Broken Love

  “Better. She’s getting around more and I actually think she loves that little house.”

  Nate frowned. “Wouldn’t she be more comfortable in the main house, Ryder? I mean, I get the whole idea of wanting to be alone, but she’s stuck in basically one giant room. She has to be bored.”

  “I’ve asked her if she wanted to move up to the main house and she said she loves where she is.”

  Nate shrugged. “It’s probably the pain pills keeping her looped up.”

  With a roll of my eyes, I followed him into the kitchen. “So, how are things going back in Austin?”

  “Good. I think I’ve got this whole thing down of you not being around. We got the McMurphy Ranch in New Mexico. They are ready to sign up for consulting on going organic. All in all, I think I’m pretty good at this without you, bro.”

  Grabbing a beer from the refrigerator, I popped the cap off and took a drink.

  “What about you? Liking life on the ranch? Working your ass off from sunup to sundown to please dear old Dad.”

  My smile grew as I watched my father walk into the kitchen; his eyes were already burning a hole into Nate.

  “Don’t know how you do it … I like city life so much better. No getting up at the crack of dawn, no freezing-cold Montana weather. The endless pussy alone is enough to make me never want to mend a fucking fence again in my life.”

  This just kept getting better.

  “Endless pussy, huh?”

  Nate grabbed himself a beer. “Hell yes. You do remember those days before you turned into a pansy ass, right? What is it about this mountain air that turns Montgomery men into being pussy whipped?”

  He turned and came to a stop the moment he saw our father. “Hey, Dad.” You could see panic filling his eyes and he did the only thing he knew to do. He blurted out his good news. “I got the McMurphy Ranch in New Mexico.”

  Rolling my eyes, I shook my head. My father had always known Nate was never going to stay in Montana. When I moved to Austin, I knew he was upset. He couldn’t figure out why we had to move to a big city when most of our job was traveling to cattle ranches to convince them to go organic.

  My father took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Nate, I knew early on you were going to be one of … those kids.”

  “Those kids?” Nate asked.

  “Yes … the kind who were never going to be happy following in their parents’ footsteps. The kind who would move to the city for better … opportunities if you will.”

  “You have to admit, there are more girls in the city than there are here,” Nate spit out quickly.

  Holding up his hand, my father shook his head. “I can’t argue with you there, but some day, son, when you’ve exhausted yourself, you’re going to regret those words ever came out of your mouth because your brother here will have inherited everything.”

  I let out a laugh as Nate shot me a dirty look. “So, I’m going to be cut out because I don’t want to ride around on a horse all day and check fences, feed cows, and all that fun stuff I did growing up. I’m working for the family, Dad, just in a different way.”

  “I know that … but don’t put your brother down for wanting to follow his heart. I’m proud of you both, no matter what roads you travel down. Now as far as being pussy whipped…”

  Nate pointed to me. “That was all geared toward Ryder.”

  My father lifted his eyebrows and nodded. “I thought so.”

  THE MOMENT I walked into the house, Ava jumped up … well at least she tried to the best she could.

  “Oh my gosh, you won’t believe what I found! The picture fell and the light pointed me to the Bible!”

  “The Bible?” I asked with a confused look on my face.

  “Yes! The Bible. I’m pretty sure someone’s spirit is here in this house and they helped me to find it all. After I found The Bible, I found the letters and then the secret door. I haven’t found Lizzy’s journal yet so I’m pretty sure Kate either hid it or your mother found it and put it somewhere. Oh and do you have any idea where Kate’s drawings are? I really don’t want to ask your mother, because I’m not sure how she would feel if she knew I was looking for them.”

  Ava placed her hands on her hips and looked up. “Although, I wonder if she told your mom about the journal seeing as she hid her journal. But then again, she wouldn’t want your mom finding out she slept with Jackson upstairs.”

  My mouth dropped. “What?”

  “I’m curious if the spirit is Lizzy or Kate’s.”

  Spirit? What in the hell? She took too many pills!

  Holding my hands up, I shook my head. “Wait. What in the hell are you talking about?”

  Ava stared at me like I had grown two heads. “What’s wrong?”

  Maybe Nate was right. Ava needed out of this house.

  I shook my head as something hit me. “Did you say Kate slept with Jackson in this house?”

  She nodded her head. “Yes! Oh my goodness … they had the most romantic relationship. I think your sister knew something wasn’t right with her health though.”

  Turning, I headed over to the table and pulled out a chair and sank down into it. “Ava … give me a second to come to terms that my sister had sex in this house. God please don’t tell me where. I don’t think I could bear it.”

  She tilted her head as she looked at me. “Seriously, Ryder? Your sister was spending time with her boyfriend here and you honestly didn’t think anything was happening?”

  I scrubbed my hands down my face. “I would rather not think of any of my sisters having sex, thank you very much.”

  She grabbed her crutches and made her way over to me where she sat on my lap. “I hate to break it to you, babe, but you know how Dani is expecting a baby?”

  “Ugh … yes I know, Ava, but that doesn’t mean I like to talk about it.”

  She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me lightly on the lips.

  “So what is this about a Bible and journal? What in the world have you been up to today?”

  With a smile that spread from ear to ear, she replied, “I’ve been exploring.”

  “I see that. You found the family Bible, I take it. It’s been somewhat of a hunt for my mother to find it. She hasn’t been able to find it in years.”

  “Did she know about Robert and Lizzy?”

  “Yeah, they were our great-great-grandparents.”

  She squirmed in my lap, causing my dick to start coming up.

  “How exciting!”

  “If you say so,” I said as I lifted my hips to her.

  I could see the excitement dancing in Ava’s eyes. Maybe this was what she needed, an adventure of some sort to go on.

  “I take it Robert had a higher level of class than Lizzy?”

  “Yep. He was some kind of Earl. My mother said Lizzy was a ladies maid.”

  Ava gasped and placed her hand over her heart. “He fell in love with the maid?”

  Letting out a chuckle, I nodded. “Yep. Do you want me to ask my mom what all she has on them? I know she did some serious research.”

  Her eyes grew wider. “Yes! Oh my gosh, do you think she would mind?”

  “No, she’d love to talk to you about it I’m sure. She was obsessed with it for the longest time.”

  She chewed on her lip and asked, “Did Kate also research it?”

  “Not that I’m aware of. I think my mom found something years ago that led her on her search. Why?”

  Ava pulled out a small book and held it. My sister Kate’s name was etched into the leather book.

  “Is that?”

  “Kate’s journal. I’ve been reading it ever since I found it. I have to tell you something and I know you’re going to think I’m insane, but I feel so connected to your sister. We are alike in so many ways it’s unreal.”

  I couldn’t help the smile that moved over my face. “You remind me a lot of Kate. Your love of drawing and fashion, mostly. She had the same desire and passion that you do. I have no doubt
the two of you would have been the best of friends.”

  Ava’s warm smile made my chest tightened. “I’m sure your family misses her so much.”

  “Yeah, we do.”

  “Do you know if your mom kept Kate’s sketch books?”

  With a shrug of my shoulders, I replied, “I’m sure she did. Kate’s room has pretty much been left untouched. They’re probably in there.”

  The look on Ava’s face made my heart feel light. If this meant she’d stay longer in Montana, I’d do whatever I could to help her on her little adventure.

  THERE WAS NO way I could hold my excitement in when Ryder mentioned Kate’s sketch books were probably in her room. Of course, the last thing I wanted to do was go asking her parents if I could take a peek in their daughter’s room.

  “I see your wheels spinning. You want to look in Kate’s room?”

  Chewing on the corner of my lip, I nodded. “But I would never want to do something your mother wouldn’t approve of.”

  Ryder smiled. “Mom goes into Kate’s room a lot; I think she talks with her in there.”

  “She should really come here,” I mumbled under my breath.

  His expression fell as he looked at me with a questioning look. “Huh?”

  I waved my hand as if to brush off what I said. “Nothing. I’m going to guess your mom hasn’t ever found Kate’s journal. I’m also going to guess she doesn’t know the family Bible was here, especially since I found a letter Kate wrote to her best friend in Ohio.”

  “Lynn?”

  “Yep. In the letter she mentions sleeping with Jackson in the house.”

  “Yeah, let’s not share that with Mom. But, I’m sure she would love to know you found the family Bible. She’s been searching for it ever since Kate passed away.”

  “It’s been here all the time,” I said as I pointed over to the bookshelf. “Surely she’s seen it.”

  Ryder frowned.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  His eyes narrowed as he said, “I’ve looked at those books hundreds of times and I’ve never once seen the Bible. Was it hidden behind another book?”

  I stood as Ryder helped me get over to where I found the book.

  “Nope. It was right here. This picture of Kate fell and the sunlight hit it just right to where it was shining on the Bible.”

  Ryder’s face turned white as a ghost. “That’s kind of creepy.”

  With a giggle, I hit him lightly on the chest. “Don't tell me you believe in ghosts?”

  “Considering that picture of Kate has been in our family room since it was taken and now it’s out here … I’m beginning to believe in ghosts.”

  My smile faded as my heart dropped. I knew I wasn’t going crazy. “Oh. That is creepy,” I whispered.

  JENNIFER LEANED OVER and bumped my shoulder. “So, Ryder tells me you’ve stumbled onto our sister’s journal.”

  Nodding my head, I peeked over to Lucy. “I have.”

  I could tell by the smile on her face, she was just as curious as I was when I first stumbled upon it.

  “So … does she talk about Jackson in it?”

  I nodded.

  Jennifer gasped. “Oh my God! What does she say?”

  “Well, she talks about when they first started dating, and how they—” Taking another peek around the table, I looked back at Jennifer. “How should I say this? Progressed in their relationship. I haven’t gotten too far into it.”

  Her lips pressed together as she made a disgusted face. “Gross. Don’t ever show it to me or I might gag.”

  I let out a soft chuckle as I glanced around the table. “So, I have to ask, would your mom mind if I went and looked around Kate’s room? I was hoping to find her sketch pads.”

  “Oh, they’re in the stone house.”

  I gasped and looked at her. “What? They’ve been in the house the entire time?”

  “Yeah, I think they are in the upstairs bedroom closet. I’m not sure if you know this or not, but Kate used to spend hours in that old house. She said she felt at peace there and more creative. Almost all of her drawings were done in that house.”

  A warm feeling washed over me as I smiled and said, “I feel the same way.”

  “At first my parents didn’t mind, but the more time she spent out there, the more worried my mother became.”

  “Why?”

  Jennifer stole a glance to her mother before looking back at me. “If you say I told you, I swear I’ll deny it.”

  Oh, this just got good. Family gossip.

  I crossed my heart and said, “Promise.”

  Jennifer bit her lower lip before blowing out a deep breath and saying, “Kate believed the house was haunted by our great-great-grandmother.”

  “Lizzy?”

  Pulling her head back in surprise, she said, “Yeah. How did you know about Lizzy?”

  “I found your family Bible with a letter Robert wrote to Lizzy.”

  “You found the family Bible? Holy crap. Mom is going to freak!”

  “I was going to talk to her about it after dinner. I know Ryder said she had already done some family research.”

  “Oh, she is going to be your best friend forever. Ever since Kate passed away my mother has been searching for the Bible. She was on a mad mission for a while. She swore our grandmother hid it before she passed away.”

  “Why?”

  Jennifer shrugged. “She didn’t like Mom at all.”

  “That’s terrible.”

  Jennifer chuckled. “Yep. Mom said our grandmother made her life a living hell.”

  “Who wants dessert?”

  Jennifer and I both looked up to see Lucy and Nate Sr. both standing with pies in each hand.

  With a low moan, I shook my head. “I’m sure I’ve gained ten pounds since I broke my leg.”

  “At least you’re not pregnant like Dani.”

  We both turned and looked at Dani who wore a beautiful smile. “She looks beautiful though,” I said.

  “Yeah, she really does.” Jennifer sighed. “I hope I find love someday.”

  With a grin, I bumped her shoulder. “You will. Just be patient.”

  Jennifer rolled her eyes and pushed out a frustrated breath. For someone as romantic as she was, I found it hard to believe she hadn’t been swept off her feet yet.

  After everyone ate dessert and helped clean up the table, it was time to head into the family room for what Nate described as four hours of sure torment and hell. Jennifer and Ryder started pulling out games as my mouth dropped open.

  “Games?”

  “I told you … four hours of torment and hell.”

  “I hate board games,” I whispered.

  “You are spending Thanksgiving with the wrong family then, sweetheart. It’s tradition. Stuff your face full of food and then play game after game of stupid nonsense until you’re so sick of it all, you would pay to have someone kill you. When what we could be doing is sitting our ass on the couch watching football.”

  With a huge grin on my face, I turned to Nate. “I have a way of getting us out of game night.”

  His eyebrows rose. “Really? If you can make that happen, I will owe you big time.”

  “So, what you’re really saying is you will owe me a favor. Anything I ask for you’ll have to do it.”

  Nate pinched his eyebrows together as he looked at me. “I can easily accept this offer because you have no clue how powerful game night is on Thanksgiving in the Montgomery house. You cannot win at this one, my sweet newbie.”

  I reached my hand out and said, “The only way to find out is to shake on it.”

  Nate laughed and took my hand.

  “Deal. If you can somehow make the heavens open up and swallow up all the board games and leave me in peace to watch football … I’ll owe you whatever your little heart desires.”

  With a grin, I turned to Lucy, who was instructing Dani’s husband Rich on how to set up the card table.

  “Lucy, did Ryder tell you I fou
nd the Montgomery family Bible today?”

  Everyone stopped moving as all eyes turned to me. Lucy’s eyes widened as she stared at me with a disbelieving look on her face.

  I could feel Nate’s eyes burning a hole into me as he leaned in closer to me. “You little sneaky bitch,” Nate whispered.

  With a jab in his side, I smiled bigger.

  “Where did you find it, Ava?” Lucy gasped.

  “On the bookshelf in the stone house.”

  Lucy’s head snapped over to Ryder. “Did you see it?”

  He nodded and said, “Yep.”

  Lifting her hands in the air, Lucy called out, “Game night is cancelled. Ava and I are going on a little history lesson.”

  “Thank God!” everyone called out as Ryder started laughing while making his way over to me.

  “I’m not sure what you just did, but you’ve obviously made the rest of the family very happy with game night being called off.”

  “You don’t like it either?”

  Ryder shook his head. “Hell no. Kate came up with game night and we all hated it. Ever since she passed away, Mom has been insistent on it and none of us have the heart to tell her no.”

  My heart ached for Lucy. I couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for her to lose her daughter. “No one will be mad I had a part in her calling it off will they?”

  Ryder flashed me his signature melt-my-panties smile. “Are you kidding? You’ve probably moved up to hero level in everyone’s eyes. Especially Nate’s.” Ryder turned to look at Nate. “The bastard already has the football game on. I’m sure we’ll see his hand slip into his pants and a cold beer in the other hand in no time.”

  “Gross,” I mumbled as I turned away from Nate.

  Lucy walked up to me and clapped her hands. “Shall we head to the house?”

  Excitement bubbled up once again. “Yes!”

  As we made our way back to the stone house, Ryder pulled me back. “You’re not showing her Kate’s journal, are you?”

  My eyes landed on Lucy as I shook my head. “I don’t think Kate ever had any intentions of your mom reading her journal. There are some very personal and private things in there.”

  With a nod of his head, Ryder said, “I think for now you keep that find to yourself.”