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Nova sighed. She really didn’t want to get into this, especially not with people beyond Brooke. “Maybe,” she said.
“Really?” Finn didn’t bother to try to hide his surprise. “Have youtalkedto the guy?”
Nova sat up straighter, suddenly feeling incredibly defensive of her favorite stranger. “I have.”
“And he’s talked back?” Finn said.
“He has.” Nova tried to keep her tone pleasant, but she mostly failed.
“Why do you sound so surprised?” Grace asked Finn.
“I don’t know. Gunner is just kind of ... well, I mean, he’s always sort of been something of a big dumb oaf. What kind of a guy lives alone in the middle of nowhere with a zillion goats?”
Okay, this was a mistake. Nova stood. “I’m sorry.” She looked at Brooke. “Let’s get together sometime. And if Callum has anything helpful to contribute, I’d love to hear it.” She started toward the door.
“Wait!” Finn jumped up. “I’m sorry. I’m being a jerk.”
Yeah, he kind of was.
“I admit that I don’t know the Bridges well. I’m basing a lot of this on what I’ve heard, and I shouldn’t trust that. So if you’re asking about him, then you probably already know him better than I do.”
“Yeah. Okay, thanks.” She started toward the door, and Brooke followed her out of the house.
Nova wished that she hadn’t. She didn’t want to admit that she’d come here without any way of getting home.
Chapter 19
“What do you mean you just dropped her off at the Bannons?” Gunner said.
When Bull stepped back from him, Gunner realized he was being a bit more aggressive than he wanted to be. He didn’t want to be cross with Bull, especially not after how helpful he’d been the night before. “Sorry,” Gunner said. “I just don’t understand. What would she want with the Bannons?”
Bull’s face showed sympathy. “I don’t know. I argued with her a little, but she seemed bent on getting there and then staying there alone.”
Gunner stared at the man, waiting for more, but Bull didn’t offer more.
“Did she say who she was looking to talk to?”
Bull said no. “I kind of got the impression that she wasn’t picky, that she was just looking for a Bannon, and that most any Bannon would do.”
A small fear had been trying to find purchase in Gunner’s brain, and with this comment, that fear grew talons and latched on.
She was looking for help—help from someone other than him.
He took a steadying breath, thanked Bull, and then walked away, trying to calm himself down. Of course she would go to the Bannons. It made sense. Everyone within a thousand miles went to the Bannons when they needed help.
The Bannons helped everyone. That’s what they did. That’s who they were.
Nova had slept on it, and then she’d decided that she didn’t want to marry a weirdo stranger goat man. Why would she want that? Why would anyone want that? She was desperate, sure, but not that desperate.
But why hadn’t the Bannons offered to help already? They’d been in church when Nova’s situation had been described. Or maybe theyhadoffered. He wouldn’t necessarily know about it. Not only were the Bannons helpful, but they were discreet about it. Maybe Nova just hadn’t taken them up on it until she realized how much worse things could get.
Gunner told himself that this was a good development. More than anything, he wanted what was best for Nova, and for those kids. If that wasn’t him, then he would survive. He could easily slide back into the life he’d lived before Nova. He was comfortable with solitude. He and Bull could keep eating frozen pizza.
Chapter 20
“Nova, wait,” Brooke Bannon said.
Nova stopped.
