Page 14 of Ashes of the Past
“It is, Mama,” I say with a smile.
I walk the rest of the way into the house as she engulfs me in a hug. I’d forgotten how warm and safe it feels in her arms, in this kitchen. Tears prick at my eyes, but I push the emotions down.
“John said he hired you. I wasn’t sure if you’d take the offer, though.”
“You knew?”
She smiles and nods, gesturing toward an old plastic chair at the kitchen table. It’s like traveling back in time to the seventies, with the white plastic chairs and table that look like they belong in a spaceship.
“Of course,” she says. “I talk to John regularly. He makes sure to check in when he can.”
“Really? I didn’t realize you two really knew each other.”
“Everyone knows everyone in Hicks Creek,” she chuckles. “Have you been in the city that long, sugar?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Your dad and John Castings were best friends all throughout childhood and until…We all grew up together. Your dad and John joined the Army together. Your dad called John right before he…” She clears her throat instead of voicing thewords,shot himself. “He was out in the barn and didn’t answer. He feels like, had he answered, your dad would still be here. He’s always tried to help out where he could with you guys.”
It’s all starting to make sense now. I thought it was the break I needed to get far away from my ex-wife and those bad memories, but it seemed to be more orchestrated than I realized.
No doubt my sister’s doing.
“Which explains why he reached out when he did.”
“He’s been wanting to get you on that ranch in some capacity since he learned how good you were,” she says. “He needs you, that’s for certain.”
She smiles softly as she reaches over and squeezes my hand.
“Why do you say that?”
“The ranch is the backbone of this community, and John isn’t getting any younger,” she says playfully. “Ever since Larsa died, he’s somewhat lost. That Brynn is incredible, though. She dropped everything to come back here to take care of her mom and then stayed to help her dad. She’s a single mom, running her own businessandthat ranch. She’s a strong one. She needs help with the ranch, but she’s too proud to admit it. Those hands only listen to a woman so much and—”
I put my hands up in the air to stop her and chuckle. “Enough about her, how are you?”
“Oh, I’m just fine, sugar. I am so glad to see your face in this kitchen, though.”
She reaches up and puts her hands on either side of my face, tears filling her eyes as she grins back at me.
“I’m glad to be here, Ma,” I say in a rough voice.
And I am. If I get to spend every day seeing my mom and the rest of my family, that’s all that matters right now.
I’ve fought coming home for so long because of my grief and guilt, but as I’m here now, it feels like it’s the best place for me to be.
Chapter Five
Brynn
On Saturday morning, I’m up before dawn, loading supplies into the truck for the drive out to the north pasture. The irrigation system is fixed, but it seems that some of the fencing isn’t holding, and I need to get that handled immediately, especially since I asked the hands to do it a few days ago, and it’s still not done.
Olivia and I will have a great day of shopping later. I need to be as far away from the ranch and Hicks Creek as possible. It will be a much-needed girl’s day of relaxation and fun. But for now, this is the priority.
The air is crisp and still, the horizon painted in shades of pink and gold. It’s the kind of morning that used to make me feel alive back when I had the luxury of enjoying simple things.
I’m halfway through loading when I hear the crunch of boots on gravel. I glance up and Jack is striding toward me, his expression unreadable. He’s wearing a worn leather jacket and acowboy hat that casts a shadow over his face, but it does nothing to hide the intensity in his eyes.
“Morning,” he says, his voice low and gravelly.
