Page 13 of Pick Yourself Up
He’d reached out to Knox Malssum and found out he was living on an apple farm in Vermont. He, his sister, and their partners were trying to improve the biodiversity of the property and had been looking for someone to take on the gardens.
Flowers. Herbs. Vegetables.
All with the aim of reconnecting with nature and improving the land.
It was precisely the kind of change Gray had been looking for. His time in the Army and at Cassidy Protection had been good, but he didn’t want to be close to the violence anymore. His soul craved peace.
Since Sidderlight, the dark dreams he’d experienced after leaving the army had returned. Nightmares where he couldn’t save the people. Couldn’t help.
Most of those dreams featured the strong and sexy Amber Malssum.
He hadn’t mentioned the incident to Knox. That wasn’t his place. But he’d be lying if he said he hadn’t searched his buddy out in part to find out how his sister was faring. He hoped she’d put the entire mess in her rear-view mirror.
He hadn’t, and she’d been the one suffering in the situation. But he could hope she was dealing well.
Knox had told him he was hoping to lure all his siblings to the farm. He wanted his family together, and he could see the venture expanding as they all brought their skills. He’d mentioned Jolie being there, but hadn’t brought up Amber. Maybe Gray could help him nudge her along. He’d love to see her again. Make sure she was coping and healing.
Right. That was the only reason.
He sent a text letting Knox and Ford know he’d arrived. Gray had worked with both men overseas and it would be great to work with them again. Especially when that work wasn’t connected to violence.
While he waited for his buddies to text back, he checked out the part of the property he could see. He’d passed one forlorn farmhouse. The other one in front of him was in much better shape. Several windows were open to let in the crisp autumn breeze.
Burgeoning apple trees were everywhere, but he couldn’t keep his eyes away from the space between the buildings—the space where gardens had once thrived.
Weeds and native brush covered the field. His mamma would have been disgusted at the state of the space. Rosina Santoro’s garden wouldn’t have dared become so overgrown.
Now it would be Gray’s job to improve it. To eliminate the weeds and make a plan for plants to thrive.
His sister would have loved the time required to build and tend it. “Maybe a moon garden for you, Angelina. Or a sensory garden. Can you already smell the basil and oregano? Feel those prickly succulents?”
Of course, his sister didn’t answer his whispered question, but he could imagine her squeal of delight. She’d have loved everything Gray had seen so far. The scent of apples, the leaves turning to burnished gold, the worn red barn, and the yellow farmhouse.
Angel would have been content to sit in the sun and listen to Gray’s stories while he pulled weeds and planted seeds.
Yep, this place was going to work.
He heard a group approaching from the direction of the farmhouse and blinked to reorient himself in the present.
When he turned, he spotted his buddy Ford, two women and a couple of dogs marching his way. An Australian shepherd and a large German shepherd. Gorgeous animals.
His gaze moved to the women and his heart stuttered like an IED had exploded nearby.
Amber Malssum.
With a woman who had to be Jolie, the other sister. He didn’t spare her a look.
His gaze was locked on Amber’s and he saw recognition there.
And panic.
Why? He’d been one of the good guys. She couldn’t be afraid of him.
Gray walked toward the group with a smile. Ford reached for his hand and then pulled him into a hug. “Claus. It’s so good to see you. Can’t tell you how happy we are that you’re joining us here.”
Then Ford wrapped his arm around the sister’s shoulders. “This is Jolie, Annie’s youngest sister.”
The switch to callsigns instead of names sometimes threw off civilians, but he’d bet the Malssum women were used to it.
