Dad smiled. “I’m not hiding him from you. Ramsey wants a few more weeks to finish the training.”
“No one has a way with horses like he does. Especially the wounded ones,” Mom said. “I might want to connect him with Everly.”
My spine stiffened. “Why?”
“Because Everly’s going to turn that property into an animal sanctuary.”
“How do you know that?” It prickled something in me that my mother had more information than I did about the woman I’d somehow become fascinated with.
“I went out to see her today.” She shot a pointed look in my direction. “Someone had to make up for how rudely my son treated her.”
Hadley choked on her water as she laughed. “I think Everly can handle herself. She was ripping Hayes a new one the last time I saw her.”
Mom’s eyes hardened on me. “Really, Hayes? That girl has been through enough. I expect you to get a new attitude, young man.”
Hadley snickered. “Uh-oh, she brought out the young man. You’re in trouble now.”
Before my mom could turn her ire on Hads, I cut in. “I know I messed up.” Both women turned their gazes on me. “I know it’s bound to bring up some tough stuff.” I looked at Shiloh, whose eyes narrowed. “I didn’t want anyone getting hurt. Especially you.”
Shy shoved back from the table, taking her plate and not saying a word. Koda trailed after her.
“Shit,” I mumbled.
“Let her go,” Mom said, patting my arm.
Hadley’s mouth pressed into a hard line, but she didn’t say a word.
“So, she’s making a sanctuary.” I couldn’t quite wrap my head around that. It was certainly needed. The sheriff’s department got called out on all sorts of animal abuse and neglect cases, and there weren’t a lot of options for where those animals could go afterwards.
“Makes sense,” Dad said. “I heard she got a job with Miles, working as a vet tech.”
Mom assembled the perfect bite of salad on her fork. “From what I can tell, he’ll be lucky to have her.”
A vet tech. It made perfect sense, yet it was still a surprise. From the few interactions I’d had with Everly, I knew she was tough as nails. But I’d seen a glimpse of her softer side with Koda. Dr. Taylor would be more than lucky to have her.
“Maybe I should get a dog,” Hadley mused.
Mom set down her fork. “That means you’d have to be home on a regular basis. No taking off whenever the mood strikes.”
I sent an urgent look at Dad, but before he could come up with a way to divert the conversation, Hadley cut in. “And the problem with that is?”
“Nothing, but it’s not exactly responsible or safe, either. You know that.”
“Yet you have no problem with Shy taking off into the woods for days at a time, no one knowing where she is. You just tell us to let her go.”
Mom’s jaw worked back and forth. “It’s different, and you know that.”
Hadley pushed back from the table, tossing down her napkin. “It always is. I should’ve learned by now that what’s acceptable for Shy will never be okay for me.”
“Hadley,” Dad called as she headed for the door. But Hadley’s steps never faltered. He turned his gaze to Mom. “Julia…”
“What?”
“Was that really necessary?”
Her eyes glinted in the low light of dusk. “I’m allowed to be worried about my daughter when she disappears. I worry about them both. But I know with Shy it’s because she can’t handle something. With Hadley, it’s simply because she doesn’t care. It’s selfish. And I’m allowed to say as much.” With her final words, she shoved back from the table and headed for the back deck.
I looked across the table at my dad. “Some family dinner.”
He tried to lift the corners of his mouth in a grin but couldn’t muster it. Neither of us could. Because those five days all those years ago were still tearing us apart.
9
Everly
“Thank you again for taking me on.”
The man in his fifties gave me a kind smile, the dark skin around his mouth forming grooves that told me he made the motion often. “I am beyond thrilled to have someone with your experience on my roster.”
Dr. Taylor—Miles, as he’d insisted I call him—seemed as if he would be a dream boss. He was kind, knowledgeable, and ran a tight ship. We’d had several phone calls and a video conference before he made me the job offer, but something about meeting someone in person was the real test. And Miles was a dream.
“You’re sure you don’t need me this week? I can work a couple of shifts if you do.”
He shook his head. “You get settled. There’s plenty of work to come. Take some time and get to know the town again. I’m sure a lot has changed since you were here.”
“There are definitely some new restaurants I’d like to try.”
“I highly recommend Spoons. They opened this year and have a revolving menu of soups, salads, and sandwiches.”
“That sounds perfect. I think I’m going to head there now.”
He extended a hand to me for a shake. “Sounds like a good plan to me. Welcome aboard, Everly. We’re so happy to have you.”
“Thank you.” I released his grip, picking up my purse and heading for the door. I waved at the receptionist, Tim, who seemed to remember me even though he was a few years younger. But he’d been warm in his greeting, no instant hatred because of who I was related to.
I took a deep breath as I stepped outside, letting the clean air soothe the nerves that had been running rampant since I’d stepped out of my SUV. The first meeting was over, and it hadn’t been a disaster. Everyone at the office had been kind.
That knowledge gave me the most dangerous of feelings…hope. That I would be able to make a life here. Possibly have a community. Friends. My phone buzzed in my purse.
Shay: How’s it going? I’ve been trying not to hover, but I’m dying to know every detail.
I grinned down at the screen. Even if I didn’t make the best of friends in Wolf Gap, I still had Shay. Our friendship was one borne of running from our pasts. Hers had just been more violent than mine. The fact that she’d found a true home gave me another dose of that reckless hope.
Me: It’s been pretty good. How about a catch-up tonight? I’m heading to pick up lunch and then need to run a few errands.
Shay: Sounds good. Call me whenever.
I slid my phone back into my purse. As I looked up, I stumbled back a step. Familiar whiskey-colored eyes met mine. Just as hard as the last time I’d seen them. I straightened my shoulders. I would not cower from him now. I might still be years younger than him, but I was smarter now. Stealthier. And I knew half of Ian’s power came from his mind games.
I kept my face perfectly blank. “Hello.”
His lip curled in a sneer. “You have a lot of nerve showing your face around here.”
“Good to see you, too, brother dearest.”