“Is my whole fucking life a lie? Is there anyone I can trust? Jesus.”
I took one of her hands in mine. “You know the answer to your second question, Mila. You’ve got me. You can trust me.”
“I know. I mean, I think I know. I also thought I could trust Adler. I thought he was my only real friend in Boston. Now I find out that he’s a goddamn psycho who’s been…what? Was he having sex with her?”
“I can’t answer that particular question either.”
She huffed and pulled her hand away. I stepped closer and put my arm around her waist.
“Don’t doubt me, Mila. I’m the real deal here.”
She rested her forehead against my chest. “I know, and I’m sorry I said that. I’ve never felt so confused.”
“Need to pound some more keys?”
“No, but can we ride?”
“Absolutely.”
We rode hard for fifteen or twenty minutes. Ike and I could’ve kept going, Sage too, but Mila was showing signs of fatigue. I had no idea how long it had been since she rode, but it was more difficult than people thought; the rider did as much work as the horse.
Once we slowed to a walk, something from the medical reports I’d read flashed in my mind. Blood. Sybil had needed a blood transfusion. God, it was so obvious.
“Do you know your blood type?”
“I don’t even want to know why you’re asking me that question. But, yeah. A-positive.”
“We need to head back.”
25
Mila
I hadn’t known Decker long, but I doubted there were many occasions when he didn’t take care of his own horse after riding out. I heard him apologize to Boon, who in turn, told him that he had plenty of ranch hands standing around with little to do.
Instead of going into the main house, Decker led me over to his truck, opened my door, and gave me a hand climbing in.
“I do better work alone,” he said, getting in on the driver’s side.
“Do you want me to stay here?”
“No.”
I continued to stare at him. His jaw was tight, and I didn’t remember him having a toothpick in his mouth when we were riding.
“Sorry,” he said, reaching over to hold my hand. “I’d say you don’t count, but that isn’t the way I mean it at all.”
I laughed. “Good.”
“It’s just that I’m still alone when you’re with me.” He shook his head and looked away.
“That wasn’t much better, Decker.”
“I know. Third time’s a charm, right?”
“Fourth. Maybe. Gimme what you’ve got.”
“I want you with me every minute of every day, every week, every month, every year—for the rest of my life.”