A Wild Raven Book 2

Coal’s boys are back for Christmas, and the week leading up to New Year’s is filled with family time. Coal devotes every moment to Willem, Jonas, and River, taking them to visit old school friends. Meanwhile, I help care for an unexpected addition to our family—a stray dog Annabelle found on the highway. We name the little Jack Russell Terrier, Vader.

Anna, Iza, Timothy, Haline, and I spend the entire week searching for Vader’s owners around town. The young pup isn’t chipped and we suspect he ran away. But no one steps forward to claim Vader. The tiny terrier is now a part of our ranch family.

Since his boys returned, Coal and I haven’t had much time together. River, the youngest, insists on sleeping in the same bed as his father due to his nightmares. I understand the boys need time to adjust, so I don’t mind.

Then New Year’s Day arrives and several things happen that unsettle me.

Trish manages to get the local newspaper to publish a small column about how I chased down a thief for her. Now the town is calling me a hero. The story gets picked up by bigger news stations, leading to an unexpected phone call.

Ken answers it, then hands the phone to me.

The woman on the other end introduces herself, “Hello. My name is Kai. Can I ask a personal question? Was your mother named Nita?”

I’m taken aback. “Y-yes, why?” I stutter, pacing down the hall of the homestead, toward the bedrooms.

I pull the phone away from my ear in shock. “W-what?” I whisper. “I haven’t gone by Nita since I was sixteen. I call myself Raven.”

“Your birth certificate says otherwise.”

“Why are you calling?”

“I told you, I’ve been searching for you!”

“Why haven’t I heard from you before?” I ask, still unsure of this stranger who called the Devonshire Ranch.

“The news story, your picture—you look just like your mother. We weren’t close. I only recently found out she died of an overdose—and that she had a daughter twenty-three years ago.”

“You’re a little late…,” I whisper.

“Like I said, Nita and I weren’t close.”

“What do you want from me?”

“To meet you. I know your job is temporary and you don’t have a home—I’m offering you a home, Raven.”

“I—I don’t—I—”

“I’d love to meet you.” Kai’s voice wavers with emotion. “Please consider my offer. You have family. Will you think about it?”

“I have your number,” I respond mechanically, still in shock. “I guess I’ll think about it.”

I hang up, feeling a mix of curiosity and anger.

Why did Kai—if she really is my aunt—fall out with my mother? Why is she reaching out now? Is she lying to me?

But my thoughts are interrupted by the sight of Coal outside the window, climbing into the pickup truck alone, looking furious. Trish is yelling at him from the porch as he speeds off.

I rush over, peering out the window from Iza and Anna’s bedroom.

I crack the window open slightly to eavesdrop on the conversation between Trish and her sister Jean on the porch.

“…he’s gone, I couldn’t stop him,” Trish snaps. “He’s too hot-blooded!”

“Of course she comes to ruin the first day of the new year,” Jean murmurs back, clearly annoyed.

“Honey?” I hear Ken open the front door to the porch. “What’s happening? Where did Coal rush off to?”

“I know. Calm down, love—”

“What if something had happened to them?” Trish starts to yell. “Now she comes back, acting like she cares? Our grandsons could have been kidnapped!”

“Nothing happened—they’re safe, in the barn playing—” Ken tries to reassure Trish, but she’s not having it.

“You okay?” I hear Izabella call to me. I turn from the window, slamming it shut, feeling guilty for eavesdropping. “What was that call about? And did you hear where Coal went?” Iza anxiously runs her fingers through her bleached blonde hair. “Cat’s in town.”

“I heard, just now,” I answer. Iza quickly shuts the bedroom door when she notices my pale face.

I slide down the wall under the window, pulling my knees to my chest as I think.

“Are you okay?” Iza leans back against the door, sliding down to sit opposite me.

“I got a call from…‘family’…supposedly,” I whisper, still in shock. “I don’t know if I believe it, to be honest.”

“Family? What family?” Iza asks, curious. “I thought you were an orphan?”

“Exactly, I am… I don’t understand right now.” I gulp, focusing on what I do know. “Also, I have barely seen Coal all week and now he’s rushing off to his ex-wife.”

“I know.” Iza frowns. “Don’t worry, Coal said he was going to take you on a date tonight, remember? New year, new start?”

“Yeah, I know,” I say dismissively, thinking of how he said it. He meant it, in passing as we walked by each other in the kitchen at lunch yesterday. He kissed my cheek, promised to take me out. He meant every word.

I had been so happy.

I had also been completely understanding that Coal wanted to spend every waking minute with his three sons after not seeing them properly for over a year. It all made sense and felt right. No issues.

Until that phone call—and Coal’s reaction to Cat’s visit.

Now my mind is filled with images of Coal approaching his ex-wife and succumbing to their past chemistry.

I go from having the best, most relaxed and secure week of my life—to feeling completely and utterly shattered with insecurity. Doubt. Fear. Terror. Of being alone again. It hits me hard and fast.

Iza spills the beans about Cat. “She’s a drama queen. She can’t stand this ranch. You won’t catch her dead here. You know Coal still has feelings for you, right? Raven, you look like you’re about to hurl. Are you okay?”

Why did I ever believe I belonged here?

Why did I think I could fit in anywhere?

No matter where I went, I never felt secure.

I wasn’t the woman Coal had married or the mother of his children—I was just a pretty, penniless girl who showed up for a temporary job.

The honeymoon phase was over.

“Do you have your license?” I ask Iza.

“Yes, why?”

“Can you drive me into town?” I ask.

“To spy on Coal and his ex?” Iza asks, a grin spreading across her face.

That’s not the reason, but I lie.

I nod. “Yes.”

“I’m in,” Iza says, jumping up. “Can I drive your truck?”

“Sure,” I say, knowing soon it’ll just be her truck, or maybe one of the Wildes’.

It was a ridiculous gift, one I didn’t deserve. As if I had a place here.

I start to pack my things—which could all fit into one measly backpack. Then I plan to grab the first bus out of here.

I no longer have my old, beat-up sedan and I’m suddenly bitter about it.

My easy escape route was taken from me, and I would never accept Coal’s generous gift. I can make it on my own, even though it would be tough. I had survived on public transportation before.

I’ll make do with what I have.

Even if all I have is a few hundred dollars saved up.

I need to leave.

Before I realize I have no home and I’m not as important as I thought I was.

Before the pain can set in.

I am leaving before I can get hurt.