Page 11 of Rescued Love

I don’t lift my head as I mumble, “I met Mr. Jacobson’s grandson.”

“Okay?” I can hear the puzzlement in her voice, and I don’t blame her.

Did any of us even know he has a grandson? I mean, I guess we did, but I can’t recall ever meeting him before. He’s been alone out on his land for so long, I figured he didn’t have any family left.

Or maybe, like so many others who have left, his family forgot their roots?

When I sit up slowly and meet my best friend’s gaze, her eyes are full of concern and questions. Ones I know that I’ll have to answer.

“You’re just going to badger me until I spill, huh?” I shoot Hailey a lopsided grin which has her throwing her head back and laughing.

Hailey has always had a light around her, no matter what life threw her way, but she’s practically fucking incandescent since Wesley came into her life. It looks damn good on her.

My heart aches with the fear that I’ll never find the same, but I push that feeling aside. There isn’t room for that shit when it comes to my best friend. I’m going to have a little more faith in the path I’m walking.

I do good things. I change the lives of animals and humans alike. When the time is right, the man I’m supposed to give all my heart to will come along.

I hope.

“Like I’d let you sweep that under the rug when it’s clearly been bothering you?” Hailey arches an eyebrow in challenge. “Since I haven’t heard talk of anyone new in town, I’m assuming you went out to the sanctuary and met this guy?”

I nod slowly as my mind wanders to the first look I had of Nathan. He looked out of place the moment I saw him. He was too put together even in jeans and a simple T-shirt. It looked almost like a costume and I’m still not sure what to make of that.

Still, the light caught his light brown hair making it look like he had a halo around his head. His hair was cut short and therewas nothing messy about it, even though it was clear he had been out working, probably in the barn considering the direction he was coming from. His hands were dirty, but they still looked soft like he wasn’t someone to do hard labor with them often.

But his eyes. His dark brown eyes held so much distrust and anger in them I was caught off guard. You get used to people being friendly when you grow up in Sweetwater Valley, at least for the most part. Sure there can be a bad apple in there now and again, but it’s not common. Not everyone likes each other, but there is usually a history there as an explanation.

Since I had never met Nathan before, there wasn’t any history to cause him to scowl or growl at me like I was the enemy.

“You know I go out there pretty regularly to check on things and make sure Mr. Jacobson is good with food and all the animals are doing well,” I start.

Hailey rolls her eyes and shoots me a ‘duh’ look. “I think I know since I’ve been out there quite a few times to help as well.”

She’s not wrong. When she’s not working during the summer since school is out, she’s gone out to the sanctuary with me plenty of times. Don’t ask me why, but Penny loves her.

I narrow my eyes which has her grinning and giggling. I’m sure she’s thinking the same thing that I am. “Don’t know why that bird loves you so much and hates me. I’m the one who always brings treats,” I grumble which causes Hailey to shrug her shoulders. “Anyway, I went out like I normally do. Mr. Jacobson’s truck wasn’t there, but I know he doesn’t mind if I do my rounds even if he’s in town or whatever. Penny was giving me the evil eye and I had some dried blueberries for him to enjoy. Just as I was throwing them out to him, this guy came storming around the side of the house and started yelling at me.”

Hailey’s back goes ramrod straight and her eyes widen to comical proportions. “Did he threaten you? Was he dangerous?”

I wince and shake my head. Did he threaten me? Not really. I certainly wasn’t afraid of him. Not like how my friend is thinking anyway.

“He wasn’t nice,” I admit with a sigh. “I’m not sure what his problem was, but he accused me of being out there to get Mr. Jacobson in trouble and take the animals away from him.”

Hailey’s mouth opens and closes a few times like she’s at a loss for words. I don’t blame her. Not only would I never do that, but even the thought makes me sick to my stomach.

She breathes out, “What? Why would he think such a thing?”

“I have no idea,” I sigh and allow my body to slump back in my chair. “I think there’s more to it than him just finding out I’m from the shelter though.”

“It doesn’t matter,” she shrieks. “He shouldn’t have come at you in anger without even knowing you or finding out how much you do to help Mr. Jacobson. Everyone looks the other way when it comes to the sanctuary because he’s doing so much good out there. I’m sure there are violations, but you’re more likely to correct them, if you can, than report him.”

“I know,” I try and placate my friend whose face is turning red with anger and looks like she’s about to explode, “but Nathan doesn’t.”

Hailey freezes and her eyes narrow as she studies me even closer. Uh oh. I try to stop myself from fidgeting in my chair, but I fail. Epically.

“Ohhh,” she draws the word out like we’re children again, “I see.”

“See what?”