Come Home

Chapter 36

Alice parked her car and leaned against the seat letting out a heavy sigh. She closed her eyes then smiled when she heard a soft neigh. Opening her eyes, a blur against the dark sky made her let out a barely there giggle.

Opening her door, she stepped into the warm night sky and shut the door behind her. Walking over to the fence she patted Jack to calm him down then climbed the fence and got on his back. He rode off into the darkness, her hands gripping his mane as she put her full trust in him to guide her where she needed to be.

They rode for a couple of hours before he brought her back to the ranch house. Slipping off his back she kissed his nose and he blended into the night before she turned back to the house. Just as she opened the door voices filtered into the sky.

"What about this goddamn bracelet?" Gabe's voice asked. "It can be customized so we can fucking have 17 gemstones on it."

"A bracelet is something she can wear every day," Jackson's voice replied.

"I'm telling you she isn't going to like this," Jasper's voice sighed. "We are definitely crossing a line right now with her."

"We are only keeping our options open," Owen explained. "The way she punished us shows that she is broaching the aspect of letting us back into her heart. We understand and accept that she is in love with you two as well, so it only makes sense to join together for her."

"Those fucking assholes," she whispered as she backed away from the door. She headed over to the Bars with Paws office and unlocked the door. Grabbing some things from the desk drawers she tossed them into a backpack then sat down and pulled out a piece of paper. She picked up a pen and began writing. Once she was done, she sat the pen down and sighed as a couple of tears slipped down her cheek. A knock on the door and a neigh made her look out the window. A small smile crossed her lips.

A Couple of Hours Later

"Shouldn't she be back by now?" Jasper asked as he glanced down at his watch. "It's almost ten."

"Yeah, she missed dinner," North grumbled.

"If she got to talking with the inmates or the warden, she probably lost track of time," Jackson said trying to remain calm. "You know how she gets when she is talking about something she is passionate about. I'm sure she is on her way back now."

"She's not answering her phone," Jasper said as he redialed her number.

"She knows better than to talk while driving," Jackson replied.

"She hates driving at night," Jasper pointed out.

"Guys," Raven growled as he looked out the window. "Car here."

"What?" Everyone asked, turning to look at him.

"Her car is here?" Jasper asked rushing over to the window. "Then where is she?"

"Then she is probably with Jack," Axel shrugged. "She's not going to answer her phone if she is out with that horse of hers."

"True," a few of the men agreed.

"Let's just go to bed," Owen yawned. "I wouldn't be surprised if she is purposely not coming in because she is still mad at us and punishing us with her silent treatment. She will come in when she thinks we are all asleep, so she doesn't have to acknowledge us."

"Yeah," Luke nodded, "that makes sense."

Everyone grumbled as they went to bed. In the morning as they began to sit around the table, they noticed that she hadn't made her breakfast since the sink was empty of dishes. The coffee pots weren't started yet either. Marc opened the fridge and freezer while Kota started counting.

"The number is the same as yesterday," Kota said looking at the frozen vegetarian meals.

"Maybe she is just refusing to eat again?" Luke asked trying to remain hopeful. "Dr. Roberts didn't come after all, so maybe she is just waiting on him?"

Jackson stormed out of the room and headed for the stairs. Jasper and the men were right behind him. Jackson took a deep breath then started knocking on her door. "Il Mio Cuore, please open the door," Jackson said trying to remain calm.

"Please Meine Liebe," Jasper pleaded.

Silence was the only reply. "Fuck this," North grumbled as he turned to look at his brother, "Lucian."

"On it," Luke nodded as he knelt by the doorknob. A few seconds later he turned the knob and pushed the door open. "She's not here," he said looking around the room, his eyes stopping at the made bed.

"Maybe she got up before all of us and crept out of the house to avoid us?" Corey asked nervously.

"You know damn well that she can't function without her coffee," North grumbled.

"And she is not a morning person," Jackson frowned.

"Where's Jack?" Jasper asked looking out the window. "Normally he's pacing at the fence waiting for her to tell him good morning."

"What?" Axel asked.

"Her precious pony isn't at the fence," Jasper tapped the glass, "where is he?"

"Maybe she stayed at her office instead?" Silas asked. "Gabe did put a comfortable couch in there and she has napped there before when she was working."

They raced out of the house and down to her office, the brisk cold air startling them for only a second as they ran. Upon reaching it, their stomachs dropped as they noticed the dark windows. Jackson turned the knob and held his breath as it turned.

Pushing the door open, he peered inside, "Alice?" Not getting a response he stepped inside, "it's empty, she's not here."

"What the fuck do you mean she's not here?" Jasper asked, pushing past him as he entered. "Where the hell is she, Jackson? Where's Alice?"

"She left us," Jackson said as he picked up the ring and paper that was sitting on her desk.

"What the fuck do you mean?" Gabe asked. "But she can't. The will, she wouldn't give this place us, it doesn't make any fucking sense."

Jackson cleared his throat while looking down at the paper and ring. "She found a loophole."