West of Forever (Heartstone Ranch #1)(83)

“Sounds good. I look forward to your theories that will be wrong,” I say, putting my wallet in my back pocket. “Also, I broke your toilet.”

Jimmy huffs. “How?”

“I kicked it.”

I turn and walk out, heading to the car with Harper laughing.

When we get in, I lean my head against the headrest, sighing as I do. All of today comes crashing around me, not that it didn’t while I was sitting in the slammer. Something I never thought I’d be thinking, but here we are.

“You really fucked up this time, Tris,” Harper says as she pulls out onto the road.

“You’re like the third person to tell me this. I wasn’t sure that it was really true until now,” I say with sarcasm.

My sister ignores me. “I’m serious. You let their horses out? What were you thinking?”

Oh, I see. She actually thinks I did it.

Good, that’s the best-case scenario here. If she actually thinks it’s because I was sleeping with the woman I…I stop myself there. I will not go down that path.

After Lark left, all I did was think about her. Why she came. That she came. The way our very convenient sexual relationship has started to become something else.

If Harper knew where I really was, this conversation would probably be much more hostile.

“I clearly wasn’t thinking.”

Harper huffs. “I really didn’t think you did it.”

Because I really didn’t do it. That said, she doesn’t suspect I’m sleeping with Lark, and I’d like to keep it that way.

Speaking of Lark…I grab my phone and text her to let her know all is well.

Hey, I’m out. Thanks for coming by, it does mean a lot to me.





Jenna Talia





I’m mad at you.





Seems to be a common theme.





Jenna Talia





No, I’m serious. I’m pissed. You should’ve let me tell the truth.





As much as I love being lectured by the women in my life, I’m going to ask you to hold off until tonight. Then you can berate me all you’d like.





Jenna Talia





At least you’ll be prepared for it then.





But I’ll see you tonight?





Jenna Talia





Yes. After I work with a horse and try to keep myself from wanting to throttle you.





So any normal day. Got it.





Yeah, what man doesn’t love hearing all the ways he’s wrong? Also, a thank you wouldn’t have killed her. I do have a permanent record now thanks to her.

“So what happens now? Are you released into my custody?” Harper asks with a grin.

“It’s a slap on the wrist. I’ll go see the judge, pay a fine, probably be warned not to do it again. It’s not as bad as it sounds.” At least that’s what Jimmy tried to explain when I was tuning him out after Lark came.

However, if Lark’s family wants to press charges for damages, then I’m in a whole heap of shit.

My conversation with Jimmy was a fun million-question session where he got a total of zero answers back from me on why, exactly, Lark showed up.

“Sadie seems unfazed by it all, so that’s good. Before you lose your shit, when you get back, Veronica gave her permission to take Cloud out to the pasture to roam. We all thought it was best to have her doing something that would make her happy.”

I don’t like it, not one bit, but she literally just watched her dad get arrested. So there’s that.

“Did you tell her not to ride him?”

Harper looks over with that glare only little sisters can give. “Yes, moron. We did. She won’t ride him. Not that it makes a lick of sense, but then again, you’re a man and a Stone at that.”

“Oh, and the women of this bloodline are sane? Might I remind you of the time your ex broke up with you and you glued Post-it notes all over his car?”

She smiles like the absolute sociopath she is. “Better than keying it.”

“Yeah, when he ripped each one off, it left a dot from the paper that didn’t come off. So much better.”

The car looked like it was polka-dotted for a week until the glue finally lifted.

“And still, you were the first family member arrested,” Harper notes.

Arguing with her is like pissing into the wind, never a good idea. I lean my head against the window, pull my hat down over my eyes, and feign sleep.

Right as I’m about to drift off, a hand slams against my chest.

“You’re not going to sleep, dickhead! I want to know what happened!”

I lift my hat and stare at the lunatic that is my sister. “I feel bad for any man who decides to date you.”

“Please, I’m a freaking dream come true for any man.”

“Yes, all men like their women unstable.”

“Right? I’m glad you finally see it,” Harper says as though I wasn’t being completely sarcastic.

“Nothing happened. I was in the jail cell, listening to Jimmy drone on and on about why I should tell him the entire story. I told him what I know—” That’s a lie. I told him nothing, but I’m not about to admit that to Harper. She may be a little bit unglued, but she’s smart. She can see right through bullshit, so I have to be careful with what I say. “Now I’m going home.”