Page 2

When I don’t elaborate, Luke sighs. “That’s all I get, huh?”
“That’s all there is.” It’s a lie and he knows it. “I’ve got to get moving if I want to get back from Northpoint before sunrise,” I tell him while I push the sugar bowl back into its spot. “You should get some sleep. Dad’s going to be up in a few hours and he’s—”
“How ‘bout you forget the coffee and go back to bed—I’ll take your chores.” When I hesitate, Luke gives me a reassuring smile. “I’ve been meaning to get up there anyway—haven’t been since me and Kels—”
“Stop.” I draw the word out on a half laugh, half groan. “As much as I’d like to, I can’t let you do my chores.” Shaking my head, I fit the lid onto my cup before turning away from the counter to face him, travel mug in hand. “If Dad found out that I—”
“Don’t worry about Dad.” Crossing the short distance between us, Luke reaches for my cup to gently pull it from my hand. “If he says anything, I’ll make sure he knows it was my idea. You shouldn’t be doing all the chores anyway—I mean, when was the last time Princess Abigail mucked out a stall?”
“Is that a real question?” I give him a rueful smile to hide the irritation my answer brings because it’s never. Abbey has never done anything on this ranch that would so much as scuff a fingernail.
“Exactly.” Lifting my cup to his mouth, Luke takes a drink and immediately winces at the amount of sugar I dumped into it. “Go back to bed, Kaity—I’ll drink your poison and take care of your chores. And if Dad starts griping, I’ll take care of him too.”
“It’s not just Northpoint. Two-tone needs to be exercised and the stalls need to be mucked,” I warn him halfheartedly because I already feel myself wavering. Luke’s right. How is it fair that I have to do all the chores around here while my little sister gets to sleep until noon if she wants to? Why do I have to be the one who always carries the load?
You know why. You know what you did…
“I joined the Army,” he reminds me with a laugh. “I didn’t fall down and hit my head. I remember how to operate a shovel and saddle a horse.” Setting my cup on the counter between us Luke wraps a rough, callused hand around my wrist and gives it a tug. “Go on,” he says, coaxing me away from the counter. “Before Dad wakes up.”
He'll be up at 4:30. If Luke leaves now, he could be back before then...
“Okay.” Giving him a smile, I lean into the space between us to press a quick, noisy kiss against his stubbled cheek. “You’re a good brother.”
“No—I’m the best brother.” Letting go of my wrist, Luke retrieves my travel mug from the counter.
“Yes, you are.” I flash him a grin, tossing it over my shoulder on my way up the stairs.
“Kaity...”
Turning again, I see Luke looking up at me from the foot of the stairs. “Yeah?”
“Just tell me nothing happened between the two of you that I need to kick his ass for.”
He’s talking about Brock again. Wants to make sure he’s not shirking his duty as my big brother.
“Nothing happened.” I push a smile onto my face and lie to him. “We just grew apart is all—thanks again.”
“What are best brothers for?” Luke gives me another quick smile before heading out the door.
Back in my dark bedroom, Abbey snoring softly in the bed next to mine, I pull off my boots and shuck out of my jeans before crawling under my covers. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I close my eyes on a frustrated sigh. There’s no way I’m getting back to sleep.
Outside, I hear the creak and slam of the drivers’ side door on the ranch’s ancient work truck. Its well-tuned motor rumbles to life, a moment before its tires start to roll down the gravel drive.
Go after him.
The thought seizes me. Nearly pulls me up, out of bed to yank my jeans back on and gather my boots so I can fly down the stairs. It’s not too late. If he sees me running after him, Luke will stop. We can go to Northpoint together. He can put the boat in the water and drown a couple worms in the lake while I clean and then afterward, we can...
The thought drifts away as the sleep I was sure would elude me, catches hold and pulls me under while the sound of Luke’s departure fades into silence.
I don’t hear anything else until the screaming starts.
TWO
Wentworth
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA MAY, THREE YEARS LATER
It was bound to happen.