Page 47 of Song Bird Hearts

Then it backs up.

Fast.

It reverses all the way down the gravel road, tires spinning in retreat, and vanishing around the bend without every cracking open a door. The moment it’s gone, the dogs all relax and rush over to investigate who’s in our car.

People start murmuring, nodding to me as I finally climb out of the car, giving me that hard-earned respect that came from growing up in the Green River basin.

And then John turns toward me and I know I’m in for a tongue lashin’. The others give him a wide berth as he steps forward, dust settling around his boots. That same old Stetson sits on his head, the felt nice and worn in. Those same tired eyes that have seen too much over the course of his life but never look away meet mine.

“You wanna tell me,” he says, voice even but pointed, “why I just stepped out of my car into a damn standoff?”

I swallow. “It’s a long story.”

He raises a brow. “Then you better start talkin’, superstar. You know I’ll stand with you, but I’m not standin’ blind.” He crosses his arms. “And the explanation better come with some of Mrs. Cathy’s lemonade.”

Chapter22

Valerie

We all gather on the porch of the main house, the others giving us space while someone brings out some food for Kevin and some strong coffee for me. With the coffee comes some even stronger opinions, I notice, as they all talk amongst each other at once. It doesn’t stop them all from giving me hugs and patting me on the shoulder though to welcome me home. It’s been too long since I’ve set foot on this ground. Getting welcomed back without a snide remark is almost enough to make me tear up.

I sit on the railing, my hands around the mug to help steady me. Gilden leans against the post beside me, his warmth grounding me. Knox stands apart from us, arms tight over his chest, his eyes still on the road like the SUV might grow some balls and come back with the cavalry. Wolf leans against the wall in full shadow, silent, unreadable. He hasn’t said a word to anyone else but me.

John stands at the edge of the group, hands on his hips as he squints into the midday light. His sheriff uniform is a little wrinkly, as if he’s at the end of his shift rather than the beginning of it.

“So, you haven’t heard about any of this?” Gilden asks, disbelief written all over his face.

John rolls his shoulders in that signature shrug. “I don’t have social media, if I’m bein’ honest. The people I care about are right here in town, and Valerie reaches out every now and then to check in.”

Gilden blinks. “Wow. Okay.”

John lifts a brow. “And clearly social media is trouble, goin’ by this conversation.”

He looks over the group gathered in front of him, the silent danger of Wolf, the grit of Knox, Gilden’s charming smile, the wariness in my own eyes. What a sight we must make right now.

“This whole thing is a bad idea,” John says eventually. “Too big. Too public. And I got a town full of people to protect. Meeting them head on might just be trouble, Val. But?—”

“This is all a bunch of trouble,” Knox mutters darkly.

John grins. “Now, now. Have you met Valerie? Trouble is her middle name. Just ask her about the time she stole a tractor and drove it down Main Street. The whole town was up in arms.”

Knox’s head turns slightly toward me. “You what?”

I sigh. “I was fifteen. The mayor’s kid said I wouldn’t. So, I did. Sung him a happy tune about it while I rode down Main Street, too.”

Gilden whistles. “I bet that was a sight.”

“It was,” John nods. “She’s always been like that, so this is no surprise.” He looks back at me, his expression softening into something that’s part pride, part warning. “I’ll rally the town. Mainly, I’ll let them know what’s goin’ down. Those who’d prefer to be outside danger, we’ll make sure they’re safe and secure at one of the ranches. Probably Steele Mountain. They owe me a favor.”

“I don’t wanna cause too much?—”

“Valerie Decatur,” he cuts me off, “are you or are you not from the City of Steele?”

“Yes, but?—”

“Are you not part of this place we call home?”

“I am,” I say sheepishly.

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