Page 10 of Savage Heart

I pause.

“I’m here if you need me.”

“I know you are. Thanks, Grade.”

I push out the door into the sunlight before he can ask the questions I’m not ready to answer.

The hours blur after that.

I throw myself into work, letting the physical labor drown out everything else. By late afternoon, sweat is soaking through my shirt, and dust coats every inch of me, and I still don’t feel settled.

This happens every time I see her. But today it’s like getting hit in the chest with a goddamn freight train.

I kick a rock hard enough to send it skittering into the brush.

“Easy, cowboy,” a voice calls behind me.

Cameron rides up the ridge and pushes his hat back to squint at me.

“Grady said you’re in a mood.”

“He did not.”

“Okay, his exact words were: ‘Tread lightly when you see Maverick.’ My translation: You’re in a mood.”

I grumble under my breath. “What do you want, Cam?”

“I need you to look at the trail map for the camp riders. I’m thinking we add a stop right here by the old creek bend.” He points at the map he’s pulled out. “Maybe have a photo op. You know—something people will drool over on social media.”

Here we go.

“Cam,” I sigh, “this isn’t—”

“—a dude ranch yet. Yeah, I know. But if we start adding a few elements here and there, some guest activities, a few photo backdrops, it’s paving the way to find our—”

“I’m not in the mood,” I grind out.

He stops talking immediately. That’s the thing about Cameron—he’s charming, persistent, and irritating as hell, but when he senses something serious, he’s the most empathetic person you’ll ever meet.

“You okay?” he asks, quieter.

“Fine.”

“Liar.”

I grit my teeth so hard my jaw pops.

He studies my face. “You were great before you went into town. Downright jovial, for you. What happened?”

I direct my eyes toward the mountains because if I look at him, he’ll see too much.

“Mav . . .”

There’s a long pause before I manage, “I saw Iris, okay?”

He exhales sharply. “Shit.”

“Yeah.”