Chapter 6 Lennon
SIX
LENNON
“You’re pretty good at this,” I comment, watching him dice an onion like a social media chef.
“Years of practice,” he says, glancing up with that crooked grin. “Most of the time I’m here alone, so you either learn to cook or subsist on frozen dinners and takeout. Takeout isn’t really an option this far out, either.”
“And here I thought all you cowboys lived on beef jerky and black coffee.”
He laughs, the sound causing goose bumps to pop out on my arms. I’ve never had a man’s laugh do that to me, but there’s something about this man. “That’s just what we want people to think. Keeps expectations low.”
I’m about to respond when headlights flash through the kitchen window. My stomach tightens until I recognize Devlin’s truck pulling into the drive. It doesn’t go further around the back toward his house.
“Expecting company?” I ask, trying to keep my voice light.
Carson’s expression relaxes, something knowing crossing his features. “Devlin mentioned he might stop by. Looks like he brought reinforcements.”
The front door opens, and I hear Atlee’s voice before I see her. “Something smells amazing in here.”
She appears in the kitchen doorway, Devlin right behind her, and her eyes immediately find mine. There’s a question in them, concern mixed with that little-sister protectiveness that’s been part of her DNA for as long as I can remember.
There’s an entire conversation that passes between us with the looks we give each other. My bottom lip quivers, and I run to her, holding my arms out. She catches me, and we hug each other tight.
We hug for longer than we probably should, but it feels good having my sister not only in my arms, but hugging me too. She still doesn’t know everything that’s going on, and I’m not sure how much I want her to know.
We stay that way until Carson’s voice breaks over the quietness in the room.
“We made plenty,” Carson says easily, pulling out chairs at the large farmhouse table. “You two are right on time.”
We settle around the table, plates filled with fried chicken and roasted vegetables.
For a few minutes, there’s just the comfortable sound of family eating and trying to get caught up with what’s going on in each other’s lives.
But I can feel Atlee watching me, and I just know she’s about to ask me a question I shouldn’t answer.
“Okay,” she finally says, setting down her fork. “What the hell is going on?”
I nearly choke on my water. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, Len.” Her voice is gentle but says don’t bullshit her.
“You’re staying at Dark Skies Ranch. Your car was abandoned on the side of the road.
Carson’s been practically glued to your side for days.
” She pauses, her gaze softening. “Talk to me. I’m not a little kid anymore. You don’t have to protect me.”
I look across the table at Carson, whose expression is as neutral as he can make it, then at Devlin, who is studying his plate like it’s made of fucking gold. And finally, back to Atlee, whose eyes are filled with worry.
“There’s a case,” I start, my voice surprisingly even. So even, I’m proud of myself. “At the office. Shawn and I are working on it together.”
“What kind of case?” Atlee leans forward slightly.
I take a breath, choosing my words carefully, talking about how the story probably came about with Shawn.
“A woman came in. She has a little boy.” My throat tightens, and I force myself to continue.
“Her husband…he’s not a good man. She wants to leave him, but she’s scared.
He’s powerful in this town, and she doesn’t think anyone will believe her. ”
The kitchen has gone quiet. Everything that’s normal, like the hum of the fridge, the heat, the crackling of the fire, is so loud in the room.
“He hurts them,” I continue, my hands gripping my water glass. “The mother, especially. She showed us the bruises and other issues. Things that make me sick to think about.”
Atlee’s face has gone pale, her knuckles white where they grip the edge of the table. I see the moment understanding clicks into place, her eyes widening slightly.
“The husband,” she says carefully. “He’s someone important?”
“Very.” The word comes out barely above a whisper.
She doesn’t ask who. She doesn’t need to. We all know there are only so many men in Grizzly River with that kind of power, that kind of influence. The kind of man who could make threats and have them believed. The kind of man who can make threats and not be worried about them.
Atlee stands abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. For a moment, I think she’s angry or that I’ve somehow disappointed her. But then she’s beside me, pulling me into her arms again, and I realize her hands are shaking.
“Oh, Len,” she whispers against my hair. “You’re trying to help them.”
I nod, not trusting my voice.
She pulls back, gripping my shoulders, her eyes fierce. “You’ll make sure they’re safe. I know you will. You and Shawn will figure this out.”
“We’re trying,” I manage, sitting back down. “But it’s complicated. He’s made threats. I’m pretty sure he knows we’re involved. I didn’t know who the man was until recently.”
Carson’s hand finds mine under the table, his fingers lacing through mine with pressure to let me know he’s there. The touch reminds me I’m not alone in this.
“That’s why you’re here,” Devlin says, his voice quiet but certain. “At the ranch.”
“Carson offered,” I say, meeting his gaze across the table. “He thought I’d be safer here.”
“He’s right.” Atlee reclaims her seat, but she doesn’t let go of my other hand. “You can’t go back to your apartment. Not until this is over.”
“I don’t know how long that will be,” I protest. “I can’t just…”
“Promise me.” Her voice takes on that commanding tone that reminds me she’s not just my sister. She’s the closest person I have. “Promise me you’ll stay here at Dark Skies Ranch. No matter how long it takes.”
I look around the table. At Devlin. At Carson, whose thumb is tracing circles on the back of my hand. At my sister, whose love for me is written in every line of her worried face.
“I promise,” I say softly. “I’ll stay.”
Atlee exhales, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. “Good. That’s good.”
We finish dinner in a subdued silence, the earlier happiness at seeing each other replaced by a shared understanding of the gravity of the situation.
But there’s also something else—a sense of unity, of being surrounded by people who want to help each other.
People who will stand between me and whatever is coming, who will help me protect the people who need it.
As Carson and I clear the plates, our bodies moving in sync around the kitchen, I catch him watching me with an expression I can’t quite read. When our eyes meet, I see worry there, but also determination. A promise that he meant every word he’s said about keeping me safe.
And for the first time since this whole nightmare started, I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, everything will be okay.
After dessert, my sister pulls me aside while Carson and Devlin discuss ranch business in low voices.
“He’s good for you,” she says quietly, glancing toward where Carson stands by the sink, his broad shoulders outlined by the kitchen light. “I know you’re scared to trust anyone, especially after everything we’ve been through. But Carson is one of the good ones, Len. I promise you that.”
“I know,” I admit, surprising myself with the truth of it. “He makes me feel…safe. Which is crazy, considering I barely know him.”
“Sometimes the heart knows things the head hasn’t figured out yet,” Atlee says, squeezing my hand. “Just…give him a chance. Let him be there for you.”
I nod, not trusting myself to speak. Because the truth is, I’m already falling for Carson. And that terrifies me almost as much as the threats we’re facing from Sheriff Reagan.