Page 2 of A Marriage Pact for the Cowboy

Maxwell took a step back. “Amelia is dead?”

“A couple of years ago now.”

“No way.” And how had Mom never passed the news on to Maxwell? Maybe she’d forgotten the twins had been in his class. Or maybe she’d finally believed that he didn’t care about anyone from back then. “That’s awful. How did Eryn take it?”

“Not real well. Her dad isn’t doing so great either.”

“I can’t imagine.”

“Yeah, it’s been rough for them.” Stuart shook his head.

Eryn turned to survey the room and seemed to shrink into herself. Her gaze swept Maxwell without pausing. Maybe she didn’t recognize him. He certainly wouldn’t have known her anywhere outside of this class reunion in Gilead. Maybe not even here if Stuart hadn’t pointed her out.

“I should talk to her.” He didn’t wait for a reply before skirting the group of guys and heading toward the blonde. “Eryn? I just found out your sister passed away. Please accept my condolences.”

She turned and looked at him. “I’m sorry — you are…?”

“Maxwell Sullivan. I remember some Halloween parties and sleigh rides out at your farm when we were kids.”

“Max? I wouldn’t have recognized you.”

“I wouldn’t have known you, either.” Not a chance. The willowy blonde in front of him barely resembled the awkward girl with braces on her teeth he’d known back then. She’d been shy, too, more focused on studying than dating. No twins could have been less alike.

“Yeah, Amelia’s passing… that was a huge shock. It’s just Dad and me now.” Her smile seemed forced.

“I bet it’s been hard.” Maxwell knew a bit about that.

“You lost one of your brothers, too.”

“I did.” Maxwell shook his head, trying to dislodge the memories of discovering his oldest brother and his wife had been killed in a helicopter crash almost two years ago. Maybe that’s why Mom hadn’t mentioned Amelia — she’d been too busy mourning her son and taking care of the toddler he’d left behind. “He was seven years older than me, though. We weren’t super close. Not like a twin.”

Eryn released a shuddering breath. “We had our good and bad moments, of course. We were very different in every way. Still, we were twins, you know?”

“I’m sorry.” There wasn’t much else to say about that.

“And I was sorry to hear about Wally and his wife. They left a baby, right?”

“Yes, Jamie. My brother Tate and his wife adopted him. He’s doing well.” It wasn’t like a three-year-old could miss the parents he’d spent so little time with.

“That’s good. I remember when Tate had a part in the college passion play here — year before last, I think? He was the apostle Peter. Did a great job.”

“I flew in for the final performance, and you’re right. He was good.” Tate was good at everything he did. Made it hard to live up to him, actually. “Funny story. Tate and his wife named their baby Simon Peter. I think Tate wanted to keep reliving his glory days.”

“Aw, that’s sweet.” Eryn smiled. “So, um, I haven’t seen you around in like forever.”

“I went to work for my grandfather in Chicago right after high school. My dad and my brothers lived there at the time. You?”

She sighed. “I haven’t been anywhere at all. I started busing tables at Debby’s Diner during high school, and I’ve moved all the way up to assistant cook.”

“Hey, good for you!”

Eryn shook her head. “It’s not my dream come true.”

“Oh, what’s that?” Maxwell’s curiosity surprised him. His dad would never have put up with him if he’d decided to stick around Gilead to take on a job in service, but Dad loved eating out. Didn’t he realize someone had to facilitate his lifestyle? It didn’t do to think of oneself as better than someone else just because he had money, and the other person’s job was to cater to him.

“I don’t even know. I’ve never had the chance to find out.” Eryn brushed her hair aside as though she removed her concerns with it and smiled at him. “It doesn’t matter. So, you’re living in Chicago?”

“Not anymore. Montana is home now.”

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