“She wouldn’t have.”
“May I ask why?”
Malone spared him a short look before shifting so he faced the open barn door. His face had drawn tight, his lips thinning into an almost invisible line. “She witnessed Michael’s accident, just like she did yours. She watched Michael draw his last breath, Mr. Covington.” He faced Ty then. “Just like she did with you.”
The world fell out from under Ty. There one moment, and simply gone the next. He’d known—known—that his heart had failed, that he’d stopped breathing. He hadn’t told anyone for fear they wouldn’t believe him.
But she’d witnessed the whole thing.
His vision blurred like a snowy TV screen, and Ty found himself sitting on the ground and being supported by the very man who’d put him there. Granted, it had been with words—truth—but he was there all the same.
“She thought she’d lost you, Tyson.” Malone spoke so softly that his words were almost swallowed by the open space in the cavernous barn.
Almost. But not quite.
“She told me she screamed for you. They tried to get her to leave your side, and the only way they’d let her stay was if you were tied together somehow. She knew how much you avoided relationships. She chose the lesser of what she considered the two evils as you’d see them—a business partnership. Then you were breathing again, and you pleaded with her to do whatever was necessary to save your horse. She took you at your word, spun a few yarns and did exactly as you asked. And what did you do?” he asked, voice rising. “You emotionally brutalized her, you jackass! You cast her out!”
Ty choked on the wad of emotions trying to make their way out of his mouth. There were a hundred, a thousand things to say. None of them were for this man, though. He needed to speak to Kenzie. No. Not just speak to her. He needed to see her. There were things he had to say. Some of them he didn’t understand completely, but he’d figure it out on the way.
Feet on the ground, he leaned forward and propped his forearms on his bent knees. His chin dipped forward. To hell with worrying about pulling on his neck. Her reality was bigger than his fear.
He’d never thanked her. Not really.
Malone must have felt he’d given Ty long enough to process his words because the man pressed on. “She lied, Tyson, but it was for good reason.”
“My brothers explained a lot of this. Apparently Eli and Cade decided to offer her breeding rights to Gizmo if she helped me.” He looked up then, an unhappy smile pulling at his mouth. “I wasn’t the best patient.”
“So I heard.”
Ty chuffed out a sardonic laugh. “I’m willing to bet she downplayed just how horrible I was.” His smile softened. “That’s how she is.”
“True.” Malone sank to the ground beside Ty. The other man’s face relaxed a fraction. “You understand she turned them down, your brothers and their offer.”
Shame burned his cheeks. “I do.”
“Fair enough.” The older man looked out over the corrals outside the barn, where several guests were getting ready for a trail ride. He watched them without speaking, seeming to use their activity to distract him as he gathered his thoughts.
Ty was willing to wait. He had enough to think about himself.
He’d accused Kenzie of some horrible things, had taken her money with unintentional disregard to her perpetual worry that it was her money people valued over her.
If he could turn back time, he’d assure her that it washerhe wanted access to, not her checkbook.
Access.
That was really what he’d wanted, what he’d taken for granted. She’d always been there when he wanted her, and it had been more often than not. He’d chafed when she was involved with someone else, blaming it on his temper. But he’d missed that cue, too.
“I’m an idiot,” he whispered, shock bleeding through him in a cold rush.
He hadn’t been angry.
He’d beenjealous.
Just as he opened his mouth to explain to The Malone that he needed to call Kenzie, now and not later, the man spoke. Tone quiet and firm, he kept his focus on the ranch guests clambering into borrowed saddles on borrowed horses and having the best time doing it. “Do you understandwhyshe couldn’t leave your side, why she would have lied, cheated, stolen or worse to ensure she had a place there?”
Ty started to answer, but Malone shook his head. “Think before you answer. Really think, Tyson.”
He rubbed his belly in an attempt to soothe his roiling gut. “She felt as if she could make it up to her brother for not being able to save him.”