Page 70 of Hero Unbound

He shrugged and shook his head. “No idea. I’ve been working with Derek on the team for about six months now. He’s never come with us when we came to Oak Creek to visit. I guess now I know why.”

Eva got her phone out of her pocket and shot off a text to Becky.

You okay? Need me?

It didn’t take long for her to respond.

No. I need to be alone right now. Spend some time with your brother.

Okay. But that can wait if you need a shoulder. Promise.

I’ll be fine.

Eva very much doubted that, but she let it go. She had her own issues to worry about.

She looked up from her phone to find Sam watching her. “Can we talk, or are you going to run out too?”

She led him back to the booth where she and Becky had been sitting. Becky had left her jacket, so Eva put it in her lap. “How are you?”

“Fine. You?”

She hated that they sounded so stilted. So many of her greatest memories included Sam. Growing up, he’d been patient and loving toward the flighty and carefree little girl she’d been.

She studied him now, three years older than her. He still looked as serious and somber as he’d been as a boy. At the time, she hadn’t realized that his fierce protective nature had stemmed from the abuse he and their mom had suffered at the hands of their biological father. They’d both done their best to protect Eva from any suffering.

What a waste of energy that had turned out to be.

Eva glanced over at where Derek and Theo sat at the bar then to the rest of the team Sam had come in with. They had gotten a booth close to the door—two other men and a woman.

“So you’re working with the helitack team? I knew you were a wilderness firefighter, but I didn’t know you’d joined such a prestigious crew.”

He shrugged. “That’s because you haven’t been home in more than two years. If you had, maybe you’d know more about what was going on.”

She struggled to keep her face from crumpling. She deserved that. Had expected it, even. That was why she hadn’t gone home, right? The reason she hadn’t called her parents when she’d finally figured out that she needed to leave Gareth.

Because why would they want to listen to her? She’d been so sure they were wrong when they had doubts about Gareth, and she had told them to butt out.

If they told her she had to get herself out of the mess she’d gotten herself into, that was no more than she deserved.

“You’re right. I’m sorry.” She slid toward the edge of the booth. “Listen, we don’t have to do this. I cut you guys out of my life two years ago, and if you don’t want to be part of it now, I don’t blame you. I’m glad you’re happy and have the great career you always wanted.”

He caught her hand before she could get up. “I’m sorry, sis. I shouldn’t have said those things. Don’t go.”

She looked into the green eyes so much like her own. “It’s okay to be mad at me. I’m mad at me.”

“I’m not mad at you. I was just caught off guard seeing you here.What are you doing in Oak Creek? Why aren’t you in Philadelphia with Gareth?”

“I left him. We’re done.” It felt good to say the words.

“Are you okay?”

She slid back farther into the booth. “It’s what I wanted.”

“I liked him well enough, but if that’s what you wanted, then I’m glad you left him. How’d you end up in Wyoming?”

“Long story. How’d you end up on the helitack crew, and do you like it?”

He grinned. “Also a long story. But the short answer is…fighting the most dangerous wilderness fires in the world from a helicopter? Rescuing people trapped or lost? Working with the most kick-ass team of men and women on the planet? Definitely like it.”

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