Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
Luke tapped the side of the steering wheel with his thumb in time to “Kickstart My Heart” by Motley Crüe. The scent of smoked brisket lingered on his clothes and a takeaway bag was tucked behind his seat.
They’d been driving for over three hours and were finally deep within the mountains.
Clouds hid the highest peaks, but a few rays of sunshine still broke through to light up the valleys and ravines.
The mountain road was narrow and winding, the cab of his truck was warm, and a few raindrops whispered against the windshield.
Since they’d turned off the AC and cracked their windows an hour ago, a breeze blew in that smelled of damp earth and sweet elderflowers.
“What is that smell?” Holly rolled up her window. “It’s horrid.”
He laughed. “Elderflowers. I’ve always loved that smell, but Abe says it stinks like cat piss.”
She grimaced and shifted in her seat. “I wouldn’t go that far, but it’s not pleasant.”
“It’s like cilantro.” He rolled up his window so she wouldn’t feel sick. “You either love it or hate it.”
“Besides Abe, do your other brothers hate or like the smell?”
“I don’t remember.” Which, now that he thought about it, was kind of sad.
Holly sighed. The kind of sigh that only came after too much food and just enough peace.
Her head was tipped back against the seat, her eyes half-closed, a faint smile ghosting her lips.
“I can’t believe I’m still stuffed. Like Thanksgiving turkey stuffed.
I hope they have a tux that fits you after the lunch you ate. ”
He loved the teasing tone in her voice and patted his flat stomach. Then he sent her a sexy smile. “I’m counting on the pants having elastic waistbands.”
She threw a napkin at him and glanced at the food bags behind his seat. “No more eating until we get to Milltown.”
“Yes, ma’am. Now it’s time for a quiz. How many brothers do I have? List them from oldest to youngest.” For the past few hours, he’d been talking while driving. Partly to keep himself awake after his own food stupor. And partly because it was so easy to talk to her.
But he hadn’t missed the fact that he’d mostly told her about his family while she’d shared very little about her own.
“Five.” She tapped her chin with the tip of her ringless ring finger. “Jacob, the eldest, is married to Clara. They have a teenage daughter and a baby son. He owns a contracting company, and Clara is an event planner.”
“Next?”
“Hmm.” Now she stared out the windshield. “Kane, a white hat computer hacker, is the second oldest. He’s married to Eve, the accountant who is also in Hawk’s wedding. And Eve is pregnant.”
“Did I tell you that Ben, the next oldest, is the town’s sheriff?”
“Yes, and his wife, Sophie, is a chef.” Holly glanced at him. “But you also told me that Ben and Kane were in the Devil’s Renegades. How can Ben be a sheriff?”
“All of us, except for Jacob because he’s the oldest and was always the most mature, were in the MC until Caleb got us all out.
I suspect it was harder to get Kane and Ben out since they were fully patched members.
Trent, Abe, and I were only prospects. By the time we’d joined the MC, Caleb was paying more attention to his grandsons and put an end to that ‘nonsense’ as he called it. ”
“I don’t know anything about outlaw MCs, but that makes sense.” She gave him one of those female below-the-eyelash looks that warned of an incoming personal question. “I know your mother left, but you never speak of your father.”
“He owns a winery in Virginia. Spent most of my childhood and current adulthood in France, buying grape vines. Jacob raised us, kind of. And so did Caleb.” Luke shrugged. “That is, when he was paying attention.”
“So, what you’re telling me, is that you and your five brothers were raised as feral wolves.”
His laugh filled the cab. “Basically.”
They hit a switchback and the road narrowed.
“Wait.” Holly pointed at the sign they just passed. “It says Milltown is still eighty miles away.” Then she motioned to the clock that said six p.m. “Will we make it by eight?”
“I know a shortcut. Besides, there’s only one real estate agency in town. When they hear you’re with me, they’ll understand. I don’t have a reputation for being early.”
She shook her head, and strands of hair fell from her messy bun. “How could they possibly know I’m with you?”
“Abe knows you’re with me, and I also mentioned that you have an appointment with the real estate agent tonight.
So, by now, I’m sure Jacob knows and will call the office to let them know.
He’s responsible like that.” He nodded toward the phone mounted on the dashboard.
“But when we get near a cell tower, we can call, if you want.”
“Okay.” She tucked the stray hairs behind her ears. “I can’t believe there’s no cell service in these mountains.”
“There’s some service, but it’s dicey. That’s why most people who live around here carry SAT phones.”
She sighed, nodded, and stared out the side window again.
To lighten the mood a bit, he added, “You know, I’d bet my surf shop that the entire town of Milltown already knows you’re in my truck.”
She turned toward him, her eyes wide. “Are you serious?”
“It’s a small town.” He nodded solemnly, like he had all the wisdom. “You’ll get used to it.”
She snorted elegantly. “I hope so.”
“Back to your quiz.” He tightened his hold on the wheel and kept the speed under control as they headed down a steep grade. “Who is my next brother?”
She crossed her arms over her chest and turned toward the side window that offered an incredible view of mountains, steep cliffs, and glittering green forests. “Trent, right? The veterinarian. And he recently married a woman named Ivy.”
“Yes. I’ve not met Ivy yet. I’ve only spoken to her, but she seems sweet. She recently opened a florist shop with a photo studio on the second floor.”
“I’d love to see that.” She used her fingers to count to five. “Abe, your twin, is twenty-nine. Like you. And unmarried. Also like you. Except Abe is retiring from the Army this summer and wants to open some kind of outfitter business one day… hiking, hunting, team-building stuff for vets.”
He winked at her. “You get a gold star.”
“Thanks—wait. Wow.” Holly learned forward and gripped the dash. “This is… indescribable.”
“It’s Mosby’s Gap.” He wasn’t expecting the awe he heard in his voice, but it was warranted.
The landscape had opened up, giving them a view of six mountaintops interwoven with foothills and valleys.
It was a sea of green trees, and white and yellow wildflowers.
Birds of prey floated on the wind stream.
“Named after your family?”
“Yes, but mostly after Caleb.” Luke slowed down and turned right onto an unnamed logging road.
“Where are you going?”
“Shortcut. Remember?”
“Now I’m wondering if Kev was right about you wanting to miss your tux fitting.” She motioned toward a No Trespassing sign nailed to a tree. “Are we trespassing?”
“No. This is Mosby land.” He lowered the truck’s gear so it could gain momentum on the path’s steep grade. “Caleb owned five mountains.”
She glanced at him. “I didn’t know it was possible to own mountains.”
“It’s harder now than it used to be.”
The trees pressed in from above and the sides, forming a dark, shaded canopy. They both went quiet, possibly from the otherworldly feel the forest offered.
A few minutes later, he parked in a wide clearing.
“I don’t understand.” She glared at him. “The road has ended.”
“Yep.” He turned off the truck, grabbed the bag from behind his seat, and said, “Follow me.”
She got out and followed him up a narrow path. “We have a schedule to keep, Luke.”
“I know.” He held back branches for her so they wouldn’t hit her in the face. “You’re just going to have to trust me.”
“At this point, I don’t have a choice.” She kept up with his pace on the narrow dirt trail, but he could hear her muttering, “I better not end up in a ditch.”
“There are no ditches up here.” He held back the last branch and allowed her to move past him. “Just steep cliffs and million dollar views.”
She went into the clearing at the top of the hill and paused. “Oh, Luke.”
The way she said his name, filled with awe and joy, sent the blood rushing from his head to another part of his body.
But instead of paying attention to that, he took her hand and led her to an iron bench that sat on the edge of a cliff.
“After Caleb died, Jacob and Ben put this bench here in his honor. This is the first time I’m seeing it. ”
She waved toward the ornate black iron bench with rolled arms and intricate designs along the seat. “There’s no plaque on the bench.”
“Caleb would’ve hated that.” They sat and she met his gaze. Her eyes were shiny and her wide smile loosened some of the sadness in his chest—a sadness he hadn’t been aware he’d been holding on to.
“This is so beautiful.” She took his hand and squeezed. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
He kept her smaller hand tucked within his, sat back, and took in the view.
From this vantage point, he could see miles and miles of mountain peaks and valleys, including the rushing river below that had probably helped form this geography thousands of years ago.
Green pines, white dogwoods, pink redbuds, and yellow forsythia dotted the entire mountain range.
Birds dove for food or coasted on the wind.
A sudden feeling of gratitude mixed with grief… and maybe a bit of loneliness… made his stomach cramp and his heart race. It’d been years since he’d last been here, in this exact spot, and the memories washed over him.
Caleb lecturing him, as usual. Feeling like the kid who didn’t fit in with the rest of his brothers, as usual. Being told he was the biggest screwup in Kingsmill, as usual.