Fearless Rebel: A Hero Club Novel

by Eden Butler

  He’d never admitted a thing.

  Never shown a single bit of remorse.

  The money had been in his truck.

  He’d been caught, and still he wouldn’t admit to a thing.

  “No,” I finally said, my temper flaring as the flash of his face on the front page of the Midland Daily shot across my mind. “I don’t want to ever see him again.”

  There was something she wanted to say. It was hidden behind the long exhale and quiet mutter of whatever she mumbled, but wouldn’t say out right. Evie released a clearer, softer breath, this one sounding relieved before she answered.

  “That’s probably for the best.” Her steps were slower now, but she still moved, and I turned, walking to the front of the paddock where Dusty had trotted off to as my sister-in-law kept up with her plans. “I can call Mr. Elkins. They’ve just built corrals on that new property he cleared.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” I could manage my own horse. Besides, I didn’t need Evie or Alex finding a replacement boarder because they felt bad about choosing sides. “I can find somewhere else to board my horse. Give me ten minutes and I’ll be out of here.”

  My feet couldn’t move fast enough. Ed’s face in that clipping kept coming back. It haunted me and the closer I got to Dusty, each step of my boots against the ground, the madder I got.

  “Lying, stealing, thieving, worthless…”

  It was the high-pitched laugh that grabbed my attention. Too flirty to be Evie. Rey Rigby. Of course she’d stick around. She’d never keep away from Ed if she caught wind that he was back and one glance up at the man himself told me well enough why she hadn’t.

  I’d dreamed up monologues for years of what I’d say to him if I ever saw him again. Painted insults and jabs with words that would cut him deep; editing the needless adjectives, the useless adverbs, until I had the perfect amount of cruelty and brutal honesty that would shame Ed into leaving Midland Grove and never setting foot here again.

  But when I spotted him with his hands on Rey’s waist, his mouth in an easy smile, his body larger, more toned, built like a soldier, not a convict reformed for his dirty deeds, all that cruel word cutting left me and the only thing that remained was a throbbing anger that grew bigger, that pulsed harder the longer we stood staring at each other.

  I hated that my attention was drawn to his face, pushing back the anger long enough to be disappointed that he wasn’t haggard and done-in by the years he’d spent in prison. He was magnificent when he went in as a kid. Now he was a man, hardened and beautiful, striking, and that I noticed only made me angrier. Prison wasn’t supposed to make you look good. It was supposed to age you, wear you down.

  This was not fair.

  He was touching Rey like he knew her. Like they’d spent the night making up for all the time he’d been away. I shouldn’t care. Didn’t. But my gaze jerking to his hands on her waist, then up at the clench working in his jaw must have done something to spook Rey. The woman released a hasty, “Oh hell,” and scooted away down the path, toward the driveway just as I tightened my grip around Dusty’s reins like they were the only thing keeping me from jumping the fence and screaming blue murder at the man glaring back at me.

  Tears burned in the back of my throat—fueled by anger and resentment, disappointment that I couldn’t say everything I wanted to the man for having the gall to stare back at me. But underneath all that fire and wrath was the small heartbeat of the girl I’d been when I loved him. The same girl who wanted to jump the fence for a different reason. The same girl who wanted to ask him how he’d managed all that time on the inside. The same idiot who wanted to kiss him and hold him and pretend like he hadn’t betrayed me.

  But, he had. I’d loved him and Eddie had robbed me.

  There was a long pause before either of us moved. The flex of his muscles around his mouth eased as Dusty slipped out of my grip and moved farther down the paddock. He shifted a look at her, and I swore there was something like longing in the way he watched her. Ed always loved horses.

  The thought was stupid, pointless, and I squeezed my eyes shut, reminding myself of what a waste it was to drag up the past and anything I thought about what this man liked and didn’t.

  Something baser, darker, warmed me then, had my anger simmering again, and it reared up, urging me away from my horse, out of the paddock, through the gate, those tears dry now as I stood a half a foot in front of him with my fists curled into balls at my side.

  “I don’t know how the hell you wiggled your way out of that conviction…”

  “Maybe,” he said, keeping his voice cool, calm, which only pissed me off more, “because I wasn’t guilty.”

  The itch to scream came on me like a fever, but I remembered where I was. Remembered the thin ice I skated on with Alex and Evie. I didn’t want it to break. But Ed was smug, and the glare he gave me then broke something loose inside me. I took a step closer, squeezing my fists even tighter.

  “You got a lot of damn nerve coming back to this town after what you did.”

  “You mean my home?” The veins along his forearm pulsed as he crossed his arm. He wasn’t threatened by me. He might not be all that irritated, but it was hard to tell with him. Ed kept his expression unreadable and vacant of any emotion as he stared down at me. “To my sister’s home? Where my family is? Where my nephew will be?”

  “He’ll be my nephew too.”

  His laugh was quick, like a small slap meant to hurt. “Not much of a chance of you seeing him, is there?” I bit down every filthy thing threatening to move out of my mouth as Ed shook his head, like he was disappointed in the mess I’d made of my life. “Jesus, Piper you’ve pissed them off so much you didn’t even get invited to her birthday party…”

  “Shut up, you don’t know anything about what’s going on here since you…”

  “Since I what? Got locked away for shit I didn’t do?” Now there was an emotion I recognized. It slipped across his mouth, pulling his lips down like he expected me to insult him. Like he knew what I’d say before the words moved around my mouth.

  He wasn’t wrong.

  “Every convict in the world says that shit.”

  “The hell do you think you know about it, little girl?”

  Without thinking, I came even closer, the pulsing anger coiling in my gut, making my heart thunder, but Ed didn’t move, his frown deepening as I stood inches from him now, pointing a finger at him. “Don’t you call me a little girl, you asshole.”

  “Don’t fucking act like one…”

  “I hate you. On my life, I hate you.” The second the words were out, I regretted them, even more so when I spotted Ed’s wince, the flinch he made before he stepped back.

  But he recovered, glancing back toward the paddock, inhaling so hard his nostrils flared. “That’s your problem, Miss Warren. Not mine.”

  “Are you two done?” Alex said, tucking in his shirt as he moved down the front porch.

  My brother’s glare was sharp and directed right at me, but I shook my head, hoping he’d let me explain myself. “He’s the one who…”

  “Ed didn’t do shit, and you know it.” Alex stood between us, his arms folded and that disappointed, exhausted expression changing his features so that he looked just like our father. “He’s here. He’s not going anywhere.”

  That was a punch to the gut I should have expected but wasn’t prepared for. Still, Alex had to be reasonable. Where was his loyalty? “But…I’m your sister. You can’t…take his side. You just can’t…”

  “Baby…” Evie’s voice came out in a low moan, half gasp, half whisper and we all turned toward her as she moved down the front steps, her hand around her belly.

  “Shit…” Alex said, charging toward her as we followed behind.

  My sister-in-law had never been weak. She’d never been fragile. She was always the woman every girl wanted to be. She took control and set the pace. The shepherd among a lot of sheep. Even when her father died, she took care of everyone, n
ever letting a soul see any fear, any worry.

  Now there was real terror on her face as she lowered to the step and curled forward. Her face paled and thick tears began to form on her lashes.

  My stomach curled as I stood next to Ed, watching as he knelt beside her, looking lost, like he wasn’t sure who he was supposed to be in this situation.

  “The baby? You cramping? Is there blood?” Alex said, holding onto Evie’s hands, his voice calm, but hurried.

  She nodded and I thought I might be sick. This was too soon. Something thick and weighted knotted in the back of my throat, and I bent in front of them, holding myself up on the railing. “Evie…I’m so sorry.” I sounded stupid and simple, but I couldn’t bear seeing her like this. If this baby…

  “Not…not you,” she tried, slipping a glance at me. “I’m just…it’s okay…”

  “What do you need?” Ed said, the panic in his tone making him sound younger.

  “Just, my doctor.”

  “I’ll get you there,” Alex told her, kissing the top of her head before he stood, patting his chest, then jeans pockets.

  “No, baby…I can drive. You’ve got work…”

  “I’ll handle your jobs,” Ed said, his gaze staying on Evie as he moved his face toward my brother. “Don’t worry about anything.”

  “And I’ll take care of the horses and your day workers, Evie.” The smile I gave her had to look forced and stupid, but Evie didn’t call me out and when she watched me wiping at the useless tears on my face, my sister-in-law reached for my hand, squeezing my fingers once. “I’m…I’m so sorry. Please. I wanna help.” Evie glanced at Ed, then back to me, and I followed her gaze. “I promise. I’ll be nice. Just let me help you.”

  Evie shook her head, wincing through whatever it was that had her leaning against the railing. “Okay…that’s…fine,” she said, reaching for Alex. “We…gotta…go.”

  Alex’s truck was kicking up dust as they tore down the driveway five minutes later and I stood next to Ed watching them go, not sure what would happen when they came back.

  Not sure what I’d just promised with a simple “I’ll be nice.”

  Ed didn’t look like he knew what to do with himself. Not with how he kept moving his head, like the small shake would somehow get him out of whatever nightmare this might be for him. The longer we stood there, the more worked up he seemed to get and when I turned to face him, the man stared up at the sky, like there was some answer he might find in the clouds. Then, he covered his face, lacing his fingers in his hair, pacing toward the paddock. He reminded me of a soldier awaiting his orders, sure that there would be casualties or an attack and he wasn’t prepared for either.

  He looked lost, wandering around like he didn’t know where he should go or how to get there, or that he wasn’t alone out on this drive. She might not be my blood and we might not have been close for a long time, but Evie and that baby were still my family.

  “Hey,” I said, when the head-shaking got worse, but he didn’t hear me. Two steps closer and he still kept at the head-shaking. The worry was starting to set in. I had no clue what had happened to him in prison. Was this a reaction to something else? What the hell was he thinking? “Ed…” One graze of my fingers against his shoulder and he jerked back, out of my touch and I held up my hands. “I’m…sorry.”

  It likely wasn’t a good idea to touch him. Not that I wanted to.

  “Sorry,” he said, scrubbing his face. But he didn’t look sorry. He still looked lost and despite my anger at him, despite the way everything fell to pieces between us, it was clear the man needed a little guidance.

  And I had promised Evie I’d help. Ed looked like he needed it just then.

  “Alex has an office inside,” I said, moving my chin toward the house. “He doesn’t like to work in town.” I motioned toward the steps, and he moved with me, leaving the paddock behind. “All the numbers are in there. His assistant’s name is Lily, and she usually comes in every morning by nine. She’ll tell you what’s on the schedule.

  Ed rubbed his mouth, inhaling before he looked down at his watch. “Thanks.” The look he gave me didn’t linger, and I figured it was nearing time when Lily was due because Ed shot a look down the driveway, his eyebrows pushed together, and his mouth dipped down.

  “Evie has a good doctor and she’s strong I’m sure she’ll—”

  “You’re giving me whiplash,” he interrupted, turning back to face me. When I stepped back, glaring at him, Ed shook his head, his face screwed up as he frowned. “Five minutes ago, you said you hated me and now, what? You’re all concerned for me?”

  “Wait just a damn—”

  “No. Don’t think I will. I’ve done enough waiting,” he said stomping toward the cottage. Behind him he threw out low, angry insults and I caught him muttering words like “Stillwater” and “five years.”

  “I don’t hate nobody,” I told him running behind him, my face hot, likely red from how flushed it felt, “but I swear to God, no one pisses me off more than you do, you son of a—”

  Ed jerked to a stop, meeting me halfway to his cottage before he shook his head, looking up at Alex and Evie’s place, then back at me, and just then, I realized what he was doing. Prison might have put a few lines on his face. It might had given him some bulk, but Eddie Mescal still acted like a caged animal when he was scared and right now, he was probably terrified.

  Even at our best, back in the day, we got under each other’s skin. Mainly because we liked the making up. Seemed like there was still a little irritation we had between us.

  Rubbing my neck I took a step back, making sure to keep my voice calm, even when I spoke.

  “I know how much you worry about your sister. Probably as much as Alex worries about me and this is the first baby for all of us. It’s…been driving me crazy not being around much. I’m guessing it’s been ten times worse for you.” Ed cocked an eyebrow and I understood that I would never get what it had felt like for him. It was probably best I didn’t say things like that again.

  To our left, the gravel popped and dust flew as a white Toyota moved toward us and Ed stood straighter, tugging on his wrinkled T-shirt.

  “That’s Lily.” When she pulled her car behind Evie’s Bronco, I motioned to her, smiling at her wide grin and the dark pixie cut. Lily was on the plump side and inching toward fifty. Even if Ed would find it weird, the woman would make his day run smoothly. “I’ll leave you to it.”

  “Piper…” Ed called just before I reached the paddock gate, his nostrils going wide again as he cleared his throat, like whatever he’d say next didn’t come easy. “Thanks…”

  Nodding, I looked him over, taking three steps toward him as I curled my arms around my waist. “If you’re gonna help Alex and I’m gonna help Evie we’ve gotta get along.” Ed moved closer but stopped when I shook my head. “We can be grown ups and not like each other that much at the same time.”

  He hesitated but let a small half smile curl his mouth. “Sounds like a plan.”

  When he stayed silent, eyebrows going up, like he waited for me to say more, then frowned when I didn’t, I shook my head, the worry and irritation of the day already making me tired. “What?” Ed shook his head again before he shrugged, dipping his chin at Lily when she greeted us with a brief, “morning, y’all.”

  “You waiting for me to welcome you home?” I asked, getting only a cocked eyebrow in return.

  Ed shook his head when I laughed, turning back toward the paddock.

  “That shit ain’t gonna happen, Mescal.”

  “Don’t worry, Miss Warren, I know not to expect any damn favors from you.”

  Ed

  I didn’t mind the rain.

  The air was cool. The wind moved the leaves at my feet just enough that they hit the headstone, a few sticking into the bouquet of sunflowers I’d laid there. But the noise of the slipping movement and the small patter of drizzle against my jacket didn’t muffle the sniffle Tasso made as he stood next to me. />
  “Beloved…” I heard him say to the grave, low enough that the word came out like a whisper that he did a lousy job of hiding behind a cough. He cleared his throat, glancing at me like he was ashamed of his tears. “Meet you at the truck.”

  His steps were slower now and there wasn’t as much bulk around his middle than had been there the year before when Evie brought my grandfather to Stillwater to see me after Shímasani died. He didn’t cry then, didn’t say anything when I did as my sister handed over Velma’s laminated obituary. Tasso hadn’t said much else about Shímasani at all when I met him at the hospital a few hours after Evie had been admitted three days ago.

  He’d never been much for talking. That he had left to Shímasani. But now my grandfather was even quieter, like whatever spark that life hadn’t dimmed from him was getting fainter.

  “He’ll be better when the baby comes,” Evie promised just last night, already sounding bored with her forced bedrest. I’d stopped in to check on her and mentioned how much Tasso had changed. “Besides, you can’t fault him. They were married fifty-four years. That’s a lot of adjustment. You can’t expect him to just stop loving her because she’s gone. Hearts don’t work like that.”

  They don’t. I knew that.

  Mine was a tattered mess. Parts of it was riddled by regret. Other parts filled with misery and pity I’d shored inside myself for years thinking about what my life would have been if I’d never left Montana. But this moment all that was in my head was the smell of Velma’s cornbread and the soft touch of her fingers when she’d braid my hair before a powwow.

  “You dance good, shíyázhí and maybe I’ll make you that strawberry bread.”

  She’d do that even if I never danced a step.

  The ache in my chest pinched until I tugged off my Stetson, holding it between my fingers to distract myself from the burn of tears making my vision blurry.

  “Hell.” A glance over my shoulder, to Tasso leaning on the bed of his truck, his face buried in his arms and shut my eyes, hating this part of family. This was the worst of it—loving people you knew you couldn’t keep hold of forever.