It took Trenton a moment to recall where they’d left off.
“She told me about that,” Richard said. “Well,” he amended, “she told Emmitt about it, and he told me.”
Trenton nodded. She’d asked if she could tell Emmitt about his past. He hadn’t minded. In fact, he liked that she was opening up to her brothers about him; it meant he was on her mind.
Richard took a swig of his drink and dragged a napkin across his upper lip. He set it down with a clank and narrowed an inquisitive look at him. “That’s why I’m surprised you didn’t…guessour circumstance.” He glanced over his shoulders, one after the next before setting his gaze back on him. “I shouldn’t have to come out and say it, sincehisreason for coming out here isn’t much different thanours…”
His—meaning Milt? But what did that mean? Milt was in…
Whoa, whoa, whoa.Trenton’s head felt light suddenly, as if the oxygen meant to go there had been snuffed out. His lungs felt like they might collapse, the achy pressure building as he guessed what Richard was saying without saying it.
“I assume your uncle’s past had a lot to do with the reason he wanted to give us first dibs at The Homestead,” Richard continued. “And why he recycled the funds, so to speak, so that we could make the place our own somehow. He knew we weren’t exactly going there by…desire.”
Or even by choice, Trenton realized. They were on the run. In danger themselves. The acknowledgment was train-wreck fast and just as impactful. A frigid chill rippled up the back of his neck, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake.
“Are you guys safe here?” he couldn’t help but ask. In reality, Trenton wanted to tear out of that bar, hurry back to his truck, and race back to be with Andie.
Richard nodded. “I’m ninety-nine percent sure we are. Someday you’ll learn more about it.Ifyou decide to stick around. And ifAndie’s willing to take you back.”
“So you guys reallyarestaying in Haven Hills?” Trenton had been certain that of all the possibilities out there, that was not one of them.
“For better or worse, yes.”
An urgent prodding raced through his blood at the news. Pushing into every fiber of his being. The urge to get to Andie, to make things right feeling more like an assault. “I’ve got to fix this,” he breathed. “I can’t believe what an idiot I am.”
The slightest smile appeared on Richard’s face. “That’s what I’d hoped you would say. Go. I’ll take care of the check.Andthe rest of your beer.” He held an arm out to him across the table.
Trenton reached out to shake it and hurried to a stand. “I owe you one, man. Thank you.”
“Just take good care of her,” he said, lifting his mug back to his lips. “That’s all I ask.”
“Oh, I will,” he assured, a plan already coming to mind. “I will.”
Trenton had a few phone calls to make on the way home, but inwardly, he already knew the best way to show Andie that he was sorry. Sorry for not trusting that she had a good reason for her secrecy. Sorry for treating her so coldly when she came out to his ranch. An inner groan sounded low in his chest, the ache from it reaching clear to his lower gut.
He considered the idea that had come to him, miraculously so. As if it had been handed to him by the angels themselves. Perhaps it had been. If that was the case, Trenton hoped they’d stay with him for a while more. If he was going to get Andie back, to make her believe how sorry he was, he would need all the help he could get.
Chapter 25
Beads of sweat trickled down Andie’s temples as she walked slowly, one backward step at a time, over the land, tape measure in hand.
“Remind me why we’re not just paying someone to do this part?” Emmitt, who held the other side of the tape measure, hollered from across the way.
Andie kept her eyes trained on the measuring tape as it reached its mark. “Right here,” she called out. “Hold on tight while I pound in the stake.”
Betty took the tape measure from her and, as she’d done at the other markers, handed over one of the stakes and the mallet. “There you go, hon.”
Emmitt blew out a whistle. “You didn’t answer my question.”
Andie shot Betty an exasperated look, smiling as Betty giggled in response.
“You act like we’re doing hard labor out here,” Andie hollered. “All we’re doing is marking and measuring the plot.” She had to make sure the spa would get the kind of sunlight she was hoping it would. Making good use of the natural light would play a crucial part. Already, as the sun beamed bright overhead, Andie was pleased to see it wouldn’t be shaded by the hills until late afternoon.
After pressing the tip of the stake into the soil, she hunched down on one knee. Then, with one hand balancing the length, Andie pounded the top with the mallet. The metal clank echoed over the land as she worked, the sound of it reminding her of playing horseshoes with Trenton.
She used the pain and frustration that clung to the memory as an added dose of strength. There was no denying that her time spent with Trenton was the best in her life. And now that he was gone, Andie had no idea how to make her heart heal.
“Why do you get the fun job?” Emmitt griped. “I want to do that part.”
