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When her vision cleared, she saw who else was waiting for her.

Bruce.

All of the air left her lungs as she registered her uncle’s pleased grin.

Brett’s plan hadn’t worked. It had backfired in the worst way possible, and the sinking in her stomach assured her that her family wouldn’t have mercy on her this time.

Chapter24

Brett

Brett stood from the rocking chair on Mr. Chambers’s back porch and extended a hand to the older man. “Thanks for everything.”

Mr. Chambers stood with his mug and shook Brett’s hand. “Always a pleasure doing business with you.”

Mr. Chambers winked, and the wrinkles around his eyes deepened.

This was anything but business, but if he was lucky, he’d be doing “business” with Mr. Chambers for many years to come.

“I need to get back to the stables. The vet will be here shortly to check on Thunder.”

“Go on. I’ll be here if you need me.”

Mr. Chambers settled back into his rocking chair, and Brett jumped the porch stairs, heading for the barn in an easy jog.

Thea wouldn’t be back for hours, and he wasn’t sure he could wait that long to tell her. Though, it would make for an awesome surprise. And seeing her face when she heard the news would be worth the wait.

He jogged into the stables and almost smacked right into his sister. Jess jerked back and raised her fist for a punch before she registered who he was.

“For heaven’s sake, Brett.”

“Sorry.” The good news almost popped right out of his mouth. As much as he wanted to shout it to the world, he wanted Thea to be the first to hear it.

Brett propped his hands on his hips and took deep breaths to slow his heart rate. “Is the vet here yet?”

Jess pointed toward a stall. “Linc is with him.”

“Any news?” he asked as they both headed for Thunder’s stall.

“Not that I’ve heard,” Jess said.

In the stall, Linc stood with his arms crossed over his chest, listening intently to the vet. Brett and Jess stopped right outside.

“I’ll drop in tomorrow morning for another check,” the vet said on his way out.

Linc shook the vet’s hand. “Thanks for comin’.”

Brett and Jess said their farewells and waited for Linc’s explanation.

“No tendons or ligaments are severed. It’s shallow enough that it should heal on its own, but we have to keep an eye on it.”

“That’s good news,” Brett said.

Thunder was more trouble than he was worth half the time, but Linc had developed some kind of unspoken understanding with the beast.

Brett’s phone rang, and he pulled it out of his back pocket. “Sorry, it’s Hadley,” he said as he answered it.

“Hey. Everything–”