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cooking like this back in New York.”
    Helen waved her hand in the air in dismissal. “I know it’s not fancy like you’re used to getting back home, I’m sure, but hopefully it’ll do while you’re here.”
    “This ranch is truly incredible,” Lane said, shoveling in a big bite of food.
    “Thank you,” Helen said with a warm smile. “We all work very hard on it and we’re very proud of it.”
    “It must take a lot of work to keep a ranch this size going every day,” Lane said.
    Macy turned her attention to Lane, knowing exactly where this was going.
    “It does,” Michael said gruffly.
    “So,” Lane said, clearing his throat and wiping the corners of his mouth on his napkin, “is that why Ryland hasn’t felt compelled to put out any new singles lately?”
    Suddenly, the tension in the room was palpable, and Macy found herself glancing uncomfortably at the others. Michael grunted and stabbed his fork into a piece of chicken before shoving it into his mouth and chewing.
    “Well,” Helen said quietly, looking down at her plate, “he’s a busy man. The past couple of years have been challenging for us all. When he’s ready to write another song, he will.”
    “What do you mean, the past couple years have been challenging?” Lane asked eagerly.
    Macy caught Michael shooting Helen a look, his jaw locked.
    “I guess what I meant to say was simply that living on a ranch ain’t easy. We’re doing the best we can. Yes, Ryland’s music career has undoubtedly been successful, but that’s not his whole life. He’ll write another one when he’s ready,” she repeated, obviously finished with the topic.
    “But even so, don’t you think that a man who has made millions upon millions of dollars from his music would be a little more interested in keeping his career going? I mean, the man was on the tops of the charts, on a world tour that he inexplicably canceled and basically became a recluse. You’re telling me that the only reason for that kind of behavior was that he was bus—“
    “Enough!” Michael bellowed, jumping to his feet and slamming his fist down on the table.
    Macy, Lane, and Helen all jumped. Helen stood and quickly began clearing the table. Macy crossed her arms over her chest and shot Lane a sharp look before kicking him soundly beneath the table.
    “We should really get to bed,” Macy said softly.
    “Oh, yes,” Helen said with a nervous laugh. “Traveling will take it out of you. Do you have enough blankets? Pillows?”
    “Yep, we’re great. Thanks again for your hospitality.”
    As Macy and Lane made their way back down the dirt path to their cabin, Macy reflected on the dinner. Something serious had definitely happened to make Ryland Quinn fall out of the limelight, and as much as she hated to admit it, she was really curious.
    “That was so weird,” Lane said in a hushed voice as soon as they shut their door.
    “Really weird.” Macy peeled off her hoodie and sat down on the bed, pulling her legs beneath her.
    “There’s a story here. A good story.” Lane’s eyes shone with excitement as he dug out his notepad and began jotting down notes.
    “It does appear that Helen and Michael are hiding something. But what?”
    “Maybe he’s gay?” Lane said with the hint of a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of his lips
    Macy cocked an eyebrow and threw a pillow at him. “Maybe in your dreams.”
    “Okay, okay,” he said, laughing. “Maybe not that. But I’ve got to figure out what it is. It’s got to be something huge for him to turn his back on his career. And can you believe the way Michael snapped at me? They’re covering something up for him.”
    “Brandon said that it’s been suggested that he has an alcohol problem. Or maybe he’s had a total mental collapse.”
    Lane looked at her for a moment, then shrugged. “I don’t know. I really need to sit down and talk with him to get a feel. Having him gone isn’t helping me put my story