guess why Tina called—or maybe you will.” His voice held a note of amusement. “I’ll give you a hint. Nothing’s changed.”
Nothing’s changed. Those two words said it all. She wanted money. She could claim she’d come around to apologize, or that she missed her children, but once she ran out of sweet little lies, the truth came out. Every time.
“She asked me to front her some cash until she can get settled in a new place,” Morton hollered at Kellan’s back before dissolving into cruel chuckles.
Kellan opened his door and climbed into the cab, willing his expression to blank now that Morton had a side view of his face.
Did she sound sober? he wanted to ask. Where are she and my dad planning to live? Did you give them money?
He jammed the key into the ignition and started the engine, drowning out Morton’s laughter.
His truck cut through the snow and wind, through endless miles of dark desert and across the state line. He’d thought he’d breathe deeply once he saw the wooden SLIPPING ROCK RANCH sign waving on the side of the road, but his anxiety only mounted at the sight—the symbol of the life he’d fought to create despite his family’s unrelenting efforts to drag him down.
The truck tires crunched onto the snow-drenched half-mile dirt driveway leading to his house. He would not stand for it. He’d worked too hard, for too long, to let the Reeds and Mortons muck up his peaceful existence. The ranch house stood like a beacon in the storm, stalwart and welcoming. This was all he wanted to be—a quiet rancher in a small town, a respected member of the community, unmarred by gossip or family strife. With a beautiful house, a successful cattle business, and great friends he could count on and who counted on him.
Dread ballooned in his chest, threatening to rip him apart from the inside out. He had to get control of the situation before it came to light. He could not let his parents get their greedy claws in him. Six years ago, the last time his father was a free man, they’d honed in on Kellan’s weaknesses like the criminals they were and blackmailed him, threatening to appear in Catcher Creek unless he paid up.
He tried to inhale a deep, lung-filling breath, but it caught in his throat.
He pulled into his usual spot next to the barn and sat in the darkness, fingering the digital recorder. His brother needed to know Dad had been released from prison. He deserved a warning. Somewhere in his desk drawer, he probably had Jake’s number, but it had been a long time since the two last talked, and to say the conversation had been strained would be a gross understatement.
Kellan needed to get straight in his mind before calling Jake. Tonight, he couldn’t cope with any more conflict. After his morning ranch chores, he’d make the call, no matter how difficult it was sure to be. He flipped through the Amarex file on Amy’s family and found her photograph. Her beautiful face and trusting eyes stared up at him. Needing his help. With a curse, he flung the truck door open and stomped through the biting wind to his house.
Enough was enough. He was fresh out of good will.
He wouldn’t waste another thought, another breath on his parents. Or Morton. Or Amy Sorentino. They were nothing more than headaches that made him doubt who he was and what he wanted from his life. What he needed to do was wash his hands of everything and everyone who took his eyes off the prize. He’d call his brother during the day so he’d be sure to get flipped to voice mail. Then he’d cancel his date with Amy and advise her to contact his lawyer buddy, Matt. If his mom called, he’d tell her she’d have to find a handout somewhere else.
He strode through his darkened kitchen to the living room, tossing the digital recorder on his desk, and turned the Christmas tree lights on. Max regarded him curiously from the kitchen before trotting from the room.
A press of a button and holiday music filled the air. The ambiance
Nothing’s changed. Those two words said it all. She wanted money. She could claim she’d come around to apologize, or that she missed her children, but once she ran out of sweet little lies, the truth came out. Every time.
“She asked me to front her some cash until she can get settled in a new place,” Morton hollered at Kellan’s back before dissolving into cruel chuckles.
Kellan opened his door and climbed into the cab, willing his expression to blank now that Morton had a side view of his face.
Did she sound sober? he wanted to ask. Where are she and my dad planning to live? Did you give them money?
He jammed the key into the ignition and started the engine, drowning out Morton’s laughter.
His truck cut through the snow and wind, through endless miles of dark desert and across the state line. He’d thought he’d breathe deeply once he saw the wooden SLIPPING ROCK RANCH sign waving on the side of the road, but his anxiety only mounted at the sight—the symbol of the life he’d fought to create despite his family’s unrelenting efforts to drag him down.
The truck tires crunched onto the snow-drenched half-mile dirt driveway leading to his house. He would not stand for it. He’d worked too hard, for too long, to let the Reeds and Mortons muck up his peaceful existence. The ranch house stood like a beacon in the storm, stalwart and welcoming. This was all he wanted to be—a quiet rancher in a small town, a respected member of the community, unmarred by gossip or family strife. With a beautiful house, a successful cattle business, and great friends he could count on and who counted on him.
Dread ballooned in his chest, threatening to rip him apart from the inside out. He had to get control of the situation before it came to light. He could not let his parents get their greedy claws in him. Six years ago, the last time his father was a free man, they’d honed in on Kellan’s weaknesses like the criminals they were and blackmailed him, threatening to appear in Catcher Creek unless he paid up.
He tried to inhale a deep, lung-filling breath, but it caught in his throat.
He pulled into his usual spot next to the barn and sat in the darkness, fingering the digital recorder. His brother needed to know Dad had been released from prison. He deserved a warning. Somewhere in his desk drawer, he probably had Jake’s number, but it had been a long time since the two last talked, and to say the conversation had been strained would be a gross understatement.
Kellan needed to get straight in his mind before calling Jake. Tonight, he couldn’t cope with any more conflict. After his morning ranch chores, he’d make the call, no matter how difficult it was sure to be. He flipped through the Amarex file on Amy’s family and found her photograph. Her beautiful face and trusting eyes stared up at him. Needing his help. With a curse, he flung the truck door open and stomped through the biting wind to his house.
Enough was enough. He was fresh out of good will.
He wouldn’t waste another thought, another breath on his parents. Or Morton. Or Amy Sorentino. They were nothing more than headaches that made him doubt who he was and what he wanted from his life. What he needed to do was wash his hands of everything and everyone who took his eyes off the prize. He’d call his brother during the day so he’d be sure to get flipped to voice mail. Then he’d cancel his date with Amy and advise her to contact his lawyer buddy, Matt. If his mom called, he’d tell her she’d have to find a handout somewhere else.
He strode through his darkened kitchen to the living room, tossing the digital recorder on his desk, and turned the Christmas tree lights on. Max regarded him curiously from the kitchen before trotting from the room.
A press of a button and holiday music filled the air. The ambiance
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