Page 56 of The Way Back Home
But that didn’t stop Teagan from sneaking out at night to look at the lights and decorations on other people’s houses. Or walking through the center of town to stare at the gigantic tree decorated by the local Lions Club every year. She’d pretend it was hers, on loan to the people of Saughannock in a gesture of seasonal goodwill.
Sometimes, if no one else was around, she’d crawl underneath and lie on her back so she could look up at the twinkling lights through the branches into the night sky. At least until she fell asleep and was dragged out by the sheriff and taken back home, where she’d been beaten so badly that she didn’t get out of bed for the next three days.
“You were a kid.”
“Yeah, well, he was an abusive alcoholic,” she said, unable to keep the disgust out of her voice. “At least, he was after my mom died. I don’t remember what he was like before that. He ignored me, mostly. They were only married for a year before she was killed. I don’tthink he appreciated being saddled with someone else’s kid.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” she said. “Can’t change the past, right?”
“Is that why you left?”
“That’s part of it.” The rest was too evil to speak of. Too shameful. She didn’t want Noah knowing those things about her.
She yawned, no longer interested in sharing. “I’m beat, and we should get an early start in the morning.”
She felt his eyes on her as she fluffed the pillow beside her, but she didn’t look at him. Whatever was in his eyes, she didn’t want to see it.
“Yeah, okay,” he said finally.
“Noah?”
“Yes?”
“Thanks for today. I’m glad things went well with your parents.”
“You’re welcome. Me too.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
TEAGAN
“You’re really going to make me do this,” Noah said quietly, watching her stuff her meager belongings into her backpack.
Her chest ached, the sense of dread weighing heavily on her shoulders. She didn’t want to leave. She felt safe here with him. But it was just a brief respite. A bit of calm before the storm. “You promised.”
“I know,” he agreed. “But what’s a few more days?”
Teagan carefully swung the pack over her good shoulder and gazed one last time at the Christmas tree, tucking away the image so she could bring it out when she needed something good.
“Last night, my mom told me about a hippotherapy ranch not too far from here. I was thinking I’d check it out. You could come with me.”
She allowed herself a moment to dream. Ofreleasing the past to start anew. To explore this burgeoning spark between them. Of finding a place in his life, here, with him.
Then she let it go. The past had a way of catching up. Eventually, someone would put the pieces together, and the ugly truth would come out. She had to stop running, to end the nightmare once and for all, before she could think about what came next.
She straightened her shoulders and summoned the courage to say the words she knew would sting. “Thanks, but no. I’m ready. Let’s go.”
Without waiting for an answer, she stepped outside. Noah followed shortly after.
He said nothing as the powerful engine roared to life. Teagan stared out the front windshield, feeling as cold and frozen as the snow-covered ground around them. Noah put the truck in gear, and they began a slow, steady descent down the mountain.
“There,” Teagan said, pointing to a mini-mart at the intersection. “You can drop me off there.”
“I said I’d take you anywhere,” Noah said. “You don’t need to get out at the first public gas station you see.”
He was so wrong about that. With every passing second, her resolve weakened, and the desire to stay with him grew stronger.
