Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28678 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28678 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
“Rough night?” Brody nods to my hands. My knuckles are turning white. I have to take a deep breath before I can loosen my hold. It’s not like me to feel so possessive and protective over a woman.
“You could say that,” I answer as the waitress approaches the table. Fortunately, the diner is too busy for small talk, so she takes our orders and scurries to the kitchen.
Over breakfast, Brody and I briefly discuss the ranch. I purchased the land along with Brody and Ryker. The three of us will work the ranch together while maintaining separate residences. Brody has already started building a house on his parcel using a construction crew. He’s probably half done or better. I’m not sure as I haven’t been out there in a while.
Brody has just now left the service. It’s his first day as a retired soldier and I can already see the lostness in his eyes. Sure, it helps having something to come back to. But when you’ve done the same thing for over half your life, it's hard to start over again.
By the time the meal is done, Brody and I have grunted at each other enough. He tries to pay. It’s his turn but I wave it away with some bullshit excuse about his retirement breakfast. He nods and tells me he’ll meet me back at the ranch then leaves.
I wait until he’s left the diner to see if she’s still here. To my surprise, she is. Her plate is nearly clean, the only remnants on it are a small bite of pancake. I wonder if I kissed her right now if she’d taste like the strawberry syrup pooled on her plate. Damn, the idea has my blood heading south again.
I hand my card to Lorna to swipe as I stand in front of the register. I’m pretending to pay attention to her, but I’m listening to her husband, Ernie. That’s because the woman is saying something to him. She says it so softly that he has to lean forward, his big belly bumping into the counter. “Say what, sweetheart?” He asks in a thick, Southern drawl.
She raises her voice, just slightly but I’m able to catch what she says above the din of the diner. “Do you know where I can find a man named Colt Winters?”
2
SIERRA
I pull the army green jacket closer to my shoulders and resist the urge to adjust my ballcap lower. I’ve been traveling for two days, switching from bus to bus. I’m pretty sure I probably smell like I haven’t showered in those two days. I certainly haven’t slept. I was too afraid that if I relaxed and closed my eyes that Albert would find me. It wasn’t a risk I could take.
Besides I’m finally here in Courage County and maybe it was all worth it. Maybe Colt is here, and he can help me figure out what to do next. It’s a longshot, betting on a man that used to be my father’s best friend. But it’s not like I have other options. Let him help me, please.
Ernie, the owner of the diner, comes out from the kitchen. He’s a jovial looking man with kind eyes and a mustache. He took one look at me standing outside and beckoned me in this morning. He said whatever I wanted was on the house. I hadn’t eaten in two days and my stomach was growling so I took him up on his offer.
Now that I’m full, I’m turning my attention back to my original mission. This is a small town. Maybe Ernie can give me directions to Colt’s place. When he leans in close, I raise my voice to be heard above the clacking of silverware and gentle hum of conversation, “Do you know where I can find a man named Colt Winters?”
Ernie points to the register where a tall man is standing. He turns at the sound of his name and instantly, my breath catches in my throat. He’s older now than he was nine years ago. Back then, there were laugh lines around his eyes and mouth. Now, his expression is grim.
Back then, his hair was jet black. Now, it’s streaked with silver. Back then, his eyes were amber. Now, they’re deep, chocolate brown. They hide a million secrets within them.
But one look at him, and I know this is the man who knelt beside a weeping little girl after everyone else had gone. My fingers go to the necklace, touching it and remembering the way he spoke so softly to me.
Everyone else had looked away from me that day. No one knew what to say. But not Colt. He didn’t mind wading deep into my grief to comfort me. He didn’t flinch when he saw my tears or try to chastise me for hiding high up in that tree. He was just there. My guardian when I needed one. Now I can only hope that he’s willing to be that again.