Chapter 23: The Hallowell Land

The land was nineteen years of weeds and one chimney.

I had stood on it twice before.

The first time I was nine, and the smoke was still going up.

The second time I was twenty, and Rhett cut a lock of my hair.

I stood at the broken gate with my hands in my coat pockets, and I did not go in.

"We can wait," Declan said.

"I know."

"We can come back another day."

"I know." I looked at the black stump of the chimney. "I'd rather do it with you here."

He took my hand.

The new bond hummed between us, steady and warm.

I felt what he was feeling: worry, pride, and a readiness to carry me across the field if I wanted.

"I can feel that," I said.

"Which part?"

"The part where you'd carry me."

"I would only do it if you asked."

"You'd love it if I asked."

"I would."

We walked through the gate together.

The ground crunched under my boots.

At the chimney, I put my palm flat against the old brick, and it was cold.

My father had carried me out of the smoke over his shoulder.

Then he had gone back in for my mother.

I stood there for a while.

Behind me, a car door slammed.

"Is it a bad time?" June called. "It feels like a bad time."

She came across the field in a puffy coat and rain boots, with Marianne beside her carrying a thermos.

"I brought coffee," Marianne said. "June brought opinions."

"I brought one opinion," June said. "This place needs a bench."

Keep reading free with an account. Start Mated To My Cheating Ex's Powerful Alpha from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.