Chapter 6

The sun was brutal. Adeline stood in the front yard of the cabin, staring at the jungle that used to be a lawn. The weeds were up to her waist. Thorns grabbed at her jeans every time she moved.

She had bought a pair of gardening gloves and a pair of clippers at the hardware store. She was determined to do this herself. She needed to do this herself.

But after two hours, she had only cleared a patch the size of a welcome mat. Her back was screaming. Her hands were blistered inside the gloves. A mosquito bit her neck.

"This is impossible," she muttered, wiping sweat from her forehead with a dirty sleeve.

A rumble broke the silence. An old Ford pickup truck rolled down the dirt road and stopped at the edge of the property.

Three men got out.

They were tall, broad-shouldered, and looked like they had been carved out of the mountain itself. They wore work boots and faded jeans.

The youngest one, maybe early twenties with a mischievous grin, spotted her first. He whistled low. "Hey, Wyatt! Look what we got here. A real-life city girl."

The middle one, who had a calmer face, elbowed the younger one hard. "Shut up, Colby." He gave Adeline a polite nod. "Ma'am."

The third one didn't say a word. He was the biggest. His hair was dark, his jaw was sharp, and his eyes were a pale, piercing blue. He leaned against the truck, arms crossed, just watching her.

Adeline felt suddenly conscious of the dirt smeared on her face and the sweat soaking her shirt. She straightened up, trying to look dignified. "Can I help you?"

"We're the Smiths," Wyatt said, stepping forward. "We live over the ridge. Jarrett noticed there was activity over here for the first time in ages and figured you might need a hand getting the place back in shape."

Adeline hesitated. Her instinct was to say no. She didn't want to owe anyone. But she looked back at the wall of weeds behind her. It was a losing battle.

She walked over to her car and popped the trunk. Inside was a box she had bought in the city, wrapped in gold paper. Artisanal chocolates. She had bought them as a gift for her lawyer, but she hadn't seen him yet.

She pulled out the box. "I don't take charity," she said, holding it up. "But I'm willing to trade."

Colby's eyes went wide. "Is that the dark chocolate stuff? From that fancy shop in Raleigh?"

"If you clear this yard, this is yours," Adeline said.

Wyatt smiled. "Deal."

The one called Jarrett finally moved. He walked to the back of the truck without a word and pulled out a heavy-duty weed whacker and a machete. He started the engine, the roar drowning out the birds, and walked straight into the thickest part of the weeds.

He didn't just cut them; he slaughtered them. His movements were precise, powerful, and relentless.

Wyatt and Colby joined in with rakes and clippers. They worked fast, like a well-oiled machine. Adeline went inside to make lemonade.

An hour later, the yard was bare. You could see the dirt again. You could see the porch.

Adeline brought out a tray of lemonade. "Thank you," she said, handing them the glasses. "This is amazing."

Colby drank his in one gulp. "Best lemonade I ever had." He looked at Adeline, then at his older brother, and waggled his eyebrows. "Our new neighbor is pretty generous, huh, Jarrett?"

Jarrett didn't look at his brother. He took a glass and drank slowly, his eyes fixed on Adeline. "Your gutters are clogged," he said. His voice was deep, a low rumble that seemed to vibrate in her chest. "You don't clean them out, the rain will rot the roof."

Adeline felt a flush creep up her neck. "Oh. I'll... I'll get a ladder."

"I'm Wyatt," the middle brother said, stepping in. "This is Colby. The quiet giant is Jarrett."

"I'm Adeline," she said. "Adeline Mcconnell."

Colby leaned against the porch rail. "So, Adeline, you living out here all by yourself? Where's your husband?"

Wyatt smacked him on the back of the head. "Mind your business."

Adeline's smile froze. The word 'husband' felt like a slap. She touched her left hand, feeling the tan line where her ring used to be. "I... prefer the quiet."

Jarrett set his empty glass down on the tray. His blue eyes lingered on her face for a second too long. "We should go," he said, turning away.

"See you around, neighbor!" Colby called out as they climbed into the truck.

Adeline watched them drive away, the dust settling behind the tires. She touched her cheek. It was still warm.

She looked at the cleared yard, then at the empty spot where the truck had been.

Maybe the quiet wasn't the only thing she was going to like about this place.