“What doesthatmean?”
“It means you spent a lot of time in a job that made you very unhappy, and it was your entire life. Now you get to think about what makes you happy. And maybe, moving to Huckelberry Hill isn’t such a bad idea.”
“Oh, I see what this is really about,” I said with a wry grin.
Muddy smiled. “I’m not gonna lie. I’m selfish. Hadley and Salem are very happy, but they’re never as happy as when the four of you are together. You have a special friendship. I haven’t seen anything like it before. The four of you—I see you all being friends into your old age.”
“Whoa, getting ahead of ourselves a little bit, aren’t we?”
“Poet, my girls love you; I love you, and you’re family now. So take that for what it is.”
Her words warmed my heart. I had my own family—my grandfather—and my grandmother when she was alive. But this felt different. This wasn’t blood. This was something created. Something chosen.
“Who would’ve thought that when Hadley and Salem moved in with Wyn and I that this incredible friendship would form?” I asked. “We’re really lucky.”
“You are. I’m just saying there might be more than one reason to stay in Huckleberry Hill.”
“And would one of those reasons be Brooks?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I like him. He’s quiet. He doesn’t seem to smile a lot or talk that much, but he’s diligent—and he’s definitely loyal.”
“Loyal? How do you know that?”
She peered at me. “He went to prison.”
“I know. Salem told me. She didn’t tell mewhyhe went to prison, though.”
“That’s because she doesn’t know why.”
“Oh.” I frowned. “You know, right? Otherwise, you’d never have hired him.”
She tapped her nose a few times in confirmation. “And Brooks hasn’t told the full story?”
“No. He onlyjusttold me he was an ex-con.”
“And was he shocked you already knew?”
“Shocked is the wrong word. More surprised that I knew and didn’t treat him any differently.”
“I’m sure he appreciated that. People judge.”
“Yeah,” I murmured. “When I look at him, I don’t see an ex-con.”
“There’s more to him than meets the eye, that’s for sure,” she said. “There’s more toyouthan meets the eye too. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”
I fell silent, pondering her words. It only made me more curious about Brooks’ past.
“You won’t tell me, will you? About why he went to prison.”
“Not for me to tell.” She smiled. “There’s a pair of riding boots in Hadley’s closet. Why don’t you change into them and ask Brooks to take you for a trail ride, and we’ll do dinner another night.”
“You sure?”
Muddy nodded. “I’m sure. How about we do dinner when they get back from Cas’ event? It’ll be like a welcome-home dinner.”
“But I’m not coming home,” I said.
She smiled. “Aren’t you?”
