Page 2 of Forsaken Trail (Runaway 4)

This trip to Arizona wasn’t just a trip to visit my twin sister. This trip had a purpose. I was the next driver in a cross-country journey that had started in Boston and would end in California.

This spring, I’d had a surprise visit from an old friend. Katherine Gates had been a welcome sight when I’d spotted her in the lobby of The Gallaway. My childhood friend had traveled from Montana to Oregon. With her and this Cadillac had come memories of the past. Memories I’d locked away for, well . . . too long.

Once upon a time, Katherine and I had lived together. Our home had been a junkyard. Our family had been a rabble of six runaway teens. We’d been friends. Companions. Protectors.

Katherine.

Londyn.

Gemma.

Karson.

Clara.

Me.

As kids, they’d been the most important people in my life. Then we’d all gone our separate ways, built separate lives, and though I doubted any of us would ever forget the junkyard, time and distance had made it easier to ignore.

When Katherine had surprised me in Oregon, the past had come rushing back. As did my love for my old friends. We were a unit again, the women at least. None of us had been in contact with Karson, not since the junkyard.

But for us girls, we’d rekindled our friendships. Our family.

We had a group text string that more often than not included pictures of wherever we were at the moment. We had video chats to talk about books, though we had yet to talk about books. We had emails and phone calls.

So why, when I had so much love and friendship in my life, was I so lonely?

I clutched the wheel tighter, wishing the hole in my heart away.

The loneliness was probably because I’d been working so much. And because I’d gone so long without my sister. It would all be better once I got to Arizona, right? Maybe this heavy heart was because I hated goodbyes and soon I’d say farewell to the Cadillac.

God, I was going to miss this car. I would miss all it represented.

The Cadillac hadn’t always been a gleaming red classic. Once, it had been Londyn’s home, more rust than metal and home to a few mice. Her bedroom had been the backseat. The trunk had served as a closet and pantry. The passenger seat had been the guest room slash living room slash dining room.

What a wonder it was now.

Londyn had started the Cadillac’s journey on the East Coast. A flat tire had landed her in West Virginia and in the arms of a handsome mechanic. When Gemma had gone in search of her own fresh start, Londyn had insisted she take the car.

That had been the first handoff.

Gemma had gone to find Katherine at a guest ranch in Montana. Two friends reunited. And two flames. After Gemma had found love, she’d encouraged Katherine to take a trip of her own. Kat had come to find me, and when she’d headed home with her new husband, Cash, it had been my turn with the Cadillac.

Londyn wanted this car to go to Karson, who lived in California, but since I had no desire to return to the Golden State, I was giving the Cadillac’s keys to my sister.

One more handoff.

One more trip.

Londyn. Gemma. Katherine. They’d each had their road trip. Mine wasn’t as eventful, but it was mine. They’d all found something seated behind the Cadillac’s steering wheel. I had no hopes that a car would lead me to the love of my life, but I did hope to find the piece of myself I’d been missing lately.

I’d spent months driving this gorgeous vehicle around Heron Beach. The two-day trip to Arizona was my last hurrah and I was savoring this last hour behind the wheel. Once I arrived at Clara’s, there’d be no more driving. I’d fly home in two weeks and get back to work.

Work. I glanced at my phone and debated calling to check in. I dismissed that idea immediately. Before I’d left, Mark, the owner of The Gallaway, had told me to enjoy my well-earned time away. He’d finally brought on a general manager so I could relinquish my temporary command.

Some women, like Gemma and Katherine, wanted to be the boss. They thrived on it. They excelled at it. Not me. All I’d ever wanted was to tend to my plants, watch them grow, and if there was a chance to make a living doing just that, then I was happy.

Especially for The Gallaway. The hotel was a dream.