Page 58 of Defiant Hearts

Whitley’s cheeks heated at Felicity’s comment. Hearing that Wyatt talked about her to the men he worked with felt like the equivalent of hearing her first crush liked her back.

“We have,” she said simply.

“That’s good to hear. He’s spent too much of his time here not letting anyone get close to him.”

That surprised her more. “I hadn’t realized that was a problem.”

“Oh yeah.” Fern bobbed her head. “Crew told me that some of the other candidates had a problem with Wyatt. I guess he hasn’t always worked well with the rest of the group. But he’s good—really good, from what I hear.”

Now that she knew about his reading issues, she could see how Wyatt might seem like he pushed everyone away.

But the Wyatt she knew was strong and capable. He looked as bad-ass in a cowboy hat as he did in camo. An undeniable tingle of awareness sparked inside her.

She was silent long enough to bring knowing smiles to the ladies’ faces. Seeing her return from her daydream, Felicity asked, “Do you have family? You haven’t talked about them.”

Whitley told them that she hadn’t spoken to them in a while.

“You haven’t let them know you’re no longer a missing person?” Fern worked at a stubborn root.

She wasn’t surprised that they knew her circumstance. News traveled fast on the ranch.

Her throat constricted. “I should have called them already, but I’ve been afraid that my ex would find out somehow. I can’t put my parents in danger.”

Fern’s eyes were soft with sympathy. “That has to be hard on you too.”

“They probably think—” She broke off at what they must think.

Felicity set aside the trowel and faced her. “Do you think calling will really be traceable if you use one of our phones?”

The idea of hearing her parents’ voices again made salt thicken on the back of her tongue. She shook her head. “I don’t know how that would work. International lines and time zones.” She trailed off because those weren’t barriers and she knew it.

All of a sudden, calling them seemed entirely possible.

Necessary.

“We can figure that out.” Felicity pushed to her feet. “What time would it be in Thailand right now?”

Excitement jolted her, and she looked up at Felicity. “Eight-thirty in the morning.”

Fern shot to her feet and stripped off her gloves. “Perfect time for a phone call. What do you think, Whitley?”

These women were so amazingly caring that she opened her mouth but no words came out.

“Now?” she managed after a moment.

“Now.” Fern squeezed her arm and Whitley pushed to her feet. “We’ll see if Rhae or Willow are in the main house. Ask if they can hook you up with a secure line.”

Her mind floated as she walked to the big ranch house. Felicity didn’t bother to knock—she just walked in and called out to her sister Honor. The woman appeared in the homey mudroom immediately, her wavy hair in a twist over one shoulder.

“Everything okay?” Honor asked as she took in all three of them.

Quickly, Felicity and Fern explained the situation, leaving Whitley feeling like a child. But she was grateful for their intervention—she felt far too tongue-tied thinking about what she’d say to her parents after all this time.

Honor’s face lit up with excitement, and she waved them all into the living room. A few of the Malone women lounged on sofas and their conversation stopped when they walked in.

After Honor relayed Whitley’s request, Aspen Malone pushed to her feet. “I can hook you up by satellite phone!”

Whitley tangled her fingers in front of her and fought back so many emotions. She couldn’t quite believe that weeks ago, she came close to dying on that mountain and now she had friends who were helping her connect with her parents.