Page 1 of Backed By You
One.
Beau
“Isaid,Idon’tneed it,” I growl, attempting to maneuver around the flight attendant holding out the cane they forced me onto this damn plane with.
“But Mr. Montgomery, you—”
I stalk past the woman and down the aisle to the exit. My knee is stiff from the long flight, but it’s manageable. I’ve been doing physical therapy nonstop for the last four months, during and after sessions. After two knee surgeries to repair the tendons and muscles and a full joint replacement—which a single stray bullet destroyed—I’m walking.
And like hell I’ll be seen using a damn cane at thirty-three.
Deboarding the plane, I toss my military-grade backpack over my shoulder and head to baggage claim. It’s surreal being back in Montana.Home.
After serving my country for the last fifteen years, I’ve been honorably discharged from the army. I wasn’t ready to leave my brothers-in-arms behind, but life has a sick way of handing out cards, and this card…I’m going to have to play.
I’ll be moving forward with my fallback plan of building and managing rental cabins in the popular ski resort mountains of Whitetail.
Between my parents and siblings, they’ve done a good job of managing my property and the two rentals while I’ve been away. But I’ll be taking over everything. Hell, I’ll need the distraction, because after getting shot in the fucking knee, my military career is over.
My jaw ticks as I come around the corner at the congested airport in Whitetail. My entire family is lined up beside the baggage claim with ‘Welcome Home, Beau’ signs.Christ. I mean, I get it. I haven’t been home for over three years, but this isn’t the homecoming I wanted. In fact, I didn’t want one at all.
“There he is,” my father booms.
“Beau,” Ma shouts, rushing toward me.
I go through the motions of hugs and hellos. I plaster on a fake smile as best I can, but I’m willing to bet it looks more like a fucked-up grimace.
My four brothers, sister, nephew, my parents—everyone looks about the same as when I saw them last. Except now, there are two women I don’t recognize with babies on their hips and wedding rings on their fingers—my apparent ‘sisters-in-law’ Ma mentioned on the phone a few months ago.
Duke introduces me to his wife, Maci, and their ten-month-old daughter, Olivia—who looks exactly like her mother, with deep red hair and green eyes, while Butch introduces me to his wife, Cassidy, and their nine-month-old son, Gage—a mini version of Butch with his mother’s blue eyes.
Half my siblings seem to have started a family while I was away. Even my nephew Parker has sprouted like a weed since the last picture Lily sent me.
Meanwhile, I haven’t felt the embrace of a woman in…a long time.
My chest tightens at the thought.
“How the hell are you, Beau?” Duke grins, giving me a burly hug.
I grunt.
“You look good, man,” Rhett says. “How’s the knee?”
“Fine,” I say, reaching for my duffle on the rotating belt beside me.
Levi snatches the bag at the last second. “I’ve got it, man.” He winks while hefting it over his shoulder. “No worries.”
I grit my teeth. This is going to be more frustrating than I anticipated.
You could say I’ve gotten along with my siblings over the years. Mainly because I keep my mouth shut and watch the bullshit from the sidelines.
Not that our personalities match in the slightest from what I can remember. I’m a loner; they’re all about family. I joined the military; they started businesses and stayed close to home. Hell, I’m the only one who’s ever left the country.
“Is that all you have, sweetie?” Ma asks.
“Yeah.”
“Well, let’s hit it, kids.” My father claps. “Your mother’s got a roast waiting at home that’s calling my name.”
