Circle on Home (Lost in a Boom Town Book 5) Read Online Free Page B

pretty easy.
    Selena sat beside him chattering about her day, oblivious to the thoughts running through his head, the resentment of all of this coming to a head at once. Maybe, maybe if his father hadn't come back, he might have approached her, seen how she was doing.  
    But right now he was just overwhelmed with his past flooding back. The last time he’d been with Miranda, his father had been on trial. He’d known it would be too much for her to stand by his side, but when she hadn't been able to handle the stress, well, that had hurt more than he expected, on top of a pain he never wanted to experience again. He hadn't thought he could hurt any more.  
    He got out of the truck and walked toward the house. Now that he was home, he remembered what he’d been excited about—he’d found a position for Ben at one of the ranches nearby. He knew Ben would feel better about himself if he was working, and he’d get out of the house, away from their father, who had gotten a job at the grocery store but hadn't started yet.
    Ben was lounging in his room when Selena and Noah walked in.  
    “Hey, Ben. So, good news. Mr. McKenna is hiring hands. He said just show up tomorrow and he’ll sign you on.”
    “Huh. Well, I got a job.”
    Noah took a step back. “You what? Where? When?” And why was he laying around in the same clothes he’d been wearing when Noah left the house? “Did you feed the animals?”
    “Yes, I did. And I got a job leading a hunting group, a group of businessmen from Dallas who want to hunt wild pigs.”
    “That’s great.” He’d taken initiative, and that surprised Noah, but, “McKenna’s offer is long-term.”
    “I’ve already committed to this, and I don’t think McKenna would want me to take the time off so I could take a group hunting.” He rolled off the bed and nudged past his brother to enter the kitchen.  
    Noah blew out a breath, trying not to be frustrated. He’d gone out of his way to approach Mr. McKenna about hiring his brother, and now he’d have to tell him no, that Ben had another job.  
    There were worse things to tell him, but damn, he wished he’d known. He wished Ben had told him, wished Ben had taken the ranch job, something longterm, something steady.  
    “Where’s Dad?”
    “I don’t keep track.”
    Noah knew damn well that was a lie. Ben knew where his father was, just so he could avoid him.
    “All right. You going to make dinner? I’m going to go track him down.”
    “Why? Leave him be.”
    Because Noah had to make an effort, if they were going to be living together. He couldn't dread coming home. He’d spent his childhood doing that. After his mother had died, he couldn't wait to get away, and thankfully college was the answer to that need. He’s spent six years at   College Station, and when he’d come back worked his ass off, and had been so glad to come home to his family, to the peaceful home he’d created for them. The home he was determined to keep.
    His father was at the barn, and his first thought was that Rey was out here drinking. But when he approached, he didn't smell alcohol.  
    “Pop? What are you doing out here?”
    “Trying to get used to all the changes you’ve made here. Trying to get used to going where I want without someone coming to look for me.” He said the last with what might pass for a smile.  
    “Not meaning to intrude. Just curious about where you’d gotten off to.”
    “Barn looks better than the house.”
    “I’m out here more.”
    “Your aunt kept me up to date, you know, on your lives. On your college, and Ben barely graduating high school, and Selena’s progress.”
    “Aunt Lupita?” His mother’s sister had taken Selena and Ben in when their father had been arrested. Noah had been drowning in his own pain and hadn’t listened to her. He’d already been eighteen. She’d looked so much like his mother that he hadn't been able to look at her without waves of longing for what he’d lost. He hadn't