by Wendy Vella
“I’m not much of a talker, Harvey.”
“It helps with the healing, son. Give it a try.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Can I add something, Brad?”
He nodded.
“I want to say that if things change between you and my daughter, that you have my blessing.”
“How can you say that when you don’t know me? Your daughter doesn’t even know me, for that matter.” This day was spiraling out of his control.
“Son, you walked into this house not knowing what you would find and picked me up off the floor without hesitation. Not many people would do that.”
“I’m sure they would.”
“No, they wouldn’t. I know a good man when I see one.”
“Here you go.”
Brad got out of the chair when Macy walked back in carrying a tray. He needed to get out of this house and town, because everything was getting way too personal for his liking.
“I’ll leave you two alone now and head back to the cabin.”
“Thanks again, Brad.”
“Sure, no worries, Harvey.”
This time Brad’s hand was squeezed in a surprisingly strong grip, and then he nodded to Macy and headed out the door. Standing on the doorstep, he inhaled.
“What the hell is happening to me?” He looked around.
He’d been there three days and had more emotion squeezed out of him than he had in a lifetime. It was time to go. He needed to get his life back on track, and get away from this place and its people.
“Tomorrow,” he muttered, heading down the street and back into town. He needed food, so he’d go to the supermarket and hide in the cabin for the rest of the day. If he was there no one could talk to him, expose him, or make him feel.
“Good day to you, Brad.”
“Walt.” Brad nodded to the man as he walked into the grocery store, almost like he’d done it every day for years.
I am not a local, he reminded himself.
“Brad.”
“Willow, how are you?”
Willow Harper was standing in the fruit section with a basket on her arm.
“Good, just getting Buster some supplies. I’ll be in touch about that sitting.”
“Sitting?”
Her head tilted slightly as she studied him.
“Your brother didn’t tell you?”
Brad shook his head.
“You and he are sitting for me. I’m an artist.”
“No, I know you’re an artist, not about the other part.”
“Oh right, well he said you’d both be happy to do it?”
“You responsible for all the artwork I see around this town?” Brad decided to change the subject.
Her smile was wide.
“You’re a talented lady.” He moved on so he didn’t have to commit to a time for the sitting. He wouldn’t be here long enough for that. “Catch you later.”
Speed shopping his way through the store, Brad reached the checkout ten minutes later. Thankfully no one else had approached him.
“You want milk?”
“Pardon?”
“Milk. You don’t have any in that basket. Do you want some?”
With braces and acne, the girl behind the checkout couldn’t be more than fourteen. She was all angles and edges, and yet to grow into her body.
“Hazel,” she then said.
“Brad,” he added, wondering when he’d last had a conversation with anyone at a checkout, other than to hand over money.
“So, do you want that milk?”
Looking down at his basket, he thought maybe he did.
“Be right back.”
He ran, retrieved the cartoon, and returned in seconds. Hazel continued to talk as she scanned and packed his stuff, and he grunted replies, which didn’t put her off at all. Scratching his shoulder, he wondered if all this interaction was breaking him out in hives.
Grabbing the bag when he was done, he thanked her and fled. Standing outside the door, he didn’t think a cab would pass by anytime soon, so he’d have to walk.
“Want a lift?”
Bending, he looked into the lowered window of an ugly gray sedan at the woman who’d asked him the question. She had red spiky hair and her mouth formed a straight, angry line. He didn’t think they’d been introduced.
“Ah, no, thanks. I’ll walk.”
“Suit yourself.”
She drove off down the road at a pace he could outrun, leaving him shaking his head. He had to get out of this crazy town, and he would… any day now.
CHAPTER TEN
Brad woke the following morning to a clear blue sky. Today they were flying to the Buchanan land. Dressing in the gray shorts Declan had selected for him and another T-shirt. He laced his feet into sneakers, and then shoveled in two pieces of toast. After scalding his mouth on his coffee, he climbed on to his Harley and headed for the McBride residence further along the road.
He’d spent the evening alone, and his equilibrium was restored. He would do this, go and see if his father’s tentacles had reached here yet, and then he’d leave this place. Maybe one day he’d come back for a visit, perhaps when he had a niece or nephew, but for now he needed to put some distance between himself and Lake Howling.
Long and low, the McBride house sat nestled into the trees and looked like it had been there since the beginning of time. Like Ethan’s place, it was rustic and suited the environment.
He saw Ethan as he parked his bike. He was running through a final check of his helicopter before they left. First to arrive, Brad hesitated to approach. The time he’d spent alone with his brother had not gone well.
“Morning,” Ethan called.
“Morning.”
Brad made himself move closer, and then stood and watched, while his brother went through his preflight procedure.
“So, I hear you met the lovely Delany Reynolds.”
“Yup.” Brad jammed his hands in his pockets and slowly turned a circle, taking in the scenery.
“I just meant for you to drop her off, sorry you got dragged inside. Macy told me how weak her dad’s got. Thanks for doing what you did.”
“She's a bitch, that mother.”
“And then some. She thinks I'm a loser because I walked away from our father's millions.”
“Some truth in that loser comment.”
“Takes one to know one.”
“That was your favorite comeback when we were kids,” Brad said, looking over the lake. It was still early enough that the mists were rising.
“I still use it, ’cause it annoys Annabelle.”
“I bet. Still annoys me, and I haven't heard it in years.”
The waters were rippling as a breeze brushed the surface. He needed to take a swim in them, could almost feel the cool water as he submerged beneath it.
“Job done then.”
Brad snorted.
“You been in touch with Mother?”
“Some. I send her an e-mail every now and again. Have called a few times, but he intercepts it, and we get into things, then I hang up.”
“Yeah, same goes.”
Ethan was now at the rear of his helicopter, and Brad knew exactly what he was doing, because he'd done the same thing a few times.
“I can fly now.” He hadn't meant to say the words; they'd just come out before he could stop them. Strange how he still felt the need to impress his brother after all these years.
“What?”
Ethan stopped what he was doing and came to stand in front of him.
“I learned to fly after you left. Uncle Mitch made me.”
Ethan was always way more emotional than him, and his eyes flared as he dragged in a lungful of air.
“Do you fly much?”
“Every chance I get. Is that a problem for you?”
“Hell no, it's not a problem. It's awesome, is what it is.” His brother's eyes narrowed. “Why would it be a problem?”
“Hell if I know.”
“You want to fly her in today?”
“No.” Brad didn’t let his surprise show. “You know this territory.”
“How rich are you?”
“Are we comfortable enough with each other to ask that kind of question?”
“We're Texan and our father is a billionaire. You learn to be comfortable with that shit in school.”
“True that.” Brad found a smile. “But are we comfortable enough with each other for that conversation?”
He knew in his rational moments that Ethan had left to survive. Knew it, understood even, but that didn't make the hurt go away.
“You can't hate me forever, I'm just too nice a guy.”
“And so humble.”
“What can I say, it's why everyone loves me.”
“Not everyone.”
“You love me; you just won’t let yourself.”
Poking around the edges of his head, he wondered if those words were true.
“I invested in stuff, Uncle Mitch guided me, and yes, I have money.”
“You got a bird?”
Brad shook his head. “I don't have a base, so I hire one when I want to go up.”
They both turned as a car pulled up. Brad watched Macy Reynolds get out of the driver seat.
“Macy's coming to take notes and photos, so I'll drop you two, then come back and pick up Jake, Buster, and Willow.”
“Thought Branna was coming?” Brad hated the way his heart kicked hard in his chest as he looked at the woman now getting something out of the trunk of her car.
“Rose had a bad night.”
“Doesn't Macy have to work?” Brad should really shut up, but he found himself talking.
“Jany's covering, and Militant is picking up Billy.”
“Militant?” Brad admired the sight of Macy, morning light at her back as she walked toward them. She wore black shorts that sat several inches above her knees and a fitted white T-shirt. Around her neck was draped a sweater and a camera. Blue trainers were laced on her small feet.
That woman was sweet, Brad thought. Far too sweet for the likes of him.
“Town crazy woman, and part of the book club.”
“Book club?” He was sure Macy didn't mean to swing her hips from side to side, it was just her natural walk, but damn that woman was sexy.
“They run the town.”
“You’re shitting me?”
“Straight up.”
“Hey,” Brad said, taking a few steps to meet Macy as she drew near, and relieve her of the large bag she carried.
“Morning, Geldermans.”
“What's in there?” Ethan opened the bag Brad held and looked inside.
“I brought a couple of thermoses filled with coffee to go with the food Buster will bring.”
“My day just got better. Can I have a cup now?”
Brad watched Macy slap Ethan's hand aside.
“When we get there.”
“You're a hard woman, Macy Reynolds. Especially as I have to fly back and pick up baker boy, his missus, and the doc.”
She gave him a smile but didn't answer.
“How come you don't have a nickname?” Brad said, helping her into the front of the helicopter.
“I'm sure I had a few, but no one ever said them to my face.”
His knuckles brushed the planes of her stomach as he did up her harness. They both inhaled, but Brad didn't look at her.
“And why would that be?”
“I wasn't a very nice person during school, or after, for that matter.”
“I'm sure that's not true.”
“No, it is, ask Annabelle.” Ethan climbed into his seat.
He would make sure to do that, because anything to do with this woman interested him far too much.
“I'll only be here for a few more days, not sure I'll have the time.”
Ethan muttered something, but as the engines were roaring, he didn’t catch it. Brad buckled himself in and then felt the rush of exhilaration as Ethan took the bird up.
“God I love this.” He hadn't realized he'd said the words out loud until Macy laughed.
“You both said the exact same thing at the exact same time.”
He didn't look at his brother, instead fixing his gaze on the scenery. The trip wasn't long, but spectacular. They flew over long ribbons of blue water and acres of land. They scaled a mountain and followed a tree line.
“It's spectacular.”
“Hard to find any place nicer,” Ethan answered him.
“There,” Macy said, pointing. “See that lake? Buchanan land starts there and borders the water on three sides.”
Ethan flew them over it as low as he could, and Brad saw the huge old trees, and then the homestead. Isolated, and yet peaceful, he thought.
“You see those two choppers there?”
He followed Macy’s hand and found them. Some distance off, but he saw the rotors.
“Are they on the land?”
“Yes.”
“I'll take her down over there, where there’s a clearing away from those other birds,” Ethan said. “I don’t recognize them as charter flights.”
As they dropped, Brad saw men. At least a dozen of them, and all close to where they were landing.
“Do you see him?”
Brad knew which him his brother was referring to. Searching the group, he found EG in the middle.
“Yes.”
“You two need to stay in control, because I'm not breaking up any fights. I don't want either of you giving these men any reason to go after us. We’re trespassing here, not them, because I can see that bitch Nadine down there.”
Ethan shot Macy a surprised look. Obviously he'd never heard her speak with such authority. Yet it didn't surprise Brad. He knew she was strong; she’d had to be.
His insides were churning as Ethan landed, and he felt the anger and insecurities surface. You’re not that man now, he reminded himself. The one who did whatever his father had wanted, and taken whatever his father had handed out to him.
“I need your word on this, Geldermans.”
“Aww, do we have to?”
Ethan's words were supposed to sound whiny, but they came out clipped.
“Now,” Macy said.
“You have my word,” Ethan said.
“And mine,” Brad added.
“My stomach suddenly hurts,” Macy said.
Mine too, Brad thought.
“Looks like I'll be late back to pick up the others.” Ethan wrenched off his headset and opened his door. Brad opened Macy's, got her out of her harness in record time, then gripped her around the waist and lifted her out.
“Take a breath, Brad.”
He did, and then another, before moving to his brother's side.
“Who are you?”
The man who approached wore a lightweight suit and had a tanned face. Brad didn't recognize him as one of the consortium.
“You’re trespassing.”
“Technically, yes,” Ethan said, “but the Buchanan land has been open for public use for years. People hike through it daily, and camp on it. I’ve been bringing in charters for months.”
“Well it’s now private property. No more charters and hiking allowed.”
“I didn’t catch your name?” Brad said to the man.
“Macilvoy, Stephen Macilvoy.”
He felt Macy move to his side, her body pressing into his.
“What the hell are you doing here, Macy Reynolds Delray?”
The woman who’d been in the middle of the group stepped forward. She was looking at Macy like she was something that needed to be picked out of the heel of her shoe. Brad didn’t like the look.
Polished, every inch of her was sleek and smelled of money. Her suit was white, the skirt short and tight, and jacket fitted. She wore a pale blue satin shirt with the top buttons open, which allowed him and anyone else looking to see the lace edge of her white bra and swells of her breasts. Her hair was long and blonde, face p
erfectly made up, and Brad had met plenty of women just like this one when he was still living under his father’s roof.
“What the hell, Nadine?”
Macy said the words in an even tone, unlike the Buchanan woman, who'd shrieked at her.
“Your parents wanted this place to stay untouched. It's got the oldest Redwoods in these parts. Tell me you're not actually considering turning it over to them so they can build a resort?”
No flicker of guilt crossed the woman's face. She just smirked, and she may have been a woman, but Brad's fingers itched to slap it away. He looked for his father in the group of men, but for now EG had chosen to remain hidden. Gutless bastard.
“My land, my choice.”
“I don't think so,” Macy said, taking a step forward.
Brad's hand shot out and wrapped around her wrist, pulling her back so she was once again settled between him and his brother.
“There's a whole town of people not far from here who are willing to do what it takes to stop them, Nadine.”
Nadine Buchanan's eyes narrowed.
“Don't challenge us on this, Macy, you won't win.”
“Well now,” Ethan said. “That's where we come in, isn't that right, brother?”
Brad nodded. “Damned straight. We have money and a legal team, Miss Buchanan, and we’re willing to fight you on what’s being proposed for here.” He then looked to where his father was hiding. “You going to stay out of sight until we leave, EG?”
“Just letting the dust settle, boys.”
EG walked out from behind the wall of suits, his usual charming smile in place. He carried his cowboy hat, wore a blue suit and cowboy boots, and looked exactly as he had the last time Brad had seen him. Exactly as Brad would have looked had he not changed his life for the better.
He felt Ethan's body clench at the same time as his, but got strength from the fact that for the first time in his life, he and his brother were opposing their father together, a unit.
A small hand touched his spine and settled there, and Brad felt the warmth, let it calm him.
“A long way from home aren't you?” Brad addressed his father first. “I thought you’d be organizing the destruction of another piece of land somewhere in the name of oil.”
His father tilted his head slightly. Brad had always loathed that particular gesture because it made him feel like an insect under a microscope.