Page 106 of Strung Along
“I just need a single statement. It doesn’t have to be from Anna. If either you or your wife?—”
“Get the fuck off my land, boy, before I remove you myself.”
An exasperated sigh. “Please. One statement.”
I close the space between Wade and me, coming to a standstill beside him while Poppy lingers back a few paces. The older man looks far scarier than I do in my pair of baggy sweatpants and Brody’s jacket, but I do my best. Spencer’s eyes focus on me, and he takes a step forward.
Wade is moving in the blink of an eye. His arm snaps out, and he grips Spencer’s wrist, tugging it hard enough to send him stumbling.
“I’ll tell you one more time. Get. Off. My. Land,” he spits, releasing Spencer suddenly. The reporter trips over his feet and tumbles into the snowbank, sinking deep. “Come any closer and I’ll call the cops.”
I watch the entire confrontation with wide eyes and a soaring heart. It isn’t Brody here standing up for me but his family, and that hits me so deep I’m fighting back tears as the reporter stumbles upright and, with a shake of his head, gets back in his vehicle. It takes Wade lightly grabbing my arm and leading me back through the gate for my legs to move.
“Thank you,” I croak.
Wade drops his arm over my shoulder as he says, “Anything for family.”
40
ANNALISE
After a long,restless night, Eliza sits me down at the table and places a full plate of breakfast in front of me. Pancakes, hash browns, and over-easy eggs just the way I like them. A steaming cup of coffee comes next, mixed to a perfect light brown colour.
“Eat up, my girl. I know you’re starving after last night,” she says pointedly, continuing to rush around the kitchen.
Stacks of plates, tin containers full to the brim with the same food on my plate, and pitchers of orange juice line the end of the counter. Styrofoam cups come next, and then utensils are shoved in the food.
“I could have helped with all of this, Mrs. Steele. You’ve cooked for an army.”
“You needed the sleep. And this is nothing compared to the meals I cook up during calving season. We’re running a thinner crew right now, but these men can still eat like no other any day of the year,” she explains.
“When will they come eat? I don’t want to be in the way.”
Her smile is warm when she faces me, shaking her head. “They might as well get used to the sight of you in this house. Around the ranch too. You just sit and eat your breakfast.”
Knowing there’s no room for negotiation, I offer her a smile in return and dig my fork into the yolk of my egg, cracking it open. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, honey.”
I’ve nearly finished my plate by the time heavy footsteps trample through the house. I stiffen at the brash laughs and hard voices before looking at Eliza and relaxing. She’s excited to see these guys, and that seems to be enough for me.
Never in my life have I met anyone whose love language has so obviously been acts of service. Brody’s grandmother truly loves cooking for others and seeing the appreciation on their faces as they dig into her food. Brody’s cut from the same cloth, but instead of cooking, he’s all about making sure I have shovelled sidewalks and warm clothes and a custom barn for my pet cow.
I jump in my chair when a firm hand grabs my shoulder. Whipping my head to look behind me, I see it’s Wade and blow out a breath.
“Didn’t mean to scare ya,” he says. His dark circles and tired grimace tell me he’s slept as well as I did last night. “How was your night?”
“I slept well.” When I finally fell asleep, that is.
“Yeah, me too.”
“Did you have a chance to speak to Brody before he boarded this morning?”
“No.”
My heart tugs uncomfortably. If he didn’t speak with him this morning, then he hasn’t at all since before he left for Nashville. It wasn’t his grandfather that Brody called last night. It was his grandma.
Is Wade offended by that? Does he care enough to be offended?