A Tender Touch: A Donnelley Brother's Novel (Logan Point Book 4) Read Free Page A

winding roads of the Ranch, my heart pounded in my chest. I was nervous and excited all in one. I’d never gone anywhere without my mom. Since my father had abandoned us, I’d always sensed that an unspoken vow stood between my mother and I, that neither of us would ever abandon the other, no matter the difficulties we faced. Even though she’d encouraged me relentlessly to take this trip, even went so far as telling me she’d kick me out of the house if I didn’t, I still felt that I was abandoning her.
    As much as I longed to live my life differently than I had been living it for the last twenty-two years, I simply could not fathom leaving my mother. I couldn’t be another soul who abandoned her. If I ever did such a thing - if I ever abandoned my mother - I would never forgive myself. Never.
    Even now, knowing I was staying at the Ranch for an extended vacation - from March to September - while I figured out what I wanted to do with the immediate future of my life, whether that was taking the next four years of education to become an equestrian veterinarian, or working as an assistant, I didn’t know.
    I. Just. Didn’t. Know.
    I had no answers. I was sitting on the fence and I wasn’t leaning to either side. Damn, there wasn’t even a breeze to push me forcedly in one direction. I was just sitting there on that stupid proverbial fence, trying to figure out what I was going to do next, and which way I was planning to jump. Well, I had no freaking clue.
    I was surprised to find the break lights of the Jeep ahead of me blinking bright red in the dusky hue of the nearly set sun. I’d zoned out. I’d zoned out while driving as I thought of my very unclear future, my mother, and my nearly obsessive distrust in everything that was the male species.
    Shaking my head clear of the thoughts clouding my mind, I pulled my little white car next to Kami’s borrowed Jeep. She was grinning widely at me from the driver’s seat of the Jeep, making enthusiastic hand gestures at the cabin before us as though to say ‘ta da’ like a circus clown drawing back the curtains.
    I couldn’t help but grin back at her. God, I had missed my best friend. There was no one on this earth who knew me like Kami. Not even my own mother knew me like Kami knew me.
    I didn’t necessarily hide anything from my mother, but I didn’t allow her to see the ruined girl my father had left behind. Unlike my mother, I could allow Kami to see me - every part of me - even the broken parts that I was so ashamed of. She was the only one I would ever allow to view that side of me. She was the only one I had ever shared my pain, insecurities and hopes with. And she always supported me with the unfailing loyalty that any true friend should.
    Kami was beautiful. She was my best friend, and I know I’ve said this a billion times before - but I missed her so terribly much this last year. And I knew, that even though I will miss my mother and wished she could be here with me - I am in the right place.
    Taking a deep breath for courage, I pushed open the door of my car to lower my feet into the snow. The air wasn’t the biting cold of winter, but instead, it was warming despite the lot of white layering the ground. It was obvious spring was in the air.
    All around my cabin, there were trees. I’d been here before, and this cabin wasn’t any different than the others I had stayed in when I’d visited, but I’d never stayed in a cabin so secluded. Spinning around, I glanced back at the road I’d traveled to get myself here. It was lined in tall trees that stretched to reach for the darkening sky.
    The snow crunched behind me and suddenly, Kami was standing beside me. “I know it’s a bit more isolated than the other cabins you’ve stayed in, but you’re here for so long I thought you’d prefer this.”
    “I do.” I nodded. “Thanks Kami.”
    “No problem.” She rocked on her heels. “Well, what do you say we get you settled?”
    “I say yes.” I