Page 11 of Saving Grace
“She knows everything.”
***
The old red barn is my favorite place in Havenwood. Hell, maybe in the whole world. I’ve never been farther than the Savannahcoastline or the Blue Ridge mountains, so I wouldn’t really know.
With it being August, most of the horses are in their stalls under fans and quietly munching on hay. I slip down to the last stall on the right. It’s the largest one we have—three stalls opened into one—for the horse I ruined.
If anyone needs proof that I don’t deserve a chance with my daughter or a second chance with Leila, this little gelding is it. The sign on his stall warning everyone not to enter, the paddock entrance added to the backside of his stall.
But for some insane reason, the only human he wants near him is me. The asshat who tried to prove a point and failed. I cannot, in fact, break a colt while intoxicated. A stupid decision led to a freak accident that resulted in my broken body and his broken mind.
Stepping up to the stall and opening the hay door, I give a gentle click before whispering, “Hey, big guy.”
He takes a tentative step toward me. Then another until his nose rests against my open palm. He lips the skin before blowing into my hand.
I chuckle, reaching into my back pocket for the soft peppermint Havoc is searching for. He grumbles greedily as I undo the wrapper and present it to him.
“Such a goober,” I whisper to him, featherlight scratches on his face.
Spurs clank on the aisle seconds before a voice yells my name.
“Busted,” I sigh to Havoc, giving him a few pats on his jaw, his eye far too kind with me for the hell I put him through. Closing the hay door, I turn to face the newcomer. “Hey, Dad.”
“Son, can you run by the hardware store today and grab a few new gate latches? One of the farmhands had to jerry rig the main gate. It’s fine for now, but I’d like to get it fixed as soon as we can.”
“Sure thing. I have some errands to run, so I’ll add it to the list.”
“How’s old Havoc this morning?”
“Hell of a lot better than he ought to be.”
“Horses are resilient,” he says, a knowing gleam in his eye. “So are people.”
“What do you know, old man?” I ask, my lips quirking up at the sight of my dad in his usual boots, jeans, and T-shirt. The cowboy hat on his head is nearly as old as I am, dust and oil stains a constant battle for Mama since Dad won’t wear anything else.
He shrugs. “There’s a weight on your shoulders. Has been since October. You should share it.”
“What, you want to gossip, cry, and do each other’s makeup?”
“If that’s what’d make my son happy? Sure,” he says, completely ignoring the bitter sarcasm that slips through my lips. “But I meant sharing it with the girl who’s responsible. Shoot, even old Havoc there’d be happy to lend an ear.” He pats my back in his way of fatherly affection before walking off. “Don’t forget those latches, kid.”
Chapter 6
Leila
“Hey, Gav? Where did you put the bouncer?” I ask, sticking my head into the living room. We’ve been trying to unpack for three days. I didn’t think we brought this much with us, but it feels like a never-ending battle.
“Pretty sure it’s in the nursery.”
“Pretty sure it’s not,” I shoot back.
The doorbell rings as I turn to check the nursery for the third time. Right on time, Kaia lets out a cry from where she was napping in my room.
I feel like crying, too, baby.
Gavin pops around the corner, already on his way to Kaia. “The kid from the grocery store said he’d just leave it on the porch. Sorry.”
I rub at my forehead, stress and lack of sleep triggering yet another headache. “It’s fine. I’ll go check.”
