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“Hey. I’m sorry to just show up—I know you’re not a phone person.”

“Hate ’em,” he says with a shudder. “It’s all good. How have you been?”

Pebbles gives up on Cane’s pocket and turns to me, instead, her dark eyes pondering me curiously. I hold out my hand and let her nuzzle my palm. Her muzzle is velvet soft and tickly.

“I’ve been good, thanks. How are things with you?”

“Oh, you know. Same old, same old. If anything had changed, I’m sure you’d have heard. You know what this town is like.”

I snort, scratching between Pebbles’s ears. “That I do.”

“Speaking of town gossip, I hear you have a new man. According to my mom, he’s, and I’m quoting here, ‘much more handsome and less scandalous than the last one’.”

Jesus. I’m not surprised people are talking about Killian being here; I’m just surprised this is the first time someone has asked me directly. Everyone has been nothing but welcoming to him, and, sure, I’ve noticed the curious stares and raised eyebrows, but people have given us space.

“He is more handsome,” I agree. “Less scandalous, though? Probably not. He’s Dom’s son.” Cane’s jaw drops. I trust him not to tell anyone—he’s not a gossiper—but that doesn’t stop me from adding, “Don’t tell your mom.”

“My lips are sealed. Damn, Scar. Does he make you happy?”

“I think so.” I’m happier than I was before he showed up, anyway, which is a surprise, considering his reason for coming. Of course, I’d be happier if he didn’t live so far away.

“Then I like him.”

“Thanks, Cane,” I say. Pebbles whinnies and I laugh. “And Pebbles.”

Cane rolls his eyes and grabs the carrot from his back pocket, breaking off a piece and handing it to her. She takes it to the corner to eat, like one of us might steal it. “So, what can I do for you?”

“Caitlin has been begging for riding lessons. I’m going to see if I can pick up some extra shifts and shuffle things around to make it work, but I just wanted to check how much I’m looking at.”

“I figured it was just a matter of time before she was asking for lessons. Your parents and Landon bring the kids by all the time to see the horses. They’re a good help,” Cane replies with a smile. “Beginner lessons are usually $350 a month, for weekly lessons.”

Shit. There’s not a chance I can wiggle things around that much. The little flame of hope I’ve been tending since deciding to come and ask turns to ash.

“But,” Cane continues, “I have a proposition for—”

“I don’t want a pity discount.”

He holds up his hands. “Yeah, I know. Everyone knows how you feel about people trying to help. That’s not what I’m offering. We’re really pressed for space at the moment, and my mom keeps bringing new horses in. We have a mare arriving soon that needs her own field for grazing, and we don’t have the space. There are a few fields on your family’s side of the border that I don’t think Landon’s using at the moment—they’re where Piper’s dad used to turn out his horses. I was going to talk to Landon about renting them out, and I know it’s worth more than $350 a month, so maybe he could reduce the rent to cover Caitlin’s lessons.”

“That’s … a really good idea, actually,” I relent. Still, my instinct is to turn him down immediately. It might not be a pity discount, but I know he wouldn’t offer it to just anyone. But lessons would make Caitlin so happy, and I’d be a terrible mom if I didn’t accept a little help for that. “I don’t think Landon will have a problem with it, but I’ll ask. Thank you, Cane. Seriously.”

“You’d be doing me a favor, honestly. My mom agrees to horses and leaves the logistics to me. Besides, I like having Caitlin around. You made some damn cool kids, Scar.”

“I really did.”

Of all the things I’ve gotten wrong over the years, that sure as hell wasn’t one of them.

24

Scarlett

During the holidays, Monday is the only day my brother takes off. So, naturally, I still have to run all over the farm to find him.

I find Finn first. Landon’s fluffy white malamute, who thrives the second the temperature drops every year, is digging in a pile of snow outside Piper’s dad’s old toolshed. These days, Landon uses it like a workshop. I pay Finn’s toll in chin scratches and a kiss to his frozen nose, and he lets me pass.

Landon is sitting on a stool by his workbench—pine branches, pine cones, ribbon, wire, and various ornaments are strewn across the wood. There’s a stack of fresh wreathes against the wall, and his golden retriever, Honey, is lounging across the concrete floor in front of the electric heater. She cracks an eye when I step into the shed, like she just wants to check who’s coming in before going back to sleep. As soon as she confirms it’s me, she closes her eyes and lets out a soft snore.

“She’s living the dream,” I say with a laugh, dropping onto a stool beside Landon. The floor isn’t totally level, and the stool wobbles, but I’m used to it. Though Landon has modernized a lot around the farm, many things still pre-date both of us. There’s no point replacing things that are functional, just because they’re old.