Page 37 of Chance

He didn’t know what to say, but it hurt to hear her speak that way about herself. “I think you’re being a tad harsh. Your grandma would have wanted you here. She would take you any way she could get you.”

As he said it, he realized those words had a deeper meaning.

He wasn’t just talking about her grandma anymore.

Chapter 22

Kelly was surprised at how easy it was to get settled into Chance’s cozy guest room. He’d built the bed himself, and its large posts had a masculine feel to fit the whole cabin. There was also a couch and a television. She teased him about being ready for guests at any moment, and he muttered something about never having anyone stay in that room besides Nash.

They had agreed that she would lie down for an hour. It would give Chance time to run down to Porter’s place by himself. He was going to take his horse, as he didn’t want people seeing his vehicle.

Kelly tried to relax and not be weirded out by the whole situation. She was tired.

She rested her hand on her stomach and thought about everything they knew. Ms. Connie had been rather famous in Cross Creek and on the reservation. She’d been very supportive of the schools out on the reservation, and she was always fundraising in town. She actually lived out on the reservation and had taught school for years.

Kelly’s grandma and grandpa had Ms. Connie over several times for Sunday dinners. They had been friends. She’d always sensed a little tension between her grandfather and Ms. Connie, but she’d never thought much about it. Now Chance was tasked with going out to the reservation to talk to her.

How had that sealed bottle gotten in a treasure chest? The Stones had been looking for so long, and she, Chance, and Trent had happened to be out there right when the tide changed. She did not believe in coincidences. It was overwhelming.

Kelly was just starting to fall asleep when she heard a door open. It had to be Chance, but it had only been twenty minutes since he left. Surely it would take longer than that to go to Porter’s. She called out, “Chance?”

No answer. Footsteps started down the hallway toward her door.

Her heart thumped nervously. There was no reason for anyone else to be here. Okay, maybe his brothers could’ve shown up, but they were all supposed to be talking right now.

Whoever it was walked past her room, and she sat up, scrambling for her phone. She texted Chance. Someone is in your house.

Noise sounded from the kitchen. Kelly told herself she was just being silly, that nothing was going on. It had to be one of his brothers.

All those times she’d felt watched in South Port. She’d thought it was her imagination, and when she’d found out Chance was in South Port, it’d made more sense. He’d admitted to watching her when she’d walked along the beach on his first night there, and she’d thought it was all explained.

Unable to stop herself, she moved toward the door. She opened it and decided to just make her presence known. “Who’s there?”

Pain lanced through her skull, and everything went dark.

Chapter 23

Chance tied Sparky up in Porter’s corral and was careful about walking to the house. He had been in communication with his brothers, and they were all planning to meet in the boardroom.

He’d had a frank conversation with Porter the night before, going through every detail, and they’d even talked about Kelly. He had figured he should give his family a heads-up that he was bringing her home.

Home. That sounded good. She’d come home with him. This was her home too, or was it? It wasn’t for him to decide, but the more time he spent with her, the more he wanted her with him. Maybe that was selfish; she wanted to have her gallery and create. Still, ever since they’d rented the car and started the drive toward Cross Creek, he couldn’t get a vision out of his head: her in an art room, a bonus room that he would build for her. She could have her pottery and her paints and anything she wanted. They could rent a space in Cross Creek, have a gallery here too, but she could also go back and forth. They could go back and forth, between South Port and Cross Creek.

No. Why was he even thinking this? It was definitely putting the cart before the horse.

Sadie greeted him at the door and hugged him. “How are you?”

“I’m good. It’s good to be here.”

She nodded toward the huge office that used to be his father’s. “They’re all in there. I’m coming too.”

Chance didn’t even make it inside the office before Nash accosted him with a hug. “You can’t stay away from us, bro. The house looks good, right? Colt put me in charge of checking on it.”

“Nash, you don’t have to say that,” Colt grumbled behind him.

Chance laughed and hugged Colt. “I was thinking the garden looked good, and that explains it.”

Colt pointed at him. “Hey, I delegated. Give me a break.”

---