Looking around. There is a single bed in one corner. At least the blanket and pillow look clean enough. The floorboards are unpolished. A little pot belly stove in one corner. The window rattling against the wind. A sink. A door which I hope leads to a bathroom. No kitchen, just a sink and a cupboard. It's certainly sparse. This is the living quarters of someone who has given up on life. Someone who thinks he is unloved.
I remember all those times as kids that I saw the pain in Kane's eyes. It makes me angry to think of how his parents treated him. Sure, he was a little wild and reckless, but that was no reason to show such obvious favouritism to his older brother.
Turning to Kane now, I offer a small smile. “It is good to see you again, Kane. I’m glad you were here.”
“I wish I could stay the same. But you shouldn’t be up here Sadie. It’s dangerous.”
“At least I have a legitimate, legal reason for being here. It’s my job. Whereas you’re here because….?”
“That’s none of your business.”
I put my hands on my hips. Giving him a stubborn look. “We’re practically family. If you're in trouble then it is absolutelymy business. You always were a bit wild, but I never imagined you would get mixed up with criminals.”
Kane shakes his head. “You haven’t changed a bit. You’re still a brat demanding to know everybody's business.”
“Yeah, well you're still a stubborn fool who thinks he has to do everything on his own. Remember when you climbed to the top of the water tower and we all had to help you get down?”
He looks at me for a moment and then there is a hint of a smile. “I remember you had a chance to tattle to my parents, but you never did.”
“Because we are friends. We were with each other through thick and thin.” I have good memories of my childhood and most of them involve getting into trouble with Kane. But I know he had it harder than I did. While I would never tell his parents the things we got up to, I know his brother often did and the results were unpleasant for Kane.
Now he relaxes his shoulders and hands me a blanket. The hint of a smile at old memories. “Take the bed. I’m going to stay up and keep watch.”
Getting into the bed I watch Kane sit in one of the chairs.
I feel safe with Kane. Realise that all those old feelings are still there. I can see underneath the hard exterior. There is a hint of the boy I once knew. The guy with the charming smile. The boy who was funny and quirky. Who was wild and reckless. The one who jumped off balconies and then challenged me to do the same. He is still there. And he is there but now wrapped up in a sexy package.
Chapter 5
Kane
After a restless night I'm woken by Sadie moving around, looking in cupboards.
"There's no coffee. But there are some power bars in the draw." I tell her while I get up to stretch. She glances over and I notice her eyes drop to my stomach. The army got me into shape. Living rough up here has kept my muscles well honed. She looks away quickly with a cute little blush. Interesting. I'm glad I have an effect on her. Because she sure as hell has an effect on me.
"What's the plan for today?" She asks.
I run a hand through my hair. I don't know what to do. My instinct is just to lock her in this cabin and watch over her to keep her safe. Or to run. I'm not a man who like to run away. But the idea of running away with Sadie is interesting. And I will do anything to keep her safe. When we were kids everyone called me reckless. But I don't want to be reckless with her.
"We'll check that your truck is still there. I'll make a plan depending on what the weather is doing. If it looks like storming then we might be stuck here a little longer." She seems satisfied with that for the moment.
I thought I was feeling twisted and confused before when I just had to decide if I was going to stay with the Ridge Riders. But now, seeing Sadie again after all these years. She feels likehome. She is just the same. Stubborn. Funny. That joy for life she always had. I think I used to have that too. I have memories of us running through the streets. Riding our bikes. Laughing. It all seems to be in a golden light of sunset. I think I've been looking for that feeling all my adult life. I just didn't know it.
And then there is Sadie herself. She is beautiful. Just a pure, natural beauty. No make-up, no fancy clothes, she is so comfortable with who she is. But there is a little chip on her shoulder. A determination to prove herself that is damn adorable. I never thought I would be attracted to my friend's kid sister. But we're not kids anymore. And I almost crave her. I want to sink into her curves. My hands ache to touch her. But I can't give into my desires. She's my best friends sister. Off limits. And there is no way that I am good enough for her. Maybe, in another life, if things had turned out differently, different choices, then maybe. But not now. Not here. I am who I am. I am the choices I have made that have led me to here. She is sunshine and joy. She makes me think about a house and a family and love. Look at me. Look where I am. I can't bring her down to my level. No matter how much I might long for her.
It doesn't matter that it is the first time in the longest time that I want for anything. I can not have her. It doesn't matter that she has woken me up, that she makes me want to be a better man. For the longest time I haven't cared about anything. Now she has me wanting to make improvements to this cabin, fix it up. Have something better for myself. There is even the house I bought in town and haven't stepped foot in for years. It was probably the one thing I did right after I got out of the army. Took the money I had saved and bought an older house in town. More to prove that I could. My older brother got the family home. I wanted to prove I didn't need family. But Iwasn't ready to live back in my home town and so I ran up here to the mountains. That is where I found the Ridge Riders.
Maybe if I was more like my brother. Maybe then I would have a house and a job and I might meet Sadie walking down the street one day. I'd take her out to a nice dinner. I'd take her back to my place and make love to her all night in a big bed in my big house. But that is all a dream. It's always going to be a dream. I've never been like my brother.
Instead we are here in my tiny cabin that is falling apart, just like my life. And then there is Malcolm and the gang. I will lay down my life to protect Sadie but would that even be enough. Every time I think of the danger, of the way Malcolm looked at her. It makes my stomach churn and my chest tighten.
After checking on Sadie’s 4WD, she mentions she is missing a lens from her camera and we head up into the hay loft of the barn to look for it. It’s warm up here. Dark While looking, Sadie starts asking questions.
"What happened to you, Kane? How did you end up out here?"
I shrug. It's a question I don't like to examine too carefully. But then she says, "I always thought you had so much promise."
I stare at her for a moment. Those words almost hurt. It's not something I ever heard growing up. I was too wild. Too reckless. Not smart enough. Nothing compared to my brother. But looking into Sadie's eyes I can see that she means it. While she was is younger than me, we were often paired together. Both our older brothers were the same age. And when I was jumping off roofs, climbing trees, being wild...Sadie was usually rightthere with me. Grinning up at me like we were having the time of our lives. Every time I acted out she tried to out do me.
