Page 93 of A Reckless Memory

“Ansen, you have to get going. It’s a long drive, and I know you’re worried about your dad. Take care of yourself and Fancy.”

She had something on her mind, and she wasn’t going to share.

Shit, I had to go. The drive with bathroom breaks and at least one stop for food would take almost twenty hours. Add more time if I ran into snow or ice, or goddammit, even tornadoes, the farther south I went.

I pulled her to me again and planted a kiss on her mouth. I could sink in, get lost forever. Tell her I had so many regrets about everyone I’d left hanging in my life who happened to be the most important people to me, but I needed to get to Dad in case he was getting worse as I stood in Aggie’s entry.

I pulled back just as quickly. She blinked like she was stunned.

“Call me with any questions. I have my gear so I can help Dad keep his job while he’s mending.”

“Oh.” Dismay played over her features before she squashed it. “Right. Of course.”

Fuck, it looked bad. “I’ll be back.”

Wearily, she pushed me toward the door. “Get to your dad.”

“He only has me and Archer.”

She nodded and rubbed my back. “I know. Go.”

It was too cold for her to follow me outside in bare feet. The door clicked softly behind me, and I looked around. My truck was running in the driveway, looking like it belonged there. The house was just like the one Aggie and I had dreamed about building. And the land...called to me. The animals. They weren’t my job. They’d become my passion.

Like the fucking ducks. I had looked forward to learning more about them. They were fun to watch peck around the enclosure. Would they be here by the time I got back?

I told her I’d return. I’d left Buffalo Gully the first time and never looked back. The same for every job after. This time felt different. Aggie wasn’t going anywhere. So there was someone left behind I wanted to get back to.

Twenty

AGGIE

“He’s got the money.” Cody had a pair of mirrored shades on, facing the tract of land across from my property. “And it’s been a month since he left.”

I leaned my elbows on the porch fence. My niece and nephew were playing with Tex. For an early March day, the sun was out, the wind was down, and spring was undeniably on its way. “We’ve been keeping in touch.”

A know-it-all brow arched under his sunglasses.

I bristled, hating I had to justify why Ansen was still gone. We had been in touch. A few general messages a week. How was his dad? How were the animals? Archer was there. Archer was back in North Dakota. “His dad is on the mend. Ansen’s been working in his place so he doesn’t get fired.”

Cody made a disbelieving grunt. “His old ranch is for sale.”

Shock hit my chest, and my heart skipped a beat. Ansen didn’t mention his old home was up for grabs. I pushed off the railing. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I’m worried you’re waiting on heartbreak.” He turned his back to the kids like he didn’t want them to hear. “He championed you when the will was read, and I mean, none of us missed that. But according to Lorenzo, now he’s a millionaire.”

Another palpitation thumped in my chest. Ansen hadn’t told me he’d gotten the money either. “Don’t you think I’ve been worried about that?” I whispered. “I don’t need you reminding me every time you text or stop in.”

He dropped his chin. “I don’t mean to pester you.”

“Yes, you do. You always mean to pester me. Just when I think we can be adult siblings, you treat me like I’m going to swim in the water tank again.”

“It wasn’t fresh water.”

“I found out after I climbed in,” I snapped, then laughed. Who was acting like the kid now? “I had to ride it out, or it’d look even worse for me.”

“Damn, Aggie. That’s such a Knight thing to do.”

Grayson ran up to us. “Dad, look what I can do!” He wrapped his arms around Tex’s neck and swung a leg over the dog’s back.

---