Anger boils up in my throat, and I shake my head, my hands balling into fists. “I don’t want anything of his. I’d rather sleep in the barn.”
“Okay, the spare room it is, then.”
“Come on, honey, let’s get you settled, and I’ll fix you some lunch,” Grandma says with a smile. She wraps her arm around me, and I don’t pull away. It’s kind of nice. And she’s going to make me something to eat! My stomach growls. “We’ve missed you so much. There are some fish out in the creek that need to be caught, you know.”
Fishing is what I like the best. Well, next to the horses. When I was here a few years ago, Uncle Josh and Dad took me fishing every day. Maybe we’ll go again.
Maybe today.
Grandma takes me upstairs to my new bedroom. It has a nightlight so I won’t be in the dark all the time.
I don’t like the dark.
“Would you like a sandwich?” Grandma asks.
“Sure.” I shrug and secretly hope I can have chips, too. I don’t want to ask for them, though. Whenever I ask, Mom takes everything away.
“Let’s go down to the kitchen, and you can hang out with me while I make lunch. We have potato salad and chips if you want them. And I even made a chocolate cake yesterday, if you want some dessert.”
My mouth waters at the thought of all that food.
I love it here.
I hope I can stay forever.
Chapter 1
~Seth~
“Got one!” I smile in triumph and show the trout off to my uncle and dad, who are just about twenty yards away.
We’re at the creek behind the house on the King ranch, enjoying a rare, late-summer day off with a little fishing.
It’ll be good as long as they’re biting.
“That’s a tiny one,” Uncle Josh says with a smirk, and I scowl down at the wiggling fish in my hand.
“It’s not that tiny.” Still, I unhook it and drop it back into the water. “Have you heard from the fish and wildlife people about the wolf problem?”
“They’ll be here tomorrow morning,” Josh says with a grim sigh. “This happens about every five years or so, and we end up losing a lot of calves. It pisses me off.”
“I hope they can get it figured out. I’ll help if I can,” I offer.
I have a degree in wildlife biology, and I’ve been working with Glacier National Park for the last several years. I have experience. And, frankly, I have a personal stake in this.
This is King land. And I’m a King.
I plan to be here for the rest of my life.
“If you have time to meet them with us,” Dad says as he casts his line, “that would be great.”
“I’ll make time.”
This ranch and the family on it are everything to me. They saved me from the pits of hell and showed me what it is to belong somewhere. To be loved.
To feel safe.
And I’ll be here for the rest of my life, taking care of our home and proving to them all that I’m worthy of it.
“How is Melinda?” Uncle Josh asks with a grin.
“Ah, well.” I shrug and pull in my line, frowning when I see that the worm is gone, but there’s no fish in its place. Reaching for fresh bait, I answer. “She started talking about babies.”
Dad’s head whips around to mine. “You’ve dated for what? Three months?”
“Two.” I cast the line. “So, I had to end that one. She said I needed to figure out what I want in a relationship.”
“Jesus, after two months?” Josh demands and then shakes his head.
“Well, to be fair, you knew within two months that you loved Aunt Cara.”
“I knew the minute I laid eyes on her.” Josh winks at me. “But it doesn’t always happen like that.”
“Yeah, Melinda was a little clingy. And it didn’t exactly break my heart when I broke it off, so it clearly wasn’t meant to be.”
“You’re young,” Dad says with a shrug.
“What do you say we drink beer and watch football tonight?” Josh asks.
“Can’t. I’m going out with Gage to shoot some pool.”
“How’s Gage?”
“I think he’s doing well. He’s been busy. Haven’t talked to him much lately, but I’ll catch up with him later. Cara’s making spaghetti for dinner, and I’m sticking around for it.”
Josh’s phone rings.
“Speak of the devil,” he mutters and answers the phone. “Hey, Carolina. What?”
He frowns and then hides a laugh behind his hand.
“I understand. Well, I’d like to keep my balls, so we’ll be right there. We’re coming. Yes, we’ll hurry.”
He hangs up and then lets the laugh go.
“What’s up?” Dad asks.
“She found a mouse.” We all reel in our lines and make our way up the small hill, walking through the woods toward the house. “It’s the second one this week.”
“Wonder where they’re coming in from,” I mumble.