Page 26 of Love in the Wild

“Then let’s table those thoughts. At least for a few days. Brett won’t let anything happen to you, and the ranch is truly safer now. There were some incidents this past year that brought up the need for heightened security. Jameson has been focused on it all winter.”

Thea pushed up onto her good leg and grabbed the crutches. “I guess I need to get ready for bed before Brett gets back.”

Hadley stood, facing Thea with enough determination for both of them. “He’s a good one, you know?”

“I do. And there was a time when I thought that was a good thing. Now, it just makes it harder to pretend I don’t care about him.”

“Then don’t pretend. What’s holding you back?”

“Everything. The odds were always stacked against us, and for a while, I thought we were meant to weather that storm together. Then I started doubting his innocence, and everything got messed up. It’s almost like my feelings are being decided for me. Like, we were such a sure thing back then. Did I even think about it before falling headlong into love? I guess I didn’t have much of a choice. You feel what you feel, right?”

Hadley shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been in love.”

Wrapping her arms around Thea, Hadley held onto her new friend until their breathing was even and slow.

“So, big question coming,” Hadley said as she pulled out of the hug.

Thea swiped her hands over her throbbing cheeks. “Bring it on.”

“How are you going to shower with one working leg?”

Thea burst into laughter. “I have no idea. Very carefully?”

Seeing Thea’s smile boosted Hadley’s surety that they could make it through this and come out better on the other side. They just needed time and healing.

“I’ll help. We’ll figure it out in the morning.”

“Thanks. It’s probably overdue, but I’m about fifteen minutes from crashing. There’s no way I could take on the shower monster tonight.”

Hadley gestured toward the bathroom. “You can go first.”

“I won’t be long.”

When Thea shut herself away to get ready for bed, Hadley went to the closet and grabbed clean sheets, blankets, and a pillow. She went ahead and made up the couch.

A light peace had spread over her mind as she headed to her room and sent Brett a text.

Hadley: Thanks for everything. Thea is lucky to have you on her side.

Brett’s reply was immediate.

Brett: Don’t worry. I’ll get this fixed. Just give me time.

Hadley fell onto the bed and closed her eyes. The Lord had made quick work of her fears tonight, and she’d sleep soundly knowing He was on their side.

9

GAGE

Gage stared at the screen in front of him. How could Bruce and Tommy be so stupid with the shop expenses?

The receipt in Gage’s hand included tools for the shop, as well as fifty pounds of sugar and ten packages of yeast. How many times did he have to tell them not to buy anything for the moonshine in the same transaction as they bought things for the garage?

They were supposed to get the moonshine supplies out of town anyway. Bruce hadn’t been arrested in over a year, and he was getting too lax. Any of them could be locked up again with one traffic stop.

Gage had no desire to sleep in the brig again. Every night he spent in jail was a day without a paycheck. Not to mention he was the only one who knew the first thing about managing the finances for the shop or the cash for the moonshine.

Basically, if Gage was out of the picture, Bruce wouldn’t go out of his way to make sure the money was fair. That wasn’t happening.

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