Tattered Stars

by Catherine Cowles

  Climbing out of my SUV, I shut the door and beeped the locks. As I strode towards the old-timey store, the same one my father had taken us to so many times before, my steps faltered. I hadn’t seen her in fifteen years, but I would’ve recognized her anywhere. The long braid down her back, the high cheekbones tinged pink.

  “Addie,” I called.

  My cousin whirled around, her eyes going wide. “Evie?”

  I didn’t think, I simply launched myself at her, wrapping her in a hug. “I missed you.”

  She stiffened in my arms, pulling away. “What are you thinking coming back here?”

  “Mom left me the mountain property.”

  Addie’s gaze jumped around the parking lot. “You should sell it. Go home to Seattle.”

  Her words stung—a hell of a lot more than the ones from Hayes. “I knew some people wouldn’t welcome me back, but I honestly didn’t expect that from you.”

  She grabbed my arm. “That’s not what I mean. I’m so glad to see you. But not everyone will feel the same.”

  “Adaline. Step back from that traitor.”

  The voice cracked like a whip through the asphalt, and Addie immediately dropped my arm.

  My gaze rose to meet the cold eyes staring back at me. “Uncle Allen.”

  He spat at my feet, thankfully missing my shoe. “I’m not your uncle. If it were up to me, I’d take payment for your betrayal with a switch.”

  Addie flinched behind him, and heat rose to my face. Anger for everything I knew he put Addie through with his fear tactics and cruelty. “You forget,” I said in a low voice, “I’m not a child anymore. I know how to fight back. Don’t start something with me that you can’t finish.”

  Addie paled as Allen’s face turned a shade of red I’d never seen on a human before, but I stood my ground. When I went to live with my sister, I’d felt powerless. I was so terrified that I barely slept. It didn’t help that my uncle and brother had shown up to Jacey’s home and my school multiple times to make a scene. They couldn’t simply let me go. In their minds, I needed to atone for my sins.

  Even after Jacey and Kevin had moved us to a place that Allen and Ian didn’t know about, I was still on edge. I’d felt as if I were losing my mind, piece by piece. Jacey had finally sat me down and told me that I needed to find things that would make me feel safe.

  I’d built that wall of safety, brick by brick. I’d thrown myself into self-defense training with a single-mindedness that I knew sometimes scared Jacey. I’d begged Kevin to continue the firearms training my father had started. Dad’s fixation on preparedness and self-reliance had been the one gift he’d left me with. When my classmates were all building profiles on the newest social media app, I refused to be in a single photo.

  I’d become obsessed with making sure my family never had a way to find me again. I’d relaxed over the past five years, easing my restrictions, living life more freely, and no longer constantly looking over my shoulder. But I hadn’t relaxed a single thing about preparing for something bad to happen. The events all those years ago had taught me that bad things could happen to anyone.

  And as I looked at my uncle, who spluttered and raged, I hoped he’d take a swing. He had no idea what would be waiting for him if he did. My eyes focused on looking for the signs. The weight shift. The angle of a shoulder. The retreat of an arm.

  Allen’s hands balled into fists, his knuckles bleaching white. “You will have to face what you’ve done. I can’t believe you had the audacity to come back here. Just wait until Ian hears.”

  The sound of my brother’s name made me flinch. My hand wanted to curve around my ribs protectively. I could still hear the crack of bone. Feel the steel-toed boot meeting my torso time after time. I could taste the blood in my mouth. But for all the pain I’d endured that night, I wouldn’t wish it away. Because it had been the thing that’d freed me. The last straw that gave my mother the push she needed to send me to Jacey. The final breaking point that let me let go of every last tie to my family.

  At least, that was what I’d thought. Until the letter. A collection of words on a page that had made me realize I hadn’t moved on. There were ghosts I still needed to exorcise.

  I didn’t look away from my uncle’s face. “If Ian wants to come for me, let him come.”

  Addie shook her head. She stayed silent, her eyes begging me to stand down, to be quiet. But those things had never been my strong suit, and now I was even better equipped to fight my battles.

  Allen sneered. “You think you’re better than us, with your fancy education and worldly ways. You haven’t lived here in a long time. That mountain can bite, girl. And we might just help it along.”

  “I don’t think I’m better than you. I know I am. But not because of anything I have. Because I don’t prey on those weaker than me. That doesn’t make you strong. It makes you an asshole.”

  Allen’s hand lashed out, aiming for my cheek. I was ready with my block, my other hand poised for a palm strike to his nose, but Allen’s palm never made contact with my skin. Tanned fingers wrapped around Allen’s forearm. I followed the limb up to a face with dark, haunting eyes. Eyes that had held so much judgment just yesterday. Now, they were full of anger, but that rage wasn’t directed at me. It was solely focused on my uncle.

  “That, Mr. Kemper, is attempted assault.”

  Allen ripped his arm from Hayes’ grip. “I was trying to teach the girl some respect. You don’t need to intrude. It’s a family matter.”

  “It’s a matter of law.” Hayes inclined his head to a female officer. “Deputy Young, please take this man into custody.”

  A woman whose face spoke of her Native American heritage stepped forward, and she began reading Allen his rights as she placed him in handcuffs. Allen blustered and threatened. When none of that worked, he turned his head towards Addie. “Get Ian. Now.”

  Addie quickly nodded and headed towards Main Street, barely sparing me a glance, her eyes wild with fear. I wanted to reach out, to pull her to me. To tell her to run in the opposite direction. But she wouldn’t have heard a word I said. Allen had her just where he wanted her, under his thumb.

  I glared at Hayes as his deputy placed Allen in a squad car. “Was that really necessary?”

  His eyes flared. “You would’ve preferred he hit you?”

  “Yes. Then I would’ve been within my rights to kick his ass.”

  Hayes was silent for a moment. “Or you could’ve been seriously hurt.”

  “Which probably would’ve had you dancing a jig.”

  A cool heat filled Hayes’ eyes. “I may not want you here, but I take my job seriously. That means if any citizens of this county are at risk, I’m going to step in.”

  I searched his face, looking for any signs of deception. There were none. This town was lucky to have someone who cared so deeply for its people—even those he despised. “Well, you’ll be happy to know you can take me off that list of people to worry about. I can take care of myself.”

  A muscle ticked along Hayes’ jaw. “You haven’t been here in a long time. Your uncle’s and brother’s beliefs have only intensified. They think the law doesn’t apply to them.”

  I swallowed against the lump in my throat. We’d been raised to be self-sufficient. To survive without help from the outside world. To rely only on the people in our small little community. Sometimes, I wondered if the obsession with preparedness had fed my father’s illness. It certainly hadn’t helped.

  There was beauty in that world, too. People who chose to live off the land and treat it with care. Those who wanted to create self-sustaining communities where everyone was looked after. But the Kemper family looked at everyone with distrust—as a potential enemy or thief.

  I met Hayes’ hard gaze. “Trust me, if anyone knows what my family is capable of, it’s me.”

  6

  Hayes

  “Hell,” I muttered as I watched Everly weave through the parking lot towards the hardware store.

  “
Looks like my big brother finally met a woman who will put him in his place.”

  I turned to face Hadley, who grinned from ear to ear. “It’s not funny, Hads.”

  She only smiled wider. “I’m pretty sure it is. Who is she, anyway?”

  I scrubbed a hand over my jaw and wanted to let a slew of curses fly. I hadn’t had time to fill Hadley in on the latest developments. “Everly Kemper.”

  The grin slipped from Hadley’s face as her eyes widened. “That Everly Kemper? The one who…?” She let her words trail off as she watched Everly disappear into the store. “I can’t believe she’s back.”

  “It’s not a good situation.” It was more than that, though. After watching the encounter with Allen, I knew things were volatile. A powder keg just waiting for a spark.

  Hadley’s gaze turned shrewd. “Please tell me you weren’t a giant asshole to her.”

  I blanked my expression. “What do you mean?”

  She let out an exasperated sigh. “You know I love you. The kind of love that means I’d do anything for you.”

  “But?”

  “But you have taken what happened completely on your shoulders.”

  My gaze drifted away from my baby sister towards where they’d be setting up the fairgrounds any day now. “I was supposed to be watching her.”

  “You were watching her. You turned your back for a few minutes to play a game.”

  “And because of that, Shiloh will never be the same.”

  “Bubby…”

  At the use of her childhood nickname for me, I looked back to Hadley. “It’s the truth.”

  She shook her head. “If it hadn’t happened right then, it would’ve been some other time when someone else had their back turned. He was a sick man, and he was obsessed.”

  “But it wasn’t some other time. It was when I was supposed to be watching her.”

  Hadley gripped my arm. “You have to figure out a way to let this go. You’re letting it eat away at you. It’s not your fault, and it’s certainly not Everly’s.”

  I let out a groan. I knew it wasn’t her fault, but Everly was a reminder. Not just to Shiloh and my parents but also to me. If I’d been paying more attention, all of this heartache and pain could’ve been avoided. Everly was a reminder of my greatest failure. One I’d been working to make up for ever since.

  “I know she’s not to blame.”

  Hadley arched a brow. “Does she know you feel that way?”

  Uneasiness slid through my gut. Everly had known she would have to face a family that hated her, but me piling things on had likely been a surprise blow. “I’ll make it right.”

  The corners of Hadley’s mouth tipped up. “I know you will, Bubby. You always do.”

  I scowled at her. “Stop calling me that.”

  “But I love the way it makes your eye twitch.”

  I wrapped an arm around her neck, bringing Hadley in for a noogie. “What are you doing here, anyway? I thought you were on duty today.”

  She shoved at my chest, extricating herself from my hold. “Another EMT asked to switch shifts. So, I’m using my free afternoon to fix my leaky faucet. Aren’t you proud?”

  “Why didn’t you call me? You know I would’ve come over and fixed it.”

  Hadley rolled her eyes. “You know I am capable of doing things on my own, right?”

  “You’ve made that clear.” A little too clear. Hadley was always running off on some new daring adventure. Hiking a range of the Pacific Crest Trail, completely alone. Rock climbing. Trekking Machu Picchu. Riding her bike down mountains. She’d almost given our mother a heart attack more times than I could count.

  She stuck her tongue out at me. “Take a breath, brother dearest, it’s not the end of the world to have a sister who can take care of herself.”

  I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her in for a hug. “I’m proud of you. You know that, right?”

  “Doesn’t hurt to hear you say it.”

  “I am. The work you do. The person you are. I’m damn lucky you’re my baby sister.”

  She pinched my side. “You make me cry in public, and I’ll put your hand in warm water the next time you fall asleep on the couch after family dinner.”

  And she would, too. I gave Hadley a quick kiss on the head and released her. “Try not to get into too much trouble.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  Her mischievous tone had me groaning. “Don’t forget family dinner on Sunday.”

  “I might have to work a shift.”

  “Hads…”

  She’d do anything to avoid spending concentrated time with Mom. I kept hoping they’d come to an understanding, see where the other was coming from, but the relationship just seemed to grow more strained.

  Hadley twirled her keys around her finger. “I’ll try to make it.”

  “Don’t try, do.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Don’t you have a world to save?”

  I glanced at my watch. I’d spent far too much time in this parking lot. And I needed to talk to the prosecutor about pressing charges against Allen. Somehow, I didn’t think Everly would be much help, but I had to try.

  I gave Hadley a chin lift and headed for my SUV. “See you Sunday.”

  Hadley simply waved and started towards the store.

  Keeping my family together would be the death of me.

  The sun hung low in the sky, even though it was already seven. I was grateful for the light as I wound my way through the mountain roads. The absence of any streetlights and the frequent steep drop-offs meant navigating them in the dark could be treacherous if you took a turn too quickly.

  My back teeth ground together as I imagined Everly doing just that. We still had months before the time change and winter came upon us, but I couldn’t stop the image in my mind. It came on the heels of another picture of Everly that had been haunting me all day.

  The rise of her chin, the glint in her eye. So prepared to take that hit. She’d been ready to go to war. It made me see her just a little differently. As more than just a reminder of the worst time in my life. The knowledge made me twitchy, as if my skin were too tight for my body.

  Koda whined from the cab. I pressed a button to roll down his window. “Happier now?” His tongue lolled in response, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

  I turned off the main gravel road and onto the steep incline of a lane I wasn’t sure even had a name. I knew for certain the post office didn’t deliver out here. Everly would have to come into town to get all of her mail. I was shocked she even had power.

  The cabin appeared as I crested the last bit of the hill, the dilapidated house and barn, and past it, the shed. That familiar desire to tear it all down flared to life. I swallowed it down, just like every other emotion I didn’t want to look at too closely.

  Everly straightened from where she was bent over the railing of the porch steps, sanding block in hand. I just had to hope she wouldn’t throw the thing at me. Bringing my truck to a stop, I turned off the engine. Koda let out a whine. “You can come. But only if you’re on your best behavior.”

  My dog seemed to almost nod. Climbing out of the truck, I opened the door to the cab. “Heel, Koda.” But my damn dog didn’t listen for a second. He took off, tearing around the vehicle and making a beeline straight for Everly. I muttered a slew of curses. “He’s friendly, I swear.”

  Koda was massive, and if you weren’t used to dogs, he could be intimidating as hell. But Everly didn’t miss a beat. She crouched, setting her sanding block on a step, and met my beast of a dog with open arms. Koda let out a happy yip as her hands sank into his fur. His tongue lashed across Everly’s cheek, and her head tipped back as she laughed.

  The sound, the image, they stopped me in my tracks. Blond hair cascading down her back, blue eyes shining. And that laugh. So uninhibited and carefree. Gone was the guardedness that had engulfed Everly the last two times I’d seen her. She was an entirely different person as my dog fell head over heels in love with
her.

  I cleared my throat, and Everly looked up, that blank mask slipping over her expression again. I wanted the other woman back. The one who was free and unchecked. “I take it you like dogs.”

  She didn’t say a thing, just stared at me as if I were a bug. I toed a piece of gravel with my boot. “Have any more trouble since you left the hardware store?”

  “What are you doing here, Hayes?”

  It was the first time she’d said my name, and it sounded good on her tongue. Different, somehow. I gave my head a small shake as if I could dislodge the sound from my ear. “The district attorney wants to know if you’ll press charges against your uncle.”

  “No.”

  “You protecting him?”

  She looked up, meeting my gaze without an ounce of hesitation. “I’m trying to find a way to live in the same town as them. I’m not afraid anymore. I’m prepared.”

  I wished there was even a hint of fear in Everly’s eyes. Because fear made you careful. “The D.A. won’t move forward with the case unless you’re on board.” She shrugged a shoulder as she kept scratching behind Koda’s ears. Her casualness about it all only ratcheted the tension running through me. “You should at least file a restraining order. With my testimony, you’ll get one.”

  “Why do you care so much?”

  My back molars ground together. “I told you. It’s my job.”

  “You’re dedicated. I’ll give you that,” she muttered.

  “Look. I don’t want it on my conscience that Allen came up here and killed you in a rage. All I’m asking is that you take reasonable precautions. File charges so it’s on the record.”

  Everly stood from her crouch. “I absolve you of any guilt if I get dead. Now, you can go on with your life in peace. It was never my goal to mess that up for you.”

  She strode up the steps and through the entrance, the screen door slamming in her wake. Koda turned accusing eyes on me. I let out a growl of frustration. “That didn’t come out right.”