"That was different. You didn't hate me. You hated that you wanted me."

I roll my eyes. He's probably right. "Just do this for me. Worst case they tell you to go to h.e.l.l."

"Aunt Kay," I saw as I pull him along. "This is my boyfriend."

She finishes for me, while standing up with the knife still in her grasp. "Jacob Monroe. I'm sorry, did you say boyfriend? My dear do you have any idea who this man is?"

I never let go of his hand. "Yes, I do. Before you go on about his job, I want you to know I met him a long time ago, before he came to Kentucky. He's a good man that hates his job."

"I think the man can speak for himself. You haven't read the letters he's delivered to me and your uncle. He's not who you think he is. I want this man out of my house immediately."

I open my mouth to defend him, but hear him speaking directly to her. "Ma'am, with all due respect, I was only doing what I was ordered to do. I mean your family no harm."

"You want to take the land that my late husband worked hard for. You represent those people. The d.a.m.n government thinks it can waltz around offering a measly dime for something we put our blood sweat and tears into. I'm sorry, son, but I can't have you here. Callie you're going to have to see your friend off Mitch.e.l.l property from now on."

Just when I think it can't get any worse, Noah and my uncle come in through the back door. They lay eyes on Cob, then notice our laced hands. Uncle Colt speaks first. "Van just told the news, but I couldn't believe it. I came here to ask you myself. I guess there's no need now. Callie, what are you thinking? Has he told you what he's a part of?"

I can't look at my uncle, and Noah isn't any better for consolation. "We were friends before he came to Kentucky. Our relationship has nothing to do with his occupation. Can't you understand that he's only doing his job?"

"Callie," my uncle says. "The government wants to take our land and build a highway right through it. He's been at the hearings. I can't believe you'd think it was okay to get involved with someone who threatens our livelihood."

Cob squeezes my hand. "Callie, let's just go."

Tears are welling up in my eyes. I feared it could go bad, but they will never budge. "I'm sorry, but he's my boyfriend and that's not going to change. If you can't accept him, then I'll find somewhere else to stay, because I refuse to hide our relationship any longer."

He says something else while we're walking out of the room. "I just got off the phone with your father, Callie. He wasn't too happy to learn about your boyfriend's doings. If I were you I'd rethink who you choose to a.s.sociate with."

I'm a wreck as I run to fetch my purse and meet Cob out at our cars. He's standing waiting for me. "I'm sorry. I didn't know my mom would have called and talked about you. This isn't how I pictured it going."

My phone is ringing in my purse. I know it's probably my parents forbidding me to a.s.sociate with Cob, and I refuse to speak to them about it. They can't deter my feelings.

"Go grab some of your things and meet me at my house. You can stay with me until they settle down. From what you've told me they're good Christian people. They won't throw you out."

"I'm not so sure. When they don't like someone they hold grudges."

"Then you can move in with me."

"What happens when you have to leave, Cob?" Up until now I've feared this conversation, but what better time to hash things out then when I'm feeling helpless. "What happens when you go?"

His brow furrows. I can tell he's stumbling. "Callie, I don't know. We've got at least another month to figure it out."

I shake my head. "Maybe my family is right. Maybe I should let you go before you hurt me like I know you will."

"Come on, babe. You're being ridiculous. You can come with me. We'll travel together."

"I have a job here."

"You're job doesn't pay the bills. You won't need it."

At this point my job is the only solid I have in my life. "No. You can't make that kind of decision for me." I run my hands through my hair. "This is terrible It's hopeless."

"Please don't say that."

"I'm sorry. You should go home, Cob. I need time to think."

"Callie, seriously? You invited me here. You knew this was a possibility."

"You're right, I did, but I've also been too caught up in us to think about the future. I just a.s.sumed we'd be together, but the fact that I'd have to follow you makes me question if I'd be able to live that way. I may be young, but I'm ready to settle. I don't want to travel with you while you threaten to take properties away from more families. It's not fair. I get that you make good money, but I can't support it. I won't. Just go. Leave me here to deal with my family and the repercussions. I promise I'll call when I settle down."

He comes up and places his hands on my waist. Being close to him only makes it more difficult. I want to run with him, as far as we can go where no one will ever threaten us, but it's impossible. "Callie, I love you. I know you think this can't work, but we'll figure it out together."

"Will you quit your job for me?"

He's stunned. "What? We've been dating for a month. I've had that job for nearly two years. You can't ask me to be unemployed. That's not fair."

I shake my head. "I can't talk about this anymore. I need time."

He kisses me on the forehead and leaves his lips there for a few seconds. "You know where I'll be."

I watch him get in his car and drive away, all while contemplating running after him and begging for him to never let me go. This isn't what I want, but I can't begin to come up with an easy solution. My life is surrounded by my family. Without them I'm nothing. If they can't accept Cob, I don't know how we can work.

I finally answer my phone once he's out of sight. I don't check to see who it is as I lift it to my ear. "h.e.l.lo?"

"Callie, please tell me what I'm hearing is wrong. Tell me you're not dating the same man that's threatened the ranch."

"Mom, now isn't a good time. Can we talk about this later?"

"Are you crying?"

"Yes. I just sent Cob away. It's never going to work out. Mom, I know you're all angry with me, but he's a good man. He loves me. He was only doing his job. He doesn't make the rules."

"Honey, perhaps if you would have been straight from the beginning."

"It wouldn't have mattered. I finally found someone who wants me, who cares about me, and I'm being forbidden to love him back. I have to hang up, Mom. I can't do this right now. My heart is breaking again, and this time I don't want to hear it will be all right. It won't."

I hang up the phone without listening to what she'll say. There are no words that will make this any easier. Cob will never be accepted by my family. With him leaving to go to another town in the coming months I'm struck with the reality of the situation.

I retreat to my room and begin packing my bags. I can't stay here and be judged for falling in love with who they all consider the enemy. There's only one place for me to go, and it's back to North Carolina where I never should have left.

Chapter 22.

Cob The phone rings three times before she answers. "h.e.l.lo?"

"Mom, it's me. I just wanted to give you a heads up. I'm probably not going to be bringing Callie this weekend, but I'm still planning on staying."

"Why? What's wrong?"

"I don't know. Things are complicated. We met at the college a while back and then reconnected in Kentucky where I'm working. We hit it off right away. She's great. I care about her a lot."

"What's wrong? She doesn't feel the same way about you?"

"No. That's not it at all. I think she loves me. It's her family. My business has me working directly with her uncle's ranch. They want to take some acres from him to implement a new highway. It's complicated."

"I'm sorry, did you say they have a ranch?"

"Yeah, why?"

"And your sister says you met her parents in North Carolina this weekend past?"

"Yeah, so?"

"What is Callie's last name?"

"It's Healy, why?"

The line is silent.

"Mom, are you still there?"

"Oh Cob, I'm so sorry, but you can't see that girl anymore."

I'm shocked. "What? You can't tell me who I can and can't date."

"Jacob, do you remember Dad and I discussing his biological father, Rick?"

"Yeah, what's that have to do with anything?"

"He was married to Callie's mother, Amy."

I feel sick. This can't be happening. "Hold on. Let me get this straight. You know them?"

"All too well. We have a very long history, and I'm afraid it's not good at all. I dated Callie's father, Conner, and her uncle Ty. That family has hated me for more years than I'd like to admit. Callie's aunt came to my wedding, but only because she felt sorry for me. We lost touch a long time ago, and it was probably on purpose. Before your father came along I wasn't a good person. I was selfish and I'd do whatever necessary to get what I wanted."

"That's sounds more like determination."

"I broke rules. I lied. Honey, I'm not telling you this so you think ill of me. I want you to know because the moment her family finds out who your mother is, they'll make you never see her again."

This can't be happening. Another obstacle I don't know how to cross. "No. I don't believe it."

"Ask Callie. I'm sure she's at least heard some of the stories."

In my heart I know my mother is telling the truth, though it hurts way too much to accept. "I have to go. I'll be in touch."

"Jacob, I love you. I'm so sorry about this. It's better that you learned the truth now instead of down the road when you've fallen hopelessly in love and can't get out of it."

"It's too late for that, Mom. I'll be in touch."

I'm in such shock I begin laughing hysterically. This can't be possible. Of all the people in this country, all the families Callie could be linked to, why does it have to be that one?

I take my cell phone and chuck it across the room, shattering it into pieces as it falls to the floor. There is no hope for us to be together, not after what my mother told me. My best plan would be to sever ties with her completely and try to move on with my life as if the past month never existed. It will be impossible, but I have to try. We were doomed from the start. It was too good to be true. I can't have Callie, and the sooner I come to terms with it the better.

It's nearly midnight when a sound wakes me from the sofa. I sit up and look around to make sure I wasn't dreaming. There it is again. A knock at the door. My heart races as I rush to find Callie standing on the other side. Her eye makeup is smeared down her cheeks. She's obviously been crying for a while considering the swelling and redness that I'm staring at. She doesn't let me address her. "I was halfway to North Carolina when my mother called me. I almost didn't pick up, but I was so tired I knew it would help me stay awake. I can't believe what she told me. I'm in shock." She pushes her way inside and sits down before continuing. "She got a call from someone she knew a long time ago. The woman claimed to be your mother, Heather Monroe. Then my mom proceeded to tell me the whole story of how they met and everything they went through. Do you know your mom saved my mom's life? My mom was pregnant with my sister at the time, and yours was pregnant with you."

"I didn't know." I sit on the edge of the chair beside her and lightly rub her back. She's so distraught I can't begin to know how to comfort her. "I only found out they knew each other earlier."

"I tried to call you as soon as we got off the phone, but it kept going to voicemail. I was desperate for answers, wondering if you've known the whole time."

"No. I didn't. I swear."

"I had to see you, Cob. I had to come back to be able to look into those eyes that I love and hear the truth from your lips. Tell me this isn't possible. Tell me it can't get worse."

"I don't know what to say. I'm still in shock myself, and what you just informed me makes it ten times worse, at least in my eyes. How is this possible? How can our families be that linked and we never knew it?"

"Time. They buried it in the past. Your mom married your father and moved away. I think they all a.s.sumed they'd never see each other again."

When she peers up at me I can tell she's as lost as I feel. I wipe new falling tears from her cheek. "Babe, I'm sorry. I don't know what to say."

Her lips tremble as she speaks. "Say you love me, Jacob Monroe. Say we'll get through this together. Tell me there's another way, because I can't lose you. I haven't ever been this happy. This can't be the end of us."

I can't come up with a quick solution. "It's a f.u.c.king disaster. I've been trying to figure it out all day. How is this possible? All the people in the world and our families are connected in some crazy f.u.c.ked up way. This is insane. It makes no sense."

"It could be worse. We could be related."

"Jesus Christ, don't even joke. That would be horrific."

While I wait for her to respond I try to think of a solution that will help, but I'm coming up empty. "Maybe you were right earlier. I don't see how you and I will get through this."

"I can't believe your mother contacted mine. I wouldn't believe it if it didn't happen directly to me. My mom sounded just as freaked out, plus it's pretty late for her to be up, so I'm sure the call got her out of bed. I could tell she was afraid to tell my father."

"How involved were our parents? I mean, your mom was married to my biological grandfather, that my mom eventually shot to protect them? What the h.e.l.l is going on? Who are the people who raised us?"

"Survivors, I suppose. My mom spoke of yours like she was a hero. I've been told her first husband beat her. I don't know all the details, but when my father came along they fell in love and he helped her get free. According to my cousins, the man came after her and kidnapped her. I know your dad was shot on the Kentucky ranch while threatening both our mother's lives."

"Well s.h.i.t. This just gets worse. What about my mom and your dad?"

She shrugs. "Mom didn't get into details about it. I have no idea what the circ.u.mstances were, nor do I know about my uncle Ty."

I lace my hand in hers and play with it. "I have no idea what to do here, Callie. You're the first woman I've ever been this serious about. It f.u.c.king hurts. I don't want to lose you. What we have together has nothing to do with them, my job, or the past. It's just us."

"I know." I hear her start to sob. "Where do we go from here?"

"We can break up and go about our lives, pretending the last month or so never happened."