“Fine. When did you become this squeamish?” Owen asked. “You used to rabble rouse with the best of us.”
“When I stuck my head into books instead of fighting with one of you every night. Honestly, I don’t know how Mom survived us,” Elias said, wincing.
“It appears we need to pound on him more often,” Cade said, sipping his drink.
Owen eyed his brother as he placed the last suture and cleaned up around the eye. “Hold the peas,” he instructed, putting everything away.
He moved to the other side of the bar, Owen took a seat and his glass, downing the alcohol.
“Clear your schedule. You have to return to Wolfe Mountain with us. The attorney won’t read the will until we’re all there. I know how you feel. It’s not as if I wanted to go either. The old man wrote me a letter. He wants me to do it for Mom,” Owen explained. “She’d want us to come together, even if it’s for the last time. If we forfeit the mountain, we’ll never visit Mom’s grave again. Strangers won’t tend to her grave.”
“Don’t try to emotionally blackmail me. I haven’t seen her grave since I left for the military. She’s not there,” Cade said harshly.
Elias sipped on the liquor, holding the bag to his eye. “It’s not for Mom. It’s for us. We’ve stayed apart too long. We used to fight at each other’s sides. Don’t you want to know what happened to your family? Do we mean nothing to you? Mason has two little boys, who have never set foot on the mountain. Wyatt needs our help whether he wants it or not. Will you let Dad keep us apart forever?”
Cade hung his head. “I have a life here. We’ve all changed. None of us will ever be the same after the horror of watching our mother wheeled out on a stretcher, bleeding from the gut.”
“No, but you at least got to stay in your school and live with people you knew. They split up Dillon, Wyatt, and me. I didn’t know what happened to any of you. Do you know how many nights I lay there, hoping one of you might visit? I missed my brothers. Do you think Wyatt and Dillon felt the same way?” Elias asked softly.
“We can’t change it,” Cade argued. “What happened…happened. It’s time to move on.”
“Like we have? Where Wyatt drinks himself to oblivion, and Mason barely summons the strength to care for his kids?” Elias said, tracing his finger along the rim of his glass.
“Shit,” Owen mumbled. “Take his glass away.”
“What about you, Cade? Everyone thinks you’re having the time of your life, and you sit here in the dark alone,” Elias said quietly.
“Damn it, Elias, stop it,” Cade roared. “I’ve put it behind me. I suggest you do the same.”
“Fine.” Elias slammed the glass on the countertop. “Let’s go, Owen. My big brother has bossed me around for the last time. He doesn’t care what happens to us or the mountain. Dad never should’ve written you a letter. He thought if he got his boys together, it might mend us. It’ll never happen. He stupidly believed it. I’m stupid.” Rising, Elias stormed out the door.
Cade watched in horror as Owen slid off the stool and shook his hand. “Dad said Elias hides his feelings. I guess he finally found his voice. I’m picking up the others, and we’re going home. We have a new brother named Conner. He, at least, deserves to meet you.”
Owen left, knowing Elias headed toward the bigger van they rented at the airport. Guilt washed over him as he realized how much his leaving hurt his brothers. If he’d only stayed, he might’ve kept everyone together.
CHAPTER 14
Leslie putthe scrambled eggs and bacon on the table before she called up the stairs, “Breakfast. Last one down does the dinner dishes.”
Thundering down the stairs, the two boys came running into the kitchen and took their seats.
“As soon as we finish, we’ll do our chores and then hike up the mountain. If you finish within the hour, we might even have time to fish,” she suggested.
“Yeah,” Conner said, shoveling his food into his mouth.
“Manners,” she reminded him.
Glancing at Tucker, she took in his features. Even if the steely grey eyes didn’t give her son away, the same brown hair and stocky build as his father surely did.
“What has you down today?” she asked as Conner put his plate in the dishwasher.
Shrugging, Tucker played with his eggs.
“Don’t you want to fish?” she asked, watching him.
“Why did you get mad at Conner’s brother yesterday?” he said, peering at her. “I heard you talking.”
Leslie’s stomach dropped as she laid her fork down on the table. “Come here,” she said, “Hurry while Conner’s upstairs.”
