if I’ll be able to wait until mine is packed up. I’m not sure if I can go without my favorite brew for months.
Filling up a mug, I stick it in the countertop microwave and start it as I go in search for the creamer that I grabbed when Damion was still here. Taking it from the fridge, I pour it in my now steaming hot coffee before I head outside to find Ford.
After turning them upside down, I shake my wellies for scorpions, before I slip my feet inside and tug the backdoor open. I don’t see Ford anywhere and I frown. I’d kind of hoped that he’d be working close by until I got moving, something that he’s been doing the past week.
Taking my phone out of my back pocket, I send him a text. I know that there are a few places on the ranch that don’t have any reception, but then again, he’s never gone to them without telling me, so it surprises me when the text stays on unread for a couple of minutes.
Touching his name at the top of the text message and then touching the audio button, the phone rings twice before it goes straight to voicemail. Frowning, I look around to see if he’s somewhere close and maybe I didn’t realize it, but he’s nowhere near and it’s eerily quiet.
Taking my coffee over to one of the rocking chairs on the porch, I sink down and decide to try to relax, just drink my morning java. He’s somewhere, working hard and I’m just being ridiculous. I can’t be with him twenty-four seven, even if I want to be.
I try to remain relaxed and calm as I drink my coffee, expecting to see Ford ride up on his horse, or his truck to appear down the lane, but by the time I reach the bottom of the mug, neither happens.
Pressing my lips together, I decide to see if both his trucks are still here. Making my way over to his shop, I tug the door open and frown at the sight of both of his trucks tucked away neatly, his tractor and his riding lawnmower all in their rightful places.
Closing the door, I turn and head toward the barn. I freeze at the sight. Starlight is lying on her side, her stomach isn’t moving, she’s not breathing. There’s an old chair that’s broken to pieces.
My eyes frantically search for any sign of Ford, then I cry his name, and nothing happens. He doesn’t appear, no sound is made and I fall back, flat on my ass and let out a blood-curdling scream and I’m met with nothing, complete silence.
My hand shakes as I reach for my phone. I stare at it, the words all blurry as tears stream down my face. I don’t know who to call. Do I call the vet? Do I call the police? I don’t know what to do.
“Hey, you okay, Stephanie?” the voice on the other end of the line asks after I spend what feels like several long minutes trying to not only search for his number, but touch the call icon.
“Help,” I wheeze.
“Where’s Ford?” he barks.
“Help me, please,” I whisper. “Ford’s barn.”
I end the call, unable to say anything else. I can’t hear anything either, I don’t want to. If it’s not Ford’s voice, I don’t want to hear it, none of it. I stay on my ass in the dirt, in the middle of the barn next to Starlight for God only knows how long.
“Oh fuck,” a voice barks roughly behind me.
Turning around, I look up and into the angry green eyes of Louis.
“I don’t know what to do,” I whimper as the tears continue to freely flow down my cheeks.
He sinks down on his haunches, grabbing beneath my arms, and helps me to my feet. Then, without a word, he slips one arm behind my knees, the other behind my back, and he carries me straight inside to the living room before placing me down on the sofa.
“Let’s call the Sheriff Deputy, okay?” he says softly.
“Okay,” I whisper.
“We’ll call Wyatt and Rylan, too, yeah?”
“Yeah.” I nod, my eyes still so blurry. I’ve given up trying to wipe the tears away, they just keep falling, over and over.
Something is really, really, wrong.
So wrong.
I can see it with my own eyes, but it’s not just that, I can feel it in my gut. It’s so fucking wrong and I know that he’s gone. He’s been taken