“Many years ago. Me, Jake, Buster, and Newman. We spent a week there, climbing to the peak.”
Tex whistled. “Damn, I have to respect you some for that.”
“No way in hell did you just actually admit to respecting me?”
“Don’t let it go to your head, it’s a one-off thing.”
Tex shot Katie a wide smile that had her shaking her head.
The flight wasn’t long, and Ethan kept up a stream of talk, giving them the dialogue he gave the people he flew on tours, until finally Lake Howling came into sight.
“Oh God.”
Ethan and Cubby heard the whispered words.
“It’s all right, honey,” Ethan said as Jake’s house came into view. “You’re going to be just fine now.”
“You’re home now, Katie.” Cubby reached for the hand she had clenched on her thighs. She didn’t think, just gripped it hard and looked down at the roof of her brother’s house.
“Th-they’re all there,” she whispered.
“Did you expect different?”
“No, but I’m not who I was.”
“Sweetheart, you’re that and more,” Ethan said. “Life experiences just enhance what you already have. We’ve all been through stuff and come out the other side, and you will too.”
“I’m pathetic.”
“Pretty much,” Cubby said, which forced a snort from her. “But we love you anyway, so get a grip, girl, because a love fest is about to start.”
Ethan landed on the area Jake had cleared for him when he’d first started coming to Howling. Cubby watched Katie’s brother duck under the Rotor blades and reach the door.
“Hey, squirt.” The hands he used to cup her face shook. “Welcome home.”
“Hey, you.”
Tex unclipped her harness and she fell into her brother’s arms. He lifted her out and held her close for several seconds. They then walked together to where her parents and Branna waited. She was enveloped in a group hug seconds later.
“Thanks, Tex.”
“All good, Cubby. Anytime, you know that.”
He got out slowly. Bending at the waist, he cleared the blades and then just stood, taking in the view. Inhaling, he looked up at the sky. “You just don’t get air like this in LA, Tex.”
“True, but the burgers are damn fine.”
“There is that.” Cubby looked at the trees that towered over Jake and Branna’s cabin. He loved this place. Loved the lake, the people, and the entire town. This was home to him, even if he’d called a few other places by that name briefly. He inhaled, enjoying the familiar scents.
It was getting on to dusk, so to Cubby’s mind this was the prime time of the day. The gentle lap of the lake glistened as the sun lowered. Redwoods rustled as their leaves brushed against each other like a group of comfortable friends, their huge roots sinking deep into the soil, rock steady and secure, as they had always been.
“You gonna take root, or we going in?”
“Taking a minute, Tex. It’s been a fast-paced few days.”
“The course worth your time?”
“Not all, but some of it. Most of it was idiots banging on about shit I already knew. They just repackaged the old stuff with fancy words and hoped we wouldn’t notice, most of us being country boys.”
