Page 50 of When It Reins
“Yeah. Dear old dad wanted more of my earnings.”
“Wait,” Stetson says, holding up a hand. “You were paying part of your winnings to Iron Horse, then part to Dad.”
I shrug, ashamed I let it get that far. “I was trying to keep everyone safe.”
Jax snorts. “No fucking wonder you lived in that shit trailer with that group. You had no money.”
“Pretty much.”
“I always wondered,” Jax muses, shaking his head. “I wish you would have talked to me.”
“I do too,” I reply honestly, looking at the brother who was my best friend my whole life. “I regret a lot of things, but keeping everything from all of you was the worst part.”
“Well.” Mom smacks the table lightly and looks at each of us boys. “No more secrets. We’ve done enough of that in the last few years, and I’m done not knowing what’s going on with my boys.”
We each nod and mumble affirmations, letting her know that we’re taking her seriously.
“Anything else you boys want to tell me?”
I take a big, deep sigh when none of my brothers speak up and smile a little. Then I let loose the biggest secret I have.
“I’m in love with Juniper Weaver.”
23
juniper
Summerin a small town is busier than any other time. This is the time when tourism kicks off, where people from all over the world will come and be entertained by the other parts of the world. Acton was on the map.
Belle’s Bakery is one of those places, and as I hunt down a table to meet Rosemary at, I secretly curse tourist season.
Thankfully, Rosemary was on top of it, and no one was messing with the glare she was shooting at each and every person who dared to try to steal the chair from her table.
I plop down, throwing my bag between the wall and the floor by my feet, and blow out a breath.
“Wow. It’s insane in here today.” I glance around the shop, the chatter loud enough you could barely hear the music that plays over the speakers.
“Damn tourists.” Rosemary shakes her head, nodding to the drink on the table in front of me. “I told Aveline I was meeting you,” she says, referring to Aveline Hart, Belle’s daughter. “She said this was your current favorite.”
“Oh, bless you,” I say, taking the iced drink in hand and taking a long sip.
Glancing at the counter, I spot Aveline, and she catches my eye, smiling and nodding when I hold up the drink in thanks.
Perks of the small-town life, your barista always remembers your order.
“Ah, ah, ah.” Rosemary’s scolding tone startles me, and I look at her, but her eyes are set on a man in brand-new hiking clothes, his hands wrapped around the back of the third chair at our table. “That’s not for you, city boy. Move along.”
Thankfully, the guy seems to believe she might do something—heck, I believe she might do something—and he moves on to another table.
I glance at the third chair, smiling to myself. “Don’t like all this fanfare, huh?”
“I live here in this peaceful spot of the world for a reason. If I wanted crowds, I’d go to New York City. Been there once, never again.” She shakes her head, her perfectly done hair swaying gently with the movement. “Subways are a disgrace to our way of life.”
I snort and shake my head. “I went to New York last year. My sister lives there for school. I might be inclined to agree with you. I felt like I needed to scrub my hands when I accidentally had to touch one of the poles to hold on to.”
Rosemary makes a face, and I chuckle, settling into the seat. I pull up my phone, the one with my list of plans for our charity night, and we launch into it. Rosemary was ready to go knocking door to door to get the word out.
“That would actually be good.” This small town, and even Fall Springs next door, isn’t all inclined to get online all that often. “I’ve got Ms. Meryl on the ball with spreading the news as well.”
