Finding Home (Montana Born Homecoming Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

that.
    Well. Theirs had been a short story, as it turned out, with an abrupt and very clear ending.
    She glanced down at Jade, holding onto Bob’s harness like it was her mission in life. Samara was done with short, tragic stories. She’d never survive another one.
    As they rounded the corner, the house came into view, lifting her thoughts out of the past. This was their future, building a home for her daughter. So Logan happened to be there; so he happened to be single; so he happened to still have the ability to stir her flagging heart like a sweet autumn breeze.
    Their love story was long over. But that didn’t mean they couldn’t be friends.
    He’d always been a great guy.
    After the meltdown, Logan had driven them back to Bramble House so Jade could take her nap. Samara was determined to create a positive association in Jade’s mind about the house, so here they were again.
    This time, as they walked up the sidewalk, she could hear voices and banging sounds. A saw revved up, chewed through something, and faded.
    It was no surprise when Jade lifted her arms.
    Samara swung her onto her hip, and went around to enter by the kitchen door. “One day soon, kiddo, you’re going to be too heavy for this. Maybe you’ll have to carry me then. What do you say?”
    “Nuh-uh.”
    Jade’s grip on her neck grew tighter and Sam steeled herself for optimism. Maybe the house was closer to ready than it had appeared in the morning.
    This time, the first thing she saw was the oversized, cast-iron kitchen sink, situated beneath a large window overlooking the garden.
    Instantly, she imagined Jade and Bob playing outside while she washed dishes. It was perfect!
    Or it would be, when the sink was connected to that big pipe lying on the slate floor. Beside a pair of denim-clad legs ending in work-boots.
    The legs pushed out, revealing a young man with a shock of wavy hair and a dark smear on his cheek. He was wearing gloves and a mask.
    Jade buried her head in Sam’s shoulder.
    Logan came around the corner just then, wiping his hands on a towel. His eyes lit up when he saw them and her heart gave an answering leap.
    “I was hoping you’d be back,” he said, his smile big and warm. “Come on in so I can introduce you around.”
    He gathered his crew, a small cast of characters, some of them appearing almost as uncomfortable as Jade in the sudden social arena.
    “Guys and gal,” he said, nodding to the lone girl in the group, “this is Samara Davis and she’s the one who’ll be living here when we’re done.”
    Samara’s irritation at the delays evaporated. The students before her were kids who needed encouragement, not criticism, she could see that immediately.
    And it was clear they admired Logan. He’d always had a way of bringing people together, of making them feel included, on the same team. He’d done it with these kids, some of whom had likely experienced more than their share of ostracism.
    He lowered his voice. “Now, you can’t tell, but there’s an invisible chipmunk on her back. This chipmunk will materialize when she’s ready but until then, she’s not here. Got it?”
    Sam felt Jade’s head lift. Gratitude rushed through her. She could just kiss Logan for understanding Jade’s discomfort. People tended to either want to jolly her out of it – definitely not a good plan – or comment on her immaturity, implying or outright stating that Samara should be tougher with her.
    “As it happens, Ms. Davis is an old friend of mine, so treat her right, okay?” Logan’s smile was like a ray of sunshine peeking through a cloud.
    “Mr. S,” said a handsome boy leaning against the doorframe. “Good job!”
    To her surprise, Logan colored, ever-so-slightly. “That’s Flynn,” he said, pointing to the boy. “That’s Robbie, that’s Josh, James is under the sink and Carter’s the one in the red coveralls.”
    There were several more, but after seeing Robbie and James, she lost track. They’d been part