Page 57 of Drifter’s Heart

His voice is low and soft, without a hint of the derision that I’ve come to expect from a man. “That’s tough. Because I’m here whether you like it or not. You have no filter. I’ve got no boundaries.”

Just ask your brother.

He doesn’t have to say that last bit. We both know how he was in Cord’s space while he healed, never let him out of his sight.

And I’m grateful. I am. Because Cord wouldn’t let me near him back then. He wouldn’t let anyone be around him, actually. West kind of… stayed. But I don’t want that same treatment.

Do I?

“You’ve got no sense,” I mutter through the door, resting my cheek against it. My tears stop, leaving my skin sticky. The wood is cool, though. “Why won’t you go away?”

West doesn’t answer for a moment, but I know it isn’t because he’s short on words.

“Because I need to be here,” he says softly.

The tears start again. He waits them out, or maybe it’s me he waits out. When the tears stop and I manage to work the lock, West’s there, his back pressed to the wall opposite the heavy wooden door. I crawl across the hall, into the space he makes in the vee between his knees, and curl into his arms, which fold around me.

And that’s how Sally finds us, carefully balancing a mug of overfilled coffee full of overcooked beans and burnt milk that Cordell’s obviously made himself. Because my brother is an expert at burning beans and milk in one cup with a preprogrammed machine.

It’s the best peace offering I’ve ever tasted as my family finally comes together over the silliest thing in the world.

Weirdly, me.

And in the end, I stay there, cuddling a shirtless West because I stole his tee, with my daughter wedged between us.

And it’s perfect.

NINETEEN

WEST

The Prestige

Winnie’s chaos lasts less time than I expect. She feels damn good wrapped in my arms, and even better when she lets me feed her the eggs and bacon on sourdough that Cord has mangled. Still, we manage to meld it into some semblance of a decent meal and the four of us eat together. Conversation is stilted, and I leave her with Sally, watching unicorns and fairies on the TV in the smaller living area in Sally’s wing of the homestead.

“She’s gonna be all right.” Cord bumps his shoulder against mine, barely covering the wince the motion causes.

“Serves you right,” I grump at him for not looking after himself better. God alone knows how he’s been traveling without me hanging over him like the reaper come to collect his soul. Only this reaper wears a Stetson instead of carrying a scythe. “You’re an asshat for yelling at her.”

“Why is our language suddenly so colorful?” Cord ignores me. “I have a pregnant partner. What’s your excuse?” His wry, easy smile is all too easy to respond to, and I’m reminded how this charismatic man made his fortune—apart from being the smartest man in the room most of the time.

Occasionally lacking in emotional IQ, but maybe Lanie will help adjust that for him.

“I have a⁠—”

Sparkly cowboy trainee waiting in the wings is the excuse dangling on my lips and ready to tumble free. Then I remember that Cord doesn’t have a clue about the past months and I’ve been keeping secrets. When that comes out, it will ruin the tentative peace that we’ve established in the aftermath of Winnie’s breakdown this morning. And Cord hasn’t said a single word about us hooking up—another thing I’m wary about.

I force a smile and try again. “I have a brat of my own who has a fierce independent streak but also needs a decent dose of TLC. You can have her back if you want her?”

“Hell, no. Winnie has her life. I’ve never tried to intervene.” Cord puffs up all righteous and full of himself.

“Bullshit,” I cough into my fist, toeing my boots on at the frosted double front doors that depict the coyotes and the property’s namesake.

“Man, I thought that bullshit sneeze died a full death back in the nineties.” Billy leans against a veranda post, spinning his hat in his hands. “Showing your age, old man.”

I straighten, and something cracks in my neck on cue. Dammit, timing. “Aren’t you supposed to be off playing with toy bulls?” I snap, irritated at seeing him lounging on the homestead where traditionally only Cord, Levi, and I ever socialized.

This has always been hallowed ground, the three of us having built the house together so long ago. Actually, I haven’t seen the flamboyant chef this trip at all and Cord has been cooking for himself.