Charm School for Cowboys by Meg Maxwell

Author:Meg Maxwell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-05-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

When they arrived home, Emma disappeared into the kitchen, and Jake sensed she needed some time to herself. He was about to head out to the barn to check in with Hank when he noticed a light shining from the third-floor landing—from the doorway leading up to the attic. That was strange.

Jake went up and opened the door to the attic. All was quiet, but the lights were definitely on. He took the steep narrow staircase up and found his brother sitting in front of their dad’s trunks, looking through old sweaters. CJ was so lost in thought and memories he didn’t even hear Jake come up the stairs.

“I come up here when I need to figure something out,” Jake said.

CJ started and stood up. He looked uncomfortable. “I was just looking at Dad’s old stuff.”

Jake was afraid CJ would bolt. He looked at the trunk, trying to give his brother a little privacy. “Remember that green windbreaker,” he said, pointing at the old jacket their father used to wear everytime they went hiking.

“I’ll never forget that huge buck we saw right before it started raining and we all got soaked,” CJ said, smiling. “Except Dad, because he had the windbreaker and we both refused to bring waterproof jackets.”

Jake nodded, lost for a moment himself in the memory of himself and CJ soaked to the bone, hair plastered against their heads, their dad shaking his head but good-humored. “We could both be pretty stubborn.” He kneeled in front of the trunk. “Just clothes in this one.” His gaze caught on the heavy navy wool sweater his dad always wore to go riding. “I might take this sweater, if you don’t mind. Good for early mornings on the ranch.”

CJ nodded. “Go ahead. Maybe I’ll take the windbreaker.” He slid it on and zipped it, and Jake could see that his brother was remembering old times. Then he opened up another trunk, full of their father’s old navy memorabilia and the thrillers he loved to read. There was a black binder and CJ flipped through it. Copies of old documents—the deed to the ranch in Mill Valley. The title on the old red pickup. “Looks like some of your adoption papers are in here too.”

“Oh yeah?” Jake said, glancing over. He had most of the records in his own files, along with his birth certificate and social security card.

CJ flipped through the papers, clipped together at the top left. He stared at a page in the middle. “Whoa. There’s an index card attached to this copy of some paperwork regarding your adoption. ‘Fraternal twin adopted previous day by Asher family of Houston.’” CJ handed him the papers, looking astonished.

Jake froze and scanned the card, handwritten in black ink. “The information was right here the entire time,” he said. “Mom and Dad never told me about my twin—I assume because they figured it would be too much for me to handle and that if I wanted to find my birth family, I’d find out that information.

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