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Her smile faded. “And what about you? Do you mind… How do you feel about us being here in the house with you?” It hadn’t occurred to her until now that they weren’t just moving in with Tanner – they were moving in with Ford as well. He’d been good to her, and to Ashton, too. But having them around for a day or two was very different from having them come to live in his home.

“Like I said, I’m glad you’re here. Ashton’s great. Don’t worry about anything, okay?”

“Okay, as long as you promise to tell me if we start getting on your nerves or something.”

He smiled. “It’ll all be okay. We’ll figure it out as we go. Are you done in here? Do you want a coffee?”

“I’d love one. Tanner’s taken Ashton down to the barn; I don’t know how long they’ll be.”

“I’d guess that they’ll be a while. And the others will start arriving for lunch soon.”

In the kitchen, he poured them each a mug of coffee. “Is your dad coming to lunch?”

Everly nodded.

“Tell me to butt out if you like, but how’s that working out?”

She made a face. “It isn’t yet. I mean, I talked to him – told him that we were coming. And he’s been… He’s been great. I didn’t know how he’d react, but it seems that he and Tanner had a talk after that first disastrous episode.”

Ford smiled. “From what I understand, they’ve had more than one talk.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Anything I need to know about?”

“Only that you can relax. By the way they talk about it, it seems to me that they’re prepared to join forces to make sure that you and the little guy are going to be happy here.”

“Really? That’s not just a front they’re putting on so that I don’t worry?”

Ford chuckled. “No. I’m not sure that I’d want to be the one to tell you if that were the case, but I’m happy to tell you that it’s not. They’re both invested in seeing you and Ashton happy here.”

“How well do you know him – my dad?”

“Not that well. Obviously not as well as Cash, or Travis, or the others who served with him. But they all speak highly of him – even while admitting that he had his shortcomings in the past. Mind if I ask you what you’re worried about?”

She blew out a sigh. “You know those shortcomings? We might as well name the elephant in the room. He’s an alcoholic. He’s fallen off the wagon more times than I can count. I feel like I spent my entire childhood waiting and hoping to get to know the man who everyone else seems to love so much. I know there must be a good side to him – that it’s not just the forlorn hope of a lonely little girl – it’s just that I’m not familiar with that side of him. When it comes to him, all I’m familiar with is disappointment. And I don’t want to sound like I’m whining. I’m not that little girl anymore. I’m a grown woman with a child of my own. That’s the part that worries me. Ashton’s desperate to get to know his grandpa. Of course I want that for him. What I don’t want is for Ashton to go through the same kind of disappointment. I won’t allow it. I know how much it hurts. I won’t put him through it.”

Ford nodded slowly. “I get it. It’s going to be a difficult line to walk for you, isn’t it?”

“It is. I’d love for him to have his grandpa in his life. But…”

“But every chance you give Zeke is a chance you’re taking that Ashton will get hurt.”

“Exactly.”

“All you can do is play it by ear. I might not know him that well, but I can’t see him doing anything to hurt either of you.”

Everly took a big gulp of her coffee. “I hope you’re right.”

Ford gave her a grim smile. “I hope for his sake that I am, too. You and Ashton have already won over a lot of hearts around here. If Zeke fucks up, he’s going to face some backlash.”

Everly sighed. “And that worries me. He’s found a place where he wants to settle. The last thing I want to do is mess that up for him.”

“He’s the only one who can mess it up – and I’ll say it again; I don’t believe he will.”

~ ~ ~

By the time Tanner and Ashton made it back up to the house, most of the others had already arrived. Ashton stared at the long line of trucks parked behind the house. “That’s a lot of trucks – is one of them my grandpa’s?”

Tanner scanned the line. “No, but it’s early yet. I’m sure he’ll be here soon.” When he saw the disappointed look on the kid’s face, he decided that if Zeke didn’t show soon, he’d take a ride over to Travis’s place to get him.