Honor and Desire (Gold Sky #3) - Rebel Carter Page 0,66

the office. They’ll need you making sure it all runs smoothly with us being away.”

“No one knows this land like us. We’ll find them and it will be quicker if we go it just the two of us,” Forrest said. “Need you here with August keeping an eye on things for us. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Papa,” she murmured and gave them a weary smile. She didn’t like it one bit, but there was nothing she could do without going against her fathers’ wishes, even at the expense of hers.

“You’ll see it’s for the best,” Forrest told her. He came forward, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “We love you.”

Seylah blinked back tears and nodded at him. “I know, papa.” Will came close and kissed her other cheek. She knew her fathers only wanted to protect her, their kisses a reminder of their love for her but even their gentle touches weren’t enough of a balm to her wounded spirit.

“Love you, sweetheart,” he told her. “Goin’ on in to tell your mama.” Will nodded at August. “You come with us on our way out. Forrest and I will give you the rundown on what the towns gonna need with us gone.”

“Understood.” August’s shoulders broadened and he crossed his arms. “I’ll be here. No rush.”

Seylah knew that stance, the one that was said August was no nonsense, that he was on the job and focused. There was a certain look to the men that patrolled, the ones that were enforcers of the law, that came about when there was a job to be completed. August had it now, the flinty eyes, the impersonal mask the same that had settled over her fathers’ faces.

There was no talking them out of their decision, and now August was gone, lost to her because of his duty. A job that she could not follow him into, and that was, Seylah realized, the hardest part of all. They had always followed each other, found a way to intertwine their paths, but this was one place Seylah could not go.

Seylah turned to look at August with the door firmly shutting behind her fathers. “You know this isn’t right,” she said. He sighed, his shoulders dropping slightly, and he gave her a pained look.

“Honey. It’s not ideal but it’s for your safety.”

She glared at him. “My safety? As if I were a hapless waif unable to care for myself?”

He held up both of his hands and moved to take a step towards her, but Seylah pointed a finger at him. “You stay put. Right there. You could have spoken up for me but you didn’t. How could you let them decide that I was to stay behind.”

“Now wait one second, Seylah. No one thinks that but it’s dangerous out there!”

“Danger or not. I should be out there.”

“You’re better here with me. I’m not going either, an--”

“Fine then let me come with you on patrol.”

He gave a shake of his head. “Seylah, you have to be at the office.”

“You’re just like them. You expect me to stay behind a desk, too!”

“Seylah, we need you to help handle the paperwork and—”

“You mean the paperwork we can all complete? This isn’t about paperwork, this is about you and my fathers not trusting me to decide what I can and cannot do with my life.” She backed away from him and shook her head. Anger and hurt were coursing through her at lightning speed, and she could not remain where she was for one more second. Seylah needed to move, and immediately so.

“I have to go,” she told him.

“Seylah, wait--” August made to follow her but the turning of the door knob made him pause, he looked over his shoulder at the opening door.

Seylah took the opportunity to put said need for motion into action. “Stay for your orders, deputy,” she tossed bitterly over her shoulder as she stormed up the pathway. She heard August groan but the man was stuck, and for the first time she was grateful for August’s loyalty to her fathers. He would not move to follow her, not when there were orders to be issued and followed.

It took everything in her not to turn around but somehow, she managed. She was well into town by the time her anger abated enough for her to realize that she had stormed off with her fathers’ departure on the horizon. She faltered then, her steps slowing as she hit the main avenue. She had to go back, but even if she