Page 11 of SEAL of Valor

“Excuse me.”

I glance over at two pretty twenty-somethings who are standing right beside me, looking at both Ryker and me.

“What can we do for you, ladies?” Ryker questions, tone flirtatious.

“Well, we were wondering…” The one closest to me—a blonde with brown eyes—looks at her friend, then back to me. The brunette’s cheeks flush with color. “If you boys would like to dance. It’s my favorite song,” she adds quickly.

Ryker chuckles. “If it’s your favorite, then I can’t let you dance alone, can I?” He finishes off his Cherry Coke with a single swig, then stands and takes the blonde’s hand in his. They disappear into the crowd, leaving the brunette standing awkwardly beside me.

“Not a dancer,” I tell her.

“Not even a little?” she asks, then sticks her bottom lip out in a pout.

“Not a single step.” I take out some bills and slap them on the counter, then stand. “Have a nice night.” As I head toward the exit, I hear someone else step up and offer. She accepts, which alleviates a little of the guilt I felt by saying no.

I haven’t danced with anyone since Reese. And I have no intention of breaking that streak. Not now. Not ever.

After yet another night of no sleep, I’ve grown accustomed to functioning on little more than a power nap. Which comes in handy when you have an entire ranch to run without a whole lot of help.

Sweat beads on the back of my neck as I finish stretching a new line of fencing. As soon as it’s tight enough, I detach and set it on the back of the four-wheeler I rode out to the east pasture.

It’s on the far side of the one hundred and twenty-five-acre ranch, and after a month of rest and re-growth for the land, it’s ready for the cattle to be rotated back. But that’s a job for three days from now.

After downing the rest of my water, I toss my gloves and tools into the basket on the back of the ATV before climbing on and starting the engine. With the sun already high in the sky, I know that Vivian has likely left by now for the eleven o’clock service at church, leaving the ranch vacant. Another reason I don’t mind not having much help is the privacy.

When I need to let my mind wander, I can.

No questions.

No need for instructions.

Aside from Kyle coming in four times a week, it’s just me and solitude.

I like it that way.

I park the ATV in front of my cabin and head inside, tossing my empty bottle of water before grabbing another one. The cabin was originally built as a hunting cabin by my great-grandfather. Back then, the property was uninhabited, and this was the only building.

It’s only undergone one major renovation since it was built, and that was back when my mom moved my sister and me in here after she was forced to sell the ranch that had been in her family for generations.

All because her husband—my father—decided to gamble and drink away every penny we had.

As it so often does, anger burns through me at the memory of that night. I was still young, but old enough to know that the fight wasn’t like any of the others. I’d woken my sister and snuck Violet out of her bedroom window. We’d gone to the fort built right behind the house and spent the night looking up at the stars.

She hadn’t realized our world was about to be turned upside down, and I wanted to keep it that way.

Grief tightens its hold on me, and I rest both hands against the countertop.

Nineteen years ago today, she was stolen from me.

Ripped out of this world, her light stifled by a murdering monster who is currently serving life in prison. There are still nights I wake up, wishing I’d finished him off when I’d had the chance.

But he’s out of reach now, and that’s something I have to live with.

There’s a soft knock on my door, so I cross over and pull it open. My childhood best friend’s mother, Linda, is standing on the other side, a bright smile on her face. She holds up a tray of white chocolate macadamia cookies.

“Good morning, Weston.”

“Morning, Momma Knox.” I step aside so she can come in. “Shouldn’t you be at church?”