Excitement over, the onlookers went back inside, lured by Joss’s and Raney’s promise of a free beer for everyone old enough to drink. Within minutes the music started up again, life went on as usual, and only Dalton and Raney remained in the parking lot, arms crossed, leaning side by side against the front fender of her truck.
“You owe me at least three hundred dollars,” Raney said.
“I’m good for it.”
Off to the east a late moon poked over the horizon. Dalton could see a tiny reflection of it in Raney’s eyes. “You have a lot of your mama in you,” he said. “And I’m not just talking about the color of your eyes.”
“Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?”
“It’s a miraculous thing. You’re both amazing women.” Seeing she was about to argue with him, he added, “But you’re a lot prettier.”
“And younger.”
“That, too.”
With a deep sigh, she tipped her head over to rest against his shoulder. “You keep scaring me.”
“I don’t mean to.”
“Then stop.”
They didn’t speak for a time. Dalton felt his energy level drop as the rush of adrenaline left his body. Aches and pains became noticeable—a throb in his elbow, a hitch in his rib cage whenever he took a deep breath. But he’d had worse. And it probably would have gone worse tonight, if not for Raney. Joss had told him about her sister’s fifty-dollar offer for a clean video and how she had made sure the 911 call went to the state troopers, rather than the sheriff’s office. Without her help, he might have been headed to the county lockup right now, instead of standing under the stars with her head on his shoulder. “Have I told you today that I love you?”
“Only the once. And as I recall you only thought you loved me.”
“I’m pretty sure I do.”
“Hmmm.”
He looked down at her. “You don’t believe me?”
She lifted her head and studied him with an expression he couldn’t decipher. “You don’t know me well enough to love me, Dalton. When—and if—you decide you do, tell me then.”
“Will you say you love me back?”
“I don’t know.” She dropped her head to his shoulder again. “You stay out of trouble and keep saying nice things to me, maybe I will.”
Dalton took that as a yes.
Miles overhead, a satellite blinked to life. He watched its wavering path across the night sky and wondered if its camera could see his grin.
CHAPTER 13
Spring slid through May into early June. The days grew longer, the temperature higher, and life went on as usual. Which was part of the problem. Despite changes all around her, Raney felt stuck in a slow-motion cycle that went nowhere. Dalton was spending more time with Rosco than with her, Joss was nesting like crazy as her pregnancy advanced, and Mama was a little too excited about abandoning them and heading off to God knows where.
Yet, what did Raney have going but more of the same?
Now on the eve of her mother’s departure, she was helping her sort through and fold clothes into the suitcases—one big roller for the cruise out of Seattle, and another to be shipped directly to the outfitters for the pack trip around Mount Rainier—which only worsened Raney’s mood. Maybe she should cut and run, too.
“Is something wrong?” Mama asked as she pulled more clothes out of the closet and tossed them on the bed. “You’ve seemed distracted lately.”
Raney was distracted. And restless. But she didn’t know why.
Things were going great. Other than a reprimand in Deputy Langer’s file, there had been no blowback from the fight at the Roadhouse. Dalton had gotten out of his citation and was now working hard toward Rosco’s grand debut at the USCHA fall Futurity. She and Joss were getting along better than they ever had, and Press Amala had given them a generous price on Sassy, the mare Dalton had recommended. Even the AI program was doing well—despite Glenn’s resistance—and the horses they’d bought after selling the herd showed great promise. Everything was good. So why did she feel so off?
Maybe last week’s letter from Bertie had something to do with it. Guess what? her friend had written. Phil and I got married!
Raney had been shocked. And a little hurt. She and Bertie had promised each other since grade school to be in each other’s weddings.
I’m a little sad, Bertie’s letter had gone on, that we didn’t have time for a traditional wedding with you beside me as my maid of honor. But Phil got this amazing offer from a clinic in Oklahoma and had to start right away, so we ran off to Las Vegas and tied the knot in the cutest little pink chapel just off the Strip. Isn’t that romantic? We’ll talk more when I come visit Mother after we settle in. Love you. Bertie. A disappointment, Raney realized, but not a surprise. She had felt Bertie drifting away the last time they’d been together in the diner.
But she did feel a little lost. Everyone around her was making changes, moving on to newer and better things while she stayed where she’d always been. And now Dalton seemed to be drifting away, too. What was she doing wrong?
“Is it Dalton?” her freakishly perceptive—and nosy—mother asked. “Is that why you’re feeling so down?”
“I’m not down,” Raney lied.
“Did something happen between the two of you?”
“Why would you say that?” Had Mama noticed he was avoiding her?
“Because I see you pushing him away, darling. Like you do with any man who shows interest. Is it because of that fight at the Roadhouse? I never liked that place.”
“I didn’t push Trip way.”
“Sadly, no. Not until he showed where his interests truly lay. And for the record”—Mama waved a silky cover-up for emphasis—“I never liked him, either.”
“Then all that so-happy-to-have-you-in-the-family stuff was just for show?”
“I was supporting you. Not him. Have you seen my
