Why the hell couldn't he just tell me what was going on? "Is it Frank's blood?"
"Don't know. Maybe."
He checked along Razor's neck and face, then came around to my side. Mitch stopped at the saddlebag and unhooked the flap. His expression was unreadable as he peered inside. He shook his head and let the flap drop.
"So, your dad went missing a week ago." I tried to piece it together in my head.
Mitch nodded.
Wait. A week ago. "You were looking for him, weren't you? That's how you found my dig site. You were searching for Frank."
He nodded again, still avoiding my eyes.
The realization hit like a slap. "So, you lied to me. You weren't checking fences." My throat tightened. "Why didn't you tell me the truth?"
He stood next to Razor's rump and wiped his hands down his jeans. He wouldn't look at me. Couldn't look at me. I wasn't sure which was worse.
He plucked a burr from Razor’s tail.
My stupid, foolish heart clenched. "Mitch. Answer me. What the hell is going on?"
He jerked his gaze to me, and I saw confusion and dread written all over his face. "My siblings and I made a pact not to tell anyone about Frank's disappearance until we figured out what happened."
My heart skidded to a halt. "I'm not just anyone, Mitch."
He flinched but didn't respond. He just turned away and untied Zeus from the tree.
"Did you hear me? I said I'm not just anyone."
"I heard you." He moved toward his saddle on the ground and lifted it onto Zeus's back. "We need to get moving."
I clenched my fists at my sides. "That's it? That's all you're going to say?"
He tightened the strap under Zeus's belly and yanked it hard. He was shutting me out like he was all alone out here in the middle of bloody nowhere.
The sky was starting to lighten on the horizon. Dawn was coming, and apparently so was the end of whatever this had been between us.
"Mitch, we made love last night. And now, you're treating me like I'm some stranger you picked up in a paddock."
Which, technically, I was. But it hadn't felt that way when he’d held me. Or when he’d whispered my name like I was someone he truly cared for.
He adjusted the straps attached to the stirrups, shortening them, his jaw set in that stubborn line that was impossible to crack. He pulled a canteen from Zeus’s saddle bag, marched to the billabong, and filled it with water. He returned with his jaw clamped and his gaze aimed at the ground.
He finally looked at me, and a flicker crossed his eyes. Guilt, maybe. Or regret. But then it was gone, shuttered behind that blank cowboy mask he wore so well.
That hurt worse than any response from him could.
"So, what's the plan?" I forced my tone to stay cool, detached. "We just pretend last night didn't happen?"
His face was closed off, guarded. Like last night didn't matter. Like I didn't matter.
"Mitch," I said, softer this time, trying to coax some response from him.
"Charlie. Don't."
"Don't what?" My voice rose. "Talk about what happened? Is that it? Are you going to pretend it was nothing? That it was just sex?"
"Look." He led Zeus toward me. "We don't have time for this. We need to get moving." He offered his hand to help me up. "Get on."