With my modest dress, no shoes, my hair a mess.
Forrest leaned in a little. “You good?” he asked. “You don’t have to stay here. We can get you help?—”
“This is good,” I stammered. “I’m just. It’s a lot.”
He nodded. Didn't push.
Millie was watching me from across the table with warm, curious eyes — not prying, just aware. The toddler had made it back to the table fully clothed now, more or less, and was climbing into the tall man's lap with a piece of bacon in each fist.
"That's Gage," Haven murmured close to my ear, like she could tell I was trying to sort everyone out. "Forrest's cousin.And Millie's his wife. The toddler is Bea, and the baby, Blaise, is theirs too."
I nodded, taking it in. This whole family…talking loud, no one angry, no one chastising the girls for speaking out of turn. They acted like this was ordinary.
Maybe it was.
I wondered how everyone was acting back at the compound right now. If they were worried…if, more likely, they were angry.
If they were going to come and get me.
I looked at those babies, then I looked at Forrest.
“I shouldn’t stay here,” I said.
He nodded. “Right…okay, we can go. Do you want—do you want to go to the police?—”
“No, not…not the police,” I said. “And I don’t mean going away from your family’s ranch, just…away fromhere. From the house.” I glanced nervously toward the door. “They could come looking for me.”
Forrest looked at Stetson. Stetson didn’t look at me…just shrugged his big shoulders.
“They come on this property,” he said, “that’s trespassing.”
“They won’t care,” I said. “They don’t—they don’t really recognize outside authority. That’s kind of their whole thing.”
The table had gone quiet; everyone was listening now. Gage in particular leaned forward, brow furrowed.
“Thought I recognized you,” he said. “You from the Daley place?”
Haven looked over at me like she wanted to take my hand. I was glad she didn’t…I would have flinched. Not because she scared me, just because…because of what had happened. What had been happening my whole life.
“Yeah,” I said. “I’m not going back?—”
“No one’s sending you back,” Forrest said before I could even finish. “Right, Gage?”
“Absolutely not,” Gage said, sipping his juice. “Just—you’re not a kid, right?”
I shook my head. “I’m twenty.”
He shrugged. “Seems like adult women should get to do what they please. You don’t wanna be there…we’ll never make you go back.”
I let out a breath.
Peggy set down her coffee mug. “You need a place to stay, honey?”
I swallowed hard, my fingers twisting together in my lap. “I have money,” I said. “Not a lot, but—I can work?—”
“No need,” she said. “We can make room for you here in the house?—”
“Is there any way I can stay with Forrest?” I asked.
