Page 49 of Destined for the Cowboy

Since he knew it was true, Logan said the only thing he could think of. “I think she knows that.”

Jackson’s mouth quirked slightly. “Well, you would know. She’s spent more time with you than anyone in the last six weeks.”

Logan blinked. “I…” His voice trailed off as he looked at the famous face. Was he about to get told off? Warned to stay away from Jackson Thorpe’s sister? He’d completely understand it, if so. After all, who’d want a sister he loved tangled up with a guy who didn’t even know where or what he came from?

Tangled up? Is that what it is? Or was that only his thoughts and…response to her?

He felt a hand gripping his shoulder, and he looked back at Jackson. “It’s the best thing that’s happened to Tris in a long time. You’re the best thing.”

Me?

He was sure he was gaping, but he couldn’t help it. He scrambled for something, anything, to say. Found nothing.

“I understand what she’s going through,” Jackson said. “Better than most. But it’s been a long time now.”

“She…loved him.”And would only ever love him.

“I know she did. And I know it’s different for everyone. But I’m tired of watching her sail along in a damaged ship, instead of at least trying to build a new one.”

The analogy caught Logan’s full attention. For a moment he just looked at Tris’s brother, then he said quietly, “Like you did?”

Jackson grimaced. “Maybe that’s why. I never thought I could, either. But Nic proved me wrong.” He smiled then. “Very, very wrong. For which I will be eternally grateful.”

Logan couldn’t help smiling back.

And then, in a low voice that nevertheless struck like a blow to the gut, Jackson added, “And I’d be grateful again, Logan, if you could help Tris do the same.”

He stared at the other man. Tris’s brother.

Who it seemed, had just given Logan his full stamp of approval.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Tris wasn’t sureif she was glad she’d stopped at Kolaches, the bakery, or not. But as usual, she hadn’t been able to resist the scent of fresh-baked cinnamon rolls. She was a bit nervous about tomorrow, and the ceremony the town council had asked her to speak at, and decided it would take something that luscious to calm her nerves.

So she headed for the door, and had walked in on Lark. Which had led to sitting at one of the small outside tables, consuming one of those luscious rolls with the woman she’d wanted to talk with again anyway. Sort of.

And with her usual perceptiveness, Lark started it. “How’s Logan?”

“I…okay, I think.” She grimaced, thankful they were the only ones here at the moment. “I had to apologize to him yesterday. I got upset with him for focusing so much on his…beginning, instead of the amazing guy he is now.”

Lark studied her for a moment. “Can I deduce from that that you know more about his history now?”

She nodded. “He told me. About how they found him.”

“The dumpster, you mean?” Tris gave her a surprised look. Lark smiled. “If you already know, then I’m not giving anything away. And—” her smile turned a bit wry “—after we spoke I confess, I did a little digging. I don’t know a lot more, and what I do know is not pretty.”

“I don’t know how a toddler found in a dumpster could be anything else. But if there’s more you can tell me, I’d appreciate it.”

“Maybe a bit. It was inThe Defender, and there was a lot of public buzz about it back then it seems. Everybody knew. Even before all you had to do was a web search, Last Stand’s grapevine was up and running wild about the child found out on Yellow Rose Road at the construction site.”

“Was he…hurt?”

Lark nodded again. “Not badly then, but from the bruises and scars, regularly, for a long time. No question it was abuse. Maybe since he was born.”

Tris fought down a wave of nausea. An image of Logan’s face formed in her mind, and the scar she’d noticed running along the left side of his jaw. Was that one of the marks he carried, from that time? Had it not been a fractious horse as she’d always assumed, but some hideous, ugly human who had given him that mark to carry?

“Did they ever find who abandoned him?”

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