Page 8 of Catching Sparks

“You have an album to record.”

“Is this really what you wanna talk about right now?”

My eye twitches. “Your grandfather didn’t seem to mention the fact that I could have driven directly to the guest house when he made me leave my car behind.”

“Well, that answers my next question. Was wondering why you were walkin’ all this way.”

I hum low in my throat, my muscles tense as I inspect the house before me. While much smaller than the main house, it’s newer, with dark brick instead of light and one level, not two. The porch is similar in style, but again, with a dark look instead of the reddish brown from the main house.

“Are you my welcome party? Here to give me a tour?” I ask gruffly.

He cocks his head slightly, eyes drifting to the suitcase beside me that I’m too terrified to inspect for damage. When his stare meets mine again, he attempts to smile.

“It looks like you might need some time alone to settle in.”

I almost laugh. “Right.”

He pushes himself up from the step and walks toward me, stopping a few feet back. The backward baseball cap on his head is ratty, the material scuffed and threads poking out as he takes it off and runs a hand through his dirty-blond hair.

“Listen, I know you don’t wanna be here. We all know it. But don’t treat anyone here with disrespect. I don’t give a shit if you’re my boss or not, I’ll kick your prim ass right off this land if you so much as snarl at one of the ranch hands. Keep your frustration inside. We’re all doin’ your dad a favour here. You too,” he says, the threat sharp in his tone.

Despite how I bristle at that tone, I grow a bit of respect for the guy at the same time. He’s always been a straight shot. Never made my life easy, that’s for fucking sure.

I nod tensely.

He nods right back, extending his hand for me to shake. I hide my wince when he squeezes harder than necessary, trying to prove a point.

Silence hangs between us as I grab the key ring from my pant pocket and head to the porch. His next words have my knees locking, staring ahead instead of back.

“One more thing. My woman lives on this land too. This is her home, and she treats it as such. I hear you look down your nose at her or her friends the way you tend to, and you’ll find that you no longer have that ability. Am I clear?”

This time, I let my laugh escape. It’s a dark, cruel sound, but it doesn’t seem to matter.

“Crystal clear.”

I don’t know how long he stands there, and I don’t care. Not once I make it inside and let the door slam behind me.

4

POPPY

Clean spring air brushes my cheeks as I ride beside Anna, the horse beneath me keeping steady at a soft trot. Honey, the sweet mare I always opt to ride on days like this, moves around a bush to avoid plowing through it, while Sky, Brody’s horse, doesn’t bother. I laugh, watching as she shoves her muzzle into the thick leaves, searching for the raspberries that haven’t quite bloomed yet.

“You’re just as bad as Brody,” Anna scolds teasingly, leaning forward to pat Sky’s neck. Her soft brown hat shields her eyes from the sun as she sways on Sky’s back, and I kick myself for not grabbing mine when I left home. “You can have a treat when we get back home.”

“I can’t blame her for looking. Winter felt like it lasted forever this year. I’m about ready for some sun.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t take off somewhere tropical.”

“Oh, I was tempted. But I’d miss you and Bryce too much.” And there’s no way I could afford it. Trust me, I tried to find the funds the moment the temperature hit below minus twenty-five.

Anna glances across the distance between us and grins at me. “You’re a real sweet talker, you know?”

“I know. And you love it.”

“That we do.” She lets Sky lead us back in the direction of the stable, the guest house getting closer with every breath. “Do you think he’s alive in there? Brody said he spoke to him when he arrived this morning, but there’s been no sign of him since.”

“We’re talking about Garrison, right?”

---