Wanting to offer an olive branch, I say, “You know, my mom passed away almost four years ago. Well, my mom and my dad, they died together.”
Her eyes snap to mine, “You lost them both?”
I nod, “Car accident.”
She tilts her head, and her eyes harden a bit, “Are you trying to tell me that I should be grateful that I still have my dad? Because you don’t have to tell me that, I am grateful.”
I shake my head, “I’m telling you that I know how it feelsto want to talk to your mom but she’s not here.” I look around her small frame at the fire pit and continue, “I’ve never burned a letter, but if it works for you, I may try it.”
Her face softens and she looks down at the porch next to my feet, “Oh.”
Tires slide in the dirt next to the truck I drove up here and Mr. Harlow jumps out of the driver’s side, then I see Mason and Gray barreling toward us in his truck.
“What in God’s name happened here?” Mr. Harlow yells, the usual gravelly voice is deeper and louder. “And why do I keep catching you two together when something is happening?”
Kinley and I look at each other, I press my lips closed to let her know I’m not going to say anything. Just as she starts to talk, Mason skids to a stop, and all three brothers exit the truck. Tucker is carrying a fire extinguisher and runs up to his sister, putting his arm around her shoulders to pull her back so he can inspect.
“I had a small fire in the pit and the wind pushed it onto the rail.” Kinley’s voice is firm, she lifts her chin and looks at her dad like she is expecting a fight.
He puts his hands on his hips and looks down at his boots for a second before looking back up, “I don’t have to tell you what could of happened if this had got outta hand. What were you thinking?” He doesn’t even wait for an answer, he turns and gets back in his truck to go back to the stables.
“Fuck.” Kinley whispers, regret laced in the word, and coughs as she looks out over the field.
Tucker squeezes her shoulders, “Mom would have understood if you had waited until a less windy day.” He taps her nose with his finger and hugs her.
I didn’t even hear Mason walk up next to me and I flinch when he cups my chin and turns my head in his direction, “You okay?”
I nod, “I’m fine.” Talking makes my lungs burn again and sends me into another coughing fit.
“She got more smoke than I did when she was beating it with the blanket.” Kinley points at the blanket by my feet and Mason bends to pick it up.
Turning to his sister, Mason says, “You’ll need to come stay in the main house for a week or so, I’ll explain when you get there.”
Kinley looks between her brothers, her gaze landing on Tucker, “It was a fucking accident, I’m not staying in the house.”
Mason sets his hand on the rail behind me and leans in my direction, “You are staying in the house for now, I’m going to tell you all about it with Marley and Breanna when we get there.
She squares her shoulders and shrugs Tucker’s arm off before she takes a step toward Mason, “Unless there is a threat to my life, I’m not staying in the house.”
Gray’s deep, demanding voice rises over everyone, “There is a threat to your life, God damn it, so if you don’t get your ass inside and get your stuff, I’ll throw you in the truck and come back to get what I think you might need later.”
Wow, Gray’s Dad voice is impressive.
She and Gray have a stare-off for a moment before she turns and stomps inside.
CHAPTER TWENTY
MASON
TELLING THEgirls they are grounded to the house went over like a lead balloon. Marley was more accepting, her life revolves around working with her horses, and the rest of the time she’s usually in the house.
Kinley and Breanna nearly had a meltdown. Kinley already knew the situation was serious, but Breanna was worried about her vet classes and girls’ nights.
Breanna was the surprise baby after mom and dad thought they were done having kids, she’s only twenty-four and finishing up vet school, so telling her that she’s grounded for no fault of her own only got us a small drama-filled tantrum.
It got even worse when we told them the specifics.
“So, you’re the reason for all of this?” Kinley turns on Sloane, her eyebrows are pulled down and her eyes narrowed,anger in her tone.
