Page 42 of Timber's Line

Brice is leaning up against the barn door when I enter.

“Waiting for me?”

“I’ve watched you since I got here and this seems like the place you go to think,” he replies.

“I feel at peace here.”

“I can get that.” He glances at my dress.

“I only wore it for a few minutes, just want to feel pretty for a few more.”

He nods and helps me up the ladder.

“I can see why you love coming up here.” He breathes as he looks out across the pasture and forest to the mountains in the distance.

It’s peaceful. I just feel peace. Shane knows I sneak up here almost every night after work. When I was little, I would run over here after a fight with my mother, just needing the quiet.

“He might have loved Snow, but he doesn’t now. I doubt he did really love her. I think he needs someone in his life.”

“I’m not following.” I spread out my dress so I don’t crush the butterflies as I sit.

“I bet you didn’t know he had a brother,” he states.

“I don’t know much about Dayton. The first few times we talked, he was nice. That was last season on the show. This time, he was rude and mean.”

“He’s been hiding his anger under that pretty boy face of his.” He chuckles darkly.

“He’s always been like that?”

“Angry? Yeah. I’m part of that reason.”

“And Snow?”

“His last encounter with her, he lost it, but not because he was defending her. Because he realizes his mistakes.”

“But she lied to him,” I tell him.

“Lied?”

“Dayton told me she stopped dancing. But she didn’t. After she healed, she danced for a few more months and then quit.”

“I think she wanted to push him away. Maybe she always wanted to break up with him and telling him he ruined her life would make him stay away.”

“But that just hurts him more,” I say.

“I know. And maybe she has her reasons. I don’t know what they are. That’s nothing compared to the guilt I’ve let him carry around for ten years.”

“What happened?”

“Even growing up, Dayton was hotheaded. I know he can pull it off that he’s not, but he is. Our parents were deadbeats, and we grew up in the system. Once I turned eighteen, I got custody. He’s my little brother, and I wanted to protect him. I’m not that much older, but I grew up quickly. And eventually, I found love. He hated her at first, thought she was taking my time away from him. He was less hateful to her face but always wary. In his own way, he was trying to protect me.”

He takes a moment and then continues. “I’m the reason he wanted to become a fighter. He started training with me, and I hate to admit it, but he was good. Don’t tell him I said that because it’ll go to his head. Despite being an angry kid, he has such a big heart and cares about his friends and family. He hides his demons behind a quiet façade. I had a fight, wasn’t a big one. Genivia had a cold and had passed out earlier in the day, so I asked him to stay home to check on her. He didn’t even question me or complain. When I came home, the place was a smolder of ash, and they were pulling out a body. I thought it was Dayton, but when I saw him, I was relieved and angry. Relieved he was okay but angry because she died. Before even knowing the cause or hearing his side of the story, I tore into him and blamed him. Took three police officers to pull me off of him. I kicked him out, knowing he didn’t have anywhere to go. Neither did I, but I at least had money to rent an apartment. He showed up at the funeral and tried to talk to me, but I was so far gone in my grief, I told him he was dead to me. I regret ever saying that to him.”

“I’m so sorry. For both of you.” I sniff and wipe a tear. I can only imagine the grief they both endured.

“I followed Dayton’s career, even went to some of his fights. Once I knew it wasn’t his fault, even though I always knew in my heart it wasn’t, I wanted to reach out to him. I chickened out every time. I watched his downward spiral, knowing it was because of me, and then his accident added to it, and then Snow. He’s on his way to a breakdown, even though he won’t admit it. He has a problem keeping things bottled up until he explodes. But when I see him around you, he has this serene look of peace on his face.”

“Me? I don’t do anything but talk to him. I don’t bring up his past, but I’m afraid he lives there.”