Her CEO Stalker and Her Second Chance Mate Chapter 36

Martha

Briar shrugged at the look. “Mama used to complain about all the animals I brought home when I was a kid. Baby squirrels, orphaned bunnies, birds fallen from nests. I even had a raccoon once, they all made their way back to the wild, but they still came to visit till they took the house away. I worry the new owners will not take a liking to random rodents and birds taking residence on their porch.” Now that was something else she got from her daddy, he was always sneaking in wayward animals.

“Ya know your daddy brought home this stray cat once, he was a mess, but he kept the riff raff away. He’d go after any dogs sniffing around for our Nida when she was in heat. Never saw a big dog run so fast in my life from a feral ball of fluff,” Henry said, reminiscing with a smile.

“I’m just glad he never came across a cougar or a bear cub. Once he adopted something, there was no changing his mind,” I added.

Henry chuckled. “That boy couldn’t be stopped if he put his mind to something. That’s for sure,” he added.

Briar peered at us. “It’s nice to hear stories. Mama didn’t like talking about him too much, she said it hurt her heart to think about what had been.” Briar said, sadly. Carter rubbed her shoulder, and I watched her lean in on instinct.

Good. Everything could be right in the world if these two leaned on each other. Carter was a good man, he’d been alone for far too long. There was a time all the single girls around here batted their lashes at him. He never let it get to his head. He stood by his morals, he didn’t take dating casually, and kept on waiting for ‘the one.’ It was best to let things happen naturally but I couldn’t help but hope that these two figured it out sooner, rather than later. Maybe he knew, like Henry had. Boy, did I test that man’s patience and perseverance. I tried pushing him away so many times when I was at my worst.

Everyone was scraping their plates with garlic bread, heading straight into a pasta coma. I got up and Briar followed me as I put everything away. She seamlessly assisted without a word. The gathered dishes hit the sink and when Briar went to start washing them, I grabbed her hand and shook my head. “That’s Henry’s job.” Her mouth was shaped into an O, when she glanced behind her at the burly old man talking animatedly with Carter.

“Train them right from the get go,” I said, with a wink and she just smiled with a soft nod. “Henry?”

“Yeah?”

“How about you get some wood and we will build the fire by the overlook, it’s a nice night out and we have company for a change.” I suggested.

“Sure thing,” was his reply, as he stood to comply.

Carter got up to help and I guided Briar outside. “I may not know all the parts of your story Briar, just know, your mama and your daddy are proud of you, and that we are here for whatever you need. Our door is always open to you.”

“Everyone has been so kind, I don’t know what to do with myself,” she admitted. “Right now I just want to stand on my own two feet, but I can’t deny I need people; not to do things for me, not for money, not for anything, but friendship. I can’t say no to it. The old me didn’t need anyone besides Uncle Jake and Mama in my corner. Since they have been gone, and after everything, I just feel so alone. No offense, but I don’t want to need anyone. However, something inside me craves this place and its friendly people. I don’t think I deserve all the kindness bestowed on me, though.”

“You mean Carter?” I asked, as our trail took us to the overlook. She shrugged. “I suppose he is a part of the equation. I never fit in anywhere, not at home, not at college, not even when I started my internship. I’ve always been the black sheep, the outsider. I just want a place and people to belong to, I’m…just afraid it will all catch up to me. Everything has fallen into place since I left. I can’t help hoping it’s for a reason. I was never one to feed into fate. Buying into destiny was never my thing. Working towards a goal, now, that I could do. Besides fixing the truck and cleaning up the house, for the first time, I don’t know what’s next and that’s kinda thrilling, though this shadow is always going to be over me now,” she rambled.

“Girl, you shine so bright the shadows have no choice but to run away. That’s what you do. Make them rue the day they crossed  you,” I advised.

“While that sounds so simple, but when you know who you are up against, and the odds are against your favor, it all seems pointless,” she pointed out, ducking under a tree limb. I went to counter her with some shred of wisdom, but she carried on, so I continued to listen. 

“The problem I have is that I’m not ignorant, but I’m stubborn as hell. I know the odds are stacked against me, and I don’t give one shit. I’ll keep going just to prove I can. He can kill me if he likes, but I am not going down without one hell of a fight. I’ve bought myself time and I intend to use it to its fullest,” she proclaimed.

I don’t know why she voiced so much to me, maybe it was just something heavy in her chest that she needed to release or maybe her instincts were taking hold. My baby granddaughter was a fighter. She’d need to hold onto that and we all would have to raise her up. If trouble ever eventually came, she’d need more than just us behind her. I suppose that was Carter’s focus. To wedge her in a place of safety.

Henry and Carter trotted up to us, their arms laden with firewood, the sweat glistening on their brows. 

Carter grinned at Briar, before he smirked at Henry. “I’ll race you, old man,” he teased, before setting off at a jog.

“Fucking young bucks,” Henry groaned, taking off after him. I laughed, Henry hated being second to anyone. Maybe he would put the cocky pup in his place or maybe Carter would show him up. I gave it a 50/50 chance. 

Briar was quiet for the rest of the walk, she continued, absorbing the landscape into her soul. The land mattered when you were healing. Tainted land could destroy a broken person. The land of Divide however was perfectly synced. He had made it that way, and he would be the only person who needed convincing on letting her be. I’d invite him to dinner this week and give him a piece of my mind. I smiled at the thought. One thing about survivors was, once we were done taking shit, we stopped taking it from anyone, including him.