Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“It’s a planned burn. I’m sorry, I should have given you a heads-up. You probably saw all the smoke from your place.”
“I did. Thought I’d better check in. Can I ask why?”
He lifts an eyebrow at me and gestures to the fires with his chin.
“Because I want anything and everything that my father ever cared about to die with him.”
Remington swallows, looking around again. “Understood. Mind if I stay, in case you need the help?”
I narrow my eyes at him and shove my hands into my pockets.
“You want to help?”
Rem lets out a breath and shuffles his feet. “My wife thinks I owe you an apology. I usually do whatever Erin wants because she’s the best thing in this world, and if she wants it, she gets it.”
“I know that feeling.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “I’ve never had an issue with you. I do have an issue with you marrying my sister without a word to any of us first, as if it was a big fucking secret. That’s my beef. I don’t give a rat’s ass what your name is. That’s my dad’s deal, and I can’t speak for him.”
“Understood.”
“So, this might be one of the few times that I don’t give my wife what she wants,” he continues grimly. “Because I can’t apologize for wanting to protect my sister. I suspect you’d do the same for yours if the roles were reversed.”
With my eyes on his, I think it over and then nod slowly. “Yeah, I’d likely break your face.”
“Exactly. Now, do you want me to stay and help or not?”
I suspect that in the grand scheme of things, this is going to be as close to an olive branch as Remington and I will ever share.
And I’m not going to pass it up.
“You’re welcome to stay. We’re also lighting up the garage, the shed, and my old cabin, just over there.”
“That’s a big day,” he says with surprise.
“The other departments are on their way,” Bridger says as he joins us. “Then we can light the others on fire, and we’ll have plenty of teams to keep things under control. Hey, Rem.”
“Bridger,” Remington says, shaking the other man’s hand. “This is…interesting.”
“You said it.” Bridger grins and then hurries away again, and Remington and I stand side by side, facing the farmhouse. The flames are rolling through now, lighting it up from the inside out.
I can hear the screams that only exist inside my head. My mother sobbing. The girls crying out in pain when Dad would hit them, the terror of the animals when he tortured them.
My mom’s last gasp as she tumbled down those stairs and broke her neck.
It’s as though the screams and cries are carried up with the smoke, high into the sky.
“What will you do with this once it’s all cleaned up?” Rem asks as we walk around to the far side of the house, continuing to watch as the structure is destroyed.
“I’m going to turn it into a pasture and let the cows shit on it.”
We’re quiet for a moment, and then Remington lets out a startled laugh. When I turn to him in surprise, he continues to laugh, and I can’t help but smile back at him.
Suddenly, I hear my name being screamed, and my heart stumbles in my chest as my blood runs cold.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
MILLIE
“You’ve been looking very happy the past few days,” Candy says as I slip past her to make an Americano. “Like someone who’s been getting lucky.”
“The luckiest.” I wink at her and then smirk when Macy looks back at us, her eyes wide, before turning back to take an order from the next customer. “Thanks for noticing.”
“Girl, it’s impossible to miss. I’m happy for you. Love looks good on you.”
Love.
My heart stumbles a bit at that. Do I love him? Absofuckinglutely. There’s no denying it, even to myself. If something were to happen and I couldn’t be with Holden anymore, my world would stop spinning.
He is my whole heart.
But we haven’t said the words yet. Eight years ago, I was young and inexperienced and completely bold with saying those words to him.
And now, despite everything we’ve been through, the words are the piece that I hold back. However, every single night, we make love and fall asleep wrapped up in each other, as if we never want to let go.
It’s the fucking sweetest.
And, I’m becoming a hugger.
Which is just weird.
I’ve just slid the Americano across the counter and called out Jeff when Jackie Harmon walks into the shop.
“Did you guys hear?” Her eyes are wide, and I suddenly have a very bad feeling. “There’s a big fire out at the Lexington Ranch. I hear it’s a rager. I sure hope no one’s hurt.”
“Go,” Candy says, nudging me along. “Get out there. We’ve got this, no problem.”
I look at her, unseeing, and she takes my shoulders in her hands. “Millie. Go to the ranch. Right now. Go.”