Page 17 of Wild Highway (Runaway 2)

“I left Londyn’s a week ago. I left Boston a couple days before that.”

“And here you are.”

“Here I am.”

I was sitting across from Katherine in the dining room at the lodge. We were sharing a piece of chocolate cheesecake, polishing off a bottle of wine, after we’d eaten a delicious dinner of roasted chicken and mashed potatoes. Their website had not exaggerated the quality of the food. Or the wine selection.

“How is Londyn?” Katherine asked.

“She’s wonderful.” I smiled. “She’s married and has a baby girl. She’s happy.”

“I’m glad. I think about her, about everyone, from time to time.”

“Even me?”

“Yes. But I was hurt when you left.”

“I’m sorry.” I’d keep apologizing until she forgave me. Or maybe until I forgave myself.

“Don’t be.” She gave me a sad smile. “It was about a year after you left, I was out riding with Carol one day, and I realized that this was where I’m supposed to be. I’m happy here. I love my job and the ranch and the Greers. They’ve kind of made me an honorary member of the family, and I couldn’t have asked for better.”

“I’m glad. And I’m still sorry.”

“You’re forgiven.”

“Really? You’re not going to make me work harder for it?”

She shrugged. “It’s not my style.”

No, it wasn’t. Katherine was too honest and real to punish me for something she’d already let go. Even after all the shit she’d been dragged through, she had never turned bitter.

“It worked out how it should have,” she said. “I would have gone with you to Boston and resented every second. At the time, the promise of all that money sounded so good. But the city isn’t me. Real estate isn’t me. I helped with one of the deals when the Greers were buying some acreage a few years ago and I hated every second. Talk about stress. And paperwork.”

I laughed. “It’s not without challenges.”

“Did you enjoy it?”

“I did for a time. Mostly, it was the springboard.” I’d used the money I’d made to invest in other venues.

Four months after we’d come to work at the Greer Ranch, Londyn had decided to try something new. She’d enjoyed Montana but it hadn’t been her landing spot. She’d asked me to come with her, to head east, but I’d stayed behind with Katherine.

I’d liked working here and being one of those honorary Greer family members.

Then about four months later, Katherine and I had been working in this very dining room. She waitressed while I’d tended bar, filling in for one of the seasonal workers who’d quit to return home. A couple had come in for a nightcap and like all other guests here, they’d oozed money.

It had been an oddly quiet night and the room had cleared out earlier than normal. But the couple had stayed and visited with Katherine and me. Three hours later, we’d confided in them—something we never did—telling them the story of our childhood.

They’d found it tragically fascinating.

And that night, Sandra and Eric Sheldon had changed my life.

They owned a real estate company in Boston, brokering some of the finest homes in the city. Before they’d checked out of the resort, they’d offered both Katherine and me jobs. They’d offered to hire us at their firm and give us a shot.

Sandra had given us her business card and had asked that we consider the offer. That if we were interested, Boston was waiting and so was she.

It had been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

I’d been ready to hop on the bus the next morning. Katherine had been more hesitant, not wanting to abandon the Greers until they’d had replacements hired.