She hit send, then set her phone back in her cup holder. She was going to make the best of this weekend. She just had to figure out how to spend forty-eight hours at Big Rock Ranch while pretending she had no intention of spending any time with Sam. It wasn’t the point of this trip. She needed to rest. She needed to do therapeutic things like taking in the fresh air and petting a horse or two. Maybe she’d even ride a horse. Wouldn’t that be something. She was definitely going to sleep in and she wasn’t going to spend one minute thinking about if and how Dru was taking care of herself. She had to give herself permission to be off the clock, mentally and emotionally. She’d be back to work soon enough. This weekend was about Amanda and Amanda only.

She passed through the town center of Charming, crossing through the other side to the area populated with horse ranches and produce farms. Soon the ranch came into view, the lights from the main lodge creating a break in a dark expanse of the landscape. Amanda let out a deep breath as she slowed her car and pulled through the large gates, set with a massive B and R on either side. She’d been there just a week ago, but this time felt different. She knew exactly what the difference was, but she refused to acknowledge it.

She pulled to a stop in the curved driveway of the main lodge and reached for her phone and purse as two young guys, one Asian and one Latinx, approached the car.

The young Asian guy came around the side and opened the driver’s-side door for her. Amanda shivered as the cool night air washed over her while she pulled her phone off its charger and shoved it into her purse.

“Evening, Miss McQueen. Welcome to Big Rock Ranch. May I park your car for you?”

“Yes, thank you—Oh my God. I’m sorry. I don’t have cash.” She’d been in such a hurry, she’d forgotten to stop by the bank or hit up a CVS for some cash back. “Is there an ATM inside?” she asked as she stepped out of the car. She shrugged on her own coat.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said with a smile.

“Of course I will. I’ll make sure I get you guys.” Amanda knew they’d probably heard that line plenty of times from cheap guests, but she meant in. She noted the name MATTHEW embroidered into the breast of his jacket before she opened the back door and grabbed her weekend bag and her laptop backpack.

“Can I take your bags for you?” the other young guy with ELI embroidered on his jacket asked as she came around the front of the car.

“I got it, but thank you.”