Page 5 of The Mountain Echoes

When it’s just my father and me, I lie down beside the grave, the cold earth biting through my clothes. I rest my cheek on folded hands like I’m back in bed as a child, watching him sleep, waiting for him to wake up so we can saddle the horses and get to work.

Ranch mornings.

Dust and dew.

His voice, rough and kind, calling me “cowgirl” as the sun came up over the canyon.

“Te amo, Papa,” I whisper, my voice cracking.

The breeze carries the faintest scent of sage and old wood smoke, which is how Papa used to smell.

I close my eyes and try to believe it means something.

I lie there for, I don’t know how long, but by the time I stand up, my body is stiff.

I’m cold. I feel frozen.

I brush my hands on my thighs.

I look at Papa one last time. “I’ll take care of Longhorn,” I vow.

As I walk to Bree’s car, I know the fight I’m embarking on won’t be easy. My sister doesn’t fight fair.

Hudson…well, he’s Celine’s problem now.

Wildflower Canyon is probably going to be on Celine’s side, wondering about the interloper who’s interfering with Longhorn.

I know that I’m already walking into a stacked deck.

Kaz is with Bree by her car when I get there.

I give him a quick hug.

I know Kaz. Knew him well when we were younger until he moved to Aspen with Silas and Tansy Hawthorne after his father passed away.

“When did you come back?” I ask genially,

“Been a few years. Hear you’re raising grapes in Napa.”

I tipped my chin in acknowledgment. “I hear you’re flush with cash and keep showing up in other people’s business.”

He gives Bree a wry look. She shrugs, not denying she’s the one who gave me that piece of gossip.

He’s a good guy. Helped Bree keep her uncle’s ranch when the taxes would have left her with nothing.

“Me? In other people’s business?” Kaz shakes his head, amused. “You know me, Aria. I’m all about myownbusiness.”

“Speaking of which.” I tilt my head and give him an amused look. “I also heard that you bought out the old McAlister land. Ten thousand acres, working cattle ranch. Tore it all out. Turned it into some high-end retreat for rich boys with riflesand credit cards.”

Kaz groans. “Don’t give me the third degree, will ya? I’ve heard it all from the locals.”

“And he still does whateverhe wants,” Bree says in a sing-song manner.

“Yes, I do,andyou like it.”

I chuckle despite my heavy heart. “Are you sleepin’ together?”

“No!” Bree screeches.