Page 2 of A Cowboy's Bride
In the back seat, Jake sprawled easily, gazing out the window and studying the landscape. “It’s good to be back together. It’s definitely what Jeff would’ve wanted.”
“Yup.” Aiden and Declan said it at the same moment, the memory of their stepfather rising hard and fast.
They might have had shitty luck when it came to their biological donor, but the man who had been a father to them when it truly counted had more than made a difference. Aiden had been eight years old when Jeff had come on the scene. When their mother had suddenly passed away less than a year later, Jeff had moved a mountain’s worth of paperwork and fought the bureaucracy to make surehisthree boys didn’t end up lost in the foster system.
Pay it forward.
The words were always there, hovering at the edge of Aiden’s thoughts. Would he be able to make the same difference in other’s lives that Jeff had made in his and his brothers?
A hand landed on his shoulder, soft this time, as Jake leaned in close. “We will,” his brother promised.
Damn it. “Didn’t mean to say it out loud.”
“It’s not as if we’re not all thinking it,” Declan said. “That’s why we’re here. That’s why we’re going to do everything we can, come hell or high water.”
Jake hummed his agreement. “Make a difference. Do what’s right. Pay it forward.”
The three of them sat quietly while the phrases their stepfather had offered to three lost young boys echoed in Aiden’s head. Jeff repeated the sentiments from the moment he’d stepped forward to say things had to change because Mama was gone. They were the last words he’d said before he passed.
Jeff had been gone for over fifteen years now, and they’d all had a boatload of life experiences.
Some good, some not so good, including relationship-wise.
Ten years earlier, Jake’s marriage had lasted barely ten months before falling apart. Declan’s beloved wife, Sadie, had died of breast cancer three years ago. Aiden had a few long-term girlfriends over the years, but no one who had been more than casually committed on both sides.
Heart Falls was a fresh start in many ways for them all. A place to set down roots and maybe do the next thing for themselves as well as providing a home base for others.
Aiden blinked as they pulled into a parking space behind the pub. He’d gotten caught up in the memories and hadn’t noticed the distance vanishing.
Still, one thought rang through bright and clear. “Remember how we were trying to figure what to call the animal rescue and retreat house?”
“Because we can’t keep calling it the Heart Falls Animal Rescue?” Declan slipped the truck into Park then glanced at his little brother with the faint smile that said he was highly amused.
“We can’t keep calling it that because it’s going to bemorethan that.”
“Damn right.” Jake lifted his chin. “What’s your brainwave?”
“Not me,” Aiden insisted. He let his grin break free when he realized this was the perfect way to trap the other two into going along with his plan. “It’s Declan’s idea. You said it, bro. Come hell or high water. The perfect place to not only rescue animals, but people.”
Jake sat for a moment then nodded. “Leave it at High Water officially, so the delicate types don’t flip out. But we’ll know the truth.”
“I like it,” Declan said. “I am brilliant at times.”
“You’re definitely something,” Jake taunted. “Fine. We have a name. Now I need a beer.”
Aiden stood outside his door, waiting until his brothers joined him, a sense of satisfaction rising in his soul. A new home. A new goal. A new name. Maybe even the opportunity to find someone to spend time with—that would be new as well, although he’d take another dose of his wildcat.
Looked as if their move to Heart Falls would be smooth sailing from here on in.
Decidingwhat to wear for the evening wasn’t the weightiest issue she had, Petra Sorenson decided. Nope, clothes were simple. She’d pulled on a pair of faded jeans paired with a black tank top and a checked button-down. She had pretty, but comfortable, well-worn boots planned for her feet. Her long brown hair had been gathered into a ponytail for ease while dancing. Most importantly, a couple of the girlfriends she knew from her many visits to the area were waiting for her to join them.
She just needed to get out the damn door before the evening was over.
Her problem was an overly enthusiastic big brother who didn’t know how to turn off his excitement over having her move to Heart Falls. Their large family, with six siblings and Mom and Dad, had always been close, but tonight Zach’s zeal buzzed at such a level it made Petra wonder if he was pulling her leg andtryingto be annoying…
Well, hell. That’s exactly what he was doing.
“Before you go, let me show you the office areas,” Zach suggested. He pushed back from the supper table and bounced to his feet. “You can decide if you want to have your space there or?—”
