Page 115 of Saving Grace

We wander to the first cabin. I hold my breath when we step inside and she unwraps the first one. It’s the view of the mountains from under the entrance sign. Big blue giants—snow-capped, of course—golden grass trimming the base. The rustic barns in the foreground.

“Oh wow!” Ruby holds one up. I worry my bottom lip through my teeth. She pivots on her heels to find the natural light, painting in her hands, eyes lit up. “Seriously, this is incredible. The detail, the colors. Just... wow.”

The front door snaps open and Reed wanders in. “Hey, our artist in residence!” He folds me into a hug. “Mornin’, Gracie. How’s that grump of a brother of mine today?”

I soak up the friendly hug for a heartbeat before breaking away. “He’s doing good. I swear, he thinks his recovery is a sprint. Much different from last time.”

“He has a better incentive this time.” Reed’s face is stretched by a megawatt grin.

Heat rises in my face. I guess it’s true. I’m glad Mack has someone with him all the way this time. But I would rather he never had to repeat this process in the first place. He’s gone through plenty. It’s enough already.

Ruby hangs the artwork on the wall and bends down by the entrance table, writing something on a piece of white cardstock. After she’s done, she slips it into a small black photo frame and walks to the wall by the painting, propping it up by my artwork on a shelf Reed must have made.

“Stellar work, Gracie.” Reed studies the work. “Jesus, it’s like standing by the front entrance.”

Ruby nods, throwing him a knowing look with wide eyes.

I glance at the price on the card in the frame and my mouth drops open.

“Five hundred! No, that’s far too expensive.” I wring my hands together.

“Actually, it’s not. I ran the comps. For the size. The technique and local talent element, it’s midrange. We could ask more. However, this is a smart starting point, which allows you growth, artistically and financially.”

For the second time today, I have no response. My breaths shorten as the bridge of my nose prickles. She’s put so much thought and effort into this.

Reed slings an arm over my shoulders. “I would pay ten times the price to have a Gracie original on my wall. You’re the talent around here, darlin’.”

Ruby loses it over his old-man talk. They all do it. Imitate Harry. It’s funny that he has such a unique way with people and words. They are so incredibly lucky to have a father like him.

“If you say so, Rawlins,” I spout back.

“Sure do, sweetheart.” Reed can’t even keep a straight face. I slap his arm, and he squeezes my shoulders before releasing me to his wife. “Catch you later, captain.” He tips his hat to me.

I am dying to know what the captain thing is all about. I make a mental note to ask Mack about it later. Ruby walks me back to Blue, offering a coffee, which I decline. I want to get home to Mack. Lunch and pain meds will be due when I do. I don’t want his pain to break through because I was lazing around, sipping coffee with my idol.

“Thanks for everything. Thanks for helping me with the art.” My words almost wobble. I am so grateful for everything Ruby has done for me. This whole family has done for me. I can’t imagine where I would have ended up if Ruby and Louisa hadn’t offered me a place and a job.

Just like that, the thought of not having Mack in my life steals the icy air from my lungs. Urgency thrums through my veins. All I want to do is get home. I give Ruby a rough hug, holding her as she chuckles and says, “You’re so welcome, Grace. We’re basically sisters at this point. You do for family. It’s a Harry rule. One I fully support.” She tightens the hug momentarily before pushing me to arm’s length. “I’ll let you know when your payload comes in.”

I scoff a laugh and drop into the driver’s seat.

All I want to do in this moment is bury myself in Mackinlay’s embrace.

Melt into him and never ever leave.

The sun is high in the sky when I turn Blue into the ranch’s driveway. The small tracks of my little VW Beetle have been marred by bigger ones. My brows drop. We weren’t expecting company today, and Harry and Louisa aren’t due back until after lunch. I can just see the front grill of their silver Chevy through the barn door.

Heart flinging in my chest, my gut sinks as I round the gravel drive and find the white Volvo sitting behind the trees before the house yard. Panic clawing up my spine and flooding my body, I scan the porch for Mack.

Passing the car, I see the last thing I want to lay eyes on ever again. Joel and Timmy. Boots on the dash, they sit in their car, smoking. Timmy drains a beer.

Jesus fucking Christ.

My heart jumps into my throat as Joel’s gaze meets mine, and he turns his head to keep eye contact as I drive past. It’s like the interaction happens in slow motion, sending my gut into a knot of sickness and splinters.

“No,” I breathe. Not this time. Not on our ranch. Not in my home. I slam Blue to a halt and kill the engine. He wants to do this?Bring it on, asshole.I get out of the car and walk into the yard as if I hadn’t seen him. I open the front door, and Mack is asleep on the sofa. He must not have answered the door.

Maybe I can have those two losers gone before he wakes up. He doesn’t need this kind of stress.

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