Page 6 of Hometown Girl

Why did his mother think he’d care whether Pendergast was dead or alive?

“I was hoping it’d bring you some closure, maybe.”

Drew looked out over the yard and up toward the mountains. He knew every square inch of those foothills, almost up to the peaks. He’d put his past behind him—why’d she have to come out here and dredge it all back up?

“I’m doing fine, Ma.”

Her eyes had filled with tears.

This is why he stayed away from her. The emotion she carried so close to the surface made him uncomfortable. She swiped away a tear. “You think you’re fine, Drew, but you’re not.”

She was convinced of his brokenness, but how would she know? She could only assume what he thought—he’d never let her into that part of his mind.

“You’re living in some strange denial of what happened, and I think it’s kept you from ever really enjoying your life.” She hugged her slick black bag a little tighter. “You seem to keep everyone at an arm’s length, and I’m worried about you. Worried you’re going to end up alone.”

Had she practiced this speech in the car? Something about it felt rehearsed.

“When was the last time you went out on a date? And do you have a single person in your life you’d call a friend?”

He stood, filled with the sudden urge to get as far away from her as possible. “What makes you think I’m not enjoying my life?” He had Mabel and Juniper and the other ranch hands. He didn’t need society’s idea of a good life in order to be happy.

His mother laughed. “You’ve got yourself so far removed from anything real—what kind of life is this, hiding away up here in the mountains, living in a dingy old cabin? It’s not a real job, and it’s not a real life.” She looked at him and sighed. “Don’t you see I’m worried about you?”

Worried or disappointed? Because he felt nearly certain that was disappointment all over her face.

Drew resented the words. She’d never understand his career choices—never understand why he didn’t want to live in some big city or wear a suit and tie to an office every day. If she expected those things from him, she didn’t know him at all.

She made assumptions about him, and for that, he stayed away. He didn’t have the energy to dissect his every choice. He came to the ranch because it promised him the one thing he wanted more than anything else—peace. His family would never understand that.

His mother cleared her throat. “Drew. You’ve been running away your whole life. How much longer are you going to hold on to this?”

She thought he should be over it by now. But time didn’t heal all wounds, did it?

Drew handed the newspaper clipping back to her. “This doesn’t change anything, Ma. I’m doing fine out here. I don’t need you stirring up the past.”

The sound of laughter drew his attention. Two of the other staffers rounded the corner. “Hey, Drew,” one of them said. “You heading in for dinner?”

Drew glanced at his mom, then back at the girls. “Yeah, I’ll be right there.”

His mom stood, still clutching her purse. “Go. It’s fine. I said what I came here to say.”

“You sure you don’t want to stay?” He didn’t mean it. Surely she’d sense that.

She put on a phony smile. “I have to get back.” She set a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “Take care of yourself, sweetheart.”

He watched her get in her Lexus and drive away.

As was customary after a conversation with his mother, Drew now had a pit in his stomach that rivaled the Grand Canyon.

He didn’t feel much like socializing. Inside his cabin, Roxie sat at attention. He rubbed the German shepherd behind the ears, and she stood as if she knew something was wrong.

“Why do I need friends when I’ve got you, Rox?”

She licked his hand.

“Let’s go for a run. You’re looking a little hefty in the middle.”

She lay back down, letting out a soft growl as Drew changed into a pair of loose athletic shorts and a T-shirt, pulled on his running shoes and opened the cabin door.

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