Page 28 of Timber Ridge

“Let’s say goodbye before we go,” I say.

We enter Eliza’s room, where Timber and Hailey exchange goodbyes with my sister. “Remember, Eliza, I’m just a call away,” Timber says.

“Thank you so much for being here.”

I kiss my nephew on the head and look at Eliza. “Did you call Dad, or do you want me to?” Eliza confirms that she has already phoned him, right after Matt, who should return home tomorrow.

When I lean down to kiss Eliza, she whispers, “Timber is a keeper, Kane. You should try to keep her.”

I kiss her cheek. “Some things aren’t up to me.”

She shakes her head. “I think you could have a say in this.”

“Go on now. We all need our rest.” May waves us away like we’re annoying insects.

Knowing Eliza is in good hands, I guide Timber and Hailey to my ATV, ensuring Hailey’s buckled in the back seat. Timber finds a spot beside me. Somewhere along the journey, she leans against me, and I enjoy her gentle weight against my side.

The engine hums steadily beneath us as we navigate the winding trails back to the ridge. The rhythm of the ride lulls us into a comfortable silence punctuated only by the sounds of nature surrounding us.

It’s not until we reach the familiar sight of my home on the ridge that I realize Timber has fallen asleep, her breathing slow and steady against my shoulder. Hailey stirs in the back, unbuckling herself and climbing out of the parked vehicle. I signal her to be quiet as I lift a sleeping Timber out of the ATV. She stirs for a minute, lays her head against my shoulder, and she’s out again.

With Timber in my arms and Hailey beside me, I remember that even in tough times, there's beauty. Putting Timber on the couch, I’m hopeful about what comes next.

Chapter Eleven

TIMBER

I snap awake. The last thing I remember is sitting next to Kane, driving to his home, and now I’m lying on his couch with him looking down at me. I scramble to sit up.

“How did I get here?”

“Daddy carried you.” Hailey peeks from behind her father.

“Did you hurt yourself?” I pull down my T-shirt, which had ridden up over the waist of my pants. “May was right when she called me sturdy. I’m no lightweight.”

Kane laughs. “I catch fish that weigh more than you.”

I scrub the sleep from my eyes and laugh. “Isn’t whaling illegal?”

“Stop, you’re perfect, exactly the way you are.”

Charmed and embarrassed, I realize there’s nothing I can say but, “Thank you.”

“Are you hungry?” he asks.

I nod. “I’m so hungry. Even Beaver Bolognese sounds good. Who knew helping May could be so exhausting.” I rise from the couch. “Let me know what you want and where I can find the ingredients, and I’ll cook. It’s the least I can do since you’re providing me a place to sleep for now.” That only reminds me that this is a temporary solution. Given my increasing attraction to Kane, staying for long wouldn’t be wise. It's risky to get too attached to him, considering the heartache it could cause. Plus, there's Hailey to consider—strong attachments could make things complicated for her too.

Kane shakes his head. “It was part of the deal. We provide room and board and a small salary for your services.”

“I know, but this is your house, and I don’t want to intrude.”

He brushes off my concerns with a gruff, “It’s no problem.” Though reassuring, his words somehow suggest my presence could be an issue. Perhaps I’m reading into them because his proximity will challenge me. All I want to do is fall into his arms, and that’s a dangerous place for me.

“I’ll make dinner,” he says. “You were up most of the night, worked all day, and helped deliver a baby.”

He walks into the kitchen and pulls out a package of ground meat, a jar of spaghetti sauce, and a pasta pack.

I follow him and take a seat at the center island. My eyes focus on the ground meat. “I was kidding about the beaver.”

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