70 "the house"

The house smelled the same.Wood polish. Coffee. Something sharp underneath it all that never quite went away. My boots echoed on the floor as I stepped inside, Patsy's small hand tight in mine."Daddy?" I called out, my voice catching despite myself. "Dad?"Silence.Then—"He's not home."The voice came from the shadows near the stairs.My stomach dropped.Beth stepped forward slowly, like she'd been waiting for this moment her whole life. She looked exactly the same and nothing like I remembered all at once—sharp eyes, tight smile, a presence that sucked the air out of the room."He's at the capitol," she said coolly. "Giving a speech tonight." Fear ran cold through my veins. Without thinking, I stepped back and tucked Patsy behind my legs, my hand resting on the top of her head. She pressed into me, peeking around my hip, curious and cautious all at once. "When will he be home?" I asked quietly. Beth didn't answer right away.Her eyes never left Patsy.They dragged over her—blonde curls, green eyes, the way she held herself like she belonged wherever she stood. I watched Beth's face change in real time. Shock. Calculation. Something darker underneath."Well," she said slowly, lips curling, "this is interesting." My grip tightened on Patsy's hair. "Don't." Beth finally looked at me then. Really looked at me. Her gaze flicked to my mouth.She smiled."What happened there?" she asked sweetly. "Walk into a door, or did one of your men finally show his true colors?"My chest burned. My throat closed. I said nothing. She knew the truth about my lipFear rooted me in place the way it always had around her. Old, familiar terror. The kind that lives in your bones no matter how far you run.Beth tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "Still quiet," she murmured. "Guess some things never change." Patsy shifted behind me. "Mama?"

"I've got you," I whispered, not taking my eyes off Beth. Beth's gaze slid back to Patsy again, sharp with something that looked a lot like jealousy. "So," she said softly, dangerously, "how long were you planning on keeping that a secret?" My heart hammered so loud I was sure she could hear it."I'm here to see my father," I said, barely above a whisper. "Nothing else."Beth smiled wider, but it never reached her eyes. "Oh, Willie," she said. "You always bring chaos home with you."standing there in my childhood house, my daughter hidden behind me was an uneasy feeling.

The front door opened behind Beth with the familiar creak of old hinges.

"Beth, we need to talk about—"

Casey's voice cut off mid-sentence.

He froze in the doorway.

For a split second, he just stood there staring at me like I was a ghost. Like I'd stepped straight out of a memory he'd buried too deep to touch. His face had aged—lines at the corners of his eyes, a little more weight to his shoulders...but it was still him. Still my brother.felt my lips tremble before I could stop them."Hey," I said softly.

His eyes filled instantly.

"Willie?" His voice cracked like he didn't trust it. "Jesus... Willie?"I smiled then. Really smiled. The kind I hadn't let myself have in years.Before Beth could say a word, Casey crossed the room in three long strides and pulled me into his arms. He held me like he was afraid I might leave again if he let go. I pressed my face into his shoulder and breathed him in, leather, dust, home.

"I thought you were gone," he whispered. "I thought... I thought I lost you."

"I'm here," I said, choking up. "I'm really here."He pulled back just enough to look at me again, hands still gripping my arms, eyes searching my face like he needed to make sure I was real. Then his gaze dropped.To Patsy.She peeked out from behind my legs again, curious green eyes locked on his.Casey blinked. "Who's this?"I reached back and rested my hand on her shoulder. "This is Patsy," I said gently. "She's mine."His breath left him in a rush."Hey there," he said softly, dropping to one knee so he was level with her. "I'm your uncle Casey."Patsy studied him carefully, then smiled. "You look like Mama."That did it.Casey laughed, the sound breaking through the tension like sunlight. He wiped at his eyes quickly, embarrassed but not hiding it very well. "I guess that makes me your uncle don't it?," he said. "If that's alright with you."Patsy nodded solemnly. "Okay uncle casey"Casey stood and pulled me into another hug, this one fierce and protective."I'm so glad you're home," he murmured into my hair. "You have no idea."Behind us, Beth stood silent. Rolling her eyes at anything we had to say to each other. "How Tate?" I asked. "He's great. Wait till you see how big he got. You won't believe it. I gotta head out... but we can catch up later" he sqeezed me one more time before leaving. I was quick to leave too knowing the devil was behind me. And she was the devil

.....

Patsy sat cross-legged beside me on the porch, her small shoulder pressed into my arm, the two of us watching the yard slowly transform into something unreal.

Tents went up one by one like white mushrooms sprouting from the grass. Long tables followed. Food vendors rolled in, generators humming, the smell of grease and coffee already drifting through the air. A stage was being built near the fence line, cowboys hauling lumber and sound equipment, laughing and shouting over one another before disappearing back inside to clean up and change.

It felt strange—watching my home become a spectacle.

"Mama," Patsy said quietly, squinting into the distance. "Why haven't we gone down there yet?"

She pointed toward the long driveway that curved down toward the bunkhouse.

My chest tightened.

"Oh," I said easily, too easily. "We'll go later. Everyone's busy right now."

That wasn't the truth.

The truth was Walker was in there. Somewhere behind those walls. Breathing the same air. Existing too close for comfort. I wasn't ready—not to see his face, not to hear his voice, not to feel whatever would tear loose inside me if I did.

Patsy hummed, accepting my answer in that quiet way kids do when they trust you completely.

I swallowed.

"How about," I said, brushing my thumb over her knuckles, "we go get you ready instead?"

Her head snapped toward me. "My pretty dress?"

I smiled. "The very one."

Her face lit up.

I'd bought that dress a year ago. Pink tulle, soft as clouds, with tiny flowers sewn along the waist. I'd bought it knowing someday she'd wear it here—whether I was ready or not.

We hadn't stayed in the house. I couldn't. Beth's presence sat in those walls like a storm waiting to break, and I wasn't strong enough yet. We'd slept in my camper instead, the same one Travis hauled all this way. It felt safer. Smaller. Mine.

I'd arrived yesterday evening and still hadn't shown Patsy around. I kept putting it off—one excuse after another—just in case Walker stepped out of a doorway or Rip crossed the yard. I wasn't ready for either of them.

I hadn't seen my father yet.

Part of me ached for it. Another part was relieved. I told myself I'd see him after the event, when the noise died down, when the eyes weren't all on us.

I stood, offering Patsy my hand. "Come on, sweetheart."

She slipped her fingers into mine, trusting, warm.

As we stepped off the porch, I glanced once more at the growing crowd, the stage, the banners, the weight of everything waiting for me.