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I ducked inside, dismayed at the state of the kitchen. After Rory and I had been cooking, it looked like a tornado had passed through, with dirty dishes and plates of food piled on every available surface. I stacked a few dishes in the sink, shoved a few more into cupboards, hoping they wouldn’t tumble out.
Then the screen door squeaked behind me. As soon as I saw Landon’s silhouette, I flung my arms around him with relief. He wrapped me in a suffocating embrace.
“That was the last thing I ever wanted you to see,” he said, his voice cracking.
“It’s not your fault.”
“When I realized he was talking to you—it scared the shit out of me. He has no right to be anywhere near you. He doesn’t…” Landon tightened his grip. “He doesn’t get to hurt you the way he hurt me.”
I pulled back, cradling Landon’s face in my hands. He looked wrecked and he couldn’t catch his breath, his eyes misty and bloodshot.
“I’m okay, Landon. I’m okay.”
He pressed his lips into a tight line, his expression pinched with distress. Resting his forehead against mine, he pulled me close, folding me into his arms.
“I’m so sorry. The things he said, the way he spoke to you…it’s unacceptable.”
“Landon, it’s not your responsibility to apologize for him,” I countered.
“But he’s my father.”
Grandma Cora’s voice echoed from the porch.
“You know damn well you’re nothing like your father. You never have been. And you never will be. You grew up to be ten times the man he is anyway. So, don’t go bearing the burden of his sins on your shoulders.”
She pulled the screen door open and shooed us aside. Landon and I broke apart just far enough to make room for her in the cramped little kitchen. I took him by the wrist and threaded our fingers together.
“You never told me you spoke to my father,” Landon said.
Grandma Cora grunted as she eased herself into a chair.
“That’s because I didn’t speak to him. I threatened him. Didn’t you hear the part about the buckshot? Every word of it was true.”
Landon blanched. “Miss Cora, he could have hurt you.”
She shrugged. “I had a backup plan, don’t worry. You were about twenty-one at the time. Clawing your way to freedom from the hellhole of his rule. I wasn’t going to let that bastard drag you back. He kept badgering you around town and I was sick of it, so I decided someone needed to take action. Besides, the only thing you had to your name were a few mangy scraps of your pride. I didn’t want you feeling embarrassed that other folks were poking their nose into your business.”
“So, you’ve been looking out for me after all these years?” he replied.
She raised her eyebrows as if to say,now you’re catching on.
“Why do you think you managed to buy that old farmhouse next door for a fraction of what it’s worth?”
Landon squeezed my hand tight. I squeezed back.
“This town is your home, young man,” Grandma Cora continued gently. “We look out for each other around here. Andfrom what I can gather, my granddaughter cares about you very much.”
Landon gazed down at me, his eyes brimming with adoration.
“I promise I have only the best of intentions for her. I’ll treat her right, cross my heart.”
She snorted. “I certainly hope so. If you don’t, I’ll have to fire off a load of buckshot into your skinny ass, too.” She paused and a mischievous gleam sparkled in her eye. “I get the feeling that won’t be necessary. I know a grandson-in-law when I see one.”
Chapter Twelve
Landon
A week later, it seemed that life quieted down and returned to normal. Callie’s barn was finished and her horses were moved in. The homestead got back on track. Rumor had it that my father was seen at a local gas station with a moving trailer, headed out of town.
