I sigh and clear my throat. “I literally don’t know what you’re insinuating. I’m not doing anything to Sadie. I barely speak to her.”
Now, if we were talking about Tristan, that would be a better argument. When it comes to Sadie, I’m not doing anything wrong.
“Clearly that’s a lie. Enough that my father is out there rebuilding a damn chicken coop, adding lights and wallpaper. So you’re obviously filling her head with things.”
That’s so far from the truth. I would never do anything to Sadie. I really like her, and I’m falling—well, I’ve already fallen—for her father. The idea of ever hurting a child is ridiculous. I understand why Fallon hates us, but this is really unfair.
“Look, I would never hurt Sadie.”
She laughs once. “Please. You forget who I am, don’t you?”
I know exactly who she is. I know exactly why she’s standing here, spewing her hate at me. It’s not completely unwarranted, but at the same time, it’s misguided.
“No, but I think you’re forgetting who I am in all of this too. Mary Lou is my best friend. I loved Emmy Jo, and I would never, ever do anything to Sadie.”
Fallon scoffs. “Let’s not play games here. You and your family destroy things. That’s what you do. I will not lose my niece to…to a Gatlin.”
I’m not exactly sure how she’s making this leap, but I work really hard to control my anger at being yelled at in the damn grocery store.
“I’m not my brother,” I say without any waver in my voice.
At the mention of Maverick, her entire body stiffens. “It doesn’t matter.”
“That’s not fair. I understand why you hate him, and there’s a reason none of us talk to him, either, but…I’m not him. Sadie is sweet and a child. Say what you want about my brother. He deserves your hate, but I don’t, and neither does my family.”
I promised the same thing to Tristan, and I mean it. I may be the enemy or whatever to them, but I wasn’t to Emmy Jo. She was like a sister to me in some ways. I wouldn’t do anything to her child. Not that I would ever intentionally hurt anyone, but that’s beside the point.
My worry now is that my mother will overhear any of this. There’s a reason we don’t discuss Maverick around her. It literally eats her alive.
“Save your shit for someone else. Stay away from her. She’s already lost so much, and my brother has lost even more. Shehas her aunts, her father, her family, and she doesn’t need to be talking to you at the fence posts.”
I could rage at her, tell her all the things about how unfair and ridiculous this entire conversation is, but it doesn’t matter. Fallon has been hurt, and that’s what this is: her fear, anger, and frustration at the situation she’s in. I get it.
Instead, I take a different route. One that can maybe start to build a bridge. One that might be able to mend the hurt our two families have faced.
I place the box of crackers back on the shelf and turn to her. “I’m sorry for what you’ve been through. I’m sorry that it was because of my brother. I’m sorry that your life has been so deeply affected. I wish I could change things. That I could bring Carrick back or go back in time and alter the decisions that Maverick made. I’m truly sorry.”
Fallon doesn’t seem to know how to react. She opens and closes her mouth two or three times before she finally speaks. “You’re sorry?”
“I am. I know I wasn’t the one who committed the crime, but I’m still sorry that someone in my family caused you that hurt.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t want or need your apology. I need you to stay away from my family so that I don’t have to lose another person I love. If you’re so sorry, find your fucking brother and make him face the consequences. Until then, just fuck off.”
Fallon leaves the aisle, and I stare after her as a single tear rolls down my cheek.
Chapter 29
Tristan
“Do you know where Dad is?” Harper asks as I’m cleaning my horse’s hoof.
“It wasn’t my turn to watch him.”
“Are you busy?” The annoyance in her voice causes me to look up.
I stare at her for a second. “No, not busy, I’m just…sitting around, hanging out, thinking of starting a book club.”
“Oh, good, then you can help look for Dad.”
