“What are you doing here?” he asked.
“Wyatt had a friend in Dallas, but I can’t think of his name. I was trying to find it,” she said, and turned her attention back to the papers she was going through. “How was your trip home?” she asked absently.
Finn put his hand on her back. She looked up at him, but Finn had the impression she didn’t really see him. “What are you doing, Macy?” he asked quietly.
“I told you—”
“No, I mean, why are you doing this? Leave it to someone else.”
“Finn, please,” she sighed impatiently. “I’m Wyatt’s wife—”
“You’re his
wife
?” Finn said disbelievingly.
Macy gave him a look. “You know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t know what you mean. I thought we’d sorted all that out.”
“I am worried to death about him. He was in bad shape and I’m afraid he might have hurt himself.”
“Then the police need to find him. Not you,” Finn said, but Macy moved away from him.
“The police aren’t going to look for him until they absolutely have to.”
Finn didn’t like what was happening. He felt a strange, dark distance spreading between them. “All right. Then let me help,” he suggested.
“No.” Macy squeezed her eyes shut as if she needed a moment to compose herself. “Look, whatever happened to Wyatt, it happened because I pulled the rug right out from under his feet. Maybe I didn’t handle it right. I probably should have told him differently.”
“You don’t know that anything has happened—”
“He hasn’t taken his blood pressure medicine in weeks. He was supposed to play in a golf tournament but he didn’t take his clubs—”
“Macy, you are not to blame for anything but telling Wyatt the truth!” Finn insisted.
Her blue eyes were full of uneasiness. “I wish you could understand, Finn. I
need
to find Wyatt and know he’s okay. I owe him at least that much, if not more.”
“What else will you owe him?” Finn demanded. “Will you ever stop owing him? Are you going to let guilt rule you?”
“No! This is different—”
“Is it? Has it occurred to you that maybe he doesn’t want to be found?”
“Yes,” she said weakly. “That’s what scares me the most.”
“I think I found it!” the woman out front said.
“You found it?” Macy cried, and hurried into the other room, leaving Finn with a sinking feeling in his gut as he stared out at the stock tank.
The feel of a dog’s tongue licking his hand woke Wyatt.
It took him a moment to remember where he was. Oh, yeah—he’d broken into a Boy Scout camp. He was lying facedown on a cement cot with no mattress. Beer cans littered the floor around him, and Wyatt’s belly growled with hunger. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten.
Milo looked very excited that he was awake, and Wyatt knew why. He’d shut the door of the cabin so Milo wouldn’t run off, and the dog had to go out. He pushed himself up off the cot, stumbled to the door to open it, and watched Milo bound out.
Wyatt walked outside, too, and looked around. It was a very bright day, already hot as hell. The front of his shirt was soaked with perspiration. He could smell himself, too, and wrinkled his nose. When Milo came trotting back, Wyatt gave him a healthy pat on the ribs. “You will be glad to know that I am done, sport,” he said. “I’ve got it out of my system. We’re going home, boy.”
It was strange, Wyatt thought, as he picked up the beer cans from the cabin, but he was more clearheaded today than he’d been since Macy told him Finn was alive. It still hurt like hell, but at least he had accepted it.
The truth was that he’d known when he’d first met Macy that Finn Lockhart was still in her blood. He’d known it when they were dating, when he’d suffered through all of her recounting what she and Finn had done here or there, on this date or that. He’d known it when he’d found her crying one afternoon. He’d thought something bad had happened—her mother had died, his mother had died, who knew?—but she’d finally admitted that she was grieving Finn. Again.
There were several occasions Wyatt had felt completely disconnected from his wife, and he would desperately assure her everything would be all right. Then Macy would be her old self, and he’d feel that connection to her, that lifeline, and his life would be wonderful again.
But Wyatt had known, had always known in the back of his mind, that he was competing with a dead man. And he’d known, the moment Macy told him Finn was alive, that he had no hope of competing with the man in the flesh. Now that he’d come to terms and admitted it to himself, he supposed he was even a little relieved.
He didn’t like the man he’d become these last few weeks. He was going to change all that, right a few wrongs, and get on with his life.
Wyatt went home to clean up before he did anything else. He was surprised to discover he’d gone off and left the house open. At least he assumed that’s what he’d done, as nothing was missing. He saw the empty blood pressure medicine bottle. He really needed to get that refilled.
He showered, fed Milo, and left his house, bound for the bank.
It took Wyatt a few hours to arrange what he needed to do. When he’d finished that, he drove to the office to check the mail and found it closed. “Great,” he muttered. “Go away a few days and Linda Gail closes shop.”
He picked up his cell phone and called her house, but he got no answer. He wondered if she had a cell phone. He honestly didn’t know—when he needed Linda Gail, he called the office.
Wyatt went in and checked the mail. There was nothing that needed his immediate attention. There were a handful of telephone messages, mostly from the contractors working on the resort. He wrote a note for Linda Gail to set up a meeting with the mayor. He hoped he’d be able to reconfigure the resort plans without any hassles, but it was best to have Nancy Keller on his side.
His last stop was Daisy’s Saddle-brew Coffee Shop. He needed a major dose of caffeine to get back to normal. He walked inside and braced himself when he saw Samantha Delaney behind the counter.
Sam gaped at him.
Wyatt had mentally prepared himself. They’d used each other—there was no point in pretending it was anything but that. “Look, I deserve whatever you’re thinking. I am sorry about what happened, Sam.”
“They found you? I hadn’t heard!” she exclaimed.
“
Found
me?”
“Wyatt…everyone is looking for you. Don’t you know that?”
“Who’s everyone?”
“
Everyone
. The whole town has been frantic about you.”
“Didn’t Linda Gail get my message?” he asked, confused.
“Apparently not,” Sam said.
Wyatt pulled out his cell phone and dialed the office again. Still no answer. He called Linda Gail’s home and got nothing. He thought he might have Linda Gail’s cell phone number at home.
He left the Saddle-brew and drove home, but when he pulled into the drive, he was met with several vehicles, including Macy’s Jeep, Linda Gail’s SUV, and a squad car. “Hell,” he muttered.
None of the people gathered in the great room noticed when he first walked in. Mark Ham, the police chief, was there, along with Linda Gail, Macy and Emma, and Mr. Turnbow, who owned the hubcap shop out on the main highway. They were all talking at once. But when Milo got up and sprinted toward him with a bark of happiness, they all whirled around. Even from where he stood, Wyatt could see the relief in Macy’s face. If he needed any further proof, she pushed past Chief Ham and ran for him, throwing her arms around his neck, and squeezing the breath from him.
Then she suddenly reared back and glared at him. “Where have you been?” she cried, hitting him in the arm. “Do you have any idea how worried we’ve been?”
“No,” he said, looking around at them all. “I had no idea. I left Linda Gail a message.”
“I never got any message!” Linda Gail exclaimed. “Oh my
God
, Wyatt! I haven’t slept a wink since you went missing!”
“I wasn’t missing,” he said. “What’s the problem? What are you all doing here?”
“I came by today to get the mail and found Milo, so I knew you had to be back. We’ve all been looking, so I called them, and…and I think I’m going to faint,” Macy said.
“Don’t do that,” Wyatt said, and escorted her to the couch. “Look, I’m sorry I had everyone so worried. I left Linda Gail a message, but maybe the call was dropped. I had no idea anyone was looking for me—I’ve been out of town fishing.”
“Fishing?”
Linda Gail cried incredulously.
“Fishing,” he said with a warning look for her. “I just needed a few days to clear my head is all.” He looked around the room. “But I’m
fine
. This is all a misunderstanding.”
“That’s what I thought,” Chief Ham said. He put on his hat. “I’m going to leave you folks now and go close out the report.” He looked at Wyatt. “Next time you leave town, you might leave more than one message.”
“I’ll do that.”
“I’ll get back to work, too,” Mr. Turnbow said. “I thought I saw your pickup in town. Guess I was right.”
“I’ll walk out with you,” Emma said. She smiled at Wyatt as she walked by. “I’m glad you’re okay, Wyatt. But don’t ever do that again!”
“Thanks, Emma,” he said with a sheepish smile.
That left Macy and Linda Gail. Wyatt looked at his longtime secretary. “Linda Gail, I apologize,” he said. “You’re a good egg. I’m glad you’ve got my back.”
“I deserve a raise after this,” Linda Gail said pertly as she picked up her purse. “I haven’t slept a night since you’ve been gone, Wyatt, and I like my sleep.”
“I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
“Just where did you go fishing with Del Lago not two feet from your door?” she demanded.
“I’ll fill you in later.”
She frowned skeptically, but she walked to the door. “Are you coming to the office?”
“I’ll be there just as soon as I have a word with Macy.”
Linda Gail nodded and looked at Macy. The two women exchanged a look; Macy smiled gratefully at Linda Gail. “Thanks,” she said.
“No. Thank
you
,” Linda Gail said, and went out.
When she’d gone, Macy sagged against the couch. “You scared me to death, Wyatt. I thought something had happened. I’ve never been so frantic in my life.”
“For me?” he said, inordinately pleased. “I’m flattered. Where’s Farmer Finn?”
She frowned and turned her head toward the window. “He’s…he’s at home.”
“Do I detect trouble in cowboy paradise?”
Macy looked at him.
“Let me make this easy for you, Macy. I’ve come to my own decision. It took me a while to accept it, but I have. I don’t like it—it damn near killed me to admit it—but you belong with Finn. You really always did, and in a way I have always known it. I just had a hard time coming to grips with it because I love you so much. But then a hippie told me love is letting go, so—”
“A
hippie
?”
“Long story. Macy, listen—I’m sorry. I’m sorry I worried you, but I want you to know that everything is going to be all right.” Macy’s eyes narrowed with skepticism, and Wyatt couldn’t help but chuckle. “Don’t look so shocked. I’m really not a bad guy. In fact, I don’t even recognize the guy I’ve been the last few weeks.”
“Me either,” she said.
He smiled ruefully. “I’m okay now. I promise you I really am.”
“Are you? Are you really, Wyatt?”
“I’m still stung. And I’ll always love you. But I guess I do love you enough to let go.”
She blinked. Sat up and stared at him, waiting for the
but
. When none came, her features softened. “I think that is the best gift you have ever given me, Wyatt.”
“There’s something else,” he said. “Two Wishes. I can’t give back all of it because of some of the lien structures, but I’ve carved off most of it for Cowboy Bob’s animal kingdom. It’s my thanks to him for the sacrifice he made for us all.”
Macy gasped. “Are you kidding?”
“No.”
Affection and amazement shone in her eyes.
“But there’s a catch. Farmer Finn has to consent to letting people come have a look. Maybe have a petting zoo there for the kids. I think it will make a great addition to the resort.”
“My God, Wyatt…are you serious?”
He shrugged. “I should never have sold it. I guess I hoped he’d leave if I sold it. But…but I should have realized that he’s too much of a man to be pushed away by something like that.”
Macy stood up, pulling him along with her. She solemnly wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tight. A moment later, she kissed his cheek. “Thank you,” she said. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
“Yeah, well, don’t thank me too fast. I’m not letting you have Milo. I’m giving it all back but the dog,” he said.
Macy smiled warmly at him.
“As for the baby,” he said. “What about joint custody?”
“Absolutely. Wyatt…I love you,” she said, and hugged him again.
Wyatt smiled into her hair. Strangely, those words hurt, but they didn’t rip into his heart anymore.
Finn could see the cloud of dust rising up from the dirt road behind the oncoming car, but from where he stood in the field, he couldn’t make out the car. He’d finally convinced his father to let him clear some land so he could build the folks a new barn. After some arm-twisting, Luke and Brodie had promised to help him.
“Finn, seriously—you have got to get your own place,” Brodie had complained.
Just as soon as he had a little money of his own, Finn was going to do precisely that.
He pulled a handkerchief from his back pocket and wiped his brow. He pulled off his gloves and stuffed them into the back pocket of his jeans, then started walking up the road. He hoped it was his mother bringing him something to eat.
But as the vehicle rounded the corner, his apprehension ratcheted up—it was Macy. He hadn’t talked to her since he came back from New York a couple of days ago.
Macy’s car slid to a halt—the girl drove way too fast, but that was one of the things he loved about her. The Jeep bounced when she threw it into park, and she got out and marched around to the front of the hood without bothering to close the door.
He steeled himself, uncertain of her mood.
She put her hands on her hips and stared at him. She was wearing a summer dress and her hair was moving in the breeze. Her long legs were braced apart, almost as if she expected a physical fight. Actually, Finn could go for a little physical confrontation—damnation, but Macy just got sexier every time he saw her.
He reseated his hat and said, “Macy?”
She made a noise that sounded like a hiccup. “I love you, Finn.”
His heart instantly rose up, and he smiled. “I wondered how long it would be before I heard that again.”
“It’s over, Finn. Wyatt came home and he’s fine and you were right, he didn’t need me to worry about him. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I know I keep saying I am sorry for everything, but I am.”
“Macy,” Finn said as he leapt over the fence and walked toward her, “you don’t need to be so sorry.”
“I just want to be with you,” she said earnestly. “It’s really over with Wyatt and my conscience is clear and I…I just love you, Finn,” she said, clasping her hands together as if to restrain herself. “I love you. I really love you so much, and I want to be with you.”
“That is the sweetest music to these ears,” he said, and gathered her in his arms and kissed her. When he lifted his head, Macy told him about Wyatt and all that he’d said, about his extraordinary change of heart. Finn was shocked by the gift of his land. It was a tough thing Wyatt Clark had just done, and Finn’s respect for the man increased tenfold.
When Macy had finished telling him everything, he put his arms around her and rested his chin on top of her head. He felt more at peace than he had in years. He felt like he was finally, truly, home.
“There’s only one thing he won’t part with,” Macy said solemnly.
“What’s that?”
“Milo,” she said.
Finn thought about it a minute. Maybe his mother was right—maybe God did work a miracle for him. “I think Milo is in good hands.”
“So now what?” Macy asked.
“Well,” Finn said thoughtfully as he traced his finger from the hollow of her throat to the top of her blouse, “there are a lot of things we need to do, but I think the first order of business is to get working on the family we want to have.”
Macy grinned. “I think you’re going to have wait about seven months to do that.”
“Oh, I don’t think so,” Finn said, and kissed the tip of her nose. “We’ve got to make hay, baby, and get in plenty of practice so we can hit the ground running once the baby is born.” Macy laughed; Finn kissed her laugh. He cupped her face with his hand, feeling her skin beneath his fingers, feeling her body pressed to his. This was right. This was where he was supposed to be. There was something incredibly heartening about holding his wife. She invoked all the familiar, urgent longings for her, but Finn also felt raw and powerful. He felt invincible. He believed there was nothing they couldn’t achieve together.
This was why he’d survived.
“I’m all for practicing,” she said when he lifted his head, and touched her fingers to his lips. “I hope we have a truckload of kids,” she said. “You know what else? Cats. You never mention cats.”
“Cats?”
“Yes, cats! At the rescue ranch,” she said, and began to talk about the cruelties and indignities some cats were forced to endure and how they would be helped at their ranch.
Finn held Macy in his arms and listened as she talked about their future. He thought about the ranch. He thought about Macy and Wyatt, and the long winding path he’d taken to be standing here, right now, with the woman who had kept him going through some of the darkest days of his life.
Finn watched her eyes dancing with enthusiasm and wished it could always be like this—that he would always be this secure in his love for her, this hopeful of the future.
And then he wished Macy would stop talking so he could kiss her some more.