Chapter 26 #3
“Jeremiah said you’d know when to pass these out.
” Then he turned to Owen with a binder. “The mountain has a sizable offer on it. You’ll find the details here, along with all the testing done on the land.
You’ll have seven days to make your decision.
Your time will start the day I receive word from you. ”
Mr. Williby snapped his briefcase shut and nodded, making his way out of the house.
Owen slid the paper, reading his father’s last words. He pulled out the binder and reviewed the offer. He rubbed his eyes as he saw the offer.
“How much do we get?” Wyatt asked.
“Eight million, split among us and Leslie,” Owen said slowly.
Cade slapped his hands on the table. “Great. It’s settled. You can call him and tell him our decision.”
“What’s your vote?” he asked, gazing at Elias, who remained silent.
“Yeah. It’s not like this place means anything to us,” he said quietly.
Owen peered at Mason, who crossed his arms and stared at the table. “Money doesn’t solve everything. But it will buy my son’s medication, and I can hire another sitter,” he said, avoiding Owen’s gaze.
“What about you?” Owen asked Wyatt.
“I say sell it or burn it down. I’ll take the money and go back to my life,” he snapped.
Owen turned to Leslie. “You get a vote,” he said softly.
She licked her lips and peered at each of them.
She clasped her hands and let them rest on the table.
“Jeremiah has given you a gift, and you’re missing the point.
If any of us oppose the sale, you’ll have to wait a year before receiving any proceeds.
We have seven days to decide. This still remains Conner’s home.
Tucker spent more time here than at home.
It’s difficult for you to see your father in a different light.
I’m here to make you see reason. I’m voting no. ”
“Oh, come on,” Wyatt swore. “It’s more money than you’ll ever see. Think of the boys. You can afford to give them everything they need.”
“They have it all now,” she replied. “Conner has his brothers, and Tucker has his uncles, who taught them less than an hour ago the Wolfe family sticks together.”
“What’s your vote, Owen?” Cade asked, sending a frown at Leslie.
“I vote no,” he said, disbelieving his own ears.
“We need each other. Wyatt’s a drunk. If he gets his share, it’ll be gone within a day.
Mason has two little monsters, one of them needs medication, and our brother’s overwhelmed.
Dillon stays hidden in the woods because he can’t deal with people.
Since we’ve arrived, he’s watched over us.
Cade pretends he’s in fancy nightclubs when he’s sitting in the dark at home. ”
Wyatt stood, pounding his fists on the table. “What about you? Did you maintain your perfect life?”
Owen grasped Leslie’s hand. “No. I let the love of my life down. I have a lot of making up to do. Despite your decision, I’m moving here to stay close to my son. I want Conner to get to know his brother.”
“The money will help me more than anything,” Mason pleaded. “I can’t afford Noah’s medication. Will you deny my child?”
“I’ll cover his meds,” Cade spoke up. “I can’t commit to a year. What about my job?”
“Yeah, I can’t imagine how hard it must be to roll out of bed and slip on a pair of underwear,” Elias snapped.
“Why do you want to sell then?” Cade challenged Elias.
“What’s the use of sticking around here and remembering all the times we sat at this table laughing?
Do you remember when Jimmy Chang kept taking my lunch money, and you found out?
The next day, all of you except Wyatt showed up to protect me, and Owen threatened him if he touched me again.
Do you recall the night Mom died before Owen got there?
Do you remember her telling us to watch out for one another? You’ve forgotten. We’ve let her down.”
“No, we didn’t,” Wyatt argued. “She let us down. Every damn time Dad disappeared, she’d go to town, find him, and bring him back.
Why didn’t she leave him? None of this would’ve happened.
Ten years,” he said, pounding on the table.
“Ten long damn years, and I saw Elias one time. They sent me to a home where the man beat me. He still has foster kids today and tells the same stories. The kids fight. Yeah, because he and his buddies make them. He collects a monthly check and wants the unfavorable kids. It makes it easier to lie because no one believes the troublemakers. When he loses money, he does this,” he said, shoving his sleeve up, showing the burn marks.
“What do I need a family for? None of you gave a damn about me.” He stormed from the room.
Leslie cried and went after Wyatt while the men sat at the table, still in shock.
“Did you know?” Cade asked Elias.
“I knew something seemed wrong, but Wyatt didn’t tell me. They moved him around several times before putting him in one of those group homes. I don’t imagine it got any better.”
“Shit,” Dillon muttered.
“I’ll review the paperwork better tonight.
We have seven days. Our brother Conner needs more than a cursory visit from all of you.
Mason’s struggling with two boys. It sounds like we need each other.
Wyatt’s drinking. Dillon wants to live in the trees.
Then, we have to worry about Cade’s sanity when he walks down the runway, showing off the season’s underwear fashions. ”
“It pays the bills, and I don’t have to rely on anyone but myself. When I want to entertain a lady, I don’t have to worry about commitments or screwing up as you did,” Cade defended himself.
Leslie returned, touching Owen’s arm. The boys stood in the doorway listening.
“Gunny will be arriving soon,” Leslie reminded them. “Boys, go with your Uncle Dillon and feed the animals. When you’re finished, I expect you’ll start your assignments.”
Signal to table the discussion for later, Owen scooped up the paperwork while Leslie picked up her package. He opened the truck door and helped her inside.
They drove to the base of the mountain and entered her house. Gasping, she stared at the tossed living room. “They slashed the furniture, but they didn’t do this.”
He motioned for her to stay quiet as he cleared the rooms, noticing the destruction in each of them. Once he determined no one lay in wait, he led her to the bedroom.
“Grab a suitcase. You and the boys won’t leave the mountain until they’re caught,” Owen ordered, gazing out the window.
“Where will you sleep? If I recall correctly, you and Cade shared a room with bunk beds. I doubt either of them fits you,” she asked softly as she took a bag from her closet and pulled several T-shirts, a dress, jeans, shorts, and a swimsuit.
When she finished, she walked to her dresser and pulled out several pairs of panties and bras, dumping them into the suitcase.
Returning to the bathroom, she grabbed her toiletries and went back to the bedroom.
She grinned as Owen held up a lacey thong. His heart raced at the thought of her in it. “Madam, you wear faded tees and jeans, and I haven’t seen you with makeup since I returned, and yet you have hidden these under your clothes.”
Giggling, she took them from him and placed them inside.
“I don’t remember you wearing those before,” he muttered good-naturedly.
“A girl sometimes needs something to make her feel sexy,” she said. “Surely you found those base bunnies wore them a couple of times.”
“I’m not a monk,” he said honestly. “I never thought to get another chance with you. None of them ever wore those,” he said pointedly.
Leslie pushed Owen until he sat on the edge of the bed. “Do you want to see what I have on today?” she asked softly.
Owen gulped. He must’ve misunderstood her. His thumbs hooked into the belt loops of her shorts as he pulled her close. “Great, now I’ll be thinking about this while I’m working with my brothers,” he teased.
Leslie slowly played with the button on her top. “Maybe we need to do something about it. I don’t want you working in pain,” she sympathized as she unbuttoned her blouse.
When she reached the last one, Owen covered her hand. “We agreed to take this slow. I intend to honor my promise to you.”
“You plan on taking another ten years to make up for a mistake you made while young and dumb?” she asked, holding his wrists. “How long do you think it’ll take for me to get past my hurt and pain?”
Staring at her belly button, Owen murmured, “I’m praying for a miracle now.”
“Do you still love me?” she whispered.
“With all my heart. I never stopped. Not once did I ever believe I’d be here,” he confessed as he inhaled her vanilla scent.
“Ten years already feels slow,” she said. “I’ve waited this long for you to find your way back to me, Owen. I went on with my life, but you always kept my heart. I want to feel you again,” she murmured, letting her blouse fall to the floor.
Owen gripped her waist, struggling between wanting this moment with her or waiting until he gained her trust.
“Don’t overthink it,” she ordered. “We’re two adults, consenting to have sex.”
Shaking his head, he denied her claim. “No, we’re making love. Unfortunately, I don’t have a condom with me. It’s not like high school. I don’t keep them in my pocket,” he chuckled.
“I have the shot. It keeps my periods regular. Being a single mom doesn’t leave much time for sex. I’m clean,” she said, swiping her tongue over her bottom lip.
“I’m clean,” he said, pressing a kiss to her belly button.
His hands roamed over her bottom as she ran hers through his hair.
The moment seemed bittersweet. He rested his forehead on her stomach, feeling like he did the night he walked away.
No matter how far he ran or fought, Owen searched for something to numb the pain.
Little did he realize Leslie provided the cure.
She represented his heart, his home, and his love.