All Chapters of The Lansing House: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

AsherThe first snowflakes started falling as Asher chopped wood. The heat from the little cabin was fed to the stall, where One Star slept. He’d made it to the cabin late the previous night, but he’d still rubbed One Star down, and covered him with the blanket, before he started a fire in the cabin’s fireplace. He’d barely slept the previous night, that damn video playing in his mind on a loop. He needed a distraction, so he started chopping wood at first light. He’d need to head out into the woods, too, and find a rabbit. He hadn’t packed food for himself, but two days without food wouldn’t bother him, if it came down to that. He saddled One Star, and headed out, steering him up the hill. He didn’t really want to shoot a deer, not in winter. It would be a waste unless he left the carcass for the coyotes. The blood would attract them, anyway.Two miles up, he found traces of deer, and dismounted One Star. He left the reins loose, knowing the horse wouldn’t go far. He trudged furthe

AsherThe large house felt empty, leading him to truly feel the depth of their absence. It didn’t feel like his home anymore. He hadn’t expected Maggie to stay. Besides, he wasn’t sure if he wanted her there either. He could feel the hollowness from them not being there, and he was on the verge of calling Maggie to try and talk it out when his phone rang.“Hello.”“Asher? It’s Polly,” the voice said.“Hey, Polly, is everything okay?” She sounded on the verge of tears.“It’s Mark… He’s…he’s dead,” she said, and the sobs started.Asher slumped down on the couch, and dragged his free hand over his face. The pain of Mark’s loss started deep in his soul. Mark had been a close friend in the Army, and had taken voluntary discharge six months before Asher did.“What happened?”“He shot himself,” Polly whispered, as Asher closed his eyes.“I’m on my way, Polly.”“Thank you, Asher. I’ll see you soon.”After the call ended, Asher leaned his head back against the couch. Mark Waters was dead. He c

MaggieThat Monday when she drove to the ranch, her heart had been in her throat, but she soon discovered that Asher wasn’t there. He’d left the previous day. Nobody had told her where he went, or why he’d left, and she felt guilty about it.She was sad knowing Asher wasn’t there. There was no chance of running into him, or seeing him in the distance. She could tell that Melody missed him, too. When they were at the main house, every sound of a boot had her looking up in anticipation, but you could see the disappointment on her face when it wasn’t Asher.It had become the family joke. Melody smiled until she realized who it was. Her face would drop, and the Fitzgerald men would all complain that they were just as likable as Asher. The only other person Melody got excited for was Thomas Fitzgerald.It had been three weeks, and Asher was still gone. He’d phoned once to tell his father that he was helping Polly pack up the house. He hadn’t reached out to her, and she was too scared to se

AsherHe pulled his truck to a stop just after 8 p.m. The porch light was on, and he could make out his father’s form on the patio. Dakota jumped out as Asher climbed out, and when Asher slapped his thigh, the dog stood next to him instantly.“Hey, Pops,” Asher said, as he climbed the porch steps.“Good to have you back, Asher.”“Why’s Melody here?” She was lying in Thomas’ arms, her sleeping form looking so serene and peaceful that, for a moment, Asher was jealous.“Maggie went out with your brother,” Thomas said.Asher gritted his teeth, but didn’t say anything. He walked over to the chair next to his father’s, and sat down. Dakota put his head on his thigh, and his hand went to the dog’s ears.“You got a dog?”“Dakota served with me in Afghanistan. He’s a war hero, Pops.” The dog’s tail had started wagging at the mention of his name. He gripped his father’s shoulder and looked at the dog. “Friend.” Dakota walked over to Thomas, sniffed the offered hand, and then promptly sniffed Me

MaggieShe chewed on her lower lip as she drove to the ranch. Melody was still with Thomas, and now she was thankful. She’d wanted to grab her last night after telling Asher where to shove it, but common sense had told her to leave Melody.She’d packed everything they owned because Asher loved her. She believed that they could weather any storm now. He knew her most shameful secret, and she knew some things about the war he’d never told anyone else. The man in town that was looking for her scared her. She had no idea if it was Sean, himself, or one of his goons. It didn’t really matter; they all scared her. Sean couldn’t know about Melody. She’d left even before she knew she was pregnant.Before she knew it, she was in front of Asher’s house, and he parked his truck behind hers. He was next to her door in an instant, and opened it. “Go inside. We’ll handle this.”“We?” As she spoke those words, all four Fitzgerald brothers and Eden, rounded the corner. It seemed Asher had already sai