I glance curiously at him. “What does that mean?”
“It means we have pasts that haunt us. Ledger’s been here to help us all out of whatever shit we’d found ourselves in and because of that, we’re grateful and would do anything for him. We’re loyal to him without fault—so don’t fret about Rhett. He might be a jerk at times but he’s a jerk that has your back.”
This time, I don’t remind him that I don’t need to worry about Rhett’s behavior. I’ll be gone soon enough.
A cool September breeze makes its way through the leaves on the trees around us. Those leaves are just starting to change color; bursts of reds and yellows stand out in thick greenery.
The driveway slopes again and Zone Three disappears as the trees on the property eat it up. When we arrive at the next flattened level I’m surprised to find two decent sized warehouses, one on either side of the driveway. There are cars parked outside of each one and men filtering in and out of them.
“This is Zone Two,” Wes explains. “In Building C, the one to your right, we prep the trees by removing the bark. Then they get turned into cants or flitches, and then processed further to become usable pieces of wood. In Building D to your left, we take the leftover stuff like bark, sawdust, and whatnot to turn it into something useful. I manage the crew on this level. Ledger’s taking care of it for me today so let’s go down to Zone One.”
I scan both buildings as we walk by them. The few people that are outside wave at us and Wes waves back but he doesn’t stop to introduce me to any of them, and we keep our distance so no one gets a close look at me. I’m glad. Between using my real name and walking around exposed like this, I’m not sure what Wes is thinking. Is this safe? The question makes my stomach tighten. I keep my head down, allowing my hair to fall into my face just enough that nothing seen can be identifiable.
As if he can hear my thoughts, Wes says in a low voice, “It’s not right to keep you locked in the house, hidden away. That’s not a life worth living, is it? You should be able to move around the property however you like, and you can do that here. Just keep a distance from the others for a bit until whatever trouble followed you here is gone. Then we can slowly integrate you into the crew if that’s something you’d like to do.”
Anxiety creeps up my spine, stiffening it. The offer of freedom is tempting, but I don’t have the luxury of time to integrate into a new setting.
“Wes, Ican’tstay. I’m needed elsewhere,” I tell him, trying to keep my voice even. “If I stay, I allow the one person in my life who I love more than anything to face hell by themselves. I can’t do that to Dad.”
Wes sighs, but he doesn’t say anything to this. I appreciate that he doesn’t fight me like Ledger would, forcing me to see his point. Maybe Wes doesn’t have a strong stance either way? It’s not like he knows me or anything.
We descend the rest of the way down the gravel drive until Zone Two is out of sight and Zone One appears. This must be the entrance of the property. I can see the metal gate that would keep people out, is open, and there are all sorts of construction vans, trucks, and cars in the public parking spaces. There’s only one building on this level and it’s a small log cabin attached to a small metal building. Just outside the cabin is a painted sign that says “Gnarly Pines Logging Company.”
“This is The Shop,” Wes says. Rather than head for the open doors, we head around the side of the building toward the white metal part. “All that bark, extra sawdust, and leftover wood is turned into things that the people around Caddawalk can use and then brought down to be sold. They can get mulch, wood chips, particle boards, and pellets inside. We also sell typical construction-grade wood, hand-held tools, screws, nails and we rent out power tools.”
He unlocks the back door and we step inside. The LED lights flicker on, sensing movement, and illuminate a plain white hallway. I follow Wesley as he leads the way. The two of us don’t walk much further. Wes opens a door to our left and we step into an office. I look around, taking in the old computer, the large television screen mounted above it that displays several small squares of feed from what I assume is security cameras set up in the shop, and there’s a desk full of paperwork sprawled all overit. There’s a folding table in the middle of the room with leftover, unused plastic silverware and a mini fridge shoved in the corner.
Wes walks to the desk and picks up a walkie-talkie. He lifts it to his lips and summons someone called Santi to the back. When he’s done, he puts the device down and turns to look back at me.
“For what it’s worth, if I was in your father’s shoes…” he starts, his voice thick with emotion. “It would give me peace of mind knowing my daughter was safe with someone I trusted, rather than out where the world could tear her apart.”
I tense, taken aback by the unsolicited advice. I’m also thrown by the sincerity and pain in Wes’s voice.
My lips press together as my heart shudders. If Dad and Ledger really did come up with this plan to have me stay here, it’s because he wouldn’t want me hurt. Iknowthis. Still, the thought of losing my only family is beyond devastating. I can’t let him face this threat alone. I don’t want him todiealone.
“Now, just a word of warning as I introduce you to the fourth member of our little family,” Wes says, pivoting the conversation easily.
I shake the thought of my father away to focus on here and now.
“Family?” I repeat the word carefully.
Wes hums once in confirmation. “I think of Rhett and Ledger as brothers to me, and I suspect they feel the same way. Santi is included in that mix, though… I suppose I see him as the exuberant younger brother of the mix. He’s a lot to handle, but if you tell him to back off, he will.”
The exasperation in his tone is undeniable, but I hear the amusement in it too.
“Does he live in the house?” I ask.
Wes shakes his head. “No, and quite frankly, I’m not sure why. He’s around all the time and has his own room to crash inwhen he does stay, which is pretty often. If he’s not in that room, he’s in Rhett’s room.”
In Rhett’s room? As in… Wes must see my unspoken question on my face because he winks.
“Neither Ledger nor I like to pry so I’m not exactly sure what that’s all about but don’t be surprised when you see Santi slip across the hall from time to time in the middle of the night.”
The door to the office flings open and bangs against the wall. I turn to watch the newcomer stroll into the room. The smile the guy wears turns into a full-blown grin the moment he spots me. His white teeth are stark against his tawny skin and dark scruff on his face. Dimples pop into existence and warmth gathers in those brown eyes as they lock onto my face.
Instantly, I feel some of my guard lower. There’s a sparkle in this guy's eyes that I like: a twinkle of mirth and mischief, promising a good time.
“It’s about damn time that I finally get to meet the new girl,” he says.
