Page 75 of Entangled with a Mountain Man

SHADOWS OF THE PAST

KENZIE

I wake up to giggles and tiny feet pattering down the hallway. For a split second, I forget I’m in Everett’s bed. Then it all comes rushing back.

He’s gone on his mission, and I'm alone with the girls.

"Miss Kenzie!" Harper's voice rings out. "We're hungry!"

I drag myself out of bed, throwing on Everett's discarded t-shirt from last night. It still smells like him, a mix of pine and something uniquely him. I push down the ache in my chest. No time for that now.

"Coming!" I call back, padding into the kitchen.

The girls are already there, perched on stools at the island. Hazel's got the cereal box in her hands while Harper's struggling with the milk jug.

"Whoa there, peanut," I say, rushing to grab the milk before it spills everywhere. "Let me help with that."

As I pour their cereal, my mind shifts through my daily tasks. Take the girls to school. Run by the grocery store. Load of laundry.

Two months ago, I was lost and alone. Now, I'm managing the Logan household.

I stop, and my eyes linger on Everett's stop at the table. I wonder where they are in the world. Did they make it to their destination? Is everyone okay?

"Miss Kenzie?" Hazel's voice pulls me from my thoughts. "When's Daddy coming home?"

My heart clenches. "I'm not sure, honey. But he'll be back as soon as he can."

"I miss him," Harper says softly.

"Me too, sweetie," I admit, praying time passes quickly. "But you know what? I bet he misses you girls even more."

"And you too?" Hazel asks.

Flashes of last night pass through my mind. Whispers of his promises. The heat of his skin.

"I think he misses all of us. Even Toady Toad," Harper suggests before shoveling cereal into her mouth.

"Uh-huh. Toady Toad is just nasty."

We laugh because Toady Toad is on the gross side. He's a huge frog we found on a hike last week. And somehow, he managed to find his way to our backyard.

The girls return to their conversation, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Crisis averted, for now.

As we eat, I run through the day's plan. It's Saturday, so no school. I need to keep them busy and distracted from Everett's absence.

"Hey, how about we spend the day at Miss Steph and Big Bear's ranch?" I suggest. "We could help with the animals. Maybe we can have a picnic?"

The girls' faces light up. "Can we ride the horses?" Hazel asks excitedly.

I laugh. "We'll have to ask Miss Steph, but I don't see why not."

An hour later, we're piled into Everett's truck (which still feels too big for me to drive), heading towards the Peterson ranch. The girls chatter in the backseat, and I let their voices wash over me, pushing away the worry gnawing at my gut.

Everett's fine, I tell myself. He's trained for this. He'll come back.

But a small voice in my mind whispers, What if he doesn't?

I shake off the thought as we pull up to the ranch. The girls are out of the truck before I can unbuckle my seatbelt, running towards Big Bear, who's waiting on the porch.

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