Chapter 16
16
P etra regretted bolting an instant after she’d done it, but she still didn’t manage to stop her feet until she had tugged on clothes over sticky wet skin and made it onto the porch.
She left the front door open, though, and settled on the porch swing, staring at the mountains in the distance waiting until she heard his footsteps.
“I’m out here.”
Aiden stepped into the doorway. “What just happened?” he asked softly.
She sniffed, dragging a hand over her cheek and brushing away tears. God, she felt like such a fool. “Not your fault. Just a bad memory surfacing at the wrong time.”
Aiden sat beside her, the porch swing rocking slightly. He tucked his fingers under her chin and stared into her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
She forced a smile, feeling more than a little watery. “Oh, honey. You’re not the problem. It was just a reminder of exactly how much I screwed up.”
The concern didn’t leave his face, but he sat, leaning against the wooden backrest of the porch swing. “Want to talk about it? Or at least give me some hints of what not to say so I don’t accidentally end up hurting you again?”
Well, shit. That was one of the things he’d shared that was overwhelming him—being worried he’d unintentionally upset Jinx.
Petra took a deep breath. Her parents had always emphasized the importance of honesty when they were growing up, even when it was sometimes embarrassing. With six kids in the house, lack of knowledge meant massive opportunities for small misunderstandings to bloom to unreasonable proportions. “My ex. He said I was shiny.” When Aiden frowned, she held up a hand to hold off comments. “We met at a tech event, and when Curtis ended up interning at a company in our small town, it was as if fate had brought us together. We did everything together, just seemed to click, you know? In under a month, we were inseparable. He was so curious about everything, just like me?—”
Aiden’s expression went guarded. “Sounds as if you were a good pair. What went wrong?”
“He was super keen to meet my parents.” Petra nodded at the way Aiden’s eyes widened. “I mean, I lived right there, close to them, and we usually did all sorts of things as a family. I was so wrapped up in Curtis, though, I kept begging off on family stuff. When he pushed for us to spend time with them, I thought maybe it was a sign of an upcoming significant moment . You know, meet the parents, start living together, all those things. It was fast, but it didn’t feel wrong.”
Aiden took a deep breath. He let it out slowly, glancing away for a moment. “I want to hear this, but I simultaneously want to break the bastard’s arms because I know you’re not together now, which means it’s his fault. I’m not going to like whatever you tell me.”
“No, you’re not going to like it at all,” Petra agreed. “He had a girlfriend.”
“What the fuck?” Aiden’s scowl folded his forehead into a mass of creases.
She smoothed her fingers across it. “He had a girlfriend in another town. What’s more, she knew about me. They had this convoluted plan wherein he was going to impress my father. My dad’s an inventor and on the board for several businesses who offer big ol’ grants. Curtis, with the full agreement of his girlfriend, decided if he made nice with my father, he’d get offered a coveted grant that would provide five years of funding for his pet project.”
“And after he got the funding, he was just going to drop you?” Aiden demanded.
“I assume something of the sort. He never got a chance because I accidentally hacked into the information and dealt with him accordingly.”
“Jesus fucking Christ, the fucking gall of the bastard. I hope you’ve blackballed him on every single grant list that there is,” Aiden snapped.
The first hint of amusement she’d felt in the past few minutes slipped back in. “See? This is why you and I are friends. Of course he’s blackballed. But other than that, I’m restraining myself because he and his now fiancée have a kid, so I’m not about to go make them penniless or anything.”
Aiden’s expression was beyond description. “I’m just— I mean— There is just no?—”
His jaw hung open, completely speechless.
“Right?” Petra sighed. “I’m so sorry. You gave me what would usually be a lovely compliment. I’m glad when you looked at me you saw life and happiness and me shining. Unfortunately, being shiny to Curtis meant a shining opportunity to take advantage of me. But it’s just a word, and I know what you truly meant.” She cupped Aiden’s face and let him see the sincerity in her eyes. “I know it was an accident, and I absolutely forgive you. I hope you’ll forgive me for going off the rails like that.”
“ Petra .” He kissed her. A gentle brush of his lips over hers before pulling back. He wiped his thumb under her eye, brushing away a tear. “You are a better person than me. If I had the ability to hack into records I’d be legally changing his name to Humperdinck McBastardface.”
Oh my God. Amusement hit hard, and a huge snicker escaped, followed by another, especially when Aiden joined in, his laughter contagious and warm as it brushed over her. Then he pulled her into his arms and squeezed tight, holding her as she released part of the burden she’d been carrying by herself for months.
She wiped away tears again, this time from laughing too hard. She patted his chest approvingly. “Thanks. I needed that. Also, you’re the only person I’ve told what happened. So don’t share it around, please.”
“Of course.” He nodded slowly, peering into her eyes. “Think you should consider expanding that in the know list to include Tansy and Sydney. They’re rock-solid friends and having them beside you would help.”
“I feel like such a fool, though,” Petra complained.
“You trusted someone, and they lied to you for all the wrong reasons. That makes the failure on their side, not yours.” Aiden set the porch swing swaying, tucking her tighter into his embrace. “You sure you don’t want his knees broken or anything?”
So very tempting, except for one fact. “Whenever thoughts of revenge rise, I remember there’s an innocent kid out there who has an ass for a father and a conniving wench for a mom. She doesn’t need more trouble in her life.”
Aiden pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “You’re a good woman, Petra.”
They sat for a while longer, sunshine sneaking around the side of the house and warming them where they sat, gently rocking. A few birds sang, but mostly it was the sounds of the prairies that wrapped around them. A rush of wind, the creak of the swing. The flag beside the parking area flapping in the wind.
Aiden hummed happily then squeezed the arm around her shoulders. “I hate to interrupt this, but I have a bed to repair.”
Oh God. Petra fought back against the snickers that wanted to rise. “Let me give you a hand with that.”
He stood, holding her hand as he brought her to vertical. “You think it’s safe for us to work together? That’s what caused the bed to break in the first place.”
She poked him in the belly, finger bouncing off an amazing set of ab muscles. “Don’t get me restarted laughing. My stomach already hurts,” she complained.
He squeezed her fingers and strolled them slowly through the living room. “I’m going to have to order a new frame. I’ll leave the mattress on the floor for now if you’re okay with that.”
“Sounds a lot safer,” she teased.
Tidying up didn’t take that long, but after a half-dozen trips to carry the broken wood to the workshop area, it was rapidly approaching the end of the school day.
Aiden dipped his head toward the front of the house. “I know it might be a little overkill, but let’s walk all the way up to the road. We can totally embarrass her. I’m sure that’s a rite of passage she needs to go through.”
“Bring Dixie,” Petra reminded him.
When Aiden linked their fingers together as they walked slowly up the Gravel drive, Petra didn’t mind. She took deep breaths of the fall air and tilted her face up to the sun. “It’s been a good day. I hope it’s been a good day for Jinx as well.”
“Me too,” Aiden agreed.
They waited until the school bus had pulled to a stop. Dixie wiggled impatiently, tail wagging a million miles an hour as the door swung open and Jinx stepped down.
She smiled big as she met Petra’s eyes, chin held high. “You’re here.”
“Too excited to wait for you to walk all the way up to the house,” Petra admitted. She waved at Sasha, who had her face pressed up against the school bus window.
Jinx twisted and waved as well, then she knelt. “Come, Dixie.”
Dixie pounced, slapping her tongue all over Jinx’s face as if the girl had been gone for a million years instead of eight hours.
Aiden made a face. “I was going to offer you a hug, but now that you’re slathered in dog germs, I’ll just wait until you’ve decontaminated yourself.”
Jinx rolled her eyes, and another knot of tension inside Petra’s chest loosened.
One week. One week, and already this girl was beginning to show who she was, strong and resilient.
Petra tipped her head toward the house. “So, save the big stories for when we get to the house, because I know Declan and Jake want to hear them as well, but did you and Sasha still hit it off?”
“She’s pretty amazing,” Jinx said quietly, surprising Petra when she slipped their fingers together, pacing at Petra’s side. “Did you guys have a good day?”
“Pretty good,” Aiden said. “We nearly finished the walls in the studio. Next step is painting.”
They chatted about paint colours and building trim all the way up to the porch, where Declan and Jake stood waiting.
Declan glanced down at the hand between Petra and Jinx and gave Petra an approving nod before focusing on the young woman. “We got your message that things were going okay.”
“It was fine. A few people asked where I was from, but after I told them I’d lived in Winnipeg for a while, that seem to be enough.” Jinx squeezed Petra’s hand then let go. “I think it’s going to work.”
By executive decision, a.k.a. Jinx, they broke in different directions to deal with pre-supper chores. Jinx went with Declan and Aiden to the barn, Petra slid back to the office and left Jake to deal with supper prep.
She had no idea how he was going to pull it off considering how late he was starting, but supper was on the table promptly at five.
“Damn, this looks great.” Aiden scooped a huge ladle of mashed potatoes onto his plate. “Pass the gravy when you get a chance, Declan.”
Jake served up thick slices of steaming hot meatloaf, and Petra glanced around in surprise. There was also a fruit salad and green beans, and when she glanced at the counter and spotted a chocolate cake waiting there, her curiosity got the better of her.
“It looks delicious, Jake, but when did you have time to do this?”
Jake mumbled something then motioned with his spoon toward Jinx. “Is this a big enough piece for you, or do you want more?”
“That’s enough, thanks,” she said, loading up with salad.
Uh-uh. Petra wasn’t going to let it sit. She leaned down and took a deep sniff of the meatloaf. “I like your seasoning blend. What did you put in there, Jake?”
He hesitated before letting out a lusty sigh. “I don’t know. I picked it up at Buns and Roses.”
Aiden slapped the table, laughing as he pointed at his brother. “I knew it. I knew you didn’t have it in you to make this kind of a meal.”
“You plan to have Tansy cook all your meals for you, bro?” Declan asked. He glanced at Petra and his eyes sparkled. “Because I have zero complaints about that idea as long as it’s coming out of your wallet and not the ranch budget.”
Jake took the teasing good-naturedly, and Petra dug into the savoury food with gusto. Like Aiden had said, it turned out to be a very good day.
The rest of the week flew past, and slowly a routine fell into place. Jinx bloomed as her confidence rose with every trip into town. Homework began. Sometimes Sasha Stone would hop off the school bus with her, the two girls sitting at the living room table to go over quadratic equations or working on English essays.
Aiden was shocked to discover he had become the designated homework helper.
On the first Wednesday when the girls had asked Declan for help, Aiden had received in emergency text telling him to get his ass into the house.
He’d rushed in all panicked only to find Declan with a stormy expression and two girls trying very hard to keep straight faces.
His brother shook his head. “Tag team. Your turn.” He glanced over his shoulder at the girls and shook his head. “It was bad enough when I had to do it the first time, and back then they didn’t have things like invisible numbers. You go on and torment Aiden with your questions.”
“Thanks for trying, Mr. Skye,” Sasha offered brightly.
“No problem. If you want help with your horses, then you come to me.” Declan met Sasha’s gaze. “Although I hear Kelli’s pretty smart with them as well.”
“Kelli says it’s always good to learn new things from the best, and Jinx says horses like you.”
Declan dipped his chin. “Extra dessert for you tonight, Jinx,” he promised, sending both girls into a flurry of laughter as he tipped an imaginary hat then headed to the barn.
Ever since then, Aiden had made sure he was free after school in case he could help. It wasn’t Declan’s area of expertise, and as organized as Jake was, he still didn’t feel comfortable being around Jinx without one of the rest of them there.
Aiden was doing his best to make sure that it didn’t always fall on Petra, which would be too easy to do in some ways.
After homework was dealt with, he joined the girls walking the trail that connected the two properties. While both of the ranches were large, like most ranches, the actual houses themselves were walking distance apart.
They crossed over the boundary line, climbing over the stile between the well-maintained fences. Jinx and Sasha chatted easily as Aiden walked behind, enjoying the break in his day and the chance to wander. Dixie danced between him and the girls, pleased as a pig in mud to have both of them around.
When Sasha was within eyesight of her house, she turned and gave Jinx a hug. “I have a lot to do this weekend, so we can’t get together. But maybe next weekend it’ll work that you can come over and we can go riding.” Sasha glanced at Aiden. “My mom said that you and Petra could ride with us if you’d like. I know most of the trails pretty well, but I’m still not supposed to ride by myself without an adult if we’re going to go farther.”
“I’ll check with Petra, but I think it’ll work. We’d enjoy that.”
On the return journey, Jinx walked quietly at Aiden’s side, Dixie prancing between them. It was the type of quiet that was less about being peaceful and more about having a million things running through your brain so quickly that they tripped over each other.
Aiden recognized it because he was pretty much facing that same sensation inside his own head these days. With so much he wanted to accomplish, and so much he hoped for, at times it felt as if the only thing he could do was sit and let his mind race faster than it was possible to plan or hope or dream.
Still, as Jeff would have done, Aiden cleared his throat. “You got anything you need to talk about? If not with me, then Petra?”
Jinx wrinkled her nose. “It just feels—” She glanced up. “How come everything’s working out so well?”
Ah. Aiden considered for a moment, thinking back to when Jeff had taken control and kept their world from falling apart. “Maybe you need to consider a little harder that this is what life is supposed to be like.”
She stopped walking and stared, her big grey eyes full of questions.
He shrugged. “There are a lot of things that happen in this world that shouldn’t. You got into a tough place through no fault of your own. But that’s not what your world was supposed to be like. If you want to use big fancy words, that was never really your destiny. You didn’t deserve the bad, but you definitely deserve the good. And it’s not going to go away, we promise.”
They stood at the edge of the clearing with the animal rescue and future studio in front of them. A blue autumn sky hung overhead as tears filled Jinx’s eyes. She swallowed hard then nodded. “Okay. Okay, I can think about that when I start to feel scared. This is where I’m supposed to be, and that’s why good things are happening.”
Aiden wanted to shout to the sky. He wanted to sweep this girl up and swing her in a circle and ensure her that yes , this was where she belonged and that the good things were going to continue.
What he did was tilt his head toward the barn. “Just enough time for you to deal with the chickens before supper.”
Jinx nodded and took a couple steps toward the barn before coming back and looking up at him bravely. “Thank you.”
“Of course, kiddo.”
He watched her all the way into the barn, Dixie sticking to her heels. Then he took a stroll to give himself time to get his emotions under control.
He was still thinking about the conversation the following week when a shiny red truck pulled up in front of the house just as he and his brothers were headed toward the barn to keep working on the renovations.
“Finally.” Jake paced forward to meet the dark-skinned man climbing down from the cab. “Kevin. Welcome.”
Aiden glanced at Declan. “I thought he wasn’t going to make it until next week.”
“Not going to complain that he’s here ahead of time,” Declan said, following along after Jake.
The man was lean to the point he was nothing but sinew and muscle stretched over bone. He moved smoothly, grabbing a rucksack from the truck bed and throwing it over his shoulder before turning to face the brothers.
His dark brown hair was cut short to his head, with expressive dark brown eyes and a wicked looking cut that ran down the left side of his face, narrowly missing his eye. The wound was closed but still healing.
Kevin held out a hand to Jake and shook it firmly. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“Thanks for saying you’d join us.” Jake shook his head and pointed at his own face. “That’s new.”
Kevin raised his uninjured brow. “Parting gift from my last job.”
Declan stepped forward and offered his hand. “Hopefully we won’t have any close calls for you here.”
“People are unpredictable,” Kevin said without malice. He greeted Aiden as well then stepped back to take an admiring look around the place. “I know you said you’re not ready, but I don’t mind swinging a hammer. Might be a nice change of pace for a while.”
“We’ll take any kind of help you want to give,” Jake assured him, slapping a hand on his shoulder and guiding him toward the living quarters. “We do have one resident already, but we’ll introduce you when the time is right.”
“That’s right. You warned me about that,” Kevin nodded. Then he opened his hands wide. “Put me to work, boys.”
Petra and Jinx were on the schedule to make supper that night. Aiden slipped in ahead of time to give them a heads-up there would be one more at the table.
“He’s the therapist we told you about,” Aiden reminded Jinx quietly. “But he’s also here because he needs a home like High Water as well.”
Jinx leaned against the counter, slipping closer to Petra without being aware of it. “I don’t want to talk to him. Not tonight.”
“No. Of course not. Tonight he’s not a therapist,” Petra assured her. “Tonight he’s another hungry guy who will want at least two burgers and three servings of pie.”
“Okay.” Jinx made a face at Aiden. “It’s hard to make enough dessert so I can take extra pieces for me and Sasha the next day at school with the way you guys eat.”
“Sorry?” But Aiden grinned. “Next time bake three pies?”
Jinx rolled her eyes but she went back to peeling apples.
Petra tugged Aiden aside. He pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers for a kiss. She responded, softening against him, and he kind of forgot what he was about to do and just got lost in enjoying her.
She eased back, stroking her fingers over his cheek. “That was not what I wanted to talk about.”
“Too bad. It’s what I wanted to start with,” he teased. “Okay, serious now. What’s up?”
She stroked her fingers over his chest softly, considering. “Just another turn in the road. Wanted to make sure everybody’s thinking it through and hoping things go smoothly as we add Kevin to the mix.” She made a face. “It’s been a month since Jinx arrived, and I’ve grown to like the forward motion. I don’t want to go back to two steps forward one step back.”
“I hear you,” Aiden assured her. “Jake says he’s a good guy. Has a reputation of being there for his coworkers and victims as well.”
“That’s good, but it’s still hard at this point to change our dynamic.” Her smile grew a little heated. “In other news, the new bed frame is supposed to arrive tomorrow.”
“Check the schedule and make sure we can do a test drive,” Aiden whispered softly.
“For the warranty’s sake, of course,”
“Pitter patter let’s get at ‘er,” Jinx called, interrupting their tête-à-tête.
Petra sputtered as she tilted her head against Aiden’s chest and laughed. “I cannot believe that you got her watching Letterkenny.”
“It’s classic Canadian comedy,” Aiden protested. “Although I do have to watch it with subtitles on. The jocks’ and the stoners’ accents are impossible at times.”
When Jake brought Kevin in to be introduced, Jinx nodded politely but stepped aside and deferred to Petra.
“Slight seating rearrangement change at Jinx’s recommendation,” Petra announced to everyone. “Considering we’ll have new people joining us at different times. This way everyone has a spot and the new people will add on to the side. We can adjust again down the road when needed.”
Jinx and Declan were still across from each other but at the edge of the table. Petra faced Jake, and across from Aiden, Kevin nodded his approval.
“Well thought out.” Kevin pointed to the open space at his side. “It gives me a chance to talk to anyone new without turning it into a big deal. And if any new ladies show up, they can sit there at the head of the table, next to Jinx and Declan, who somehow manages to look very safe in spite of his size.”
“I told you,” Petra said to Jinx. “Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.”
Declan hung his head in his hands. “I asked you not to say that in public.”
“Too late, bro. We heard it, and we’re never going to forget,” Jake gloated.
Kevin’s room wasn’t ready yet, but after supper he good-naturedly set up a bedroll in what would be his space. Six of them gathered by the fire that evening, crowding in closer because the temperature dropped rapidly as the sun vanished earlier in the evening.
Aiden played his guitar. Kevin hummed along for a minute then pulled out a harmonica and began playing an accompaniment. Jinx’s eyes grew wide, and Petra smiled, fingers moving steadily on yet another project.
Aiden looked around at the growing family of High Water.
So much still to do, but they were firmly on the right path.
He turned his attention to Petra, admiring the firelight dancing on her skin, the small smile curling her lips. She swayed her head to the music.
One day at a time, he reminded himself. He just needed to keep the bonds between them growing one day at a time.