Page 63 of Redemption

“That’s all that happened, you guys just talked?”

Tilly nodded. “Talked, fell in love. At least I did…” She broke off, sobbing into her water. I was relieved but also felt sad for Tilly. She was the youngest sister and had a lot to deal with in her short life.

“Just…stay here. I’ll be back,” I said. I headed to the bar and served a few patrons but Max was living it up on stage and hadn’t noticed I was missing, so I snuck back into the office to Tilly.

She saw me and began sobbing again and my heart broke for her. I sat down on the couch and put an arm around her awkwardly trying to console her. She flung herself at me and wrapped her arms around my neck.

“Shh, it’s okay,” I said, feeling stupid. I didn’t know what to say to make her feel better and then I remembered something. “You were always Charlie’s little girl. The way he talked about you, he was so proud of you.”

Tilly’s sobs were muffled in my chest, but I was sure she was quieting down.

“He told me about how one time when youwere nine, you got out to the horses and managed to mount one and rode it bareback like a little rebel. He was torn between whooping your ass and being so dang proud of you. He laughed so much when he told me, and I always wanted to know how you managed to get yourself up on that horse?”

She snuffled quietly and looked up at me, eyes streaming, cheeks red and splotchy, nose leaking. “I climbed one of the stalls.”

I laughed. “You’re a little rebel, fearless, just like Charlie said you were.”

“He…he said that?”

I nodded and her face seemed to light up a little and she wiped her tears, her chest hitching as her sobs subsided. “What else did he say?”

“He said you made it down to the south pasture before anyone could get after you. Said you were out like a shot, so fast and so confident on that horse. He was amazed at how well you rode, especially bareback.”

“I’m not afraid of being thrown,” she said, and her chin jutted out stubbornly.

“I’m not surprised. Maybe we could ride together one day? Give me some pointers as I’m kinda new at it.”

“I know, I’ve seen you ride,” she replied.

I burst out laughing at the sass from this fifteen-year-old. Damn she would have a mouth on her when she was older, and I couldn’t wait to see her go toe-to-toe with Daisy’s snark.

There was a knock at the door and Kat’s blonde head peeked around the frame.

“Hey,” she whispered, her eyes locking with mine and my damn heart started pounding. When she spotted Tilly, she frowned, concern pinching her brow. “What have you gotten yourself into now?”

“It’s okay, Kat,” I said gently. “She’s okay, Max didn’t see her. No one knows she’s here and she’s okay.” There was so much on Kat’s shoulders at the moment and if I could help in any way then I would, even if it was just hiding her drunk sister from a bar owner.

Kat’s stare didn’t linger on me, if anything she tried to avoid me. “Come on, kid. Let’s get you home and sober you up.”

“I am sober,” Tilly grumbled but pushed to her feet.

As they were leaving, Tilly turned back to me. “I’d love to ride together some time.”

Kat’s eyes swung to me and burned me with their intensity. I rocked forward on the balls of my feet. “It’s a date,” I replied.

Kat frowned before they left and I headed back out to the bar, sighing deeply at the crisis averted. The night wore on but eventually all the patrons headed out leaving me and Max to tidy up.

“What did you say to Tilly?” I asked.

Max shrugged. “Nothing really. Everyone’s been treating her with kid gloves and I hated it when people did that to me when I was younger. So I just told her how shit was.”

“I think you really struck a chord with her, she’s got a little crush on you,” I teased.

Max blanched. “That’s the last thing I need, some kid mooning over me, thinking I’m her hero.”

“Must be nice being idolized. Why’s that so bad?”

Max sighed. “Because I’m no one’s hero.”

---