Page 4 of Wild Hearts

Autumn and Mom would love this.

“This is not what I was expecting,” I mumble, not quite comfortable with the feeling settling in my chest.

Striker looks around. “Yeah, for Shane’s graduation a couple years ago she had the kitchen redone. Some of the house is updated, but other parts have that log home feel still. She was sick of being surrounded by brown on brown on brown, so she made changes. Sometimes it feels like the home I grew up in, but other times I feel like I’m in the twilight zone.”

“I can see that.” I pull out a stool and sit down, looking around as Striker pokes around the fridge.

“Here.” I look up as he slides a beer across the island toward me.

I pop the top and take a drink, letting out a sigh of contentment.

“Thanks. That hit the spot.”

Striker leans against the counter. “I don’t know if I’ve said it yet or not, but thank you for coming with. You didn’t have to.”

“It’s not a big deal. Two sets of hands are better than one and it’s what brothers do.” I shrug as I take another drink. “What do you want to do first?”

“How about I throw something in the Crock-Pot for dinner and then we can jump on the 4-wheelers and look around to make a list of what needs to be done first.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Chapter 2

Shane

Ipull into the garage and throw the Jeep in park. I lean back against the headrest and take a deep breath, letting the stress settle over me.

I need to check the back fence before dark. Then I need to make dinner. If I get the fence fixed quick enough, I might have enough time to read a couple of chapters before bed.

I think over my to-do list.

“Fuck,” I groan out.

I have to go over the books today. It keeps getting pushed back, putting me a month behind on finances. If I don’t do it tonight, I’ll never get to it.

Goodbye, me time. Hello, no sleep. Nice to see you again.

I shake my head as I get out of the Jeep, but then I get a whiff of myself.

My nose crinkles. “Damn, I’m rank. I need a shower,” I mutter to myself.

I twist the handle on the door as I hit the garage door button on the way by, making the door shut. As soon as I walk through the door connecting the garage to the mudroom, I know something’s off.

I put my right hand on my hip, resting on my firearm.

You can’t live up here and not know how to shoot a gun. Now shoot.

I shake off the memory of my PopPop teaching me to shoot and take a deep breath, blowing it out slowly, centering myself. I step forward lightly, not knowing where the threat is. The laughter catches me off guard but makes me smile.

Josh.

I rush toward the laughter and slide to a stop when he comes into view.

“What, no hug for your big brother?” he teases, stepping away from the counter.

I rush forward, jumping when I get close enough. Josh catches me with ease and squeezes me tight.

“You’re home,” I murmur.

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