LAKE

“Uncle, what are you doing here?” The look on his face alone, I knew something terrible happened.

“Where have you two been? And you’re not answering your phone.”

“I left my phone here. We just went for a horse ride.”

“Without your men?” He glanced over at Owen and Homer.

“They wanted some time alone, sir,” Homer answered.

“Inside the property, uncle. Why? What’s going on?” I was just kissing Maverick when I heard Tennessee’s gallop. George came to tell us that we had visitors.

He breathed deeply as if gathering a strength within. “I don’t know how to break this news to you, Maverick, but maybe you should...