Ty. “Why does he want this farm so badly?”
He goes quiet, chews on a piece of hay as he thinks about that. “He’s a developer. He puts up shopping malls, apartment buildings, things like that.”
I glance at the grounds, that unease in my stomach expanding. “Do you think that’s why he wants this land?”
His eyes go wide. “Shit. I guess I never thought he’d want to put up a complex out here in farm country.” He kicks the dirt. “Maybe that’s why Jack would never sell to him.”
“Yeah, maybe.” I brush my hand over my hair. “Thanks for standing with me. It means a lot.”
He makes a fist and nudges my chin. “You didn’t need me. You’re a fighter.”
My chest swells at the compliment. My God, when and if I leave here, I’m going to miss this kid. In fact, I’m going to miss them all. It must have killed them when Juanita walked away without so much as a backward glance. My heart tumbles. If I do the same, then how am I any better than her?
“Well, I need to get a shower,” I say, glancing at myself.
“Come on. I’ll walk you to the house.” We head toward my half-assed painted house and Tyler asks, “You coming for supper tonight?”
“I don’t want to impose.”
He frowns at me. “You’re family. Did you not just hear me tell that to Bryce? A family member is never an imposition.”
I take a fast breath, my heart pounding in my ears as tears prick my eyes. I’ve never been a part of a big family before. Yes, my parents are loving, but they’re so damn judgmental. No one here is judging me. They’re just accepting me for who I am—a spoiled, ignorant city girl who knows nothing about nothing. No, that’s not true anymore. I do know something about something.
We reach my steps, and I hurry to my door. “I’ll see you shortly.” I step inside and breathe in. There is only the faint, lingering scent of skunk that I’m sure will never go away. The screen door bangs shut behind me, and I dash up the steps toward the shower.
As I hurry, a cracking sound reaches my ear, and my heart jumps into my throat as the wood below me collapses. I let loose a god-awful screech and fall, my leg twisting beneath me. Pain shoots up my ankle, and I grab the handrail before I fall all the way through to the basement.
The front door bangs open and bounces off the wall as Tyler comes running back inside.
“Alyson,” he calls out and looks up to see me hanging on for dear life.
“Tyler,” I say, my voice as shaky as my body. “I fell.”
“Jesus,” he says and comes my way.
“Don’t come up here. I don’t want the rest of the stairs to give way.”
He scratches his head, his eyes narrowed as he assesses the situation. “Alyson, the stairs are fine. Someone sabotaged the one you fell through.”
My throat tightens to the point of pain, and stupid tears fall, like this is the straw that broke the camel’s back. With exhaustion pulling at me, and my emotions on a supersonic roller coaster ride, I swipe at my face with the back of my hand.
“I’m going to get Jay. Are you okay for a second?” I nod, since I’m not sure my voice will work. “Are you sure?” I sniff and nod some more. “I’ll be right back.”
I take deep breaths to keep myself together, my mind racing. Tyler must be mistaken. I can’t imagine anyone sabotaging my stairs and putting my life at risk. The front door slams open again, and Jay and Tyler come running in.
“Are you hurt?” Jay asks, panic in his voice.
The second I see the fear on his face, my stupid tears fall harder. “I’m okay, really,” I say. Way to convince him, Alyson. “It’s my ankle. I twisted it when I fell.”
“Okay,” he says, a new composure about him that helps relax me. “I’m going to get you out of there.” I nod weakly and he looks me over, all strength and power—the calm in the storm.
“Tyler, run down to the basement and see if anything under the stairs has been tampered with.”
Jay takes my hand, folds his big palm over it, and rubs with his thumb, a soothing manner that lets me know he’s got me. Tyler hurries downstairs, his boots pounding on the wood.
“Dad and I helped Jack repair these stairs years ago.” He knocks on them.