothingly.He couldn’t hear the exact words, but knowing her, she was offering reassurance.
The sight nearly cracked his chest in two pieces.Relieved didn’t begin to describe how he felt, even though his heart went out to the victim and the family who’d lost a loved one.Life would never be the same.Days would be measured in “before the death” and “after the death.”He knew all too well after losing Adina.The fact he’d been a jerk still weighed on him, but talking about it with Cassie had eased some of the pain and guilt.Was it selfish to want to move on when Adina couldn’t?Was it fair that he had gotten to live and she hadn’t?
Travis walked over as Hudson stood.He put his hand on a tree for balance.
“I have no idea how you do this job, but my hat is off to you,” Hudson said to his brother-in-law.
“Caring can be a double-edged sword.”Travis put his hand on Hudson’s shoulder.“But it’s the only thing that makes the job worth the sacrifices.”
Hudson nodded.He bit his tongue before asking if Chloe was pregnant.Travis couldn’t give her children.The look must have been longing.It was no secret his brother-in-law wished they could add to the family.The man loved Grayson with his whole heart, and he wanted to be able to give Chloe the big family she wanted.
The thought of marriage and family had always felt like a noose around Hudson’s neck after losing his first love.Until now.Until Cassie.Being around her made him not only think that becoming a husband and father might not be the worst thing in the world, but it also made him reconsider his desire for those things.Could he see himself as a husband and father without guilt smothering him?
Did Cassie want any of those things?She’d been in and out of foster care as a child.She’d been in an abusive relationship.Could she allow herself to open up and trust anyone?There wasn’t one person in her background that he knew about who had proven trustworthy.
His own actions might come back to haunt him.He’d let jealousy take the wheel.Did that prove she couldn’t trust him, too?
The thought struck with the force of a physical blow.
Owen and Archer joined them.“We let Chloe know so she could update the others.”
“Thank you,” Travis said.“I was just about to do the same thing.”
“We got it covered.”
Both brothers offered bear hugs.
“We’re heading back now,” they said.
“Okay.”
“Drive careful,” Hudson said, realizing once again how fragile life could be and how quickly it could be taken away.
“We were wondering if you three want a ride, in case Travis needs to stick around,” Archer said.
Hudson looked to his brother-in-law.
“I’m free to go,” Travis said.“I’m just waiting on Conrad to catch his breath.”
Owen nodded.“Knowing Nikki is still out there has to be doing a number on him mentally.”
“The two of them have been through hell and back,” Travis said.“But then, so have the rest of us.”
Heads nodded.Everyone had recently been in a dangerous situation.Danger seemed to follow the Sturgess family.Being back at the ranch had brought up mixed feelings for everyone.They’d all made individual vows not to return or take their rightful place early on in life.Turning the racehorse operation into a rescue like they’d done would make Beaumont turn in his grave.It was the only way any of them could see themselves sticking around.They had to run the place on their own terms, which meant pretty much the opposite of what Beaumont had set it up to be.He’d been all about money and getting rid of anything that hadn’t worked the way he’d wanted it to.His sons and daughter, and their descendants, existed to take care of the horses to preserve his legacy and continue to build the family’s wealth.
Horses were easy to love, uncomplicated.Humans were a whole different story.Beaumont had built a multi-million-dollar operation that would benefit their family for generations to come.However, his children would see to it that the money was put to better use.
Speaking of which, he checked his cell to see if the private detective he’d hired had any new information.With the internet and a hacker’s ability to find information on a moment’s notice, news could come soon about Cassie’s son.
At least, he could give her that peace of mind before she walked out and disappeared on him.
A niggling feeling back in the SUV told him she was considering doing just that.She’d gone quiet, refused to hold his hand.The knot in his chest tightened at the thought of losing her.The tension in the pit of his stomach turned to acid, burning the back of his throat as he breathed.Once gone, she wouldn’t come back.
“We’ll find her,” Travis said to Conrad as he walked up alongside Cassie.“I’m going to do everything I can to bring her home safe and sound.”