“Want to stay in the safe house out back until you close on your place?” Gambit offers.
“Yeah, I need to.” I accept, knowing it’s the right choice.
“Get your stuff figured out. If you need anything for the baby to hold you over until you get your own, we have things you can borrow.”
“I’ll place an order and have a couple prospects go pick it up.”
“Good choice. The offer still stands. If you need anything, just let me know.”
“Thanks, Prez.”
Andi
It’s beena long twenty hours. I had to pull over a couple of times because the tears would blind me. I’m mad at myself for not confronting Callum and Striker and asking them what’s wrong with me other than the stalker, but now it’s too late.
I pull under the arched entrance that proclaimsForging Forbes Ranch, the ranch that’s been in our family for generations. It started as a small stud farm and has grown into one of the best breeding programs for barrel racing horses in the area. It also helps that Raine is partially from here, although her mare came from Ethan and Hailey’s farm.
Is it bad that I hate this place? Like my uncle, I don’t want anything to do with it. This ranch only holds bad memories for me. My father was murdered because of it. My mother has strived to prove she’ll be the best lady of the ranch by forcing me to continue racing when all I wanted to do was quit.
Pulling up to the main house, I’m out of the truck and stretch my back as I hear the screen door slam against the frame. My grandmother is off on one of her adventures, so I know it’s my mother. I take my time, not turning to acknowledge her yet. I’m not ready to face her wrath. She’s angry and upset with me, and part of me gets it, but a greater part doesn’t. I’m not a child. I can make my own decisions.
“Are you going to continue acting like a child and not tell me what the heck you think you were doing messing around with a man old enough to be your father?”
“Callum isn’t that old. Jeez, Mom, stop being so dramatic. Ethan is older than Hailey.”
“That doesn’t make it right. You shouldn’t be messing around with bikers. They have reputations.”
“That’s so prejudicial, Mom. Callum is an accountant by day. He’s part of a club that, as far as I know, doesn’t do anything illegal.”
“Don’t you talk back to me, daughter. I know what I see on TV.”
“That’s a drama show. Real MCs aren’t all like that. I’m sure there are illegal ones out there, but for Callum, it’s about brotherhood and common goals.”
“You don’t have time to be messing around in a relationship that isn’t going anywhere, Andi. You need to get with the program and start training again. The association wants you to come back. As for your counselor, I’m sorry for your loss, but we need to figure out why your file was taken. She’s been your counselor since your father died. What could be in there?”
“Is that all you’re concerned about, Mom?”
“Well, no. I’m not heartless. I’m just worried about what this could mean for your career. We don’t need any tabloid fodder.”
“I’m not going back to racing. I retired. I can’t even get on another horse’s back.”
“You’re just trying to be loyal to Raine. You’ll be getting back on another horse. This farm needs you to, and I need you to. Do you know what I’ve sacrificed for you to be where you are right now? What your father did? This is all he ever wanted for you.” She waves her arms wide, indicating the ranch.
This is where she always goes. Always to the sacrifices she’s made, like I haven’t sacrificed anything at all.
Reaching into my truck, I open my backpack and pull out my most treasured possession, other than my necklace. I hold it up. The journal has a dark leather cover, worn not only from me opening and reading it every day, but also from my father, who wrote in it every day of my life until his death when I was ten.
“Where did you get that?” My mother comes off the porch and reaches for it. “I’ve been looking for it. I thought it was lost.”
“I found it when I was packing for college last summer. I dropped my jewelry box he gave me that Christmas, and it fell out of the back.” I hold it to my chest. “It’s mine. You can’t have it.”
“No, it’s mine. He was my husband.”
“He was my father, and every day he wrote in here for me. Not for you, for me. I know he did it for Tiffany too, and I know where that journal is hidden. But this is mine.”
I step back from her and look up at Jon, who is still standing on the porch. Nodding at him, I turn around and look at the ranch that so many people have lost their lives for or sacrificed so much.
“I know who sacrificed. I know what you lost. I lost too. He was my father. And no, he didn’t want me to race. I know that. I know you argued with him over it.”