“Thanks, Mr. Grizz.”
My lips twitched. “Anytime.”
We moved inside. Most of the animals were still in the pastures, but a few were in the stalls. As we walked down the aisle, something flashed out and hit me in the arm. “What the—？” I caught myself just before I dropped an F-bomb in front of a six-year-old.
“Emmaline,” Cady chastised. “That’s not very nice.”
She moved toward the emu, but I caught her by the back of the shirt. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
I glared at the bird. That thing could take a chunk out of Cady.
She just grinned at me and shook off my hold. Before I could stop her, she moved up to the emu’s stall, and the bird dropped its head to her shoulder, almost like it was hugging Cady.
“Emmaline just wants her cuddles,” Cady said, stroking the bird.
“I’ll be damned,” I muttered.
I felt Aspen stop alongside me, simply watching her daughter.
“She’s got that same light you do. Even the animals feel it,” I said quietly.
“She’s more special than I could ever dream of being,” Aspen whispered.
I tipped my head down to look at her. “You both are. One day you’ll see that.”
Aspen’s throat worked as she swallowed.
Cady released the emu and started down the aisle again, taking my hand and tugging me along. “Will you check her wounds?”
I didn’t know as much as Dr. Miller, but I knew enough.
Cady climbed up on the tack box to peek into the stall. “She’s sleeping,” she whispered.
I glanced inside. The deer was curled up, giving us a good view of her side. “She’s almost completely healed. Looking great.”
Cady sighed, resting her chin on the side of the stall. “I’m happy for her, but I’m gonna miss her something awful.”
That pressure in my chest was back. How could anyone be mean to this little ray of light?
I turned to Aspen. “Let me take Cady to her next dance class.”
Her eyes flared. “Is there going to be a bloodbath if I do that?”
My mouth stretched into a grin. “I’m the town pariah for a reason. Everyone’s terrified of me.”
Finally, that terror would come in handy.
24
ASPEN
I wiped down tabletop after tabletop as I moved around The Brew. Normally, I’d lose myself in the music playing faintly in the background, but I couldn’t stop hearing Roan’s words in my head. “I’m the town pariah for a reason. Everyone’s terrified of me.”
I hadn’t had a chance to challenge that statement because Cady had interrupted, wanting to take Mr. Grizz out to see her goaties. But I couldn’t forget the words. I hated that Roan felt so looked down upon by the people around him.
An ache had taken root at hearing the words and hadn’t left since. I wanted to help and change things for Roan, but I didn’t know the first thing to do.
The bell over the door jingled, and I looked up to see Elsie heading inside. I smiled in greeting. “Hey, how was it today?”
She grinned back. “Freaking awesome. I got some really great shots. But it’s cold as hell when you get higher up in elevation, even just a little bit.”
I nodded, heading behind the counter. “It doesn’t take much. You want something warm to drink?”
“Please. I’d love some tea, whatever you recommend. You never steer me wrong.”
“Anything to eat? Zeke is gone for the afternoon, but we have a few pre-made sandwiches.” I inclined my head toward the refrigerated section of the bakery case.
Elsie perused the options. “I’ll take that chicken salad.”
“Coming right up.”
As I worked to gather her meal, Elsie watched me closely. The focus made me twitchy, and I braced for whatever was coming.
“You doing okay?” she asked softly.
I stiffened but didn’t allow myself to stop moving as I plated her sandwich. “Oh, yeah. I’m fine.”
Elsie toyed with the corner of the counter. “What did they want? I know you said it was a family issue…”
Her words trailed off, but I heard what she didn’t say. Elsie knew I wasn’t telling her the whole truth.
I focused on keeping my breaths even. In for two, out for two. I did it over and over as I searched for words that wouldn’t be a lie but also wouldn’t reveal the whole truth. “They wanted a statement on a case my family was involved in years ago. I didn’t want to give one.”