How many times had I tried to erase that sight over the years? The smell. The horror.
But I couldn’t turn back time.
And I had a secret from my siblings. Teague wasn’t the only one who’d witnessed that horrific event.
I’d seen our mother’s brutal murder too.
Chapter Six
Lexie
“We’ll give you a ride home.”
My eyes bulged as Eric volunteered us for a task I didn’t want to do. No way could I be in a confined space with Lincoln.
“We don’t have room,” I said quickly before I snapped my mouth shut. Had I offended Miss Adeline? Because of course we had room for her. “For you, I mean.” I pointed at Lincoln, as if that needed clarifying.
Miss Adeline linked arms with him. “We’re a package deal.” She grinned.
I frowned. She was such trouble. But she had also been one of the most supportive people I knew. Allowing me to feed her dogs. Allowing me into her life.
“Are you meddling, woman?” Pepper’s voice was a cross between scolding and amusement.
“How many times are we going to go through that?” Miss Adeline threw up her hands, then focused on me. “I always meddle.” Then she held out her arm to Eric so she was flanked by him and Lincoln. “Gentlemen, let’s do this.”
“I’ll take a ride too,” Beau said as she glided toward the van. “It’s a little too lovey-dovey for me over there.” She motioned to Pepper and Teague. “No offense. Love you both.” She blew them kisses.
“Aren’t you forgetting someone?” Pepper asked innocently, holding up Sadie’s leash.
A flash of panic set in. I adored Muffy, Sadie, and Ash, but I had a van that smelled like dog food. Who would blame them for going berserk? There were probably some stray treats in the back too.
“They can come with us?”
Oh no. When Eric looked so hopeful, I couldn’t ever say no.
I let out a long breath and forced a smile. “They can come with us.”
He beamed, and whatever aggravation this caused me—because of Lincoln—would be a small price to pay.
Muffy yanked to get to Lincoln. Sometimes it seemed like the dogs could understand human conversations.
“Mind seeing about him?” Miss Adeline asked as Pepper brought Muffy and Sadie closer.
Lincoln appeared uncertain for only a second. “I’d better not—”
Pepper thrust the leash at him, which abruptly shut him up. I’d have to remember that trick. If I ever saw him again. Which I had no intention of doing.
Muffy jumped, those massive paws landing on Lincoln’s suit jacket. Lincoln snapped and pointed and the greyhound sat statue still as he stared up at him.
“He wants a treat,” Pepper whispered. Discreetly, she pulled one from her pocket and offered it to Lincoln behind her back.
He didn’t immediately take it. Muffy looked at Pepper’s hand and got antsy, yet still didn’t move.
If Lincoln didn’t give this dog that treat, I would.
Reluctantly, he accepted it, though he didn’t give it to Muffy.
From what I’d seen of Lincoln Hollingsworth, everything revolved around him. This sweet dog had done what was asked of him, so why wasn’t he giving him the treat? Was he so used to getting his own way that he didn’t consider anyone else? Arrogant ass.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake.” I snatched the treat and tossed it to Muffy who caught it and chomped happily.
“I wasn’t ready to give that to him.” The tone with which he spoke the words was low and even, making them far more intimidating.
“The poor thing did what you wanted.” I jangled my keys. “Let’s go.”
“He needs to learn patience.” Lincoln was on my heels with Muffy in tow. “As do you.”
I wheeled around and ran into a solid brick wall of chest muscle. Mistake. Mistake. Mistake. I thrust my finger at him. “You don’t know anything about what I need.”
“Care to make a wager on that?” He lifted one eyebrow in cool challenge.
“You’re in the back.” I pointed with my thumb over my shoulder as I attempted to rein in my frustration.
“We already went through that.”
Did he have an answer for everything?
“Keep it up and you’ll be on the roof.” I softened my tone when I turned to my brother. “See to it Miss Adeline gets in safely.”
The van had a little height to it, and I didn’t want her to get hurt climbing in. Eric held the door open for her.
“Thank you, honey.” She clambered up like it was nothing. “Our van is higher than this.”
I wanted to kick myself. I forgot they had a van of their own. I forgot that she was Superwoman.
I didn’t forget that Lincoln hadn’t bowed out of a ride gracefully, as he should have.
The dogs jumped into the van through the open side door, their noses going crazy with all the scents of the food. I’d read that if there was a pot of chicken soup, humans basically smelled chicken soup. Dogs could smell the carrots, celery, chicken, individual spices . . . it was incredible to consider and also hard to relate how remarkable their noses were.
If you think you can snap them into submission now, good luck, buddy.
Once again, Lincoln stood at the opening, whatever thoughts going through his mind impossible to tell. Was he worried about his custom suit being soiled? Spoiler alert, it would be. Was the idea of riding in my lowly van beneath him? Or maybe the thought of sitting on the floor was appalling?
Hopefully something would keep him from taking that final step inside.
“I’ll drive,” he finally said, holding out his hand for the keys.
“I don’t think so.” I lifted my chin and rounded the back of the van. “Train’s leaving. With or without you.”
This man took the term egomaniac to a new level. Or was dictator the word I was looking for? It was obvious he had control issues.
In my van, he’d have to get over them. Because I was in charge.
I climbed in the driver’s seat.
Eric scrambled in the back, with Beau right behind him, and moved some boxes. “Sit here, Lincoln.”
He only hesitated for a moment before he obeyed.
And again, the pendulum of my emotions swung. Because I was ninety-nine percent sure if anyone else had commanded the great Lincoln Hollingsworth to sit on a van floor, he’d have laughed. Well, probably grimaced. Either way, there was something about my brother he respected.
And that meant he had my respect in turn. A little.
Eric slammed the back door and the dogs swarmed them . . . except Sadie, who was investigating every nook and cranny on the hunt for food. Muffy plopped down on Lincoln’s outstretched legs, while Ash nestled against Eric.
I cranked up the engine.
“Me and Bobby McGee” blasted from the speakers.
“Ready to roll?” I called over the music.
“Ready,” Eric yelled.
We waved at Teague and Pepper as we cruised away.
I glanced in the rearview mirror and found Lincoln’s pissed-off face.
I grinned.
Maybe giving him a ride wasn’t so bad after all.