Luckily, it had rained earlier and her tracks were easy to follow. When we pulled up to the trail to the cabin, I froze. There was no way in hell she would remember how to get here.
Why was she here? At the ranch? At the cabin? My head was spinning and I wasn’t sure if I should be feeling happy we found her or pissed that she was even here.
The cabin door opened and Ryn and Lark walked out. Ryn looked down at the ground and wouldn’t even look at me. “I’m gonna take her back in the Jeep, she’s really upset.”
I should be the one holding her, not my brother. When I walked up to her, she wouldn’t look at me. “I’ll take her back in my truck, you follow us in the Jeep.”
Snapping her head up, her eyes looked panicked. “No!” Shaking her head, she began freaking out again. “No, I just want Lark to take me back.”
My heart broke in two and for once in my life, I felt as if I was going to cry. “Ryn, I’m . . . I’m sorry I yelled like that. Let me take you back and . . .”
She began shaking her head as she whispered, “No. Please, I don’t want to go back with you.”
My knees felt like they were going to give out on me. My eyes burned with the threat of tears and my world felt destroyed. “Ryn . . .” I whispered as she looked into my eyes. I’d never seen her eyes look so sad and lost.
Lark cleared his throat. “Tristan, just let me take her back. We’ll meet you at the ranch house.”
Lark began walking Ryn over to the Jeep. Before she got into the Jeep, she looked over her shoulder at me. Not able to move, I watched as Lark turned the Jeep around and headed back to the house.
When I was finally able to move, I walked back to my truck. Jumping in, I headed back to the house. The closer I got, the more pissed off I was.
Why was she afraid to go back with me? Why was she even fucking here? This was my family’s ranch. What game was she playing?
Pulling up behind Lark and Azurdee’s SUV, I parked. I thought back to yesterday when I talked to Sierra. She knew Ryn was here. It was her idea for me to come early.
“You’re stressed, Tristan. I think heading down to the ranch as soon as possible is what you need. Trust me.”
“That little bitch.” Pushing my door open, I reached in the backseat to grab my bag. Jumping out of the truck, I made my way to the front door. When I walked in, everyone was sitting in the living room. Everyone but Ryn. Looking at everyone, I asked, “Where is she?”
My mother stood up. “She’s in the guest room. Resting.”
Making my way to the steps, my mother called out for me. “Tristan, she’s had quite a night. I think it’s best we let her rest.”
Letting out a laugh, I looked at my mother. “She’s had quite a night? So have I, Mom. I come home for Christmas and find out the girl who walked out on me last Christmas is here hanging out with my parents.”
My mother placed her hands on her hips. “I raised you better than that, Tristan Williams. Don’t you dare go up there and upset that girl. I invited her here.”
Azurdee walked up to me and pushed me, causing me to take a few steps back.
“You arrogant bastard. Have you forgotten how you treated her last year? She didn’t run out on you. You can’t run out on someone who left you first.”
Lark came up and put his arm around Azurdee’s waist. “Baby, let’s stay out of this, okay?” Walking her back into the living room, Azurdee turned and stuck her tongue out at me.
Jerking my head back, I looked at her. Rolling my eyes, I turned my focus back on my mother. “Why, Mom? Why did you invite her here?”
“We enjoy having Kathryn here. She’s fun and your father has taught her how to hunt.”
My father stood. “And how to gut a hog. She’s a natural.”
My head was beginning to pound. Placing my fingers up to my temples, I tried to make sense of all of this. “Wait. Wait just a second. She’s been here before? How many times has she been here to see y’all?”
My mother looked at my father. They exchanged a look and my mouth dropped open. “Holy shit. Mom? How many times has Ryn been here since last Christmas?”
“Counting this trip?” she asked with a slight smile.
Dropping my bag to the floor, I said, “Yes, Mom. Counting this trip.”
“Three.”
I took a few steps back. “You kept this from me? Why?”
“I asked them to.”
Spinning around, I looked at Ryn. Her eyes were swollen and red. My eyes traveled down and I noticed her bag in her hand.