“Oh, good Lord.” Focusing on someone other than her daughter for the first time, Susan snagged Michael’s wrist. His hands were coated with dirt and blood, the knuckles mangled. “You’ve cut them to pieces.” Her eyes lifted to his, swam, overflowed as she realized what he’d done. “Michael.”

“They’re fine. I’m fine.” He jerked away. Abruptly, he couldn’t breathe, wasn’t certain how much longer he could stand. “I’ve got to see to my horses.”

When he staggered out, Susan took a step after him. “Mom.” Josh put a hand on her arm. “Let me. Please.”

“Bring him back here, Josh. He needs tending to.”

“He won’t come,” Josh said to himself as he went after his friend. “Michael.” He hurried across the terrace, over the yard, feeling like a fool for chasing a man who walked like a drunk beside a clopping horse. “Goddamn it, Michael, wait.” He caught Michael by the shoulder, spun him around, and stepped back involuntarily at the molten fury that spurted out.

“Get away from me. I’m done here.”

“I’m not. You listen—”

“Don’t fuck with me now.” Ignoring the pain in his hands, Michael shoved Josh back. “I’m in the mood to hurt somebody, and it might as well be you.”

“Fine. Take a shot. The shape you’re in, I could blow on you and knock you down. You idiot, you stupid son of a bitch, why didn’t you tell me you were in love with her?”

“What the hell difference does it make?”

“Only all. You stood there and let me dump a pile of shit on you and did nothing. All you had to do was open your mouth and say it. I thought you were using her.”

“I did use her, didn’t I? I used her, then I tossed her aside just like you said I would. Ask her.”

“I know what it’s like to be in love with a woman and be scared boneless you won’t make it work. And I know what it’s like to want it so much you screw it up. Now I know what it’s like to be a part of making two people I care about miserable. And I don’t like it.”

“This isn’t about you. I’d figured out it was time to move on before you had your say. I’ve got other plans. I’ve got things . . .”

He trailed off, turned to press his face into Max’s warm throat. “I thought she was dead.” His shoulders shuddered, and he didn’t have the will or the energy to shrug off Josh’s hand. “I looked down and saw her lying there and thought she was dead. I can’t remember anything else until I was down there and put my hand on her throat. Felt her pulse beating.”

“She’s going to be all right. Both of you are.”