“Yes. Apparently, there’s a question about Wyatt’s rights to the land now that his father ran off.”
“Nothing a little marriage couldn’t help fix,” Trina said, holding out her glass for another shot.
Ryder looked at Trina. “Why her? You could marry him.”
“I’d do it in a minute.” Trina waggled her brows.
My brother frowned.
“But my bestest friend and deputy mayor is a better option if the goal is to stop this prison. Plus, you should have seen the lasers she shot at me when Wyatt asked if I’d marry him.”
My brother choked on the water he was drinking. “He what?”
Trina waved her hand. “He was just annoyed that Sinclair rejected him.”
Ryder looked at me.
“Personally, I think he likes you,” Trina said. “At the very least, he was hurt that you thought the idea was too ridiculous.”
“He was not.” I tapped my empty glass on the counter, telling my brother I needed another drink.
She shook her head. “Sometimes I wonder how it was that you ever ended up pregnant. You’re clueless when it comes to men. First the mayor and now Wyatt Jones. You’re like the Pied Piper.” Trina finished her drink and hopped down from the stool. “I’m going to the ladies’ room. When I get back, Ryder, I’d like another drink.”
“As you wish.” He nodded like he was a servant. Ryder waited until she was out of earshot and then said, “Marriage or not, he needs to know about Alyssa.”
“I know.” I looked down, feeling the weight of the ramifications of a summer day ten years ago bearing down on me.
Ryder put his hand over mine. “You know I’m here for you, no matter what?”
“I do.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “How come you’re not mad at Wyatt for running off like that and now showing up like nothing happened.”
My brother shrugged and grabbed a towel to wipe the bar. He hadn’t been that upset ten years ago when Wyatt had left which made me wonder if he knew something I didn’t about Wyatt.
Then again, I had my own secrets around Wyatt. It wasn’t until I found out I was pregnant that I confided in Ryder about my relationship with his friend. I’d been in college for a couple of weeks when I realized I was pregnant. Everyone except my brother thought it was a fling with a college boy.
But I’d told Ryder at first to get help in finding Wyatt so I could tell him. I’d been so sure that if he knew he was going to be a father, he’d come back to me and follow through on his promises. While I felt like Ryder wouldn’t be angry at my and Wyatt’s relationship, he’d likely be hurt that he hadn’t been told. And I wasn’t sure how’d he react to Wyatt’s knocking me up.
Fortunately, Ryder was supportive and loving. He was a fantastic uncle, and I was glad to have a father-like figure in Alyssa’s life since Wyatt wasn’t around. But now he was around.
“Did you know he was leaving Salvation?” I prodded.
“No. But I have no doubt that he felt the need to go.”
I admired Ryder’s ability to accept people just as they were, even as it was sometimes frustrating.
“If he’s back though, Sin, he needs to know.”
“What if he doesn’t stay? I don’t want Alyssa to be hurt.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Alyssa or you?”
“Both. He just took off. We had no idea where he was. Turns out he joined the military. Did you know that?”
“No, but it makes sense.” Ryder mixed two drinks for me and Trina, going heavy on the mix and lighter on the booze. “Whether he stays or goes, he has a right to know. Was he a jerk to run off? Maybe. But he didn’t know about Alyssa-”
“That’s not my fault.”
“I know. But if he had known, he wouldn’t have left. I believe that. I don’t know who he is now, but if he’s like the Wyatt I knew, he’ll stay if he knows. He’ll do what’s right.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want him hanging around out of obligation.”
My brother gave me a disapproving glare. “That’s not fair. Plus, you have to consider what you’re denying Alyssa. If she found out about Wyatt, she’d resent you for not telling her.”
Dammit, he was right. “I just need to think. To figure out his plans. If the farm gets sold, he’ll probably leave.”
“Doesn’t matter, Sin.” Ryder shook his head, and it reminded me of my father when he did the same thing when we disappointed him.
“What’d I miss?” Trina rejoined us. She looked at the drink. “Jack and coke?”
He nodded.
“You remembered.”
“I aim to please.” Ryder winked at her.
She gave him a sideways glance as she lifted her drink and turned to me. “So, what should we toast to?”
“I have no idea,” I said, picking up my drink.
“How about to Wyatt Jones' efforts to kick Simon Stark’s ass out of town?”
“I can drink to that.” I clicked my glass to hers, but before I could sip, I heard a low chuckle behind me. I knew that laugh. I turned in my chair. “Wyatt.”
He smiled. “Still thinking of me, I see.”
Damn him. Was there no escape from him?
9 Wyatt
I’d been halfway back to the farm, when I turned the truck around. I wasn’t ready to return home. What I really wanted to do was hunt down Stark and give him the proper ass-kicking he so richly deserved. Who the fuck sent goons out to harass older women? It was like we were living in a fucking movie. I had to hope that like in fiction, all would end well. But because real life didn’t always have a happily ever after, I was still on edge. I was pissed at my father for trying to sell the farm out from under my mother and me. I was frustrated that the mayor’s office wasn’t showing more support for the farmers. And
