Final Debt

I wanted it to be perfect.

“Stop asking me that. Yes, I’m sure.” Jasmine wheeled herself awkwardly over the cobblestones, her wheels catching and stalling on the uneven surface. But she didn’t complain. Not once did she curse or lament. Her disability had finally been accepted and she no longer hid away in the house, regretting the life she would never have.

Her acceptance had come from a multitude of things. Vaughn Weaver’s unwavering attention had been one of those things but so had Kes’s death. His passing at such a young age shook all of us. Yes, she’d lost the use of her legs but she hadn’t lost her life like our brother.

“Lead her over there.” I pointed V at the already erected platform I’d had the Hawksridge carpenters create.

Originally, I’d planned to put Jasmine in a carriage, safely protected by walls and wheels. But the moment I told her the plan, she argued. She used to ride a lot with Kes and me when we were younger. She wanted to share one last ride with him…before he was gone.

I’d done my best to persuade her but she was damn stubborn when her mind was set.

I didn’t interfere as Vaughn did his best to guide Claret to the mounting block. However, the Roan had other ideas—hay being her main focus.

Vaughn cursed under his breath, doing his best to yank the mare forward. “Come on, you bloody animal.”

Christ, at this rate we wouldn’t get out of the stables until dark.

Nila laughed as I stormed forward and grabbed the reins. Taking responsibility for the horse, I pointed Vaughn to a new task. “Help my sister up the ramp. I’ll move Claret into position.”

Tex entered the stable. His eyes darted from the horse to Jasmine in her chair. He wisely didn’t mention her safety and focused on his own discomfort instead. Rubbing the back of his nape, he said, “You sure I have to be on a nag? Can’t I follow on foot?”

Nila went to her father and looped her arm through his. “Kes would’ve wanted us all there. Please, do it for me. We need to honour his final goodbye.” Pecking his cheek, Nila smiled, completely winning over her father within moments.

Try saying no to her.

Hell, I couldn’t.

Hiding my smugness, I let my condition fan out. Tex still confused me. He’d stood up for his daughter in the end. He’d helped put an end to our family’s madness, but inside, he still wallowed in self-hatred and guilt. That guilt ate at him like acid. If he didn’t find a way to forgive himself—he’d be dealing with his own mortality in the form of sickness.

Tearing my eyes from Nila and her father, I marched forward. Swatting the mare with the tips of the reins, she plodded onward, submitting to my direction as I led her around the newly-erected ramp.

Vaughn grabbed Jasmine’s chair. Almost shyly, he tucked her jaw-length hair behind her ear before hurtling her like a fucking rocket up the ramp.

Goddammit.

“Shit!” Jasmine grabbed the handrails, ferocity etching her face.

“Just thought I’d make sure you were awake.” Vaughn chuckled.

“Yes, well, I’d like to keep awake and not dead for as long as I possibly can.” Her fake anger couldn’t hide her enjoyment that Vaughn didn’t treat her like a china doll.

Unfortunately, her emotions couldn’t lie. Her heart skipped a beat whenever that damn Weaver was around.

Nila came to stand by me, her delicate hand landing on my wrist. “Stop scowling. I know what you’re thinking.”

I didn’t look at her. The more time she spent with me, the more she could read me. She might not be able to keep secrets from me, but I couldn’t keep them from her, either. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She smiled. “Yes, you do.” Her eyes shouted: My brother likes your sister.

I clenched my jaw, ignoring her.

Claret stomped, tossing her head as Vaughn bumped her going around to the front of Jasmine’s chair. His eyes locked on Jaz’s. “Remember the last time you asked me to be your legs?”

Jaz cocked her head, her gaze flickering to me. “Yes.”

“Did I drop you?”

She frowned. “No.”

“Good, so you trust me?”

Her tongue swept over her bottom lip. Fuck, she was flirting with him. “Perhaps.”

“That’s good enough, I guess.” Bending, he smiled. “Put your arms around my shoulders.”

My stomach knotted, wanting to tell him to be careful, but Jaz immediately looped her arms around him and allowed him to scoop her useless legs from the chair.

I’d never seen Jaz so open to trusting someone she hadn’t vetted and investigated within an inch of the law before. Yet she accepted Vaughn so easily.

Holding her in his arms, he completely forgot about the rest of us and the over-packed stable.

I coughed deliberately.

Vaughn grinned not giving an arse what I thought. Murmuring in her ear, he carefully placed Jasmine on Claret. Her useless legs wouldn’t straddle the horse, but Vaughn held her aloft so Jaz could grab her jodhpurs and sling herself into position.

Once Jaz sat on the horse, she nodded. “You can let me go now.”

V did as she requested, looking at me for instruction.

Leaving Nila, I climbed the ramp and checked the girth was tight, Jaz’s legs were anchored and buckled to the custom saddle, and her balance was correct. The pommel came up extra high and the back of the saddle cradled her back with cushioning and a seatbelt.