4. Bradyn
CHAPTER 4
brADYN
T he scents of Dad’s smoked brisket and Mom’s fresh-baked apple pie hit me as soon as I step through the front door. Taking a minute to savor it, I remain in the brightly lit foyer, taking in the hearty scents and the sounds of my brothers laughing in the kitchen. Photographs of my siblings and me in various stages of our lives line the foyer walls, along with crosses my dad has handmade for my mom over the years.
Home. It hits me again, and I smile. Man, I missed this place.
My brother, Tucker, younger than me by four years, sticks his head around the corner. “You planning on coming all the way in, or are you no longer accustomed to being indoors?” He heads down the hall and envelops me in a tight hug.
“Something like that,” I reply with a laugh then follow him down the hallway into the kitchen.
Tucker and his twin Dylan are the youngest of us, having turned thirty-two last month. I’d been gone for that, too, and unable to even make a call, given the sensitive nature of the mission.
“Happy birthday, by the way.”
Tucker grins at me. “Nice of you to remember, big brother.” He winks, letting me know he understands and in no way, shape, or form cares that I didn’t call. Not that I expected him to. He’s a part of our company too and knows that sometimes communication just isn’t possible.
Dylan is the next to peek around the corner, his grin matching the one still on Tucker’s face. He steps out and wraps his arms around me. The quietest of the twins, he’s had a haunted look in his eyes ever since returning from his final deployment five years ago.
Though he won’t talk about what he saw, I can imagine, and it breaks my heart that the little boy who wanted so badly to be a superhero ended up a man haunted by war.
“Good to see you, brother,” he says.
“You, too, Dylan. Where are the dogs?” Since I haven’t seen Bravo —or Dylan and Tucker’s dogs, Delta and Tango —I’m assuming they’re outside.
“In the backyard with Dad,” Tucker replies. “They’re playing fetch.”
I smile, happy that my boy can finally unwind and relax.
We head into the kitchen where my mom is standing in front of the stove, a wooden spoon in her hand. She glances over her shoulder. “Your hair looks nice.”
I cross the tile flooring and wrap her in a one-armed hug, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Thanks, Mom. I told Floyd you said hi.”
“Good.” She returns her attention to the stove. “Now go and convince your father to see Floyd because he’s refusing to let me cut his hair, and he’s starting to look shaggy.”
“Who’s starting to look shaggy?” My father’s deep baritone fills the room, and I turn as he steps into the kitchen with a smile. His beard has gotten a bit longer since the last time I saw him, now down to his sternum, and his gray hair has grown out so it’s curling over his ears.
The same hazel eyes I share with Dylan and Elliot stare back at me, full of joy. “It’s good to see you, son.” He embraces me then pulls back to look at me. “You look good. Not at all shaggy. I think your mother’s eyesight must be getting bad.”
My mother rolls her eyes, but a smile toys at the corner of her lips. “ He went to see Floyd today. Which is more than I can say of you, Tommy Hunt,” Mom replies as my father releases me and wraps his arms around his wife’s waist.
What used to gross me out when I was a teenager now has me yearning for a marriage of my own. A partner to share this life with. Maybe someday, God willing.
“Where’s Elliot and Riley?” I question.
“There was a fence down in pasture two, so they’re fixing it.”
“A fence down? From what?”
Dylan leans back against the counter. “A tree fell on it during the storm a few days ago. There’s another storm gearing to hit later this week, so they wanted to make sure it was up just in case we need to rotate due to more damage.”
I nod and make a mental note to ride through the pastures tomorrow and make sure there’s nothing else that needs repairing before storm number two hits.
This time of year, we get more sleeting ice than anything, which can cause downed trees and impassable roads.
“Hey, we already did it.”
“Did what?” I ask, my gaze fixing on Tucker.
“We rode through the pastures and checked all the fencing. That was the only one down.”
It shouldn’t surprise me that he knows exactly what I was thinking. When you not only grow up with someone but also spend every waking moment working alongside them, it’s difficult to keep even your thoughts a secret.
“I don’t know why you’re telling him that,” Dylan adds, plucking a grape from the fruit tray my mom set out on the counter. “You know he’s still going to take that ride. I’m surprised he’s not out there now, double-checking our work and whatnot.” He grins.
I laugh. “I’ve been gone for three months, and yet you can still read my mind.” I don’t even try to pretend like he’s wrong. I’m a micromanager when it comes to this ranch, even though I don’t have to be because they love this place as much as I do.
“Always, brother.” He grins. “Can’t get anything past us.”
My phone buzzes, so I withdraw it from my pocket, and my own smile breaks out when I see Silas’ incoming video call. “Hey there, cousin,” I greet as soon as I answer.
“Hey, I want you to meet someone.” He shifts the camera, showing me the most adorable tiny pink baby I’ve ever seen. “This is our son, little Asher Matthew Wiliamson.”
“Let me see!” My mother practically shoves through my brothers to get to the phone. “Honey, he is perfect!”
“Thanks, Aunt Ruth,” he replies. I can hear the smile in his voice, and knowing everything my cousin has suffered in his life, I cannot thank God enough for this happy blessing He bestowed on both Silas and Bianca.
“You are so welcome. How is Bianca?”
“I’m good!” we hear her call out from the background. The camera shifts, showing us the dark-haired beauty who captured Silas’ guarded heart. She smiles happily, looking exhausted but thrilled. “He’s perfect.”
“He most certainly is,” Mom replies.
The camera shifts back to Silas, and my dad peeks around Mom and into the phone, his eyes misting with happy tears. “How is our sweet little Eloise liking being a big sister?” he asks.
“She’s so excited. Eliza and Lance took her out for ice cream just before I called.”
“Good. I’m so glad. She’ll have a best friend for life now,” my mom says.
“Yes, she will.” He is absolutely beaming with joy, and even as happy as I am, I can’t help but feel a tad jealous too. I want children as badly as I want to take my next breath. All in good time. All in God’s time. “Well, I better get going. I need to hand this little guy off to his momma then grab us both something to eat.”
“Let us know if you need anything,” Dad offers.
“Will do, thanks.”
“We love you, honey,” Mom says with a wave.
“Love you, too,” he replies.
Mom heads back to the kitchen while Dylan and Tucker remain standing beside me.
“Congrats, Cuz,” Dylan says. “He’s handsome.”
“Thanks, guys. I’m—” He smiles. “I’m so happy. I thank God every day for this. For all of this. I don’t deserve any of it.”
“None of us do,” I reply. “We love you. Hopefully, we can get out soon to meet the little guy.”
“I hope so too. Talk soon.” The call ends, and I shove my phone back into my pocket.
“I’m so happy for them both,” my mom says from in front of the stove.
“Same.”
The front door thuds closed. I step out of the kitchen and grin when I see my sister Lani strolling toward me, wearing slacks and a button-down shirt. She looks exhausted, but when she sees me, her face lights up.
“Bradyn!”
I catch her in a big hug. “Hey, little sister.”
She pulls away, and we finish the walk into the kitchen. “I’m so glad you’re back. How was the trip?” She reaches in and plucks a grape from the fruit tray.
“I accomplished what needed to be accomplished.”
“You always do.” She smiles softly then grabs another grape.
Her black hair is shorter than it was before I left and is pulled back into a ponytail. She looks happy. Tired but happy. I guess running one’s own medical practice will do that to a person.
Silence descends into the kitchen as my father steps up toward the oven and opens it, withdrawing a foil-covered pan that I know will be full of the most delicious brisket in the Lone Star State, something that over a decade of BBQ competition wins has proven.
My mouth waters.
“So what’s new here at the ranch?” I question, hoping the conversation will not only distract me from the hunger pangs but also swing in the direction of a certain gorgeous woman I haven't been able to stop thinking about.
Even the news of Silas’ new addition couldn’t completely get her off my mind. She’s lingering. And it’s been a long time since a woman captivated me the way she did. Especially in the span of only a minute or so.
The way I asked the question must have raised a few flags for Tucker because he arches a brow. “You been out wandering?”
“No.” I clear my throat. Fess up, Hunt. “But I did meet our new hand in town, and it had me wondering if there was anything else I needed to know.”
“Ahh, you met Sammy,” he replies with a knowing smile toward Dylan. The two of them grin at me.
“I did.”
“Oh, she’s adorable,” my mother interjects. “Beautiful inside and out. And great with the horses. Even your nightmarish one.” She points at me.
Tucker barks out a laugh. “That’s right, you’ll have to fight her to get Rev back,” he tells me.
“Rev likes her?” I ask, honestly surprised. Since we rescued him from an incredibly abusive owner, it took me nearly two years to earn Rev’s trust. The Appaloosa didn’t give it easily, but he’s become my favorite horse on the ranch. Loyal, gentle, and bombproof. For me, at least. No one else can get close to him…usually.
“He does. Probably prefers her,” Dylan replies. "I bet she smells better."
“Sammy is great,” Lani agrees.
Tucker opens his mouth to respond, but the front door opens, and I hear the bootsteps of Elliot and Riley. Thank you, God, for the distraction.
The last of my brothers come around the corner, looking absolutely exhausted, but the moment they see me, their expressions turn joyful. Relaxed.
Elliot’s baseball cap is on backward, his jeans dirty, his white shirt stained with dirt from the fence repair. He steps forward and offers me a handshake in lieu of a hug. “I’ll hug you later,” he replies, gesturing to his clothes.
“Appreciate that.” I laugh.
“Glad you lived,” Riley says with a lopsided grin, his own clothes smeared with grime.
“Bianca and Silas had their baby,” Mom announces.
“Seriously?” Riley asks. “Awesome.”
“That’s great,” Elliot adds.
“Bianca sent me pictures,” Lani says. “He’s so precious.”
“He really is,” Mom agrees. “Dinner will be ready in five.”
“I’ll go wash my hands then,” Elliot says before heading down the hall.
“Same.” Riley follows, disappearing down the hall toward the bathroom all six of us shared growing up. Even as quaint as the three-bedroom farmhouse is, it never felt crowded. Not once in the entire time I was growing up.
Jesus is the cornerstone of my life. Without Him, I could not stand. But God also blessed me with a foundation of family that is simply unmatched. And, as I help my mother carry food to our table and take my seat in the same chair I once occupied as a child, I am beyond grateful that He has brought me through the hellish things I’ve faced so that I may sit here and share another meal with the most important people in my life.
As they so often do these days, my thoughts turn dark —haunted by the things I witnessed when I’d been deployed as well as the experiences I’ve had since I first started Hunt Brothers Search & Rescue.
The people we rescued.
And above all, the ones we couldn’t.
It’s so easy to get dragged down into the darkness when it’s constantly shackled around your ankles though, so I do what I can to force my thoughts elsewhere, opting instead to think back to that moment I’d shared with Sammy on the sidewalk outside the barber.
Gorgeous blue eyes. Sun-kissed honey hair. Stunning smile. And yet, there was something else about her too…something that might as well be a beacon for the tattered remnants of a soul worn down by the darkness of the world.
“You did good, son,” my father says as he gets up to refill his glass of water.
It’s silly that, even now, at creeping up on forty years old, hearing my father say those words still has the same effect as it did back when I was a child seeking his approval. Thankfully, unlike so many other kids, I never had to search far.
“I can’t get the image of them hunkered down in the dark out of my head,” I admit. “It’s burned into my soul.” The debrief went well with me filling in on the mission details, what happened, who was apprehended, and how many were saved. Even though our father isn’t an active part of the rescue portion of our business, he typically sits in during every meeting and mission assignment, offering insight and support where needed.
My brothers, who are all sitting around the dining room table, nod in agreement. The dishes are done, the kitchen dark, and Mom has turned in for the night since she’s helping organize the church bake sale first thing tomorrow morning.
“Pray for them,” my father says as he sits back down. “It’s all you can do now. You’ve already given them back the lives stolen from them.”
“It doesn’t feel like it’s enough.” Crossing my arms, I lean back in the chair. “Every day, there’s a new alert. A new missing person. These kids are innocent. Why them? Why do they have to suffer?”
“The devil is rampant these days.” My father sighs. “But we already know who wins in the end, and until then, you’re standing right where you need to be. Between the innocent and the evil.” He drains his glass. “Any ideas when the next job will be?” he asks.
“No,” I reply. “Next up is Elliot, though. We’ll keep our ears to the ground, and as soon as something comes up, we’ll handle it. Just like we always do.” I let out a sigh and stand. “I’m exhausted, though. Think I’m going to turn in for the night. Come on, boy,” I call to Bravo, who jumps up from where he’s lying near my brother’s dogs. Riley’s dog, Romeo, lifts his head but places it back down when he realizes Riley isn’t going anywhere just yet.
“Sleep well, son. See you bright and early.”
“See you bright and early,” I reply with a smile then head for the door.
After slipping into my jacket, I step onto the porch. The moon is bright tonight, casting a soft glow over the rolling hills just outside my parent’s home. I breathe in the crisp, cold air and take just a moment to absorb the silence of the ranch.
This place is my heaven on earth. My refuge from the chaos I face every time I head down that driveway.
The moon is bright tonight, casting a soft glow over the barn straight ahead. Turning, I scan the landscape, pausing when I see the dim cabin lights where our employees live while they work here.
I can’t help but wonder if one of those lights belongs to Sammy.
Is she down there awake right now? Or sound asleep? What brought her here in the first place? Most of the time, our help comes from either those not wanting to settle down or those who are running from something. Which is she? I’m betting on the latter. There was heaviness in her eyes. A darkness one only gets when they’ve lived through trauma.
Even though I really should be getting home, I pass by the side-by-side I drove over earlier and head for the barn. Since my parents’ house is the heart of the ranch, the barn is only a short distance from their place.
I remember being a kid and sprinting as fast as I could across the distance, hoping to get there so I had at least a small chance of winning the hide-and-seek game my brothers and I played every chance we got. There are so many times I miss those days. When things were simple. When I hadn’t seen the corruption of the world and everything felt right.
The walk is something I know by heart and could do even with my eyes closed, though, thanks to the moon, I don’t have to. Gripping the large iron handle, I pull the sliding door aside enough that I can slip in. Trained well, Bravo walks just inside the door then sits down at the entrance, keeping his distance from the horses.
Most of the animals here won’t care either way, but since we have rescues come in occasionally, it made sense to train the dogs to know their place regardless of the horse. Then we never have to worry.
As if he can sense me, Rev sticks his large head over the gate and snorts in my direction.
“Hey, boy.” I smile then offer him my flattened hand so he can smell me. He leans into my touch, so I move in closer and run a hand over his massive head. “I missed you, too, buddy. How are you?” In response, he lifts his head and nuzzles my shoulder with his nose. “I’m glad. I’ll be by first thing in the morning. We’ll head out before the sun comes up, okay? Just like before.” After petting him on the head one final time, I secure the barn, climb into the side-by-side, and Bravo and I make our way back home where I will undoubtedly struggle to find rest, thanks to the memories still haunting me.