Hidden Trails

by Bonnie R. Paulson

  Leaning forward, she rested her elbows on her knees.

  He still got to her. After all these years, he still rankled her. How could that be? How could he affect her so much after the way he treated her in high school? Wasn’t like she owed him anything. Wasn’t like he was better than her.

  Or was he? He’d escaped. He’d been able to make something of himself. Obviously. And there Stefanie was, still living at home with her siblings with no real purpose in life.

  Pretty soon, she wouldn’t even have that house to say she lived at. No, she’d be nomadic, living from ranch to ranch. And Nate hadn’t even said anything about where they would sleep in between jobs. Where was Emma supposed to live?

  The breadth of Drake’s shoulders enhanced in his tailored suit had taken her breath away.

  She’d been sharper than she intended which seemed to happen a lot lately.

  Stefanie removed her hat, dust sifting from its brim. She had to look lovely. Snorting, she stood and walked to the bathroom. Not many things would survive the auction.

  No matter what Nate said, they were losing more than just their land. Stefanie’s entire childhood was flushing down the toilet. She turned on the water and washed her hands. All the mirrors had been removed and sold.

  Nate had even been forced to sell the majority of their dad’s metal forging equipment. Nothing was safe.

  Even Bella Acres.

  Stefanie’s heart hurt, maybe because of the reintroduction of Drake into her world, or maybe because the rest of her life was tumbling down around her like the worst tumbleweed ever. She blinked back tears. No way would she give into the emotion of the day. Of every day.

  She clenched her damp fist into the soft flesh of her belly. An aching sensation claimed her gut most days. Why did these things have to happen to her? First her parents died, then a good thing happened when Nate met Emma. But then Emma was sick all the time and there wasn’t much positive left with Emma’s health failing as hard as it was.

  On top of all that, their home was next.

  None of it was good for anyone.

  Emma was the best thing that ever happened to Nate – to the entire family – but now, if Emma had her way, he wouldn’t get to keep her.

  The whole thing sucked.

  Stefanie’s irritation and frustration welled inside her. Nodding and twisting and curling until her arms shook and her fingers went numb. She splashed cool water on her face to bring her emotions under control.

  Everything would be okay. Drake showing up the way he did with a brand-new shiny rig would get to anybody. Plus, he was Emma’s brother. He would fix things. He would make Emma see that she had to fight. It didn’t matter how far along the cancer was. It couldn’t matter.

  Drake would make her fight.

  Another splash of cold water on her face was all it took to remove the rest of the grit on her skin. She wouldn’t put on makeup. That was taking the need to impress Drake too far. She didn’t care how she looked, so long as she felt cleaner than she had.

  He’d be gone soon, and she wouldn’t have to deal with any of the emotions he stirred in her. Dang Benson, anyway.

  Pulling off her duster, Stefanie shook out its length and hung the worn leather from a hook on the wall. At least she hadn’t been forced to give up her clothing. She wouldn’t give Nate the idea. The man was on a mission to sell anything not tacked down.

  Smoothing the front of her shirt, Stefanie left the barn with a cautious step. Drake could show up outside the house again when she least expected it.

  She wouldn’t put it past herself to wait.

  With her horse out to pasture, Stefanie claimed a spot on the fence. She lifted her foot, bracing herself on the edge and leaning over it with her elbows. Resting her cheek to the side she watched a couple horses in the field.

  Nate had their pickup date set already. They’d be leaving in a couple days. Nothing was safe. At least they still owned his horse and another mare.

  A soft Montana breeze cooled the back of her neck as her braid fell past her shoulder. Even the faded summer lavender blossoms had a forlorn smell.

  Used to be Stefanie would think about Bella Acres and her heart would swell with such happiness.

  But now, just the thought of Bella Acres shrouded her in sadness.

  It would be like losing her mom all over again. Like losing her dad.

  Stefanie had been helpless then. She hadn’t been able to save them. How many times had she wished and prayed to go back in time and warn them against leaving? Even placed herself in the car instead of them? In seconds, they’d been gone.

  The years since had never dimmed their memory or their presence.

  If they lost Bella Acres, the entire Rourke family would have nothing to hold onto.

  No, she couldn’t let that happen.

  Stefanie lifted her head, her eyes narrowed. She was going to save Bella Acres. And there was nothing anybody else could say.

  She had a job. She worked her butt off with the Trails.

  She’d get a loan from the bank. Maybe the only thing keeping Nate from getting a loan was Emma’s medical debt.

  Stefanie didn’t have any debt. She had nothing like that. She was the perfect answer for Bella Acres. She could save the family home. Hope surged upward from a spot behind her breastbone, straightening her from her spot on the fence.

  Just then Drake slammed the front door behind him.

  Stefanie turned, watching as he paced back and forth above the steps on the porch. His golden blond hair sparkled in the sun.

  Dang the man for being so beautiful.

  Stefanie cleared her throat softly. She’d never let him see how he got to her. She couldn’t. That kind of control was something no one needed. He swung his arms, his fists meeting in front of him with a thud and then splitting apart to the sides. Why was he so upset?

  Stefanie left the safety of the fence. She walked up to the deck, bracing her foot on the bottom railing of the stairs.

  Eyeing Drake, she held her hand up to shade her eyes. “You alright there, cowboy?”

  He was nothing like a cowboy though. His dark suit and crisp linen shirt contrasted sharply with the downtrodden appearance of the home. He didn’t even have a cowboy hat. Stefanie would wager – she would place bets all over the state of Montana – that his hands were smoother than the cream from a cow. But there was nothing soft about his jaw or the way he held himself.

  Drake stopped pacing, he dropped his hands to his side like he’d been caught smoking an illegal substance, kind of like Cyan’s dad. He glanced at her and then away, like she might turn him to stone or something.

  Stefanie arched an eyebrow, watching Drake. “Hey, you gonna pass out or something?” The midday sunlight beat down on her shoulders and back. She blinked, waiting for him to do exactly what she suggested.

  His lips twitched, and he inclined his head. “Stefanie, only you could make a man feel conflicted in a time when his emotions should be pointed one way.” He glanced back to the house, sadness and doubt dragging his gaze back to her. “I’m not sure if I’m alright or not to be honest. She’s so chipper considering...”

  The melancholy in his eyes held Stefanie’s sarcastic retort tight to her tongue. She sensed it wouldn’t take much to wound him with his raw emotions so close to the surface. Stefanie didn’t want that. She’d never wanted him to hurt more than she was.

  Stefanie glanced to the side, nervous to share her own vulnerability about Emma’s problem. Drake needed reassurance and Stefanie couldn’t let him hurt more than was necessary. She wasn’t cruel.

  Shrugging, she gripped the railing with her hand, careful to not show her own beat up emotions about his sister. “Emma... She’s got her own path. Not sure why she’s doing what she’s doing, but she’s determined. Not sure what hurts worse, knowing I’m going to lose her. Or knowing Nate is.”

  “Why does it always have to be about you and your family? What about us?” Drake’s tone snapped Stefanie’s att
ention to his face. His melancholy had faded, replaced by bitter anger.

  She stepped back from the railing. Lifting her hands into a defensive position, she spoke slowly. “Okay, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make it about me. I was just trying to...” Her words trailed off at the mounting anger in his eyes.

  He growled, “I don’t care what you’re trying to do. It’s always about you guys. You and your brother. He stole my sister and now she’s —” Drake bit his words off before they really got going. He clenched his fists at his side.

  Slowly shaking his head, he meticulously stepped down the stairs, each step carefully placed. He stared at his rig. Even passing by her, he didn’t acknowledge her. The white in his knuckles said more than any word he could say.

  An icy sensation blew over her as he walked by.

  He held his pace to the Escalade. He didn’t go to the driver’s door but to the rear instead. Maybe he needed to rest a second so he wouldn’t pass out. Combine the heat with the emotional turmoil visiting with Emma could bring and he had to be feeling the weight of his brief visit.

  Hannah burst from the front door, a smile brightening her lovely face. “Drake! You’re back. Emma just told me. Grab your bags and come up. I’ll get that room ready for you in a snap. I can’t wait to talk to you some more.”

  He what? Room? Wait a minute, they didn’t have an extra room. Hannah would probably be moving her crap into Stefanie’s room and then sleeping on the couch. Stefanie snapped her head around, staring at Drake’s silhouette at the end of the rig.

  Hannah’s room was next to hers. Stefanie didn’t want that kind of proximity to him. She didn’t want him staying with them. As bad as she felt for him, she didn’t want to disrupt her life or her plans to save Bella Acres with his disturbing presence.

  Stefanie thundered up the stairs, coming to stop in front of her younger sister. She clenched her jaw to keep from yelling at Hannah. It wasn’t the girl’s fault. She breathed in deep before blurting out, “Hannah, what do you mean stay with us?”

  Hannah smiled, her eyes wide and bright. It was the first time in a long time Stefanie had seen her smile. “Emma said Drake is going to stay with us, at least for a little while. You should see how happy she looks just talking about him being here. It brought a little bit of color to her face. I can’t wait to talk to him some more. He’s been in Wyoming all this time. He might as well have been all over.”

  Stefanie wrinkled her nose. “He hasn’t been all over. He’s just been in Wyoming. That’s smaller than Montana.” She wouldn’t give him any more to build him up than absolutely necessary or true. The man was already more than she’d ever imagined him to be.

  She’d always hoped he’d done well, but seeing him at Bella Acres with his Cadillac and his tailored suits just made her feel dowdy and homespun. She tugged at her more-patched-than-not shirt and hoped at least her jeans fit her okay.

  Tapping Stefanie’s shoulder, Hannah bent down until their faces were on level. “Stefanie, stop. You don’t need to constantly put people down. Plus, he has nowhere else to go. It’s not like you own Bella Acres. You don’t get to say who does what or who stays where.”

  But wasn’t that her plan? Wasn’t owning Bella Acres something she wanted more than anything? Stefanie jerked her head to the side. “You know what? I am going to own Bella Acres. This place can be mine. And I’m going to toss him out on his butt. And you too, if you don’t straighten up.” She grinned to lighten the end of her comment.

  She was doing it. Purpose rose within her, like foam expanding and strengthening and hardening. She would own Bella Acres. She had to. She would save them all.

  Hannah curled her lip and folded her arms over her chest. “Yeah, who’s gonna help you?”

  Even if Stefanie wanted to, she couldn’t back down now. What might’ve been a joke or random thought grew to consume her. “No one. I can do this on my own. Just watch.”

  “Be careful, Stefanie, you’ll get what you want and it might not actually be what you want.” Hannah reached forward, squeezing Stefanie’s shoulders in a half hug. “This is hard for me, too, sis. I don’t want lose our home either.”

  Straightening up, she motioned into the house. “Come on in Drake. We’ll eat soon and then you can meet everybody. It’s been a long time.” She patted Stefanie’s back as she passed, her grin widening again. Under her breath she added. “I think someone has a crush.” She giggled when she dodged Stefanie’s swing toward her leg.

  Stefanie didn’t acknowledge Drake as he passed. What would she say? I want to buy Bella Acres and kick you out? Even if she wanted to, she had to admit, at least to herself, the thought of Drake Benson being under the same roof as her for even one night was too tempting to ignore.

  Dang that tailored suit making his shoulders look so good.

  She better take a shower to cool off and clean up. Both her anger and work on the ranch had taken its toll. She needed to rinse more than just her attitude from her body.

  Plus, she planned better when she was clean. And she had some serious planning to do.

  Chapter 4

  Drake

  Even though Hannah had promised he’d get to meet the Montana Trails, Drake shared an uncomfortable meal with just Nate, Stefanie, Hannah, and Emma. The stilted questions and soft clinking of silverware on plates set his nerves on edge.

  The simple food lacked presentation but made up for in taste. Bean soup and cornbread with a small bit of honey butter. Hannah’s cheeks pinked when Drake complimented her cooking. He was used to restaurant cooking and eating alone. Even terse, the meal was vastly different as he could glance at Stefanie a few times every minute.

  She was cleaned up and more irritatingly distracting with her hair soft and loose around her shoulders. Wearing a soft blue shirt that closely matched her eye color, and Drake found himself not able to look away multiple times.

  She wasn’t flashy like the women in the financial district of Wyoming and California that he dealt with, but she would hold her own amongst any of them with her creamy skin and long dark lashes.

  Drake sat opposite Nate at the table.

  Towards the conclusion of the meal, Nate wiped his mouth with a napkin and pushed himself from his seat. He jerked his head toward the living room. “Drake, why don’t you join me in there? I’d like to talk to you about a few things.” He held up his hand to Emma who had shifted in her seat as if to try to get up. “Emma, honey, I want you to stay here. This is between us men. Plus, we’ll be right back.” He leaned down and grazed his lips to her cheek.

  She arched her eyebrow. “You’re lucky I’m stuck here or I might get up and smack you for being a misogynist. Be nice to my brother.” She glanced at the girls, rolling her eyes and offering a weak smile. “Men, I’ll tell you what.” Then she laughed, and even though it lacked enthusiasm, the sound brought warmth to the table.

  The other two girls laughed politely. Stefanie darted another glance at Drake, one of many during the meal. He liked that for whatever reason, she couldn’t stop looking at him either.

  Drake shoved his chair back and nodded at Hannah, wiping his mouth with a napkin before speaking. “Delicious dinner, Hannah, thank you very much.” He stood and followed Nate into the living room. The sounds of the women picking up plates carried easily into the sparsely furnished room.

  Emma’s makeshift bed had been made like she would return any moment. The thought of Emma living the rest of her life in that position gave Drake a mournful pause. The rest of her life might not be that long, if things were as bad as they seemed.

  Nate turned, glancing past Drake toward the kitchen. “In fact, let’s go on the deck. I’d rather not have anyone hear us.” He led the way onto the front porch. A couple of chairs had been left to the side, even the paint on the Adirondack wood spoke of better times.

  Drake followed Nate and claimed a seat, adjusting himself until they were comfortable. Drake didn’t know where to look. He certainly wasn’t nervous, but something
about the situation reeked of conspiracy.

  Nate rested his hands on the armrests of the chair, staring out of the land. “I grew up here. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye.”

  Drake shifted in the chair and studied the same land he’d always known Stefanie to live at. That Bella Acres was up for sale and that the Rourke family wouldn’t live there unsettled him.

  A few trees bordered the back property where the forest began. The wheat in the fields had reached very high in height but had small heads of grain. As if the owners had scrimped on water. But did water have a cost? “Has it been dry up here? Doesn’t look like it’s rained much.”

  Nate glanced at Drake from the side of his eyes, like he didn’t want to move his head to face Drake full on. “Yeah it’s been pretty dry. It’s made it really hard to get by on some things. Even the ranch work has been slim. Plus, a fire went through here a few weeks back that cost a lot of ranches way too much money. They’re buckling down on hiring to cut costs for repairs or to rebuild.”

  He shrugged, returning his gaze to the land. “Fortunately, we did all right. Now that Stefanie and Hannah want to help with the Trails, things should get easier after we sell this place. That way we can get back on track with Emma’s medical treatments.” He leaned forward and clasped his hands together. “She’s going to make it, you know.” It wasn’t a question.

  In that moment, Drake ignored Emma’s promise. At least for a second. At least long enough to entertain the idea that he and Nate could work together and save his sister. Because the thought of the world without her on it just didn’t make sense. “Look, Nate, I have money. So much. Let me help with Emma’s treatment.” Drake tried on a smile.

  The last thing he wanted was for Nate to feel like he was being challenged or threatened. As much as he didn’t like the guy, Nate was still Emma’s husband. Maybe just maybe Drake could convince Nate to take some of his money or let Drake help with something.

  Drake had to feel useful. He had to feel like the last few years had been worth something. If he couldn’t use his education and money to help assist family in some way, then what was the point?