Page 81 of All We Carry Home

Something swirled in her gaze. Gratitude? Admiration? That same magnetic pull that had drawn me to her last night while we walked down Main Street captured me again.

“Well, while you do that, I’m going to pack up so we can head back home,” she said.

Mason walked down the aisle, his steps thundering on the compacted dirt floor. “Boss, we’ve got a problem.”

My heart jumped into my throat. Eva turned to look at him.

Mason motioned a thumb over his shoulder. “Better come see.”

I took Eva’s shoulders. “Wait here with Annie.”

She hesitated but then nodded. I felt better with her here, watching Phantom. There were enough public and other trainers nearby that she’d be safe.

Mason led me to the parking lot, where my truck sat beside Eva’s with the trailer. Several tires were cut, now flat against the gravel below.

Bold of Keith and Victor—and what was the intention with this? It felt childish and retaliatory. Was there a benefit in delaying us further?

“Call Eddie and let him know. Something might be in the works in Baker.” I handed a stack of bills to Mason. “Do what you can to secure the tires we need, as fast as you can.”

He raced off to find a telephone, and I hurried back to the stalls.

Eva paced with her hands on her waist, her hair now loose of the pins and framing her face in waves.

“Tires were cut,” I said. “Does Cheryl have a truck or trailer we can borrow? I don’t want to delay our return any further.”

She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “Why on earth would they do that here?”

My mind raced. It had to be a distraction. It was something my men and I would have done to an unsuspecting SS troop, cutting their tires in the night or stealing all their vehicle keys.

“We need to be ready for anything. Mason will call and warn Eddie and the rest at the ranch.”

She breathed a soft laugh. “Not even a moment to celebrate second place.”

“When this is all over, we’ll be celebrating the grand championship at nationals.”

“Indeed.” She pressed her lips together in a coy smile, the dark makeup around her blue eyes making them stand out more than ever. “Grand champion at nationals is only the start.”

I hoped so.

It was also the same month that I was supposed to start my campaign for Senate. I’d have to choose.

Looking at her with the red-and-gold ribbon tied to the stall behind her, I wasn’t certain what I’d do. My soul was split in half.

Mason ran back down the aisle. “I can’t get Eddie or anyone from the ranch on the phone.”

I exchanged a look with Eva. We had to get back to Birkstrom as fast as we could.

If it wasn’t already too late.

Twenty-One

Eva

JUNE 10

“We did the best we could,” Eddie said as we walked through the tattered, charred remains of the other two cabins. “The fires were too strong.”

Peter stood at my side with downcast eyes. “I promise, Miss Eva, I didn’t do it.”