Broken Love (17 page)

Holding up his hand, my father shook his head. “I can’t argue with you there, but some day, son, when you’ve exhausted yourself, you’re going to regret those words ever came out of your mouth because your brother here will have inherited everything.”

I let out a laugh as Nate shot me a dirty look. “So, I’m going to be cut out because I don’t want to ride around on a horse all day and check fences, feed cows, and all that fun stuff I did growing up. I’m working for the family, Dad, just in a different way.”

“I know that … but don’t put your brother down for wanting to follow his heart. I’m proud of you both, no matter what roads you travel down. Now as far as being pussy whipped…”

Nate pointed to me. “That was all geared toward Ryder.”

My father lifted his eyebrows and nodded. “I thought so.”

THE MOMENT I walked into the house, Ava jumped up … well at least she tried to the best she could.

“Oh my gosh, you won’t believe what I found! The picture fell and the light pointed me to the Bible!”

“The Bible?” I asked with a confused look on my face.

“Yes! The Bible. I’m pretty sure someone’s spirit is here in this house and they helped me to find it all. After I found The Bible, I found the letters and then the secret door. I haven’t found Lizzy’s journal yet so I’m pretty sure Kate either hid it or your mother found it and put it somewhere. Oh and do you have any idea where Kate’s drawings are? I really don’t want to ask your mother, because I’m not sure how she would feel if she knew I was looking for them.”

Ava placed her hands on her hips and looked up. “Although, I wonder if she told your mom about the journal seeing as she hid her journal. But then again, she wouldn’t want your mom finding out she slept with Jackson upstairs.”

My mouth dropped. “What?”

“I’m curious if the spirit is Lizzy or Kate’s.”

Spirit?
What in the hell? She took too many pills!

Holding my hands up, I shook my head. “Wait. What in the hell are you talking about?”

Ava stared at me like I had grown two heads. “What’s wrong?”

Maybe Nate was right. Ava needed out of this house.

I shook my head as something hit me. “Did you say Kate slept with Jackson in this house?”

She nodded her head. “Yes! Oh my goodness … they had the most romantic relationship. I think your sister knew something wasn’t right with her health though.”

Turning, I headed over to the table and pulled out a chair and sank down into it. “Ava … give me a second to come to terms that my sister had sex in this house. God please don’t tell me where. I don’t think I could bear it.”

She tilted her head as she looked at me. “Seriously, Ryder? Your sister was spending time with her boyfriend here and you honestly didn’t think anything was happening?”

I scrubbed my hands down my face. “I would rather not think of any of my sisters having sex, thank you very much.”

She grabbed her crutches and made her way over to me where she sat on my lap. “I hate to break it to you, babe, but you know how Dani is expecting a baby?”

“Ugh … yes I know, Ava, but that doesn’t mean I like to talk about it.”

She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me lightly on the lips.

“So what is this about a Bible and journal? What in the world have you been up to today?”

With a smile that spread from ear to ear, she replied, “I’ve been exploring.”

“I see that. You found the family Bible, I take it. It’s been somewhat of a hunt for my mother to find it. She hasn’t been able to find it in years.”

“Did she know about Robert and Lizzy?”

“Yeah, they were our great-great-grandparents.”

She squirmed in my lap, causing my dick to start coming up.

“How exciting!”

“If you say so,” I said as I lifted my hips to her.

I could see the excitement dancing in Ava’s eyes. Maybe this was what she needed, an adventure of some sort to go on.

“I take it Robert had a higher level of class than Lizzy?”

“Yep. He was some kind of Earl. My mother said Lizzy was a ladies maid.”

Ava gasped and placed her hand over her heart. “He fell in love with the maid?”

Letting out a chuckle, I nodded. “Yep. Do you want me to ask my mom what all she has on them? I know she did some serious research.”

Her eyes grew wider. “Yes! Oh my gosh, do you think she would mind?”

“No, she’d love to talk to you about it I’m sure. She was obsessed with it for the longest time.”

She chewed on her lip and asked, “Did Kate also research it?”

“Not that I’m aware of. I think my mom found something years ago that led her on her search. Why?”

Ava pulled out a small book and held it. My sister Kate’s name was etched into the leather book.

“Is that?”

“Kate’s journal. I’ve been reading it ever since I found it. I have to tell you something and I know you’re going to think I’m insane, but I feel so connected to your sister. We are alike in so many ways it’s unreal.”

I couldn’t help the smile that moved over my face. “You remind me a lot of Kate. Your love of drawing and fashion, mostly. She had the same desire and passion that you do. I have no doubt the two of you would have been the best of friends.”

Ava’s warm smile made my chest tightened. “I’m sure your family misses her so much.”

“Yeah, we do.”

“Do you know if your mom kept Kate’s sketch books?”

With a shrug of my shoulders, I replied, “I’m sure she did. Kate’s room has pretty much been left untouched. They’re probably in there.”

The look on Ava’s face made my heart feel light. If this meant she’d stay longer in Montana, I’d do whatever I could to help her on her little adventure.

THERE WAS NO way I could hold my excitement in when Ryder mentioned Kate’s sketch books were probably in her room. Of course, the last thing I wanted to do was go asking her parents if I could take a peek in their daughter’s room.

“I see your wheels spinning. You want to look in Kate’s room?”

Chewing on the corner of my lip, I nodded. “But I would never want to do something your mother wouldn’t approve of.”

Ryder smiled. “Mom goes into Kate’s room a lot; I think she talks with her in there.”

“She should really come here,” I mumbled under my breath.

His expression fell as he looked at me with a questioning look. “Huh?”

I waved my hand as if to brush off what I said. “Nothing. I’m going to guess your mom hasn’t ever found Kate’s journal. I’m also going to guess she doesn’t know the family Bible was here, especially since I found a letter Kate wrote to her best friend in Ohio.”

“Lynn?”

“Yep. In the letter she mentions sleeping with Jackson in the house.”

“Yeah, let’s not share that with Mom. But, I’m sure she would love to know you found the family Bible. She’s been searching for it ever since Kate passed away.”

“It’s been here all the time,” I said as I pointed over to the bookshelf. “Surely she’s seen it.”

Ryder frowned.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

His eyes narrowed as he said, “I’ve looked at those books hundreds of times and I’ve never once seen the Bible. Was it hidden behind another book?”

I stood as Ryder helped me get over to where I found the book.

“Nope. It was right here. This picture of Kate fell and the sunlight hit it just right to where it was shining on the Bible.”

Ryder’s face turned white as a ghost. “That’s kind of creepy.”

With a giggle, I hit him lightly on the chest. “Don't tell me you believe in ghosts?”

“Considering that picture of Kate has been in our family room since it was taken and now it’s out here … I’m beginning to believe in ghosts.”

My smile faded as my heart dropped. I knew I wasn’t going crazy. “Oh. That is creepy,” I whispered.

JENNIFER LEANED OVER and bumped my shoulder. “So, Ryder tells me you’ve stumbled onto our sister’s journal.”

Nodding my head, I peeked over to Lucy. “I have.”

I could tell by the smile on her face, she was just as curious as I was when I first stumbled upon it.

“So … does she talk about Jackson in it?”

I nodded.

Jennifer gasped. “Oh my God! What does she say?”

“Well, she talks about when they first started dating, and how they—” Taking another peek around the table, I looked back at Jennifer. “How should I say this? Progressed in their relationship. I haven’t gotten too far into it.”

Her lips pressed together as she made a disgusted face. “Gross. Don’t ever show it to me or I might gag.”

I let out a soft chuckle as I glanced around the table. “So, I have to ask, would your mom mind if I went and looked around Kate’s room? I was hoping to find her sketch pads.”

“Oh, they’re in the stone house.”

I gasped and looked at her. “What? They’ve been in the house the entire time?”

“Yeah, I think they are in the upstairs bedroom closet. I’m not sure if you know this or not, but Kate used to spend hours in that old house. She said she felt at peace there and more creative. Almost all of her drawings were done in that house.”

A warm feeling washed over me as I smiled and said, “I feel the same way.”

“At first my parents didn’t mind, but the more time she spent out there, the more worried my mother became.”

“Why?”

Jennifer stole a glance to her mother before looking back at me. “If you say I told you, I swear I’ll deny it.”

Oh, this just got good. Family gossip.

I crossed my heart and said, “Promise.”

Jennifer bit her lower lip before blowing out a deep breath and saying, “Kate believed the house was haunted by our great-great-grandmother.”

“Lizzy?”

Pulling her head back in surprise, she said, “Yeah. How did you know about Lizzy?”

“I found your family Bible with a letter Robert wrote to Lizzy.”

“You found the family Bible? Holy crap. Mom is going to freak!”

“I was going to talk to her about it after dinner. I know Ryder said she had already done some family research.”

“Oh, she is going to be your best friend forever. Ever since Kate passed away my mother has been searching for the Bible. She was on a mad mission for a while. She swore our grandmother hid it before she passed away.”