Page 26 of Shadows of You

I started to argue, but Cady cut in. “Dory would love to see you, Mr. Grizz.”

Roan’s gaze shot to her, and his expression gentled. “Came up with a name, huh?”

Cady bobbed her head in a nod. “You like it?”

“Fits her.”

Cady grinned as if he’d just paid her the highest compliment.

Roan glanced back at me. “You gonna let me follow you home, or you gonna make me stand out here all night freezing my ass off?”

“That’s a bad word, Mr. Grizz. Words can hurt.”

Roan’s lips twitched. “Sometimes, a situation calls for harsh language.”

I scowled at him. “Let’s go before you teach my girl the F-word.”

Roan simply grunted and headed for his truck.

“What’s the F-word, Mama?”

Great. Just great.

8

ROAN

Aspen’s taillightsglowed in front of me, a taunting, aggravating reminder. Her station wagon needed more work than it was probably worth. My back molars ground together at the thought. Based on the state of her barn, I doubted she had the cash for it.

My gut twisted as I thought about her and Cady making their way around town in an unsafe vehicle. And it just pissed me off that I cared. Grae loved them. That was why I gave a damn. It sounded like bullshit, even to my ears.

Aspen’s blinker flashed, and she turned right onto Huckleberry Lane. At least the snow was mostly gone on the road. The rest would melt in the next couple of days. That was good. The wildlife around here wasn’t ready for winter. They still needed time to prepare.

The station wagon pulled to a stop in front of the farmhouse. They needed a garage. There was too much snow in these mountains to get by without one, not to mention they were exposed walking into their house in the dark.

I threw my truck into park and turned off the engine. Sliding out, I drew up short as Cady grabbed my hand.

“Come on! We gotta check on Dory.”

Something foreign shifted in my chest. The little girl had no fear of me. It was a bizarre sensation, that innocent trust. So kind it almost hurt.

Cady tugged harder on my hand. “Comeon,” she urged.

My lips twitched. The little thing was strong, too. I had no choice but to follow.

Cady pulled on the barn door, and I helped her open it. The animals were already in for the night, making sounds of greeting. There were too many for me to identify.

I glanced back at Aspen. “How many animals do you have?”

She rolled her lips over her teeth. “I think I’ve lost count at this point.”

I heard pigs, donkeys, ducks, chickens, a pony, and who knew what else. I shook my head.

Aspen shrugged. “Everyone needs a place to belong. Somewhere they feel safe. I like being that for them.”

My gut burned as I stared into those green eyes. But I couldn’t get words to form. It didn’t matter. I never said the right things anyway.

I forced my gaze back to the aisle that Cady led me down.

---