Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
KADE
Crack.
Another swing. Another hole in the side of the barn that needs to be torn down and replaced.
If we plan on having cattle here, we need this to be in tip-top shape. Not the run-down mess that Verne let the old barn turn into.
It needs to be torn down to the studs and rebuilt, but I know that is going to get expensive. If I can help with the demo, it’ll be somewhat cheaper.
Not to mention it’s free therapy.
Because I can’t get the image of Presley and her daughter out of my mind. It’s been haunting me since the minute I left the old general store.
Some things really haven’t changed around here. Mr. Moore’s store is still the same as it was in high school. Old wooden aisles half filled with food. Most people go to the shinier, newer store outside of town, but those that have lived in Pinecrest their whole lives? They still go there.
Which is how I ended up running into Presley again.
With her daughter.
Poppy.
When Presley and I were together in high school, we always talked about what our kids would look like.
Who would they look like? Me or her? Who would they act like? What would their personalities be?
“Mini-Presleys,” I always said.
If that isn’t the truth now…
Poppy is a mirror to her mother. But there’s something that is still niggling the back of my brain.
The way her mouth quirked at the side when she whispered.
Something I’ve always done.
There’s no way Poppy is mine. Presley would have told me. There’s no way she wouldn’t have.
Except…I left without a second look back. Left my phone and picked up a new one in Seattle. I didn’t want anything tying me to my life here.
Another hit to the wall and wood goes flying. Dust blows back, hitting me in the face. Wiping the sweat from my brow, I drop down onto the bale of hay to give my arms a rest.
Nothing like working out in the barn to work out my anger.
“You got something against the barn?” Sam asks, nodding his head toward the hole in the wall.
Pulling my hat off my head, I toss it down next to me. “Sorry. Just working some things out.”
“Anything I can help with?” he asks.
“How much do you now about Presley King?” I ask.
“Presley? I know she’s friends with Joey and Georgia, but not much else.” He grins down at me from where he stands. “I don’t know if you know this, but I’m a bit older than your crowd.”
That pulls a laugh from me. “You’re not that old. Not the way you’re helping renovate this place.”
“You’re too kind.” He claps me on the shoulder. “Why are you asking about Presley?”
“Curious, is all. Do you know how old her daughter is?”
“Poppy?” Sam rolls his eyes back and forth, like he’s trying to think it through. “Five? Six, maybe? Not quite sure.”
Fuck.
I’m not around kids enough to know how old they are. I was hoping she might be younger than that. There’d be no question she was Paul’s.
My jaw grinds together just thinking that name.
Fucking Paul.
The right guy from the right side of town. Someone suitable for the precious King family line.
Me?
Presley’s parents hated me from the minute I picked her up for our first date in an old tan car that I borrowed from Verne. Something he loaned me until I saved enough to get my own ride.
“You okay? You look like you’re ready to punch a wall.”
I scrub a hand down my face. “Yeah. I’m trying to figure a few things out.”
“I’d ask if you want help, but you seem to have things taken care of in here.”
Looking behind me, the wall is almost completely gone. “Damn. Maybe I should try to work more things out in here.”
“You should. Reenie doesn’t want anyone’s help at the lodge.”
I nod. “When I asked if I could give my input on the wallpaper, she told me unless I chopped my dick off, I get no say.”
“Damn. Don’t get in her way.”
“I have to give her credit though. She’s got a good eye. What she’s already done looks great.”
Sam gives me a concerned look. “Are you sure you want to be living in a construction zone?”
I wave him off. “I’m good. There’s worse places I could be. Besides, you can’t beat the commute.”
“You got that right. I’ve got to head back to pick up the guests for their trail ride.”
“We have guests?” I ask.
“We do. Joey says we have a few more reservations the week after too.”
“Good.”
More guests means more money. I’m pouring everything I have into this place to fix it up, but I need every last penny.
Because fixing up an entire ranch is more than I thought it would be.
“Don’t go breaking anything while you’re trying to fix this place up. We don’t need you knocking the entire thing down.”
I flip him off as he gives me a shit-eating grin. “I don’t plan on it.”
“Good. I’ll see you around.”
He’s off, leaving me alone again with my thoughts.
That inevitably circle back around to Presley.
Fuck. I can’t get her out of my mind. Is this what it’s going to be like every day? Me stressing about seeing her? Seeing her daughter?
Hell, maybe even my daughter?
Fuck it. I can’t keep doing this.
I need to talk to her. No matter how badly it hurts to see Presley, I have to have a conversation with her.
Grabbing my keys, I head to my truck.
Because this can’t wait a minute longer.