Southern Secrets (Southern 7)

She glares at me. "I can sit outside," she says, and I’m about to argue with her when my grandmother calls her over.

I take the opportunity while she’s busy to slip outside. The sun is slowly setting, and the smell of fire is still in the air. I sit down on the top step and look up at the gray sky. My eyes fixate on the smoke, and I don’t hear the footsteps until someone sits beside me.

"Hey, sweetheart." I look over to see my grandfather put his arms around my shoulders and pull me to him, kissing my temple. He lets out a big deep breath. "What are you doing outside?"

"Is the fire under control?" I ask. His whole face looks tired and his eyes worried.

"Last I heard," he says. "Just about."

I put my head on his shoulder just like I used to do when I was a little girl. Heck, I still do it. "Don’t worry, Grandpa. We’ll build it back even better."

He chuckles a little. "Oh, if I know my kids, it’ll be brand new in a week with all these new gadgets."

It’s my turn to laugh. My grandparents have lived on this farm their whole life and my great-grandparents before them. Then my uncle Casey came in and brought in technology. Let’s just say my grandfather is not too pleased with it. "I set off the sprinklers last time I opened his iPad."

"I’ll teach you, Grandpa." I kiss his cheek. "Let me go and get you something to eat."

I start to get up, and he gets up with me. "If I don’t tell your grandmother I’m here, I’ll never hear the end of it."

We walk into the house together, and my grandmother comes over and gives him a hug. He doesn’t stay to eat. Instead, he grabs some food to take to the men.

I kiss everyone goodbye at midnight and make my way home. I don’t bother catching a ride. Instead, I walk in the field. The same field I grew up in. I bet if you blindfolded us all, we would still know how to get to our houses.

The warm breeze blows softly as I walk up the back steps of my house. My little, small house that I bought without my parents knowing.

I press the keypad, and the door clicks open. I make my way to the couch and sit down for a second. Laying my head back, I close my eyes for just a minute. Or so I thought.

The soft alarm makes my eyes spring open as I jump off the couch and grab my phone from the coffee table. I turn the alarm off and scroll to see if anyone has texted me.

The last text I got was from Chelsea at three.

Chelsea: Mayson just got home. Fire is finally out.

I don’t bother answering her in case she’s sleeping. Instead, I close my eyes for just a couple of seconds before I roll off the couch and walk toward my bedroom. My whole body feels like it was run over by a semi. I pull my shirt over my head and throw it in the dirty laundry before starting the shower.

Slipping off my jeans, I get into the shower and put my head back. I still smell of smoke, and I was only there for a short time. I close my eyes, and all I can see is the barn again. All I can see is the fire. I can’t believe that this nightmare is my reality. I put my hands on my face as I sob into them silently.

Getting out, I dress in another pair of jeans and a T-shirt, then slide on my worn boots. I walk out of the house and see that the sun is slowly coming up. It takes me two minutes to get to the barn, and when I get there, I’m surprised to see the lights on.

The smell of coffee hits me as soon as I walk into the barn, and I almost groan. "Good morning," I say to no one in particular. I hear the sound of hay moving when I see Willow stick her head out of her horse's stall.

"Good morning," she says, looking just like I feel. "You’re here early."

I look over at the clock and see that it’s not even past five. "Couldn’t sleep," I say. "Figured I’d get here and bang out the paperwork in case I need to help with deliveries." I walk to my office and open the door. I toss my keys on the desk and turn around to go to the coffee machine.

I walk out and spot Quinn. "Hey," I say, surprised to see him. "What are you doing here?"

He chuckles, and then I hear Willow from behind him walking to us. "That is what I asked him, too," she says. I grab my coffee mug off the shelf and fill it to the rim.