At thirty-four years old, Bowie Bishop didn’t think he’d ever come back to live at home. It was never his plan to return to Aspen Cove, but then again, he didn’t expect to get shot again while in Afghanistan. When those bullets hit his femur and shattered the bone, everything changed.

He sat at the end of the dock and let his legs hang over the side. The soles of his boots skimmed the water, creating ripples that danced across the smooth surface.

He’d forgotten how high the lake could get after the snow melted; well, not exactly forgotten, more like banished from his memory. He looked across the water to where the tree line split—it was the only place where the side of the mountain dropped off into the lake. He hated that patch of road. In fact, he hated just about everything.

At night in his dreams, he still saw her. Eyes the color of amber, chestnut hair, and a laugh that could warm even the coldest heart. Brandy was his everything, and when he lost her, he knew he’d never be happy again.

The familiar sound of a can popping open and the hiss of carbonation escaping meant he wasn’t alone with his thoughts any longer.

“I thought you might like one before we go to the bar.” Cannon sat down next to him and handed over the beer.

“I don’t feel much like celebrating my return. I think I’ll stay here.”

“No can do, bro. You’ve got a lot of people looking forward to seeing you. If you don’t show up, they’ll come here. There’s no way to avoid it.”

Bowie lifted the can to his lips and took several big gulps. It would take a lot more than a can of beer to get him through the night.

“Why did you tell them I was coming back?” This trip wasn’t a social visit. It was a place to land until the VA assessed his disability rating, and then he was gone.

“Because seeing you back in town would be like seeing a ghost.”

Cannon had described it accurately. He’d been a ghost. Most of him died when Brandy did.

“I don’t want the attention.”

“Fine, show up, stay a while. Paste on a fake smile. Then come back here and hide in the house until tomorrow morning, when you get up to run the bait and tackle shop. I’ve been taking it all on by myself for years. You’re back, so you can help.”

Bowie never knew his brother to be so stern, but then he figured years of dealing with their drunk father had taken the softness out of him. He’d always felt bad he’d left his brother to pick up the pieces, but Bowie couldn’t bear to spend another second in the town that reminded him of his loss.

“I’m not staying. Besides, Dad looks like he’s got a handle on things. He can run the bait and tackle store.” Cannon had told Bowie how bad his father had gotten, but to look at him now, he couldn’t believe it. He knew his brother wasn’t one to exaggerate, but Ben looked fine.

“No, he’s helping Katie at the bakery. It’s where he found his sobriety. It’s best if things don’t change too drastically for him.”

Cannon picked up a few pebbles from the dock and tossed them into the water. Rings formed around the disturbance and spread out wide. That’s how life was. One thing created a ripple, and an entire life changed.

“Change isn’t good for Dad, but it’s okay if I’m propelled into a nightmare?”

He pushed the boot of his good leg beneath the surface of the water and kicked forward, sending a splash outward. Ten feet in front of him, a fish leaped from the water to catch a bug.

“It’s not my intent to pick at your wounds, but I want a life, too. I gave up everything—my life, my career. I gave it all up to come back here and try to save what we had. When will it be my turn to have something?” He emptied his beer and crushed the can in his fist. “Sage entered my life and changed everything. I’m in love with her, but I need time with her. I won’t get that if I’m running two businesses and watching out for Dad.”

Cannon was right. Bowie had bailed on his brother, but at the time he had nothing left to give. As he sat on the dock and looked around, he worried that he had even less now than he did then.

“I’m not staying,” he repeated.

“I hear you. Just remember, I stepped up when you couldn’t. I’m asking you to step up while you’re here. I’m rarely selfish, but dammit Bowie, you owe me.”

That was another fact he couldn’t deny. He owed Cannon. He’d given up his dream job to come home and be responsible for the family. He was only twenty-four years old when everything went to hell. Too young to be a full-fledged adult, but too old to be a kid.

“You’re right. I owe you more than I could ever repay.”

He turned to his left and took a really good look at his brother. He’d grown into a man while Bowie was gone. They’d been close as kids but drifted apart when Bowie fell in love with Brandy. He’d spent all his time with her. It was the hardest part about losing her. He didn’t know how to live without her. He’d made a promise to himself the day they buried her: he’d never allow another woman to enter his heart.

“I’m not asking for blood. I’m only asking you to stay around for a bit. I’ve missed my brother.” Cannon reached over with one arm and bro-hugged him.

“Let’s take it a day at a time. Now tell me about this girl of yours.”

Footsteps sounded behind them. They turned to see who approached.

Cannon’s stoic expression softened, and a smile took over his face. “How about you meet her?”

He stood and walked halfway down the dock to meet the tiny redhead. He picked her up and twirled her around. The only piece of Bowie’s heart that remained, squeezed so hard it was almost painful. He watched the two kiss.

It wasn’t that Bowie hadn’t had female companionship since Brandy died. He’d seen plenty of action, but he was always clear about where those relationships would go. Bowie was like a boat full of holes, and you couldn’t fill up a leaky vessel. He was a sinking ship and refused to take anyone else down with him.

He struggled to his feet and limped his way down the dock to meet Sage. She stood in front of him and rose up onto her toes to kiss him on the cheek. It was an odd greeting from a complete stranger, but he liked her forwardness.

“Finally, I get to meet the infamous Bowie.”

He looked down at the runt in front of him. “Infamous, huh?”

She smiled, and Bowie could see why his brother had fallen so hard. With a smile like that, it was like the sun radiated from her pores.

“Oh, yes. I’ve heard everything from how you terrorized him as a kid to how you protected him at school.”

Cannon looked at her and shook his head. “Sweetheart, that was bedroom talk and should have stayed in the bedroom.”

Sage rolled her eyes. “That would mean we couldn’t talk about anything. You work so much, I only get to talk to you in bed.”

Cannon looked at his brother with a see-I-told-you-so look. Although Bowie knew he’d never fall in love again, there wasn’t any reason Cannon shouldn’t. Someone in their family deserved to be happy.

“Let’s see if we can change that. I’ll be around for a bit so Cannon will have more time to spend outside the bedroom.”

“Dude, I don’t want to reduce my bedroom time; I only want to increase my other time. Who knows, I might want to spend that time in the bedroom, too.”

Sage wound up and punched Cannon in the chest. “I’m not invisible here. Don’t be talking about our bedroom activities with your brother.”

It was hard not to laugh. Here was a woman who on her tallest day reached Cannon’s neck, and yet she was in control. God, he missed those days.

“Although due to your height, you’re easy to overlook, now that I’ve seen you punch, you’re hard to ignore.” Bowie threw his arm around Sage and began the walk to the house. “One thing you should know, none of the Bishops kiss and tell. Your nocturnal secrets are safe. Nothing else is sacred, though, so give me some dirt on my brother. It’s been a long time.”

Sage told him about Cannon’s one-eyed cat. She laughed at the fact that such a tough man could have such a soft spot for a special-needs pet, but she had no place to talk because when they walked into the house, lying at Ben’s feet was her three-legged dog, Otis.

“Aren’t you the pot calling the kettle black?”

While Bowie walked over to his dad, Sage and Cannon disappeared into the kitchen, saying something about microwaving dinner.

“Hey, Dad. You’re looking good.” Dad had a nice scar on his forehead from where he fell at the cemetery.

“I’m alive. That’s a start.” Ben pivoted on the old leather couch to face him. “I was wondering when you’d come in to say hello.”

“You could have come outside.”

Ben looked down at the beer in Bowie’s hand. “I try to stay far away from alcohol.”

“Shit, Dad. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.” Bowie rocked forward to stand, but his dad pulled him back down.

“It’s my problem, not yours. I can’t expect the world to change because I have an issue with something. I’m learning.”

Bowie took his beer and reached over the arm of the chair to put it out of sight. “You’re right, but I don’t have to flaunt your weakness in front of your face.”

Ben did something unexpected. He leaned in, pulled his son against his body, and hugged him tight. “I’m glad you’re here. I hope you’ll stay a while.”

His plans were short-term, but before he could tell his dad, Cannon and Sage called them for dinner.

Just like the old days, Bowie sat in his place at the family dinner table next to the window. While they ate microwaved stroganoff, Cannon and Ben filled him in on all the things that had happened over the years.

Louise Smith had married Bobby Williams, and they recently had their seventh kid. Doc still ran the clinic, although he was older than dirt. Dalton had done time for murder. The town finally got a sheriff, Aiden Cooper, and Mark Bancroft was the deputy. Zachariah Thomas lit himself on fire when one of his stills blew up. While some things had changed, others remained the same. He’d missed having a place where he belonged. He’d missed his family. As much as he hated to admit it, no matter where he ended up, Aspen Cove would always be home.