Chapter 48
Logan
May
It’s late morning when Jack, Jameson, and I hop out of Jack’s truck after an early morning of fishing at the lake.
Jon is strolling out of the garage with a wrench in hand, heading for where the mechanic tinkers with our seeding tractor.
Thomas watches from the driver’s seat above.
Macy dangles off the tire swing and the twins toss a baseball to each other—civilly. Egan must be with Sarah and the babies.
“Sixty-nine!” Jon declares with a grin.
Jameson and Jack snort.
“I can’t wait till calving season is over.” I pull my gear from the back.
“Because rutting season is so much better,” Jack mocks me.
“Yeah, remember that time a bull charged you in the UTV, Jon? Tipped the whole damn thing over?” Jameson shakes his head.
“I thought I was a goner.” Jon lifts his hat off long enough to fix his hair. “Hey, Logan, you were right about that.” He aims the wrench at the tractor. “Bad breather cap.”
“Figured.” But it feels good to be right, especially after I spent all yesterday draining the fluids and pulling out the filters.
“Gunked up pretty bad, but I’m running the good flushing oil through now. I’m Ross, by the way.” The mechanic reaches out to shake my hand. “Heard you’re trying to put me out of a job at North Country.”
I smile. “It’s gonna take a while for that, but I am enjoying working on the engines. Do you mind if I watch what you’re doin’ here? I always learn better hands on.”
“Of course!” He leans in to mock whisper, “As long as you don’t talk as much as your brother-in-law.”
“No one does.”
“Hey, you like our conversations!” Jon retorts with a hint of insult. “Oh, Logan, Mum said to go find her when you get back. She’s in the stables.”
I check my watch. “Why isn’t she at the market?” The Open sign is lit and cars were already in the lot.
He shrugs. “I don’t ask these kinds of questions.”
“All right. I better get out there.”
“Happy birthday again, huh?” Jack slaps my shoulder. “Enjoy your first one on the outside.”
“Yeah, I’ll try.” I’ve spent so many years wishing this day away, I don’t know if that’s possible. “See you next week with the CAT.” The land we’re clearing is finally snow free but still too soft for any machinery.
I wander over to the barn, taking in my surroundings. It might be the nicest spring day we’ve had so far this year, as the sun beats down, coaxing a new season of grass and buds on trees. Another week of this and everything will be green.
My parents and Emery are lingering at the corral, watching the horses meander in their pasture. My mother wears a sling with a quiet little lump inside—one of the twin girls.
I admire Emery’s curves as I approach, her hair’s coppery highlights that shimmer in the daylight. “What are you guys doing out here?”
She peers over her shoulder at me, and her beaming smile draws me in, stealing all my focus. “How was fishing?”
I lean in to kiss her. “A little eerie.” It’s the first time we’ve been back there since Holly’s body was discovered and the shit storm that followed for Jack.
Sadness flitters across her gaze as it always does with anything that involves Isla’s best friend. All of Cold River is still coming to terms with her death and Matt’s attempt to cover up his crimes—many are still struggling to accept it, despite his confession.
Brad Whitley has backed off his crusade to rid Cold River of me, but if I’m holding my breath for an apology for his accusation about Holly’s death, I’ll end up in the ground next to Jay.
With a second kiss, I turn to my mother. “Jon said you needed me for something?”
My parents look at me, then Emery, and they chuckle.
“What?” I ask.
Emery’s laughter only punctuates my confusion. “Really?”
I frown. “I don’t get it.”
“It’s a good thing you’re so pretty and strong.” She reaches up to smooth her palm over my clean-shaven jaw. “Because you’re not very observant.”
It’s another few seconds before I notice the dove-gray horse grazing next to Copper. “You got a new horse?”
Emery claps and mockingly cheers, “Yay!”
“Shut up.” I pull her tight against me, muffling her teasing against my chest.
“This fella needed a new home, and you need a horse that can run faster than Copper.” My dad fidgets with the brim of his hat, but it doesn’t distract me from his smile. “He goes by Shadow. He’s eight years old. Mild temperament.”
“Seriously? You guys got me a horse?”
My mother reaches out to grasp my hand and squeeze it. “Happy birthday, son.”
I slip into the corral, and Copper moves toward me. He’s always the first one to come, probably because I clean his stable every morning. “Hey there, big guy.” I pat his muzzle and then whistle.
The other animals move closer.
I admire Shadow’s sleek build as he approaches. “Kind of looks like Storm, doesn’t he?”
“He does. He’s a good runner too.” My dad nods as Shadow comes up to my hand, looking for a treat.
I peer into his dark, soulful eyes as I scratch his neck. “Where’d he come from?”
“His old family can’t afford to board him anymore,” my dad explains.
“Isla says he’s not as fast as Biscuit.” Emery’s arms rest on the fence. “Jon’s already setting odds for a race.”
“Speaking of Isla, I better get to the market to help her,” my mother announces, peeking into the sling to check on the sleeping baby. “Don’t waste time. Take him out for a ride.”
“I will. Definitely.” I pat his strong neck.
“You two can head out with that big, fancy metal detector and search for whatever it is you think is out there, hmm?” Her eyebrows arch with a knowing look.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Emery deadpans.
With the snow finally gone, she and I have been out after dinner every night, working from a copy of the survey map of the land, marking off areas as we clear them.
At this rate, it’ll take the rest of the year and who knows if we’ll find anything.
We don’t know how deep Jay buried that jewelry stash and in what container—a metal safe? A wooden box? A duffel bag?
“I’m not gonna bother asking! Lord knows I probably don’t want to know.” My mother squeezes Emery’s shoulder. “Happy birthday, Logan. We’ll see you for dinner later.”
My parents walk away, side by side, their soft voices carrying.
Shadow has realized I have no treats and wanders off to graze on the sparse grass.
“How long did you know about this?” I drape my arms over Emery’s on the gate, weaving my fingers in between hers.
“A few weeks.”
“Sneaky.” I steal a kiss. And then another. And then a lengthy one that gets my blood flowing south.
She breaks away abruptly, stepping backward. “Come on, it’s a beautiful day for a treasure hunt.”
My eyes rake over her fitted white T-shirt and blue jeans. “Is that what we’re calling it now?” I’m supposed to watch Ross fix that tractor, but how the fuck can I concentrate on anything when I know she’s waiting for me?
“Who knows what you might find out there.” With a playful twinkle in her eyes, she heads for the barn to get the saddles.