Chapter One
Crew
“Alright, time to knock off,” I shout as I power down my chainsaw. Yanking the safety glasses from my face, I glance at the darkening sky. The first snowstorm of the season isn’t predicted for a few more hours. But my instincts are telling me it’s time to pack up and get my men home.
“Come on, boss, we got two more in us,” Scott says. He’s the youngest employee here. Barely eighteen and he’s already got a kid and another on the way. Like many of the men in Mount Bliss, he depends on the lumber mill I own to provide for his family.
I shake my head and glance at the felled tree on the forest floor. “Don’t you have a pretty wife to get home to?”
He finally nods though I don’t miss the worry that crosses his face. The rural area means that most residents live at poverty level. Closing the mill—even for a few days—means risking families going hungry. Not that it will happen on my watch. I might be a grumpy bastard, but I look out for my men.
We get the tree loaded quickly and are back to the mill within an hour. While my team gets to work on turning it into lumber we can sell, I finish the inventory. I’m shutting off the lights and locking the office when Scott appears.
“What’s wrong with you?” I bark. “Everyone else went home an hour ago.”
“Wanted to get those last boards cut,” he explains, rubbing his gloved hands together as the wind blows. The temperature is dropping, and the mid-afternoon light is fading. He pauses and says softly, “Thanks. I’ll pay you back one of these days.”
“Get your fool ass out of this weather and home to your family,” I growl. I didn’t leave the groceries in the back of his truck for his thanks. I did it because I’ve been around long enough to know that nothing discourages a man like watching his family go hungry. But now they’ll have enough to get through the coming week.
When I bought the lumber mill eighteen months ago, the previous owner was working the men on near starvation wages and destroying the forest of Mount Bliss. But under my watch, things are turning around.
The men here get a fair amount of pay and for every tree the mill takes, two more are planted. It’ll be a few more years, but we’ll restore the damage that was done to Mother Nature.
On my way through town, I notice my brother’s truck isn’t in front of his bar. It’s unusual for him to close early even in bad weather.
He says the money is too good to shut down during a snowstorm, but I know the truth. He stays open so the homeless population of Mount Bliss can get shelter from the weather.
I call him and put my cell on speakerphone. “Blizzard is coming in. Where are you, ya stupid bastard?”
He grunts. “Asheville airport. Picking up Lyla.”
A chuckle that I try to choke back manages to escape. He’s always had a thing for his best friend’s little sister.
He snorts. “You think I have problems. Ma found an app yesterday called Ladies Love Lumberjacks.”
“So, what do I care?” I ask as I start up the winding road for my mountain. After my bride-to-be left me standing at the altar, Amos told me to come with him to Mount Bliss. He was starting a pub here and when I heard about the mill going up for sale, I figured I didn’t have anything left to lose. Funny how quickly the place became home to me.
“She’s decided that you’re lonely up there in that cabin by yourself and that just won’t do anymore.” It’s my brother’s turn to chuckle now.
I groan. “You’re shitting me.” Even as I say the words, I know he’s not. My folks are good people. But once my ma decides something, that’s it. She’ll move heaven and earth to make it happen.
“She’s already got you a profile up with your picture and everything. Apparently, a lot of women are swiping you. I don’t know what that means. But it sounds dirty.”
“I don’t care if Mother Nature herself drops a bride into my damn lap, it ain’t happening,” I spit out the words, feeling my blood pressure rise.
I spent two damn years fighting to fit into her world. She was old school money. I was money, too. But my money came with grease under my fingernails and a radiator in my hand. Never again will I make that mistake.
There’s garbled noise on the other end of the call then Amos is saying, “I’ve got to go. That’s her plane.”
“Call me when you’re back in town and if you talk to Ma, tell her to cut this shit out. I’m not swiping anybody.” I end the call and shake my head. I have no intention of ever getting near another bride again.
***
Maggie
When I’m finally alone in the bride’s dressing room, I close my eyes and try to picture it again. Three little girls surround me. The oldest has bouncy red curls like mine and chubby apple cheeks that I cover in kisses every night.
The second one is curled up on my lap as I read her a story book, looking up at me with big brown eyes, the exact shade as my father’s. The third is peacefully taking her bottle, making little grunts as I coo at her.
I try to imagine their father on the porch swing with the three of us. But the man I picture doesn’t look a thing like my groom. No, the man I’m seeing is rough and rugged with a grin that promises trouble.
Opening my eyes, I glance at my reflection in the mirror. The white wedding dress with the sweetheart neckline and full, flowing skirt is beautiful. But it doesn’t feel like something I’d wear.
I wanted a simple wedding, barefoot on the beach or even better in a remote forest under a canopy of trees. Not a huge one in front of nine hundred people including some of Asheville’s top society people and journalists from all the major state newspapers.
“It’s just wedding day jitters,” I try to reassure myself as I fluff my hair. But the truth is I haven’t been able to get the knots out of my stomach since I agreed to marry Sebastian six weeks ago.
I might be considered society people because of my grandfather’s wealth and yet I’ve never fit into this world. I wouldn’t even be considering this wedding if grandpa’s money manager hadn’t disappeared with almost everything he owned.
The investor that was willing to save my family’s jewelry company made it clear that part of the deal involved marrying his son.
While there were plenty of investors I could have gone with, Anthony Thomas was the only one who wouldn’t take over and completely change our business model. He and his son were the best of bad choices.
“An arranged marriage isn’t a terrible thing,” I whisper as I walk to the room across the hall where my groom is getting ready.
I raise my hand to knock on the door, but it’s already cracked, letting me hear the conversation.
“I can’t believe your dad’s making you marry just to get your inheritance.” The words from Sebastian’s best man are no surprise. Neither of us are going into this marriage with any warm, fuzzy feelings toward each other. But love can grow between two people. Like it did with my late parents.
“And an ugly horseface at that,” Sebastian adds.
The words make me blink as the hurt rushes through me. I’ve only met Sebastian a few times, but he’s never been anything less than cordial. Sure, he was a bit cold and withdrawn. It wasn’t like I expected an instant attraction.
His best man snickers. “Yeah, I’ll say. What are you going to do when it’s time to pork the fat bitch?”
“Tell her to double bag her face,” he answers, and the sound of male laughter fills the room. “I can’t believe I’ll be having sex with that thing. I’ll have to picture a threesome with Cindy to get through this.”
“Can you imagine having kids with her?” Another friend mocks.
“They’d probably be just as portly as their pig of a mother.” Sebastian doesn’t hide the disgust in his tone.
For one moment, I debate storming into the room and telling off Sebastian and his friends. I consider how good standing up for myself would feel since I never did it in high school. But experience has taught me that people like Sebastian don’t change even when confronted with their own ignorance.
Suddenly, an eerie calm comes over me. In this moment, I know that not only will this marriage never work, but it’s not what my parents would want for me. Even if it means my grandfather and I end up penniless.
Pulling up the long skirt of my dress, I sprint down the hall and search for the side exit door. I don’t know where I’m going. But I know that there’s no way in hell I’m staying for this wedding.