Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Sharp
“Do you know what the fuck you’re doing?” Ewan asked, and I froze, wondering where the hell that had come from.
I set down my tack and stared at Ewan. He looked the same as ever, his hair a little long, curling at the ends, his beard a little bushier since we were in the middle of the season, and Livvy and Amelia seemed to like it.
But he was still my big brother. The quieter one. The one who went all in with friendships, relationships, and family.
And I knew what he wanted. Why he was concerned.
Because I was just as concerned. Only I was doing my best to pretend I wasn’t. That it made no sense. That I could live in this idea of bliss and harmony without thinking the worst.
Or perhaps I was crazy in denial. Because honestly, that might be the only thing I could do to breathe in this moment.
“Of course, I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. If I knew what I was doing, I wouldn’t be in the barn, cleaning up, dragging my feet because I know it’s the last night she’s here.”
Ewan cursed under his breath and then ran his hands through his hair. “I’m not going to say that I don’t want you to hurt her, or that I’ll kick your ass if you do. Because she’s my family, and I care about her.”
I turned to look at my brother once again, that kick in the gut from his words unexpected.
“You’re not?” I let out of breath. “I thought you’d be warning me away from her because you knew it was a mistake.”
“It’s up to you both if you think it’s a mistake. But you’re my brother, Sharp. You do realize that, right? We’re blood. We’re family. And while I love and like Jamie, and she’s my sister now, or I guess cousin, who knows how the fuck Montgomery’s do family trees.”
My lips twitch. “I think they’re even like second cousins once removed or something like that. I have no idea how genealogy works.”
“Isn’t that the study of rocks?” Galen asked as he came forward, playing the bill of his hat.
I met Ewan’s gaze and held back a groan. “I can’t with you, Galen. It hurts. Physically hurts.”
“I’m just fucking with you. I know genealogy is the study of women named Jean.”
“You’re an asshole.” But the laughter had been needed, and I knew Galen had done it on purpose.
“So. What are you two going to do? She leaves tomorrow, bruh.”
Another kick to the solar plexus. “I know she leaves tomorrow. She knows she leaves tomorrow.”
“You guys haven’t talked about it?” Ewan asked.
“When? When we were sneaking around, me taking her out on dates, and both of us pretending that it wasn’t happening? When we were texting each other before she even got here? When I realized that I had never loved Jo and I have no idea what I’m feeling about Jamie? Is that what you mean?”
“Pretty much,” Galen said, and I pinched the bridge of my nose.
“I don’t know what I’m doing. Because I wasn’t supposed to fall for her. I wasn’t supposed to text her back. Think about her. Or want her like I do. And now I don’t know what the fuck I’m supposed to do.”
“Well, brother of mine. Would you leave Clover Lake for her?” Ewan asked, his voice so low that it barely carried. Galen froze next to me, and I swallowed hard.
“I don’t know. It hasn’t been long enough, right? I don’t know what she feels for me. What she wants.”
“Have you talked to her?” Both Ewan and I looked over at Galen at his words. He held up both hands. “What? I may be an idiot, but I do realize that communication is the best way to keep a relationship going. That’s probably why I haven’t been in a relationship. But I digress. Have you talked?”
“We’ve done our best not to talk,” I said after a moment.
The silence between us was an answer in itself.
“Just keep in mind that the Montgomerys are like the mob.”
I blinked at Ewan’s words. “What?”
“They’re like the mob. Once you’re in, you’re in.
There is no getting out. But they’re nice.
And they have cheese. I like them. They’re my family too.
And if the situation had been reversed, and if Livvy hadn’t wanted to move here, I wouldn’t be here.
You three would have to deal with the family legacy, or we’d shop it off to one of the cousins, because I would go anywhere for her.
She wanted to be here, and Amelia loves it here. I got so fucking lucky.”
I didn’t have anything to say about that, because that meant I would have to talk to Jamie about it, and we were both so good about not doing so, that we were fucking everything up.
After a moment, they both left me to my own demons, and I finished cleaning up, knowing I needed to get back to the main house. We were having a goodbye dinner for Jamie, because she would be going home. Back to her job, her family, her life.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. It wasn’t supposed to feel as if we were ripping each other apart. And yet, time had no meaning, and I didn’t want her to go.
But how selfish would it be for me to ask.
I was a rancher. I had no idea what the hell I would do in Denver. I didn’t have skills that would translate down there. But maybe I could figure it out. After all, Ewan had said he would move down there. Maybe he would have a plan. I would just take his and figure it out.
With a sigh, I ran my hands over my face and made my way out of the barn so I could go to Jamie’s goodbye party and pretend I wasn’t breaking inside.
A shadow crossed my way, and I froze, looking up to see someone I hadn’t expected.
My hands fisted at my sides as William stood there, hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels.
“Is there some reason that you’re on my property right now? Because I have the feeling the last time you were here, you tried to kill me.”
I hadn’t meant to say it so bluntly, but here I was, being a fucking idiot. Part of me wanted to search for a weapon, to make sure that William didn’t have another chance to hurt me, and yet, the look on William’s face, I wasn’t sure that would’ve helped.
“I deserve that. I’m sorry.”
I froze, wondering if perhaps he had knocked me out and this was an odd dream.
“Run that by me again?”
“I’m sorry. I know you always suspected it, but it was me.
I gave you one of my grandma’s sleeping pills, and I didn’t realize it would knock you out so hard.
I went with the prescription directions and everything.
But Jo didn’t know how to walk out on the wedding, to say no, and I would do anything for her.
Still would. I realize that I could have killed you.
Or you could have gotten hurt while you were on the side of the road, or some other shit.
If you want to go to the sheriff and tell them what I did, you can.
I’ll take the punishment. But I don’t think I can sleep anymore and be a dad and have them know what I did without me paying the consequences. Without you knowing.”
Of everything that he had told me, one word stuck out, and my jaw dropped.
“A dad?”
William winced. “Jo is pregnant. We’re going to be parents.
She’s so fucking happy. And hopefully the baby will keep her family off your back.
I’m sorry about that. I know I’m an asshole.
I know that I’m not a good person, and I’m working on it.
For my kid. I’ll work on it. And I know Jo will too.
But I’m sorry. For hurting you, and for not having the balls to stand up for the woman that I love.
For not telling her family that I wanted to be the one to love her.
They only wanted her to marry you because they wanted your family name.
And I guess that’s what she was going for too.
I’m nobody compared to the McBrides. And I let that get to me.
I let a lot of things get to me in the past. So I’m sorry.
I have a feeling that the family will stop messing with your woman now, and you.
They’re going to focus on us. And I wanted you to know.
So anything you want to do, you let me know. I’ll take it. I deserve it. I’m sorry.”
Out of all of the scenarios I had played over in my mind when it came to this moment or finding out for sure what William had done, this had never entered the space.
The idea that William would be so open. So truthful.
If it wasn’t for the fact that I had grown up with this guy, and knew his face, his mannerisms, his voice, I would’ve said that he was a doppelganger or some shit.
But no, this was him. And perhaps I was losing my damn mind.
“You could have killed me.”
“I know,” he said with a wince. “I couldn’t think of anything else, and I guess I watched too many movies. Sorry.”
“I want to say that sorry is not good enough, but frankly, you’re the one who has to deal with that family day in and day out. Maybe that’s cruel of me, but maybe you did me a favor.”
I couldn’t believe I was saying these words. I had been so mad at him for so long, even before the wedding, and yet, I couldn’t take it out on him. Not when it felt like it was a lifetime ago.
“What?”
“I can’t forgive you. Because that was so fucking stupid.
It was idiotic. And dangerous. And if I hear about you doing anything similar, or if I hear that your kid’s ever in danger?
I’ll go to the sheriff. I’ll go to the media.
Or I’ll kick your ass. And maybe you helped me in the long run.
Albeit in the most idiotic and criminally way possible. ”
William blanched, but nodded in agreement. “I’m in your debt.”
“Maybe. Just be a good dad, okay? And make sure Jo’s a good mom. And make sure that they don’t fuck with my family.”
“That I’ll do. I’ll stand up to them. Jo’s brothers are assholes, but I’ll do it. For my kid.”
“Do it for yourself too.”
“You McBrides were always decent.”
“I thought we were righteous assholes?” I asked wryly.
“Maybe. But I’m the idiot who’s lucked out. So, I guess I’ll go. But good luck. And congrats with your new woman. You guys seem happy around town.”