happy.
“What is it?” she asked softly.
“Wyatt Walker works at Three Rivers a few times a week,” Bishop said, and Montana stiffened, her back moving to be perfectly straight. “See?” He shook his head. “I knew you wouldn’t like it, but Montana, it works.”
He came around the table and cradled her face in one hand. “I know you don’t like Micah Walker all that much, but what could you possibly have against Wyatt?”
Montana clung to the bitterness she held for all Walkers, though she knew she needed to let it go. She simply didn’t know how.
She hadn’t known how to keep living with her sisters as they each dated her ex-boyfriend. She hadn’t known how to forgive her ex-husband for cheating on her and bringing home both men and women while their daughter slept in the room next door.
She hadn’t known how to keep talking to her mother when she’d sided first with Johnny and then with Paris and Georgia.
If she couldn’t figure out how to let go of all of that, she certainly couldn’t figure out how to release Micah and his whole family from the cage of her resentment. She wished she’d never said anything about him to Bishop, but the man was pretty perceptive, and she’d wanted to share with him.
“Anyway,” Bishop said, leaning down and touching his lips to her cheek. So he wasn’t going to play fair. Montana remained completely still. “He lives way up in the east hills, close to you, actually. He said he drives right past your place to get to Three Rivers, and he’ll pick up Aurora on his way.”
“She can’t ride with him alone,” Montana said. “I don’t even know him.”
“She won’t be alone,” Bishop said, whispering right in her ear now. “Tripp said Ollie’s got a job up there too, and he’ll bring him to your place too. Wyatt will take them both.”
Montana shivered with the nearness of Bishop, the tantalizing scent of his cologne and the sweet minty scent of his breath.
She could kiss him in a minute, because there were still plenty of questions to be answered.
“Tripp?” she asked. “Why would Tripp bring Ollie to my place?”
Bishop pulled back and looked at her, clear confusion in his eyes. “Why wouldn’t he? Ollie’s his son.”
Ollie’s his son.
Those three words filled Montana’s bloodstream with ice. Her eyes widened as her mouth dropped open. Horror and betrayal and disbelief snaked through her, filling the spaces the ice left behind with darkness and fear.
“No,” she said. “Ollie’s last name is not Walker.” Unless Aurora had lied about that too. She shook her head, because she couldn’t stand the thought of Aurora lying to her at all. “It’s not. Aurora introduced him as Oliver Osburn.”
“Yeah,” Bishop said. “But his mom remarried after her divorce. She married Tripp Walker. They live out on Quail Creek, down the road from Rhett and his family, and like ten minutes from Seven Sons.” He searched her face, and Montana wondered what he saw there. “You’ve never gone to pick her up there?”
“I have,” Montana said. “I’ve never seen Tripp Walker.” Her emotions had morphed to anger now, and she turned around, surveying how much work they had left to do. She wanted to leave now and get to Aurora. Grab her by the shoulders and demand she tell her the truth.
You already know the truth.
She pressed one hand to her chest, trying to calm her heartbeat, and the other to her mouth, trying to contain the moan. Her eyes drifted closed too, as she suddenly felt sweaty and like she might faint.
She swayed on her feet, and Bishop said, “Okay, I’ve got you.” He took her into his arms, his chest pressing into her back and keeping her on her feet. “Montana, love, I’m sorry. I thought you knew.”
She shook her head, but with her eyes closed and her heart still racing, the motion only disoriented her further. Tears pressed behind her eyes, and she hated that stupid Tripp Walker had caused them.
Turning, she pressed her face to Bishop’s chest as her eyelids couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice high-pitched and her next breath wheezing into her lungs. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why this has upset me so much.”
“It’s fine,” Bishop murmured, his hands firm and steady against her back. He rubbed in large circles, his heartbeat clear and strong in her ears.
Montana focused on his touch and looked up at him. “How do I carry this burden? I