“Wyatt is so nice. Kara Lister has a step-dad and he’s mean to her. I’m glad Wyatt isn’t like that.”
“I wouldn’t let anyone be mean to you,” I said, putting my arm around her.
The sound of a car had me looking up the drive. It was a dark sedan that parked just behind my car.
Two men in suits got out and started toward the porch. I stood to meet them at the top of the steps, wondering if these were the men Wyatt had said threatened his mother.
“Is the owner here?” one of the men asked.
“I’m one of the owners.” I wasn’t sure of my legal status, but I married Wyatt for the purpose of his retaining legal ownership and to have someone in the mayor’s office with a vested interest in the farming community.
The man held out a stack of papers. “This is a contract for the purchase of the property. It’s ten percent higher than before, and almost more than the land is worth. It’s the best offer you’ll get so you should sign it.”
I took the papers and made it appear as if I was looking them over. Then I looked up at the two men.
“We’re not selling.” I tore up the contract, wondering if perhaps I should let Wyatt deal with this. After all, technically it was his and Peggy’s land. It appeared I needed to learn about checking with my partner as well. But I felt Wyatt would likely tear it up too, so I continued on. “Stark is going to have to find somewhere besides Salvation to build his prison.”
One man looked a bit surprised, but the other scowled. “You shouldn’t have done that. What sort of example are you setting for your little girl?” He nodded toward Alyssa.
It wasn’t an outward threat, and yet, I couldn’t help but feel like it was.
I was getting ready to show him just how dangerous threatening a child could be when Wyatt came charging through the door. He gripped the man by the front of his shirt and pushed him down the stairs.
“Take Alyssa into the house, Sinclair.” His voice was deadly. I wanted to tell him beating these men up wasn’t a good idea, but he was singularly focused on the two men.
“Why don’t I show you your room?” Peggy said from the door.
“You go, baby,” I said to Alyssa.
“You too, Sinclair,” Wyatt said, giving the man a light shove and releasing him. “I just need to remind these fuck- ah...men that they’re trespassing.”
I made sure Alyssa was in the house and heading up the stairs with Peggy, but then I returned to the porch. I’d joined in on this battle so I was going to play my part, which right now was possibly keeping Wyatt from being arrested for assault.
25
Wyatt
Watching Alyssa’s pure expression of joy at having Lilibud made me feel like a superhero. I’d always thought I’d be a father someday, but until that moment, it was an abstract idea. Now I knew how amazing and awe-inspiring the admiration of a child could be. Alyssa’s father was a fucking idiot to abandon her and Sinclair. But I was ready to stand up and be the man they both needed.
I knew Sinclair still saw this marriage as temporary, but I had time to prove her wrong. I was the man for her and her daughter, and before this was done she’d know that.
I left them on the porch to get lemonade with my mother because she gave me her, “we need to talk” look. I followed her into the kitchen, getting the glasses out while Mom got the pitcher of lemonade.
“Wyatt, you’re wonderful with Alyssa. I can’t tell you how much it warms my heart to see it.”
“But?” I prodded, knowing there was more to her statement.
“I know you want to be there for the both of them, but Sinclair has been raising that child on her own for nine years.”
“Yeah, so?” I leaned against the counter and crossed my arms.
“So, she’s not going to like you swooping in like a superhero and spoiling her daughter. She’s also not going to like you making decisions, such as whether to buy the girl a horse, without consulting her.”
“It’s just a pony.” I waved her comment away.
“I’m telling you, she didn’t like it. I think I smoothed things over, but even if she shares parenting responsibilities with you, you have to defer to her. She’s the mother.”
“And I’m just the step-dad.” That irked me. I already loved that kid.
I heard a car door shut and looked out the kitchen window. “Oh, hell no.”
“What?” My mother came to look out the window with me.
“It’s Stark’s men.” I strode through the living room to the front door. Before I burst through, I stopped to hear what they were saying.
“We’re not selling.” Sinclair tore up a set of papers. “Stark is going to have to find somewhere besides Salvation to build his prison.”
That’s my girl, I thought.
The first asshole scowled and I didn’t like the menacing look in his eyes. “You shouldn’t have done that. What sort of example are you setting for your little girl?” He nodded toward Alyssa.
Was that a threat? Was he threatening a child? I saw red, and in an instant was barreling through the door. I gripped the asshole by the front of his shirt and pushed him down the stairs.
“Take Alyssa into the house, Sinclair.” I demanded. It was taking every bit of strength I had not to beat the shit out of this guy in front of them.
“Why don’t I show you your room?” my mother said from the door.
“You go, baby,” Sinclair said to Alyssa.
“You too, Sinclair,” I growled, giving the man a light shove and releasing him. “I just need to remind these fuck- ah...men that they’re trespassing.”
When I heard the screen door shut, I stepped
