Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
We lost her not long after we graduated. It’s part of why we enlisted. We didn’t have much growing up, but Mom always did what she could. She made every trip special, no matter if it was us just driving and camping somewhere. She was the absolute best. I fucking hate that she isn’t here today. Now Ace and I have more money than we need, and we’ll never get the chance to take care of her.
“Well, now that you know I’m still alive, I’ll be on my way.” I love my brother, but it’s time for me to hit the road. He stands when I do, giving me a hug before I head out of the bar.
“Garrett,” I hear a female voice call out when I’m almost to my truck. I turn around to see Mindy making her way toward me as quickly as she can. She almost trips, her heels not doing her any favors on the gravel parking lot.
“Got somewhere to be,” I tell her, opening my truck door. Snow has already started to fall. A thin layer covering my windshield. It won’t be long until the roads get bad, and the last thing I want to be is stuck in town.
“Like here?” She lets out a giggle that sounds forced and juvenile. “You don’t go anywhere.”
With a small town, it doesn't take long for people to pick up on your habits. It had only taken me a couple of days to clock almost everyone in this town's routines, but that is my nature. I’m trained to watch and notice every single detail around me. That’s how you stay alive.
“Home,” I grunt, slamming my door. Mindy jumps back, her bright pink lips pursed. I know I’m being a dick, but I don’t care. She knows I’m not one for small talk. I have no fucking clue why she tries to talk to me when I’m always an asshole to her. I can‘t stand her. She’s a toucher, and it pisses me off.
I pull out of the parking lot, heading for home. I’m sure Bear is waiting for me. I have the cabin stocked up, so I won’t have to worry about shit no matter how long or bad the storm gets. In fact, one of the best parts of this town is the snow storms.
I just didn’t know this one would turn my whole world upside down.
2
WINTER
“Don’t cry; your tears will freeze.” My sister, Libby, presses her warm hands against my cheeks. I drop my forehead to hers. I don’t want to leave. Okay, I do, but I don’t want to leave without her. Libby and I have been together our whole lives. I haven’t gone one day without seeing her. I can’t even imagine her not being in my life on a daily basis.
“Come with me,” I whisper. We both can leave this life behind. What for, I’m not sure, but it can’t be worse than this. There is a whole other world out there. One we’ve only gotten small peeks of.
“I’ll slow you down.” She gives me a sad smile. Libby has always said her limp is both a blessing and a curse. It makes her less desirable for marriage. That is a plus around here. Girls are married off young and to men twice and sometimes even three times their ages. The thought alone makes me want to vomit.
When Libby was fourteen, she fell off the back porch. Well, if I’m being honest, she was more pushed by our father, but the healer could only do so much to help her recover. Since then, she has had a limp. I begged my father to take her to the hospital. I can still feel the sting of his backhand for even making such a suggestion.
I’ll never forget my sister’s screams. Our parents refused to take her. I should say my father refused because my mother really doesn’t have a say. She does whatever he says. That’s the way things work around here for women. Ultimately, their stupid decision to call a healer to tend to Libby caused her to have a permanent limp. It was a bunch of crap. No one here is a doctor or even a nurse. None of us get to go off to school. We all go to school together on the compound.
“I don’t know if I can leave you.” Libby and I aren’t twins, but a lot of people think we are. I’m older by ten months. She isn’t only my sister but my best friend. The only person I could speak openly to. We share our secret hate of this place together.
“You have to.” She steels her voice the best she can, only making me smile at her. Libby doesn't have a stern bone in her body. The world could be shit to her, and still she is sweet as can be. “There is no other option. You can’t marry him.”