Swiftcurrent Creek No one suspects at all

His greeting was met with a sharp tongue. Her glare to him was met with the wilt of disappointment at first—and then stoicism. You’ll never be enough for them, his mind whispered, and he quietly agreed. Nicodem and Jakub survived day by day—he tried to teach them, to take them out and do things with them—but their interest faltered often, and they remained quiet.

Mae was simply angry with him—his presence not tolerated. Long gone were the days when the headstrong girl would run to his arms within seconds of seeing him—now, he was met with utter resentment. The family den remained a place of high tension—and he withheld a sigh.

What was there to do, at this point?

“No,” was the short response he gave her. “Just wanted to see if you wanted to go do something. Help me with the borders, or track one of the herds.”