Page 7 of Redemption

I saw Tilly, glaring at the beef brisket and guilt instantly swamped me at being a shit big sister twice today. I’d been so wrapped up in looking through Daddy’s paperwork that I’d forgotten to text her to see how her first day was going.

“Hey baby girl, how was your first day back?” I asked, running my hand affectionately over her hair.

She scowled at me and ducked her head from my grip. “Fine.”

I looked over at Daisy who just shook her head at me.

“Just fine?” I ventured.

“Yes. Lots of weird, pitying looks and people being far too nice like I could break any second,” Tilly muttered, pushing her plate away. “I’m not hungry, may I be excused now?”

I put her attitude down to being a teenager and tried not to let it bother me. I looked around, wondering who she was talking to, but three pairs of eyes were watching me. Now Daddy was gone, I was Tilly’s guardian. The role didn’t bother me, I’d looked after her most of her life, so nothing had changed but now it was official parenting.

I needed to step up more than ever.

“Oh, me? Uh, yeah I guess. Um…go and…uh do your homework?” I squeaked at the end, unsure how to parent a teenager. Maddy gave me a thumbs up.

Tilly huffed and shoved away from the table before flouncing from the room and up the stairs. I waited a beat and then her door slammed shut.

“Teenagers,” Daisy tutted.

“Cut her some slack, you were a nightmare at her age,” August sighed.

“I was not!”

“Daisy, you were fucking horrendous and the rest of us were a dream,” Maddy laughed. “You want some dinner, Kat? I made it.”

I arched a brow at her. “Youmade it?”

Maddy rolled her eyes. “Fine, it was Leo.”

“Then hell yes, that boy makes good food.”I sat down at the table. “Wife him up,” I murmured when Maddy put a plate in front of me. She snorted but didn’t say anything more than that.

I ate my food, listening to them talk about their days.

Daisy was trying to get a job in marketing and event management having just graduated from community college but pickings were slim in a small town.

August was working part time at the local library. She loved it there, amongst all those books and it gave her time to work on the ranch, looking after the horses including her beloved Marshmallow.

A couple of years ago August had been making waves as a barrel racer with Marshmallow. But there was an accident on the circuit, Marshmallow got spooked and fell, landing on August. Luckily, August only broke her hip but decided that as much as she loved it, barrel racing was too dangerous so she quit, instead choosing to spend her time here managing the horses.

Maddy was on her rest days. She was a local firefighter and she worked forty-eight hours on shift and then had forty-eight hours off. During her off days she also pitched in at the ranch.

After dinner we all hunkered down in the living room to watch a movie before one by one, the girls retired to bed. But I was too wired. My brain kept turning over everything that I needed to do and how unequipped I felt to deal with any of it. Finally, when the clock ticked over into 3am, I took myself upstairs to bed.

Sleep didn’t come though, my brain wouldn’t switch off, wouldn’t give me a break. It was having too much fun giving me anxiety. I threw the covers back and swung my legs out of bed and went to the window, staring out at the bright moon.

“I’m looking for a sign, Daddy. Help me please?” Imurmured. Nothing came to me but just asking for help alleviated some of the noise in my brain and I eventually managed to drift off into a fitful sleep.

I awoke the next morning to a quiet house which immediately made me suspicious. I checked the time on my phone and saw it was nearly eleven. I’d overslept! With a groan, I pulled myself out of bed, grateful for the ranch hands, and knowing Maddy would be stepping in for me. After such a late night, my brain wasn’t alert.

“Coffee…I need coffee,” I rasped, my voice gruff from sleep. I trudged downstairs in my pajamas and found a pot that was still fairly warm.

“Thank you, Jesus.” I grabbed a mug and filled it before I heard a knock on the door. In my sleep deprived state, I didn’t stop to think about who could be at my front door at 11am on a Tuesday morning.

As I approached, I saw a man through the glass, with his back to the door, looking out over the land. Tall, very tall. I was five feet ten, the tallest of my sisters so I definitely appreciated a taller man. He was broad, his clothes looked a little small for him, his black leather jacket pulled tight across his back. His chestnut hair was in need of a trim and curled at the edges but he was one fine looking gentleman from behind.

Hello, sir.

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