Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
There was a time when I’d cursed the Bowmen family, as had her father. But from all I’d witnessed, they’d done everything they could for Zoe since I’d been gone.
“I love him,” Avery said, speaking about Mitchell’s brother, Nate.
I hugged her fiercely. “I know. We all saw the sparks at the barn dance. But I need you to tell me about my place. What did my mother do?”
Though I wouldn’t admit Mom’s faults to Mitchell, Avery knew everything about my homelife growing up, as I knew everything about hers.
“She didn’t do anything. When your rent wasn’t paid, they gave your trailer to someone on the waiting list or something like that. If I’d known, I would have paid it.”
“No. It’s not your fault, and besides, Agan paid the month before we left. We haven’t been gone that long.”
Avery stared at me for a long time. “How long do you think it’s been?”
“Three weeks,” I said.
She shook her head. “It’s been longer than that.” She lifted her phone and showed me the date.
How could I have lost a week or more? I thought about how much we’d slept for what I’d thought was the last few days. Then there had been the time spent in the cave with all the rain. We hadn’t had a clock of any kind to tell us how long that had lasted.
“What am I going to do? I can’t afford a hotel.”
“As if. You’ll stay here.”
Sunshine came out and met Mitchell. They headed our way. “I wanted you to know you are welcome to my room or Mitchell’s. I put fresh sheets on. We can stay in the bunkhouse,” Sunshine offered as if reading my mind.
“Bunkhouse?” I asked.
Avery jumped in. “Oh, it’s pretty spectacular. Nate had it redone. There’s a commercial-sized kitchen. There’s also a room upstairs with a private bath, not that you need that. No one else stays there.”
“Can you show me?” I asked.
Avery glanced at Mitchell and Sunshine before nodding to me. “It’s great,” she said, taking my hand.
Because the property had formerly been a working ranch, there was a large building not far from the house that had served as living quarters for the ranch hands. I’d never been in their bunkhouse, but I’d seen a few growing up. They reminded me of a one-room frat house.
What we walked into was everything she described. The bunks were luxury cubbies cut into the wall. The beds looked plush and the linens fancy. Far in the back, I could see the kitchen with a stove fit for making large meals and an industrial-sized refrigerator my boss would envy.
“Up here,” Avery said.
I followed her upstairs to what I’d consider a master suite. Everything was bigger and nicer than it had been in my room in the trailer. “Wow.”
“You like?” she asked.
“Like? I love.”
“Then you should stay here. It will give you the privacy I know you like, and you’ll still be close to Zoe. Or,” she began as my face scrunched up, “you can take Sunshine up on her offer and take one of the rooms upstairs.”
I didn’t want to displace anyone. Plus, it would be weird because her things were in her room. She’d have to knock if she needed anything. “This is fine. I can always sleep with Zoe in her room if she wants.”
“Knock, knock.”
We turned to find Sunshine in the doorway. She held some bags. “I hope you’ll stay. We have plenty of room.”
“I will for now,” I said.
She held out some bags. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want to be here or in the house, but I heard about you losing your place before you arrived. I got you a few things to wear until you figure it out. No worries if you don’t like it. The receipt is inside, and you can exchange or return whatever you want.”
I looked at Avery and grinned because she’d gotten me, and she’d know what I was thinking. “Thanks,” I said to Sunshine. “I’ll pay you back.”
“No need,” Sunshine said. “I had a bit of good fortune come my way and this is my way of paying it forward with some good karma. Again, the receipt is in the bag in case you need to exchange or return anything you’d like. No questions asked by me.” She handed me another shopping bag. “I also got you toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, shampoo, and stuff.”
“You’ve thought of it all,” I said.
“I didn’t want you to have to think about anything but spending time with Zoe. She missed you terribly. We are all glad you are home safe,” Sunshine said. I nodded. “I’ll leave you two,” she added before giving us a little wave.
I spotted the sparkler on her finger and thought Mitchell had snagged himself a good one. “Thank you, Sunshine. For everything.”
She smiled and disappeared. I turned to Avery. “Mitchell’s a good guy, right?”