Page 78 of Inside Silence

Nate’s growl behind me indicates he recognizes Carson’s voice as well.

The kid is so flustered, he knocks his head on a low beam when he scrambles to his feet. Tatum is still sitting in the open hay door, which really has a great view of the creek and the mountains at the back of my dad’s property. I spent enough time up here myself enjoying it.

A quick scan tells me nothing too dramatic has gone on here. Their faces are a bit flushed, which could be from making out a little, or just from getting caught, but their clothes seem to be in place. Thank God for that.

“Tell me my daughter isn’t up there,” Nate grinds out, trying to push me farther up the ladder.

“I’m fine, Dad.”

“She is,” I quickly confirm over my shoulder. Then I turn back to the kids. “Why don’t you guys come down so we can talk?”

Then I turn around and motion for Nate to get down first.

“Listen first,” I hiss at him when I see him waiting at the bottom, glaring past me at what I think is Carson following me down.

“Mr. Gaines, I was just showing Tatum the mountains. The view from up here is the best in the valley.”

The kid is not wrong, but I’m not sure Nate is buying what he’s selling.

“And I guess your hands were in your pockets the entire time, right?” he sneers, but the anger melts from his eyes when he catches sight of his daughter coming down the ladder, unharmed. However, Tate herself looks pretty riled up.

“Yes, they were, Dad. He didn’t touch me, and you’re embarrassing me. Besides, you’re one to talk; you’re the one hiding in the barn, making out,” she spits out, stepping in front of her father with her fists on her hips.

The soft-spoken girl isn’t as meek as she might appear. She’s got the kind of spunk I can’t help admire. Still, I’m pretty sure her father wouldn’t appreciate the applause I’m tempted to give her, so I curb my enthusiasm and keep my own hands in my pockets.

“Tate, honey…”

“No, Dad. That was not cool.”

“Neither was not telling me you were coming out here,” Nate returns, also making a good point.

“I didn’t think it would be a big deal,” the girl mutters.

“Really, Tate?” he probes.

She shrugs in response, suggesting she did know better but chose to ignore it.

It’s almost funny how much this exchange reminds me of my childhood squabbles with my dad.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Gaines, we’ll be sure to ask your permission next time,” Carson wades in courageously, earning a hint of appreciation from Nate, but an annoyed look from the girl.

“Guys, have you eaten anything?” I change the subject, hopefully deflecting a different storm brewing between the two kids. “You should grab some grub while you can. Dessert is pie from Strange Brew, courtesy of Bess, and I can guarantee you that won’t last but a minute before you’ll find nothing but crumbs.”

The pie is a calculated guess, since that’s what Bess usually brings to potlucks by popular demand.

Carson flashes me a thankful grin, grabs Tatum’s hand, and pulls her along as he beelines it out of the barn.

“Nothing happened,” I reassure Nate, who stares after them from the doorway.

“How can you be so sure?”

“I’m a trained investigator, remember? The clothes were all on straight, other than Carson knocking his head into the beam there were no nervous movements, neither of them had hay stuck in their hair, and the dust is so thick up there it would’ve been obvious if they’d been messing around.”

He turns around when I touch his back, and takes me into his arms.

“She saw us.”

“I know.”