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She grabbed for a pair of her grandfather’s work boots and went to his dresser where she fished out a pair of socks.
“Londyn, talk to me.” Her mother touched her arm.
She glared at her mother. “That might not be a good idea right now. I’m so mad, I’m literally seeing red.” She left the room and stomped down the hall to the bathroom. The door was unlocked. Londyn pushed it open, dropped her armload of clothing onto the floor and closed the door again softly.
Her mother followed her down the hall.
Londyn couldn’t face her at that moment. She needed to get outside and breathe fresh air that wasn’t polluted by the lies that have been fed to her all her life.
She headed for the stairs and ran down them like the hounds of hell were snapping at her heels.
Her mother hurried after her, stopping at the top of the stairs. “Londyn, you need to know.”
I need to know now? Is she serious?
I needed to know from the day I was born.
Londyn didn’t stop running. She pushed through the back door and ran out onto the porch drawing in deep ragged breaths. It wasn’t enough. She ran to the barn and rushed in without looking where she was going.
She ran into Ben Standing Bear, who caught her arms and held her steady. The tears she’d held in check burst free. Ben looked down at her, his brow furrowed and concern written across his kind face. “She told you.” His words echoed through her mind.
Londyn looked up at the man, and the pieces of her life fell into place. Anger surged inside, burning hot and fast.
She pushed both hands against Ben’s chest, forcing him to release his hold on her arms. She stepped back and glared at the man. “It’s you. It’s been you all along. You lived right next door to us, and you never said anything. You never once tried to be a part of my life.”
“I didn’t know.” He raised his chin. “I suspected it, but I didn’t know until your grandfather told you to come to me for help. If I had known you were my daughter, I would’ve done everything in my power to be there for you.”
“Well, you weren’t. And my mother was too busy living the life of a celebrity in LA. I was a big winner in the lottery of parents.” She pushed past him and marched to the back of the barn where they kept the four-wheelers. She sat on the first one she came to and tried to start it. The engine wouldn’t turn over. Dead battery.
She flung herself onto the one beside it. This one started, the engine roaring to life. Londyn shifted into the gear and twisted the handle, sending the ATV leaping forward.
Ben stepped aside as she blasted past him and out into the barnyard.
Nash was half-way across the yard when Londyn blew past him and angled toward another gate.
“Londyn, wait,” Nash called out.
She only stopped long enough to dismount and open the gate. Then she climbed back onto the ATV and drove through the gate, leaving it open.
If Nash wanted to go with her, he’d have to hurry to catch up. If he didn’t catch up, it might be for the best. Londyn was angry and had a lot to digest.
Ben Standing Bear was her father. Her mother and her grandfather had kept that secret all this time.
Londyn raced across the pasture, heading toward the south fence where her ranch hands were working. She didn’t really want to talk to anyone. Not after learning her family had lied to her for her entire life. What family does that to the people they supposedly love?
She gave the ATV all the power, racing across the grasslands. The wind in her face and the power of the engine vibrating beneath her helped soothe the anger. When she climbed up a rise, she slowed to a stop. This was the place she loved most. The hills rising from the prairie grass gave her the best view of the grassland, with the Crazy Mountains in the background.
The ATV engine rumbled beneath her loud enough that she didn’t hear the approach of another four-wheeler until it was almost on her.
She turned to find Nash driving his vehicle up to park beside hers. For the longest time, he didn’t say anything; he simply reached out a hand.
Londyn took the hand and held on to it. “I don’t know who to trust anymore,” she whispered.
He didn’t respond. She was glad he didn’t. Most men she’d met always wanted to fix problems.
Londyn didn’t need him to fix the problem. She just needed him to be there. To hold her hand and maybe hold the rest of her.
“What are you going to do?” Nash asked softly.
