Page 127 of Set It Right
“You won’t. We’re going to make a plan,” Elena said softly, crossing the room to take my hands. Hers were cold and shaky, but they held on tight. “At first light, we’ll go out. We’ll find him.”
I wanted to believe her. She sounded so certain. But I was terrified. This was what I’d always been afraid of. I remembered that day in college, when all those people kept coming up to Cormac, and I felt him slipping away from me; knowing no matter what I did it was going to happen, I let him go.
I wouldn’t let him go this time. Not without fighting with every ounce of rage I had in me. Thanks to Jackson and now Melanie, I had plenty to fuel me.
“Okay,” I croaked. “We’ll make a plan.”
Zane wrapped his arms around me from behind, and Steven joined, sandwiching me between them. I folded into them, my composure close to cracking.
“He’s all alone.”
Zane rubbed his cheek against my temple, humming softly. “Not for long, Z. We’ll find him.”
I lifted my head, looking toward the window again, and the invisible stretch of land beyond it. He was out there because he was my hero. He couldn’t help himself. It was who he was and a big part of why I loved him so.
This time, he might need saving, and I’d be the one to do it. I swore to myself I would. Just a few more hours, and I’d find him. Come hell or high water.
“Hold on,” I whispered into the night, hoping the wind would carry the words to him. “Just hold on until morning.”
Because that was all I could do.
Wait for the sun.
Chapter Forty-four
Zara
Iwasatthebarn before sunrise, saddling up my horse. I hadn’t slept for even a second, but I wasn’t tired. Determination had lit a fuse in me, pushing me forward.
Iwouldfind Cormac.
He would be okay.
Our arms would be wrapped around each other before the day was over.
And that was that. I wouldn’t accept any other outcome.
I’d let him go too easily once and had regretted it with every breath since. Cormac and I were finished with regrets. We’d decided on happy.
The others might not have been thrilled when they woke to find I’d left without them, but it had been physically impossible for me to wait another minute.
I knew these trails and this land. If anyone could handle riding out there with very little light, it was me.
The sky was still bruised purple, the horizon just beginning to pale. The ranch was starting to show signs of life, but not quickly enough. Soon, they’d be out searching again, teamsof determined men and women working their hardest to find Cormac, but every minute he was out there all alone was a slice to my heart.
The ground was uneven in the half-light, shadows stretching long and deceptive. Every rock looked like a hole. Every bush like something crouched and waiting. We went slow and steady. The last thing I needed was for either of us to get injured. We had a mission to complete.
“I’m coming, Maccie,” I whispered. “I’ll see you soon.”
The north trail rose gradually, curving toward the ridge. As the minutes passed, the sky softened from indigo to gray to streaks of pale gold. The sun edged up behind the hills, taking its time, completely indifferent to the panic clawing at my ribs.
The smoke in the distance was thinner now, lazily drifting upward, its shape dissipating as it reached the sky. Whatever had been burning must’ve been running out of fuel like Tom had predicted.
At least that was one less thing to be concerned about. I hoped Cormac could see it too and was comforted knowing the fire wasn’t spreading toward the ranch.
The trail stretched ahead, mile after mile of scrub and rock and open land. I scanned the ground, the clusters of trees, every ridge and hill. There was no sign of him. He couldn’t have disappeared. He was out here somewhere. I just had to keep looking.
I crested one rise, then another. My horse’s breathing deepened beneath me, her ears flicking as if she sensed my urgency.
