Off the Grid

“You’re a cruel, cruel woman.”

“Tough love.” Cece punched Lilac’s arm lightly, and they giggled as they finished filling the cart and headed toward the checkout aisle. They still had a trip to the Field & Stream on their to-do list.

Lilac couldn’t help but smile at the sight of everyone gathered around the massive oak table in her new home. Her mom, dad, and her brothers—Levi, Oren, and Gideon. She’d hired professional movers to pack her two bedroom loft and put everything straight into storage. She planned to sort through things and make the decision to sell or keep items at a leisurely pace. With Gran’s house being paid off, she had a lot more money freed up. The monthly payment to the storage facility was worth it. Seeing them, all full from her home cooked meal of brown sugar ham, soda pop biscuits, coleslaw, and green beans had her bursting with pride.

It’d been too long since they sat down for a traditional meal with the good linens, good china, and real silverware. Currently, they were relaxed and chatty as they sipped on their coffee, allowing the food to settle.

“I’m really proud of you for taking over the place like this, Lilac,” her father said as he peered at her over his cup.

“Thank you, Daddy. I invited everyone to dinner because I have some exciting news.”

“What’s that, little bit?” Levi asked.

“The paper assigned me to a big story. I’ll be on location gathering research for about a month.”

“Oh, that is exciting. Where are you going?” her mother asked. The pride shining in the light brown depths of her eyes warmed Lilac from the inside out. She’d always been her silent champion, bending Daddy’s ear, and smoothing ruffled feathers as she grew up.

“It’s a local piece. So nowhere too far. It’ll be a story on living off the grid, and I need the boys to keep an eye on this place for me while I basically live in the woods.”

“Wait. You’re going to be camping out on your own?” her father asked. His brow wrinkled, and his thin lips formed a straight line. She swore she could see the vein in his forehead beginning to swell in preparation for the pulsing it did when he was truly angry or displeased. He sat up straight, owning every inch of his six foot three height. Setting his cup down, he placed his long, calloused fingers onto the table. The rich sienna hue stood out against the white lace tablecloth. He was bracing himself for bad news.

“No, I’ll be following Thorn Finch.”

“No,” her father said.

“Daddy. This is a really great opportunity for me.”

“Did you really think I was going to okay with you traipsing around the woods with that man? We all know he came back a little funny.”

“Now, Jeb, he wouldn’t have been asked to do it if she wasn’t going to be safe,” her mother said softly.

“I’m not willing to take that risk.”

Placing her hands on the table, Lilac bowed her head. This was exactly what she expected. Growing up life had been damn near claustrophobic with the over-protective alpha males in her family dogging her every step.

“Daddy, with all due respect, I’m not a little girl anymore. Y’all taught me how to take care of myself. Other than not wanting to deal with people in town, Thorn has never done anything to raise suspicion. He’s running a very lucrative business doing exactly what he’ll be doing with me over the next four weeks. This is more than a story to report. It’s a unique chance to get back to our roots, live off the land like Gran did, test my survival skills, and yes, earn my rightful place at the Daily. They’re no other news outlets nearby. If I can’t advance, I’ll have to look into moving.” She laid out the facts and sit back to see the effect. Silence fell over the dinner table. Fehrs did not up and move.

“You feel this strongly about it?” her father asked.

She ground her teeth and nodded. There were no right responses. She could tell by the twitch of his left eye and the protruding vein on his forehead he was furious. He never approved of her decision to pursue journalism. He wanted her in something safe and dependable. In his mind, her career was a whim he’d always expected her to get over.

“Lilac, I love you. Truth is, I can’t give my blessing on this one.”

She slumped down in her chair, feeling the sharp sting of rejection and regret. Lilac had never been what her father imagined a daughter to be—it was evident in the way he constantly pushed good men on her when she repeatedly told him she was focusing on her career. Sure, she wanted to start a family some day with the right man, but she also longed to pursue her dreams. Why those two things couldn’t work hand in hand she could never really figure out.

“Jeb—”

“I spoke my peace, Helen,” her father stated, ending her mother’s protest.

“I think it’s a brave thing you’re doing,” Oren said softly. She jerked her head to the right to look at her older brother. His oval-shaped face was set in an almost grim expression. The eldest openly opposing the father he was a carbon copy of—with his tall, lanky frame, almond-shaped brown eyes so dark they were black, and thin lips—was a big deal.

She peered up from beneath her fringe of hair. “You do?”

“I do,” he said a little louder. “I’ll look after the place.”

Her father’s severe scowl made her cringe. Going against the patriarch was ill advised.

“You make sure you tell ole Thorn if he steps one toe out of line, he’ll be dealing with your brothers,” Levi chimed in, delivering the second shock of the evening. He gave her a wide grin. His light brown eyes, so like their mother’s, sparkled with mirth. He winked and his full lips split to reveal pearly whites that stood out against his maple-colored skin. His heart-shaped face and high cheekbones were handed down from Grandma Rose. It felt like having her in the room.