Page 69 of Saddle Storm

I quietly mouth an I’m sorry and she pats my shoulder. “He’ll be happy to see you. Can I get you anything?”

“I’m all right, thank you.” Far more than you know. I offer her a smile and step inside. “Hey, Dad.”

He huffs out a tired breath. “They call you?”

“I’m just here to check on you, Dad,” I partially lie, feeling guilty about it.

He grumbles. “Hand me that remote.”

I pass it to him and he shuts off the TV. “How’s Max? Been a while since you brought him by.”

“I know. I will. Maybe next week?”

He nods, watching me. “What is it? Is it bad? They tell ya I’m not going to make it through the year?”

“Actually, no. They said your heart’s doing well.” I glance over at the machine they’ve got him hooked up to.

He grumbles. “No, that can’t be right. They were planning to move me to a shared room just a month ago and all of a sudden, I’m staying here—figured since they thought I’d be kicking the bucket soon, they’d save me the trouble.”

“They were going to move you? When?”

He doesn’t answer.

“Dad, why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it’s more money to keep me in a private room, Storm.”

The words hit hard because I can’t take care of him the way I should. “I’m sorry, Dad. I’ll get to the bottom of it.”

“Well, it’ll come up again soon.” He glances up at me. “How’s the job?”

“Work’s great, actually.” I avoid telling him about our temporary move to a guest cottage. “The boys send their best.”

He adjusts in his bed, pretending not to hear me.

“I know you heard me, Dad.”

He grumbles. “Aren’t you working today?”

“Yes. But I needed to talk.” I take a seat and then immediately stand, suddenly nervous. “Dad, what happened between you and Connor?” I spent half the ride over here trying to figure out why he never told me about Silas coming to see me—and the only thing I could come up with was his falling-out with Connor.

“I told you, we had a disagreement.”

“About what?”

“What does it matter?” he mumbles, then looks at me. “What’d they tell you?”

“Nothing, Dad. No one has anything but great things to say about your friendship all those summers. You’re the only one who’s coming out hateful.”

“Hateful?” he howls. “Easy for him to say—it wasn’t his daughter on the line.” He holds my eyes for a beat then turns away.

I sit down. Trying to consider how I got involved. “It was me?” My chest constricts. “Did I do something they didn’t like?”

Somehow I wouldn’t believe that, not judging by the way they’ve treated me this past year. Considering me family.

“No.” He shakes his head, earnestly, voice calmer. “They all loved you.”

I swallow. “Silas.”