lintering wood was th

eam, quick

lifornia, trying to clear my head f

d was too

t, pushing thro

ve redwood branch, his face pa

was Caldwell

!" I shouted, d

was inside. This was

ckly. Open fractur

ara Hayes. I'm

blue, focused on me.

starting an IV I had, managing his

, helpless, unti

him out, then to the

tay

me, and smiled

ife," he said,

t I do,"

as the

o Caldwell Timber & Vi

a single-minded foc

lls, visits

mired my stre

in his valley – quiet, beautifu

ening, a diamond ring in his hand

e constant trauma. I wanted

I'd found

absolute. He neede

," I

real, intense

estate, a sprawling place nestled

as pregna

thrilled

he shif

dwell, made her disappr

ider. Not fro

d with us. Arthur, Ethan's older brother and Veron

beautiful, an

, her voice always soft and sympathetic w

d it. I saw the l

th Veronica, discussing "estate bus

e distan

, the shared glan

han to discuss the nursery, I

low laugh,

was sligh

hed i

lap, his arms around her

aught. The

't see me

met mine over Ve

a flicker of something I

a smug smile pl

her voice like hone

" I said, my

ca aside. He looked at

isn't what it

line. It fel

my belly, wher

through me, low

asked, a hint of conce

nsified, doub

hoked out. "Som

hest. This was too e

new the signs. Placent

d, my training kicking in despite the terror

to his mother, Eleanor, who had appeare

was a mask of c

. "The local clinic is perfectly adequate f

of pain washing over me. "I need a special

rm. "Mother is right. You know how these outsiders can

ed a small, co

then at his mother

meeting" was clearl

that placating tone he used when his mother was pr

pain was overwhelming. I f

to his eyes, searching for the man wh

sn't

g them. Their "leg

the car, his t

onica stayed behind, a pi

t's number. The local clinic

old and comp

lost. Pre

boy was

echoing silence in th

efore he ever

physical weigh

the window, h

s etched with something – guilt, ma

ppen, Elara. It'

rtun

ded, and it was

ing accident. He'd held my hand, his eyes fu

e a lifetime of

you," he'd whispered

n was a hollow ech

he coldness from the man

started

ed at the edge

voice, maybe Ethan

, no