“Am I in big trouble, Mommy?” Gracie asked as they hurried down the hall.
“Yes, honey.” She tried to say it with conviction. Though the other kid probably deserved it, she’d have to punish Gracie. “You know better than to hit someone. It doesn’t matter what they do or say to you. It’s never okay.”
“I know.” Her daughter started to cry. “I know, but he wouldn’t stop. He and his friend Tyler Dobbins kept yelling stuff and everyone was laughing at me.”
Tyler Dobbins. As in Marshal Dobbins’s son. Of course. She should’ve known. “Oh, Gracie girl.” Naomi sank to her knees and pulled her daughter close. “I’m so sorry that happened. I’m so sorry they were mean to you.”
“And I’m sorry I punched Timothy,” her daughter sobbed. “I was just so mad.”
Mad and hurt. Deeply, deeply hurt. Naomi gave her a kiss on the forehead. “It’s okay. Everything’ll be okay.”
Even as she said it, she wondered if that were true.
* * *
Lucas paced the sidewalk outside the school. It seemed to be taking an awful long time to simply clear up a misunderstanding. He stopped, watching the doors again. If only he could’ve gone in there. Could’ve made sure Gracie was okay. If only he could’ve comforted her and promised to protect her, to punish anyone who’d laid a hand on her…
The doors busted open and the two of them charged out, Gracie crying and Naomi’s face hardened with fury.
He may have been out of practice when it came to reading women, but something was very, very wrong.
“Everything okay?” It was a dumb question but he didn’t know what else to say.
Neither of them responded. They simply slipped past him and climbed into the truck.
He got in, too, but didn’t start up the engine. “What happened?” he demanded. Why the hell was Gracie being sent home?
“Some boys were teasing Gracie,” Naomi said. He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen her face so red. “So she got upset and made a mistake.”
Lucas didn’t like the way she refused to look at him. “What were they teasing you about?” he asked Gracie, not sure he wanted to hear the answer.
“They said my mom was gonna marry a bad guy.” Her voice was so small, barely audible. It wasn’t the words that slashed through him. It was her eyes. They mirrored a heartbreak that only came from the pain of betrayal.
Drawing in a stabilizing breath, he shared a long look with Naomi.
“But we’ve already talked about it. I told her you’re not a bad guy.” Naomi’s eyes filled with tears. She snuck her hand into his.
“Why did they say that, then?” Gracie asked Lucas suspiciously. “Why would they say you’re a bad guy?”
“Because they’re mean.” Naomi didn’t give him a chance to answer, but he had to. She had to know the truth.
He turned to face the girl fully so she could see into his eyes. “It’s because I went to prison,” he said, looking at her over the seat. “That’s why I had to leave all those years ago. That’s why I didn’t come back for a long time.”
“Prison?” Gracie whispered. “Like jail?”
“Yes.” He hated the way she was looking at him, like she didn’t know him anymore. “There was a fire at the rodeo grounds and I got arrested.” He chose the words carefully. He wanted to be honest, but he couldn’t tell them the whole truth either.
“You lied to me.” Tears ran down Gracie’s cheeks again. “I asked you where you went all those years…”
“We didn’t lie,” Naomi said gently. “We didn’t tell you because Lucas is a different person now. The past doesn’t matter.”
If only that were true. It may not matter to Naomi, or to his family, but it mattered to Gracie. It mattered to Eleanor Bradley. It mattered to Marshal Dobbins. It mattered to those kids who’d used it to torment a sweet, fun-loving girl.
“But everyone else knew. And I didn’t,” Gracie whimpered. “I looked so dumb. That’s why they were laughing at me.”
Because of him. This was exactly what he’d worried about. Naomi might be able to handle herself in the face of scrutiny, but Gracie shouldn’t have had to defend herself at school on account of him. “I’m sorry,” he said. What else could he offer her? “We should’ve told you.” At least then she would’ve been prepared.
“Would you like to get some lunch?” Naomi suggested. “Then we can talk about it and answer any more questions you have about what happened back then.”
“No.” Gracie turned her head to stare out the window, as though she wanted to shut them both out. “I want to go home.”
“But—” Naomi started.
“It’s okay,” Lucas interrupted. “I’ll take you home.” She needed time, space. And so did he. When he looked at Gracie, his own selfishness stared him in the face. She deserved more than this. More than him.
As he started the truck, Bill McGowen’s offer rang in his ears.
No matter how much he wanted to stay and force people to accept him, he had to do what was best for everyone.
Chapter Twenty-two
Lucas stretched the kinks out of his back and wound up his arm for another perfect cast over the wide river.
The dim, early morning light made the water black and inky, but the old adage was true…fish tended to bite early.
“I bet fishing with Naomi was a hell of a lot more fun than fishing with me,” Levi muttered, standing next to him, sullen and waist deep in the river.
“It was a different kind of fun.” He watched the fly for a possible strike. “This is fun because I’m kicking your ass at something.” He’d already caught four solid rainbows to his brother’s zero. After the pool fiasco, he figured it was time to put his little brother in his place, so he’d dragged Levi’s ass out of bed before the sun was even up.
“Let’s step into the corral when we get back,” Levi suggested. “Have a little competition to see who can get the best of Reckoning II. How would you like that? What’s it been since you’ve ridden a bull? Ten years?”
“I ride occasionally.” When he wanted to give a possible purchase a test drive. But there was no way he’d beat Levi in a bull-riding competition. Especially on Reckoning II. He wasn’t stupid enough to try. “I’m not in a hurry to get back to the ranch.” He needed to be out here—hadn’t worked everything out in his head yet.
After he’d dropped off Naomi and Gracie yesterday, he’d spent the whole day with Reckoning II, working late, until the sun started to dip and the bull wanted to kill him in the most painful way possible. Naomi had called him after that, admitting that Gracie was still in her room pouting. But Lucas knew it was more than that. He’d betrayed her trust. He didn’t blame her for not wanting to talk to him.
“Gotta say…I’m impressed,” his brother said, reeling in yet another empty line. “Thought you would’ve knocked out Marshal’s teeth by now.” He shook his head. “His kid teasing Gracie like that? You’re showing serious restraint.”
“I don’t have a choice.” Going after Dobbins would only rile him up more. Who knew what he’d do then?
“I’ll do it for you if you want.” Levi sounded more serious than Lucas was comfortable with. “I’d kick the shit out of him for you.”
“Kicking the shit out of him won’t do any good.” He’d thought about it all night. What would happen if he said screw it all and went and paid Dobbins a visit? “It’d only fuel him. Give him another reason to make my life and the lives of everyone around me hard.”
All that mattered to him in this whole thing was protecting Gracie. And he was afraid there was only one way to do it. “He won’t be happy until I’m gone.”
Levi fumbled with his fishing rod, almost dropping it in the river. “You’re not thinking of leaving.”
“Not sure I have a choice. At least for a while.” All his life, he’d been solution-oriented. When a problem presented itself, he took action. He didn’t wait around for it to get worse. “McGowen came to see me.” He’d neglected to
mention his boss’s visit to his father and brothers. Hadn’t told anyone, actually. “He made me a tempting offer.”
Levi spun to face him. “You leave her again, she won’t let you come back.”
“Trust me. I’m well aware of the potential risks.” He’d spent hours thinking through worst-case scenarios. “But if I’m gone, she and Gracie won’t have targets on their backs.” And yes, she might be mad at him. She might not forgive him, but he had to accept that possibility. It wasn’t so much the teasing Gracie had taken that got to him; it was the fact that Marshal’s son had been involved. When Naomi’d told him that on the phone last night, he’d realized how serious Dobbins was about ruining his life. And it scared him. What kind of man would use his kid that way? Dev had already alluded to the fact that Marshal wasn’t exactly stable. “I’m worried about what he’ll do next,” he admitted. Especially since Dobbins had taken the fall for the whole bar brawl. “Something’s not right with him.” Maybe it was drugs or some kind of illness, but Marshal didn’t appear to be playing with a full deck.
“Wish I could argue, but the guy is definitely not normal.” Levi slogged over to the riverbank. Seemed he was done fishing.
Lucas wasn’t. He’d be glad to delay the inevitable a little bit longer.
“I could tell everyone the truth about the fire.” His brother tossed the fishing rod to the grass and peeled off his waders.
“Won’t make a difference.” Lucas made another arching cast. The fly settled on the water a few feet in front of him. “Dobbins hates our family. It’s not only me. And it wouldn’t be only you, either. Especially after what happened at the bar.”
They’d made Marshal look like the ass he was, and now he wanted revenge.
* * *
“Do you have your water bottle? Rain jacket?” Naomi asked, fiddling with the zipper on Gracie’s backpack.
“Yes, Mom.” Her daughter sighed. “I have everything.” She counted out the items on her fingers. “Snacks, raincoat, water bottle, emergency first-aid kit, sunscreen, and my hat. Oh, and that whistle you made me pack,” she finished with a dramatic roll of her eyes.
“Hey, missy. Whistles can save your life out there.” Back in high school, she’d done some wilderness training and she’d never forgotten the stories about kids getting lost in the backcountry. “I guess you’re ready, then.” Naomi sighed, too, but it wasn’t exasperation. It was a heart sigh. A release to ease the ache. Mark would be there any minute to pick up her daughter and she’d likely be gone the whole day. “You remember to drink plenty of water. It’s a long hike.”
“I’ve done it tons of times,” Gracie reminded her. “I could do it with my eyes closed.”
No one could do it with their eyes closed. Not with all of the rocks on the trail. “Still, you need to be careful.” Naomi knelt in front of her. “I put the phone in the small pocket of your backpack, just in case you need me for anything.” She always kept a prepaid phone in the house so Gracie could get in touch with her when they weren’t together.
“Okay,” Gracie said again. She smooshed her lips against Naomi’s cheek. “I’ll be fine, Mom. Dad and I are gonna have tons of fun.”
“I know you will.” But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t fuss over her until the second she walked out the door. That was every mother’s right, and she happened to be very good at it.
The fussing had started this morning when Gracie was getting dressed. Naomi had to make sure she was wearing her hiking socks and a light sweatshirt, even though it was supposed to be in the eighties. Then she’d taken Gracie out for breakfast on the way over to meet Mark at the inn, making sure her daughter got plenty of protein so she’d have enough energy to make the hike.
Energy didn’t seem to be an issue for her daughter, though. Gracie traipsed over to where Bogart lay on his plush dog bed underneath the large bow window and knelt down next to him, squeezing his neck.
Bogy licked her face.
“Almost ready, boy?” she asked the dog. “You’ll love Dad. He’s so great,” she chattered.
Naomi tried not to wince. Mark seemed great. So why couldn’t she make herself trust him? “Make sure to bring Bogy’s leash,” she said to distract herself from the question. “Just in case it’s crowded and he bothers anyone.” It might’ve been silly, but she was relieved Bogy was joining Mark and Gracie on the hike.
“Bogy won’t need a leash.” Gracie smothered the dog with kisses. “Will you? You’re always a good boy.”
Naomi knelt down and joined them on the floor.
“What are you doing today?” her daughter asked, patting the dog’s head.
A sweltering blush crept up her cheeks. “Um…” She cleared her throat. “I think I’m going to spend some time with Lucas.” Her tone was guarded. Gracie still hadn’t forgiven him for hiding his past from her. But she would. Naomi had told Lucas as much on the phone last night. They just needed to give her some time. “He’s going to help me tear down some wood paneling so we can keep this project moving.” Hopefully Gracie didn’t detect the high wisp in her voice. She couldn’t help it. Even as hard as it was to know Gracie would be with her other parent, the thought of spending a whole day alone with Lucas had her heart twirling.
Her daughter turned, gazing at her curiously. “Don’t you care that he was in jail?” she asked bluntly. “Don’t you care that he started a fire and hurt animals?”
Naomi took her time gathering a response. This was the most Gracie had wanted to talk about it, and she didn’t want to mess it up. “At the time, I was very hurt,” she finally said. “I never thought Lucas would do something like that.” There was still a part of her that didn’t believe it. “But, honey, he was seventeen. Still a kid. He made a big mistake and he was very sorry for it.” She smoothed her hand over her daughter’s hair, patting down the unruly curls. “You know what, though? Even though it hurt me, I’ve forgiven him. Because I see who he is now. A good man with a good heart. Someone who only wants the best for the people he cares about.” It was what she loved about him and also what she feared most about him. The way he always tried to sacrifice his own happiness for the sake of everyone else’s.
Gracie bit her lip thoughtfully. “Papa Luis always says you should forgive everyone or it’ll only end up making you sad.”
Naomi smiled at that. “Papa Luis is a wise man, isn’t he?”
“He sure is,” she agreed. Those luminous green eyes narrowed. “Lucas doesn’t make mistakes like that anymore?”
“Well, no one is perfect.” But her daughter already knew that. Naomi had always been the first to admit her failings and apologize. “But he does his best not to make mistakes. And he’d never do anything that would put him in jail again.” She was sure of that.
“If you forgave him, then maybe I will, too,” Gracie said cautiously. “At least I’ll try.”
“That would mean so much to him.” She squeezed her daughter just as a knock at the door announced Mark’s on-time arrival.
Gracie took off to answer it with Bogy barking and bounding behind her. “Dad’s here! Dad’s here!”
Brushing the tears from her eyes, Naomi followed behind her.
“Hey, kiddo.” Mark leaned down to give her a hug. “Wow.” He walked into the foyer as he took everything in. “This place looks amazing.”
“Thanks,” Naomi said politely. “It’s coming along.”
“We’re gonna open the inn right after Thanksgiving,” Gracie informed him as though the whole thing had been her idea.
“That sounds like the perfect time of year. Right before the holidays.”
“Maybe you could come to Thanksgiving dinner,” her daughter said hopefully. “And bring your whole family.”
“Oh…” Mark glanced at Naomi apologetically, as though he was worried she wouldn’t approve.
She didn’t know if she approved. “Um. Well. Maybe.” The words stumbled all over each other. “We’ll see. I mean hopefully there are no delays or anything…”
>
“It’s okay,” Mark interrupted. “We’ll have to play it by ear,” he told Gracie.
Thankfully, the answer seemed to satisfy her. Instead of begging, Gracie pulled on his hand. “Okay. Let’s go hiking now.”
Bogy whined as though worried he would be left behind.
“Come on, Bogy.” Gracie snapped on his leash. “He’s a really good hiker,” she said to Mark. “Most of the time he won’t need his leash.”
“It’ll be fun to have him along.” Mark walked her out the door. “I brought some cookies if we make it all the way to the top.”
“Cookies!” she cheered.
He turned to Naomi. “I’ll have them back by three.”
“That’s fine.” She bent to kiss Gracie’s head. “Listen good. Okay? And don’t hike too fast. You don’t want your dad to get lost.”
Gracie giggled. “I promise.”
As Mark and Gracie made their way down the porch, Lucas drove up and parked his truck in the driveway.
Just. In. Time.
She waved once more at Gracie and waited for him on the porch.
Lucas seemed to take his time climbing out of the truck. He lugged along an old metal toolbox, making him look all rugged and strong. He was rugged and strong. She couldn’t take her eyes off him as he made his way across the lawn. The jeans he had on were more worn and tattered than the ones he usually wore, and his faded T-shirt showcased every sculpted muscle. Her heart clenched with an expectant yearning.
“Hey.” He bounded up the steps, but instead of pulling her into his arms like she’d assumed he would, he hung back. In fact, he hardly even looked at her. “Ready to get started?”
The abrupt question made her flinch. “Uh…sure.” Stiffly, she stepped aside so he could get past her.
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