4. Fresh Starts and Old Wounds
4
FRESH STARTS AND OLD WOUNDS
KENZIE
I chew my lip, mulling over Mel's question. Did I miss something? Were there signs I should've seen?
My mind races back through every conversation, every letter, every phone call with Ian. I scrutinize each memory, searching for a hint, a clue, anything that might've tipped me off.
But I come up empty.
Ian never mentioned Paige. Never hinted at a wife or a complicated past. He painted himself as a reformed man, eager to start. Just like me.
A bitter laugh escapes my lips. How could I have been so blind? So naive?
But even as I berate myself, a small voice in the back of my mind whispers: You couldn't have known. He fooled you, just like he fooled everyone else .
I squeeze my eyes shut, fighting back tears. It doesn't matter now. The damage is done. I'm the other woman, the homewrecker, in a town where I don't know a soul.
Except Miss Steph and Mel.
I open my eyes, meeting her concerned gaze. "No," I say softly. "I didn't see any signs. He played me like a fiddle, and I fell for every note. Because God knows I would have never boarded the bus if I'd known."
My voice cracks, and I have to swallow hard against the lump rising in my throat. "I may be a lot of things, but I ain't no homewrecker. You gotta believe me."
For a long moment, Mel just studies me, her expression inscrutable. Then, slowly, she nods. "I believe you."
The knot of tension in my chest loosens, and I let out a shaky breath. "You do?"
"'Course I do," she says with a reassuring smile. "Why would you lie about something like that?"
I blink, thrown by her easy acceptance. "You mean... you're not gonna lecture me about being more careful? Tell me, I'm just asking for trouble?"
Mel snorts out a laugh, shaking her head. "Nah, girl. Sounds to me like you've been through enough already without me piling it on. "
Her expression is sober, and she leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees.
"Look, Kenzie, I'mma give it to you straight, okay? Paige and her little crew they're vicious. And now that you're on their radar, they're gonna come at you with everything they've got."
I swallow hard, feeling that familiar knot of dread twist in my gut. "Yeah, I kinda got that impression."
"But here's the thing," Mel continues, her voice taking on that same steely edge from earlier. "You can't let them see you sweat, you feel me? The second you back down or try to play nice, that's when they'll really sink their claws in."
She reaches out, gripping my forearm in a surprisingly strong grip.
"You gotta stand up for yourself around here, Kenz. Show 'em you ain't just some doormat they can walk all over."
I nod slowly, letting her words sink in. Back home, keeping my head down was the only way to survive. But here, in this little town where everyone seems to have an opinion about me already?
Maybe it's time to start fighting back.
"You're right," I say, my voice strengthening with resolve. "I can't just let Paige and her mean girl posse run me outta town before I even get a chance to settle in."
A slow grin spreads across Mel's face. "That's my girl. Now, what do you say we head over to the shop and show this place what you're made of?"
I return her smile, a newfound determination settling in my bones. "You know what? I think that's what I'mma do."
As we stand and head off down the street, I can't shake the feeling that things in Silver Ridge are about to get a whole lot more interesting.
But for the first time since that disastrous day at the bus station, I don't feel so alone anymore.
The bell above the door jingles cheerfully as Mel and I step into Steph's Consignment Shop. I pause just inside the entrance, taking a moment to drink it all in.
The space is bright and airy, with large windows letting in plenty of natural light. Racks and shelves line the walls, overflowing with an eclectic mix of clothes, books, and knickknacks. There's a sort of organized chaos to it all that feels strangely inviting.
"Not too shabby, huh?" Mel's voice breaks into my thoughts. She's grinning at me, clearly reading the surprise on my face.
"It's... definitely not what I was expecting," I admit with a small chuckle. "In a good way, though."
"Just wait'll you see the back room," she says with a wink. "That's where the real magic happens. "
Before I can ask what she means, a voice calls out from the back of the shop. "Mel? That you, sugar?"
"Yeah, Mamma, it's me and Kenzie!" Mel hollers back.
There's a brief pause, then the sound of footsteps approaching. A moment later, Steph appears in the doorway.
"How'd I beat y’all here?"
"We had breakfast at Millie's and a run-in with Paige and her loudmouth friends."
Steph wags her head. "Chile, don't you pay those fools no mind. You'd think they'd have better things to do."
"Well…they don't. But we do." Mel makes a turn towards what I assume is the back of the shop.
I'm amazed by these two. And I'm thankful Mel offered me a ride and a place to stay when she saw me wandering up and down Main Street after that incident at the bus station.
"Thanks again. We'll get your paperwork handled later after I get back. Don't forget to pack the welcome box for the family."
"Yes, ma'am. We'll start there first, and once I get her settled, I'll head back to the ranch."
"Okay, love. Be careful and holler if you need me." Steph strolls to the door and glances over at me. "You too."
"Yes, ma'am."
There's a sincerity to her words that warms me from the inside out. After the morning's confrontation with Paige and her crew, it's nice to be reminded that not everyone in this town is out to get me.
"I'm out!"
I turn to Mel with a smile. "Your mamma's a saint."
Mel's expression softens, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Yeah, she's the best. Now, let's get to work. I have chores waiting for me at the ranch."
"All right. Lead the way."
There's a wealth of affection and respect in her tone that makes me smile. Clearly, whatever I'm about to get myself into here, I've got some solid people in my corner.
The back room is even more chaotic than the front, with boxes and bins overflowing with donations. But there's a method to the madness, I can tell—everything is neatly sorted and labeled according to some system Steph created.
"Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it before too long," she says with a wry grin, clearly reading the slightly overwhelmed look on my face.
I nod gamely, rolling up my sleeves. "Just show me what needs doing, and I'm on it."
For the next couple of hours, Mel walks me through the process of sorting, pricing, and organizing the various donations. It's tedious work, to be sure, but there's something almost meditative about it that I find calming.
Then we assembled a box of clothes, toiletries, and toys for the family Steph went to pick up from the town over. It must be so cool to do work that impacts so many people. Just being here today makes me feel like I'm doing something that matters.
As I work, my mind can't help but drift back to my earlier confrontation with Paige. Her words ricochet through my brain on a loop— homewrecker, tramp, whore . I grit my teeth, fighting against the familiar wave of shame and self-loathing that threatens to crest.
No. I'm not gonna let that piss-ant rich girl get to me. Not anymore.
Mel was right—if I want to make it in this town, I gotta toughen up and stand my ground. I've spent too damn long letting people like Paige Hawkins walk all over me.
Well, no more.
A new sense of determination settles over me as I refocus on the task at hand. I may have made some mistakes in my past, but that doesn't define me. Not anymore.
This job, as small and unglamorous as it might seem, is my fresh start. My chance to build something for myself, to finally put down roots after so many false starts.
I pause, a soft smile tugging at my lips as I run my fingers over the spines of a box of donated books. Who would've thought little ol' me would end up in a place like Silver Ridge, Montana?
As I turn back to the sorting table, my gaze lands on a framed photo hanging on the wall. It's Steph and Mel, arms slung around each other's shoulders as they grin at the camera. But they're not alone—a hulking man with a bushy beard and kind eyes stands beside them, one massive hand resting on Steph's shoulder.
Mr. Joseph, or Big Bear, as everyone calls him, is the epitome of a gentle giant.
I study his face. There's something... familiar about him. Like I've seen that gentle smile before, a lifetime ago.
"Everything okay over there, sugar?"
I jump a little and see Steph's back. I blink rapidly, tearing my gaze away from the photo.
"Yeah, sorry," I say quickly, mustering up a smile. "That’s a great family photo."
She follows my gaze, her own expression softening. "Ah, yes. That was taken at the Founder's Day festival a few years back."
Her eyes crinkle at the corners as she gestures to the man beside her. "Who would have thought that I'd move all the way to Montana to marry a big ole country White man."
Steph laughs in a way that only she can. Full and warm, and it makes me smile like I've heard the story before. But I quietly wait for her to continue.
"That man's the light of my life and the biggest teddy bear you'll ever meet, despite his size. And I wouldn't trade that man for all the money in the world."
"How'd you two meet?" I lean in, eager to hear Steph's love story. Her eyes sparkle with memories as she begins.
"Well, sugar, it all started with a letter," Steph says, her voice warm with nostalgia. "I was in a bad place, trying to escape an abusive marriage with little Mel on my hip. I'd seen an ad in the paper for pen pals and thought, why not?"
She chuckles, shaking her head. "Lord knows I needed a friend. So I wrote this letter, pouring my heart out to a stranger. Didn't expect much, you know?"
I nod, understanding all too well the desperation that comes with feeling alone.
"But then, a week later, I got a response. This big, burly man with the gentlest soul you've ever seen had read my words and felt compelled to write back. That was my Bear."
Steph's smile widens, her eyes distant as she recalls those early days. "We wrote back and forth for months. He told me about his ranch and his dreams of expanding it. I shared my hopes for a better life for Mel and me."
"Did you fall in love through the letters?" I ask, caught up in the romance of it all.
Steph laughs, a rich, full sound that fills the room. "Oh honey, I was halfway there before we even met in person. But when I finally scraped together enough money for a one-way bus ticket to Silver Ridge? That's when I knew for sure."
She leans forward, her voice dropping conspiratorially. "Picture this: I step off that bus, exhausted from the long trip, Mel fussing in my arms. And there he is, this mountain of a man with the kindest eyes I've ever seen."
I can almost see it myself. Steph, younger but just as fierce, looking for a do-over just like me.
"He took one look at us, scooped Mel right out of my arms, and said, 'Welcome home, ladies.' Just like that."
Steph's eyes mist over, and she dabs at them with the corner of her apron. "From that moment on, we were a family. Bear never once treated Mel like she wasn't his own. He loved us both unconditionally. "
"That's beautiful," I murmur, touched by the depth of emotion in Steph's voice.
She nods, reaching out to squeeze my hand. "It wasn't always easy, mind you. We had our struggles, especially in the beginning. But that man? He stood by us through thick and thin."
Steph's gaze drifts to the photo on the wall, her expression softening. "Looking back now, I can hardly believe how blessed we've been. That one letter changed the entire course of our lives."
I follow her gaze, studying the happy family in the picture. It's a far cry from the scared, desperate woman Steph described stepping off that bus.
"You took a huge risk," I say, admiration coloring my voice. "Coming all the way out here on the strength of some letters."
Steph turns back to me, her smile knowing. "Sometimes, sugar, you've got to take that leap of faith. When your heart tells you something's right? You listen."
Her words hit me hard, stirring up feelings I've been trying to ignore. Can my story turn out like Steph’s? That all the risks are worth it?
"I'm glad it worked out for you," I say softly.
Steph squeezes my hand again. "It'll work out for you, too, Kenzie. Give yourself time, and you’ll land on your feet. Because you've got more strength in you than you know."
I blink back the sudden sting of tears, overwhelmed by her faith in me. For a moment, I let myself believe her. That I can weather this and land on my feet in this little mountain town too.
A few hours later, I step out of the shop, the bell chiming behind me. The crisp mountain air fills my lungs, a stark contrast to the cozy warmth inside. My eyes scan the street, and I freeze.
There they are.
Everett stands across the way, his broad shoulders taut beneath his flannel. The twins, Harper and Hazel, bounce around his legs like excited puppies. And beside him, towering and stoic, is another man I don't recognize.
"Look what the cat dragged in." Mel drawls beside me.
"Friends of yours?" I tear my gaze away from the group to glance at her.
She snorts. "You could say that." Her eyes narrow, fixed on the unfamiliar man. "Looks like the heartbreakers are out in full force today."
I follow her line of sight, my brow furrowing. "Heartbreakers?"
Before she can respond, a shrill cry cuts through the air. "Miss Kenzie! "
My head snaps back to see Harper and Hazel waving frantically, identical grins splitting their faces. A smile tugs at my lips as I wave back, their enthusiasm infectious.
But then my gaze locks with Everett's.
Cars, people, and time drag. His piercing blue eyes hold mine, unreadable yet intense. My breath catches in my throat, and heat stirs in my body.
What is this? This man is some kind of warlock.
I want to look away, but I can't. It's like he's got me pinned in place with just his stare.
A strange mixture of warmth and unease swirls in my gut. This man – this virtual stranger—shouldn’t have this effect on me, not after everything that's happened.
And yet...
"You all right over there," Mel's voice breaks through my haze. I blink, the spell broken.
"Sorry, what?"
She raises an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing at her lips. "I said we should get going. Unless you'd rather stand here making googly eyes at the local eye candy."
Heat burns my cheeks. "I wasn't?—"
"Uh-huh," she cuts me off, clearly not buying it. "Come on, girl. Let's blow this popsicle stand."
As we turn to leave, I sneak one last glance across the street. To my surprise, Everett's still watching me, his expression unreadable.
But it's the man beside him that catches my attention now. He's staring at Mel with an intensity that rivals Everett's, his jaw clenched tight.
Mel studiously avoids looking in their direction, but I notice the slight tremor in her hands as she fumbles with her keys.
"So," I venture cautiously. "You gonna tell me what that was all about?"
She sighs, her shoulders slumping. "It's... complicated."
"Complicated how?"
Mel opens her mouth to respond, but a deep voice cuts her off.
"Melanie."
We both whirl around to find the mystery man standing right behind us, his green eyes boring into Mel.
"Axton," she breathes, and I swear I can see her pulse quicken in her throat.
There's clearly history here—and some unfinished business.
"What do you want?" Mel's holding those keys like a lifeline.
Axton takes a step closer, his voice low and urgent. "We need to talk. "
"I've got nothing to say to you," Mel snaps, but I don't miss the slight tremor in her voice. “Axton, Kenzie. Kenzie, Axton.”
I glance between them, feeling like I'm witnessing something I shouldn't. The air is thick with unspoken words and barely contained emotions.
"Kenzie," he nods in my direction.
"Nice to meet you," I respond cautiously, noting how Mel's grip tightens around the handle. I watch her closely, sensing the tension rolling off her.
Axton's gaze shifts between Mel and me, and he clears his throat. "I'm sure we'll see each other around. Drive safe."
"Will do," Mel says briskly, her voice clipped.
We climb into the truck. As soon as we pull away, I can feel the tension in her posture.
I glance at Mel as she navigates the winding roads of Silver Ridge. Her jaw's clenched tight enough to crack walnuts.
"So..." I drawl, desperate to understand what just happened. "That was... intense ."
Mel's eyes flick to me, then back to the road. "We're not talking about Axton."
"Come on," I wheedle. "You can't leave me hanging like that. The way he was looking at you was…"
"I said we're not talking about it," Mel snaps. Then, softer, "At least not until you're ready to swap stories. Everett was staring at you like he has heat vision."
I blink, caught off guard. "Everett? There's nothing going on between me and Everett."
Mel snorts. "Yeah, right. That man could have set your clothes on fire with the heat in his gaze. And I saw the way you were drooling."
"I wasn't drooling."
"Uh-huh." Mel's tone drips with disbelief. "And I suppose you weren't using your own x-ray vision to see what was under that flannel and them denims?"
"No! I was not!" I sputter, mortified that I got caught.
Mel just raises an eyebrow, her lips twitching with barely suppressed amusement.
I slump in my seat, crossing my arms. "Fine. I guess you know how to shut down that discussion."
"Damn straight," Mel says, a hint of smugness in her voice.
We lapse into silence, the only sound the rumble of the truck's engine. I stare out the window, watching the mountains roll by. But try as I might, I can't stop seeing Everett.
Lord help me, but that man does things to me .
Things I have no business feeling, especially not after the disaster with Ian. The last thing I need right now is to get entangled with another man, no matter how sexy he might be.
As we round the bend, the sprawling farmhouse comes into view. It's a bit weather-worn, but there's something undeniably charming about it, even for a shelter.
Flower boxes hang from every window, bursting with colorful blooms, and a wrap-around porch beckons invitingly.
"Thanks for the ride."
"You're welcome. Want to ride in together in the morning?"
"You don't have to. I can walk."
"Girl, please. Be ready at eight."
Gratitude wells up, threatening to choke me. "Mel, I... I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything," she says firmly. "That's what friends are for."
Friends . The word settles warm in my chest. It's been a long time since I've had a real friend.
“Thanks, and good night.”
I walk to the door and turn to wave goodbye as Mel makes the rest of her drive up the road to the ranch.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself. Not bad for an honest day's work.
As I reach for the door handle, a flicker of movement catches my eye. I turn, squinting at the tree line at the edge of the property.
For a split second, I could swear I saw a familiar silhouette watching from the shadows. My heart leaps into my throat.
It can't be...
But when I blink, the figure is gone, leaving me to wonder if it was ever there at all.