“As usual. I don’t know why I bothered coming.”
I could tell out of the corner of my eye he was shaking his head. He only made it through the gates of the airport before launching into me again. “What in the hell were you doing hooking up with Stephen the night you arrived in town?”
“I didn’t hook up with him.” Just saying the words made me cringe since that’s exactly what I’d done. Did I feel the least bit guilty? Honestly, no. I didn’t. Maybe I should, but I was a big girl and deserved to spend time with anyone I wanted to.
“Stephen is not good enough for you.”
Now, I laughed. “Who made you judge of what’s good for me and what isn’t? I’m sorry you two had a falling out, but that has nothing to do with me.”
“That didn’t mean you had to…” He twisted his hand around the steering wheel, gritting his teeth.
“Didn’t dear Father tell you what happened to me?” I stared at him incredulously. Wade had always been self-centered, and age hadn’t softened his arrogance. Maybe that’s why his friendship with Axe had always confused me.
Wade shifted in his seat. “Just that he asked you to come back to town ‘cause you were fired for insubordination and I guess your boyfriend dumped you.”
I’d received one compliment over the last four years from my father. For my choice in my boyfriend. He’d even encouraged me to consider marrying the guy.
I took a deep breath. Clearly returning was a significant mistake. “Not that it’s any of your business either, but I was asked to throw a case to benefit a wealthy corporation with ties to Billings as well as a major financial supporter of the firm I work… I worked for, and I refused. It’s called ethics. You should learn the term sometime. Evidently, my boss thought I should easily cross the line of right versus wrong. He was dead wrong. So, after I won the case against the organization, not only requiring them to pay millions in restitution but alsomanaging to point to evidence that eventually garnered jail time for two of the executives, my boss and I sat down together. After expressing his displeasure, we decided together that my continued employment with the firm wasn’t in either of our best interests. Especially since I might have suggested turning him in to the Montana Bar Association for ethics issues. As far as any other reason, I’m not talking about what happened in my personal life, Wade. I meant something else entirely, like why I was delayed in getting to the ranch.”
“Okay, what are you talking about? What happened?”
“Did you hear two of the dams along Clark Fork River broke?”
“Yeah, kinda heard something. The big rain and all. The city is supposed to have a permanent fix this summer.”
How many times had I heard that before? “With what money? I didn’t know about the dangerous conditions until I was swept into the river. Where do you think my vehicle is? Somewhere over the waterfall likely the size of a tin can. Everything that means anything to me is still locked inside my little truck.”
Suddenly, my brother had nothing to say. That infuriated me almost more than anything. At least he appeared more uncomfortable in his seat, continually tapping his index finger on the steering wheel.
“Great. My brother doesn’t care that I almost died and would have had it not been for Axe risking his life to save me.”
“Course I care. That doesn’t answer why you were with Axe and didn’t call.”
Frustration, exhaustion, and perhaps determination all hit at the same time and I laughed. “At the risk of sounding repetitive,you used to be friends with Axe even though our father did everything in his power to get you to stop. I admired you for standing up for him. Even your acts trying to protect me were somewhat chivalrous. I don’t know what happened, but I’m not getting in the middle of it.”
“He was different then.” Wade stared at the driver’s window, rubbing his jaw.
“We all were. Besides, death will do that to you.” My brother had never been the most emotional human being, but he was certainly more deadpan than usual. “You are aware his brother tragically died.”
“Yeah, which wouldn’t have happened if he wasn’t trying to play some bigtime smokejumper.”
“You know what? I don’t know what happened between the two of you. Maybe that’s none of my business. All I know is that he saved my life. Maybe if our father hadn’t influenced the freaking city council not to approve money for needed equipment for the firefighters in our city, Will would be alive. You do know they augment the smokejumpers when possible?”
He didn’t have anything to say to my accusation, which meant Axe was right.
“This is insane,” I continued. “I’ll give you the respect of answering your question then I’m done. Given the storm, there was no reception to make a call. Axe was kind enough to give me clothes, feed me, tend to my wounds, and ensure I had a safe and dry place for the night.”
He was about to take the turn onto the road heading for the ranch as another wave of anger tore through me. “You know what? Forget it. You can tell Daddy he’ll need to find anotherattorney for free. I’m not interested. Drop me off at Charmaine’s house.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you and I’m glad Axe was there for the rescue, but he’s not good for you.”
“Well, since I’m an adult and you have no say, you can keep your thoughts to yourself.”
As usual, he grumbled under his breath, a tic of his that used to drive me crazy. “I’m not taking you to Charmaine’s house, Kenz.”
“And why not? Are you in the kidnapping business now?”
“Didn’t Dad tell you why he wanted you to come home?”
