Prologue

MINNIE

TWO WEEKS EARLIER

“ I can’t believe you won’t be home for Christmas,” my sister, Lennie, murmurs into my ear as we hug for what must be the hundredth time. I’ve been trying to leave for an hour now; the faster I get on the road, the less time I’ll have to travel through the night.

“I’ll be back before you know it.” We pull apart. It’s going to be hard for both of us this year. Me because I’m traveling, exploring as much of the States as I can cram in for the next month before I have to buckle down and work. My sister because this is her first year as a single woman living on her own. I really hate what she’s gone through, and I’d have stayed if this weren’t pre-planned well over six months ago when Lennie’s life was different.

“I know. Ignore me.” She waves her hands at her eyes. The tears she’s been trying to hold back are going to slide down her cheeks if I don’t get this show on the road.

My big sister has been there for me even when she didn’t have to be.

That’s the type of person Lennon Maldonado is.

She’s nine years older than me, and being saddled with a child at a young age when she should have been out doing her own thing proves it time and time again. Our parents weren’t always the greatest. They did the bare minimum for Lennie, and when I came along unexpectedly, she picked up the slack. All of the slack, meaning her childhood changed in an instant, and not once did she ever hold a grudge against me. She should have, yet she didn’t. The moment our parents brought me home from the hospital, my sister stepped up to the plate, doing everything while our mom and dad did absolutely nothing.

“I’ll never ignore you.” I squeeze her hand. We both have the same love language—physical touch. It’s nothing for me to walk up to my sister and lay my head on her shoulder or for her to hug me just because.

“I wouldn’t let you. I’d hop in my vehicle so fast, or an airplane, depending on where you are.” Lennon’s car is a hunk of junk, yet she refuses to throw in the towel. My sister is the epitome of living within your means, and the small apartment she’s in right now only proves my point further.

“Do me a favor and look at new cars while I’m away.” We walk toward my vehicle. It’s loaded to the brim, and I’ve spent more than my sister probably saved this year. That’s okay. This is my big adventure, finally leaving my home state of Florida for the first time ever in my almost twenty-seven years.

“I’m not making any promises. Samantha is still kicking.” I look at her four-door maroon sedan. Said car is nearing twenty years old and is starting to cost more to maintain than it’s worth.

“Yeah, yeah. Until she isn’t.” I look from her car to my rig. Okay, it’s completely different than having a car. It’s a van outfitted with a small kitchen area and bedroom. It’s equipped with everything I could need, minus a bathroom with a shower. For that, I’ll have to stop along the way. Lennie helped me map out locations of the gym she pays for. She put me on her plan so I can use their facilities during this trip.

“Get out of here, or this conversation will last forever.” She opens the door for me. I know my sister. There’ll be some kind of basket waiting for me when I decide to park for the night. She always goes the extra mile, and with this being my home for the next month, I know her well enough that there will be little bits and pieces of home and probably a Christmas present or two. Lennon’s is already tucked beneath the small tree in her living room. Just because I won’t be here with her, doesn’t mean I’d ever forget about our favorite holiday.

“I love you. Don’t work too hard, and I’ll text you when I settle in for the night.”

“One last hug and then get out of here,” Lennon says in a motherly sort of way. I’m bear hugged, and she whispers in my ear, “I love you, and I’m proud of you. What you’re doing takes a lot of courage. Please don’t forget to text or call me. I’ll try not to worry too much or pester you.” She presses a kiss to my cheek and pulls back before I can respond. That’s the end of our conversation for now. Lennon is holding it together, but I know when the brake lights of my van fade in the distance, she’ll break down.

“I will.” I climb into the driver’s seat, secure my seatbelt, and crank the ignition. I’ve yet to name her; I’m holding back until the perfect one comes to me. Lennon closes my door, her hands covering her mouth. She’s torn between smiling and crying. She really is the best.

I take a deep breath, double-check my mirrors, and back out of the driveway. I’m really doing it. I’m setting out on an adventure, on my own. A smile appears on my face. I wave to my sister one last time before I’m heading down the road and am on my way.

--

CLAY

“Thank you again,” the pair says in unison. I swear since I’ve been in Alpha Mountain, Colorado, I’ve rescued more people stranded on the road leading to my side of the mountain than I care to fucking acknowledge.

“You’re welcome.” Each man shakes my hand. The married men are here for the holidays and to explore the area. Last week, it was an older gentleman and a younger woman. I don’t judge and I don’t ask, but, man, are these people talkative. I usually help them change their tire or jump their battery, or my favorite is when they get stuck teetering on the side, one wheel stuck in a rut, and I’ve got to get my truck or tractor to help pull them out. Yep, three times now I’ve had to deal with passersby. I’m about to call Winston Nash, my realtor-turned friend, and tell him to put this patch of land back up for sale.

“Are you sure we can’t pay you something, at least?” I shake my head. Them leaving and letting me live in peace will be payment enough.

“Nope. Repay the favor one day if you can, and we’ll call it even.” I’ve said the same thing to the others. In all fairness, the faster I help them, the faster I can get back to doing what I want. The reason I sold everything off in Texas to move up here was to get the fuck away from everyone and everything. I’m damn near forty years old, been working since the day my dad could put me to work on the family farm. I took over when he died, and since I am the end of the line in the Garcia family name, I made some tough decisions when everyone around me was falling in love and started a family. So, I sold the family land. I’m sure the small-town gossip ran rampant the minute the papers were signed. I was probably called a sell-out among many other things. I didn’t care much. I’d done my time, ready to move on, not sweat my ass off year-round, and do something I wanted, not what was ingrained in me since I could walk.

I made enough of a profit to pay off the place in Texas plus some, which I put away until I found what I was looking for. The animals I’d been breeding and selling to other farmers all over the country provided me with an added cushion, and now this place is bought and paid for. I never would’ve thought I’d land in Colorado; except I got this place for a song. Now I know why. Damn place is like a train station; you never know who’s going to board or step off.

The plus side is, I’m retired except for whatever the fuck I wanna do. Since I own part of a mountain with a shit ton of land, I’m not really retired. I fix fencing, clean up the barn that’s an absolute nightmare, chop wood for the next few months, and a million other things.

“We will, promise,” the other guy says. I don’t reply, lift my head in their direction, and watch them as they pull away.

Jesus, this shit is never gonna end. Instead of hiding on the damn mountain, I’m stuck with every person known to man. Maybe I should have stayed in Arrowleaf, Wyoming. The Johnson Brothers and Amos were able to find a woman. At least then I’d have someone to warm my bed instead of jacking my damn cock every fucking day.