“Yeah?” He studied her boots. “I can’t tell which one it is.”
“Which is the whole point.” She pointed at the car. “How on earth did you get stuck up here?”
He shrugged. “I drove all night, got tired, and just kept following the damn navigation. I went through some wire, damaged the front of the car, and just kept bouncing along until the tire exploded under me.”
Sam took a walk around the car, wincing at its banged-up appearance, and stopped to view the shredded back left tire.
“Wow, you really did a number on this. Next time you want to go off-roading, try a horse.”
“Can you help me change the tire?” Carter asked. He’d never been the most mechanically minded member of the family. “I’m so tired after trying to sleep in that tiny space that I can’t get my fingers to work properly. If we can get the car moving, I’ll follow you down to the ranch.”
“Seeing as I came on a horse it’s not quite that straightforward, but I can certainly show you the most suitable route for a vehicle. It will take you quite a while,” Sam said. “The easiest thing would be to come back to the ranch with me on horseback, and we’ll send someone up later to pick up your car.”
She reached into her pocket for her cell phone to see what the time was and ended up searching through all her pockets.
“Oh crap.” Sam breathed slowly through her nose to set off her rising panic. “I’ve lost my phone.”
“Dude.” Carter raised a laconic eyebrow. “That’s not good.”
“I took it out to text you after I crossed the creek. Maybe I didn’t put it back in my pocket securely enough.” Sam groaned and smacked herself in the head. “I’m such an idiot.” She held out her hand. “Can I borrow your phone?”
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Sis, but mine ran out of juice just before you got here,” Carter said. “I brought the wrong adapter with me, and it won’t charge.”
Sam stared at her brother, who didn’t seem to appreciate just how badly her wedding day was going so far.
“I’ve got to get back to the ranch, Carter.”
“I get that.” He nodded. “You could just leave me here, ride back, and get help.”
“Everyone is busy preparing for the wedding. No one has time to come and get you.”
“I could start walking and meet them halfway,” Carter suggested.
Sam just stared at him until the impulse to scream died away, and she straightened her shoulders.
“No, we’re going to work this out. Together.”
Chapter Five
“HW?”
HW turned around and found Cam hovering anxiously at the entrance to the barn.
“Hey, what’s up?” HW mentally counted heads as he doled out the daily vitamins, noting Dollar wasn’t in his usual place by the open door.
“It’s Sam.” Cam advanced into the barn after him.
HW put down the bottle. “What about her?”
“She’s . . . gone.”
Even though it felt like someone had just knocked the wind out of him, HW desperately tried to stay calm.
“Come again?”
“I set my alarm for seven thirty, got up and showered, and then knocked on Sam’s door to make sure she was up,” Cam said. “When she didn’t respond, I went in, and found the bed was empty.”
“Okay.” HW nodded as if she was making sense. “Did she leave you a note?”
“No.” Cam’s hands twisted together as she faced him. “Nothing, but her clothes and boots were missing.”
“So she obviously got up and went somewhere.” HW turned back toward the stalls. “Hold on a minute.”
He walked over to Dollar’s stall and looked inside. “Her horse has gone.”
Cam joined him, her expression hopeful. “Maybe she couldn’t sleep, and just went out for a ride?”
“It’s possible,” HW agreed even though every instinct was telling him no. He checked the time. “Maybe she’ll be back soon then.”
Cam touched his arm. “She was fine when she went to bed last night, no worries about the wedding, or anything.”
“Good to know.” HW couldn’t stop mouthing stupid platitudes while his mind was racing in panicked circles. “I’ve got chores to do in the barn. I’ll let you know when she comes back, okay?”
Cam still hesitated, her expression uncertain, and HW summoned a smile.
“Why don’t you go and have some breakfast, and tell January what’s going on?”
“I’ll do that.” Cam finally nodded as if pleased to have something concrete to wrestle with. “Are you okay?”
“I’m good.” He watched her walk up to the house, and then picked up the plastic container filled with vitamins, gazing unseeingly at the contents.
“Hey, Bro.”
He turned to find his twin brother behind him. He wasn’t surprised. He and Ry had an uncanny ability to know when the other was hurting.
“Sam’s disappeared.”
Ry blinked once, and then nodded. “Okay. Did you two have a fight or something?”
“No.” HW took a quick breath. “I have no idea what the hell is going on.”
“I’m sure there’s a good explanation, HW. Just stay calm, and—”
“What if she doesn’t come back?” HW interrupted his twin. “What if she never comes back? It’s not as if that hadn’t happened to us before, has it, Ry? Our own damned mother walked out on us never to return when we were five.”
“HW . . . snap out of it.” Ry grabbed HW’s shoulder and slowly shook him back and forth. “Sam loves you, and she’s not the kind of person who would disappear without a word. If she had a problem, you’d hear about it. She’s probably just gone out for a ride and will be back soon. Have you tried texting her?”
“Not yet,” HW said.
“Then do it right now.” At this point, Ry’s calm voice was the only thing stopping HW from outright panicking.
HW found his phone and forced his shaking thumbs to text Sam. She didn’t immediately reply, which didn’t make him feel any better.
“What did she say?” Ry asked.
“Nothing. She’s not responding.” HW stared intently at the screen, willing her to reply even if it was just to tell him off for bothering her. “If she was going for a ride, why didn’t she tell someone?”
“Maybe it was a last-minute thing.” Ry shrugged. “Look, we’ve still got hours before the official wedding, so don’t get too worked up. Yvonne isn’t back from wherever she went to yet either.”
“I’m not marrying Yvonne,” HW objected. “Rio wouldn’t like it.”
“True, but Sam will be back. I’d bet the ranch on it.” Ry smiled encouragingly at his twin.
“I’ve got chores to do,” HW said numbly.
“Great idea.” Ry clapped him on the back. “Keep busy, and I bet she’ll be back in no time.”
* * *
“I still think we should change the tire,” Carter said stubbornly.