Finding Home (Montana Born Homecoming Book 2) by Roxanne Snopek Page A

Samara continued to race through her system. And now, it was joined by guilt.
    As soon as Eliza and Mabel left, she pulled her cell phone from her pocket with shaking hands and checked her text messages again.
    Don’t worry. Minor fracture only. In casting room.
    But before that:
    Taking forever. See you here or at home.
    Then:
    Aunt M getting x-rays. J fine. Waiting in family room.
    A missed call, then:
    Sorry, must leave now, bringing J. Call when you get these msgs!
    Another missed call, followed by:
    Samara? Wrist swelling badly, must go now. Happy to bring J but no car seat!
    And finally, after two missed calls, the first message:
    Sorry to interrupt! Can you come home? Aunt M slipped, hurt wrist. Nothing serious but should go to ER.
    Eliza was right; she’d tried to contact Sam. She’d done everything right and how had Sam reacted? Leaped down her throat, blaming her when it was all Sam’s fault. She’s the one who accidentally muted her phone. She’s the one who didn’t check for messages.
    She’s the one who was too busy fooling around with Logan that she’d forgotten all about her daughter, the most precious thing in her life.
    How could she have done this?
    “Sam?” said Logan.
    She whirled around. He’s the one who distracted her, made her think of herself as a woman again, stirred up desires she hadn’t allowed herself to feel for so long. He knew that Jade was her one and only priority, and still he pulled at her, selfishly.
    And then there was the episode in the ER exam room. That was a bell she wished she could un-ring.
    But maybe if Logan knew just how messed up she was, he’d finally understand that getting involved with her wasn’t worth it.
    Then she noticed Jade, her dark eyes wide, following them closely.
    Sam clenched her fists and took a deep breath, willing the storm of emotions to stay inside, instead of spilling out where it could frighten her child and probably destroy any chances of whatever friendship she and Logan might still have.
    “We need to get home, honey,” she said. “Get your pictures together, okay?”
    “No,” said Jade. “I’m not done.”
    “Let me drive you two home,” said Logan. “You’ve had a bad scare and shouldn’t be behind the wheel.”
    “It’s five blocks,” Sam said tightly. “I’m fine.”
    He tipped his head pointedly at Jade and pasted a smile on his face. She could see the muscles in his jaw twitching.
    “Sam, if she rides with you now, while you’re this upset, she could end up actually hurt, instead of imagined-hurt. Don’t put her at risk just because you’re too proud to admit you were wrong.”
    Sam stepped back as if slapped, but before she could react, he turned to Jade, squatting down by the coffee table where her pictures were in careful piles.
    “Time to go, chipmunk,” he said. He made no move to touch her things, or make eye contact. Jade frowned, her fingers tightening on the card in her hand, and Sam braced herself for a fight.
    Good, she thought, knowing it was petty of her but unable to stop the feelings. It’s easy to be a hero when it’s all piggybacks and ice cream. It’s not so much fun when you have to be the tough guy.
    “Eliza and Aunt Mabel are waiting for you at the house,” he said, more firmly this time. “Shall I collect your cards, or will you?”
    “I’m not done!” said Jade, her body tensing protectively over her collection.
    Samara crossed her arms. This was going to be quite the show. She’d been through this too many times, herself.
    Before Jade knew what was happening, Logan swept the cards up into a neat pile, wrapped the elastic band around them and slipped them into his pocket.
    “No! No! No!” shrieked Jade.
    Samara stepped forward. Logan was way out of his depth. Jade lashed out, knocking one small fist against her mother’s chin, where it was still bruised from the bungee cord.
    “That’s it,” said Logan. Calmly, but with complete authority, he gathered her screaming child