River's End (River's End Series, #1)(54)

She wasn’t what he pictured, and turned out to be a hard worker. Also an avid listener, she tried with all her heart to obey whatever he asked her to do. She overcame all her own fears and weaknesses. Where Chance was a nothing, Erin turned out to be really something.

Charlie was spinning in circles and getting dizzy until he walked in a drunken shuffle, then giggled happily and started the process all over again. When Ben asked about Erin, Charlie stopped to glance at Jack. “She was okay at school today. I read her my poem and she liked it, even if I had to read it to her. No one else minded though.”

Jack glanced at Charlie’s spinning red hair. “You didn’t mention to anyone else that she couldn’t read it, did you?”

Charlie stopped and frowned, but shrugged, looking unconcerned. “I guess I did. Why? Was it a secret?”

Jack ruffled Charlie’s hair as he passed by him, and Charlie looked unhappy suddenly. “I hurt her feelings, didn’t I?”

“You didn’t know, bud, so it’s okay. I’ll talk to her.”

Jack crossed the driveway and passed around her truck to the door. He knocked, but got no response.

“Erin? Open the door.”

There was muffled noise and movements. Finally, the door opened, and she frowned at him, then turned and walked towards the couch, where she flopped down. She wore a sweatshirt over a pair of jeans and her hair was messed up, as if she’d been lying on it.

He stepped inside. It always felt like the trailer shrunk to a pop can size when he went inside with Erin. He wasn’t sure why, but guessed whatever energy existed between them wasn’t meant for small spaces.

He was aware of how attractive he found her. He didn’t react to her like most females of the valley. Kailynn came to his house nearly every day, and he never even looked twice at her as she moved around him while working. But with Erin, when she was anywhere near him, every cell in his body seemed to jump to attention and become aware of her.

Leaning back into the kitchen counter, he folded his arms over his chest. “Both boys are waiting for you. They wanted to help you learn to ride today.”

She grimaced as she stared down at the carpet. “I forgot. I’m not in the mood today.”

“You know, Charlie hasn’t quit raving about how much fun he had with you. It was the first time he’s ever gone to it with a female. It was huge to him.”

She smiled faintly. “Good. At least, I didn’t fail him.”

“You’re really going to skip the horses today?”

She finally looked up at him, with a hesitant gaze. “Can’t I skip one day?”

He shrugged. “Yeah. It’s your choice. It’s not like it’s mandatory for you to keep living here.”

“What is mandatory for me to keep living here?”

He frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I mean how long before I wear out my welcome? How long do I have left to get out of here?”

“I wasn’t aware you hated being here so much. But I guess, it makes sense; the ranch isn’t for most people. It’s an isolated, tough way of life. I’m sure you must miss the city.”

She laughed a hollow, bitter sound. “Miss the city? I don’t miss one thing about it. But this isn’t my home. How long will you let me stay? I need a timeline. I need to figure out what to do.”

He cleared his throat, and answered gently, “Erin, where do you think you’re going to go?”

“I noticed a couple of trailer parks in town, and they only wanted five hundred a month.”

“Yeah, for the worst ones. You hate the ranch that much?”

She looked up at him and her eyes were fierce. “I love the ranch. I mean I love this area, the river, the mountains, but I can’t stay here on your charity and crumbs.”

“Has something changed about your situation since yesterday?”

She shook her head.

“Then where is that coming from? I told you could stay here, and I meant it. You don’t cause trouble, you don’t try to steal from us, and you’re not taking up any space I need. So I don’t care how long you stay.”

She stood up and started pacing. The living area was only six feet long, so she came close to him as she turned around and paced back.

“What’s going on? This about what Charlie did today? He’s sorry. He doesn’t understand about being discreet. He didn’t realize he should have kept it to himself.”

Erin stopped with her back to him and her head sunk. “I don’t blame him. It’s not his fault that I’m too stupid to read a third grader’s poem. Or that I have no money, no skills, no family, no home, no clothes, and no life at all, really. Or that the only reason I’m not homeless right now is because of the charity of his father.”

Jack felt his hand twitch and he wanted to reach out, and touch her shoulder. Just to touch her. But he didn’t. He wouldn’t. He would never. Not only did she live on the ranch, which automatically made it a terrible idea, she’d already slept with his brother, and therefore, was the worst possible candidate he could think of for himself as a date.

“What does this have to do with riding a horse today?”

She turned around. “Everything. If I stay here, I’ll embarrass you, or your brothers and your boys. People are already talking, and no doubt, wondering why I’m still here. They probably are discussing which one of you I’m fucking. But then, I deserve that, don’t I? That’s why I was only ever allowed to stay here, wasn’t it? And now? I’m sure it’s known to the entire valley that the stranger staying with the great Rydells isn’t only a slut, but a stupid slut.”