For Him, I Would

Chapter Thirty-Nine - What I allow, What you allow.

Oakley knew she needed to wait. They had a plan, go see what or who was at the place where the text messages were coming from before doing anything stupid about it. But this also appeared to be her brother asking for her help.

Before his arrest, Cash and Oakley were great siblings. They had been best friends growing up and through school. They were each other's cheerleader, confidant, sidekick, and shoulder to cry on. Always having each other's back when one, or both, were in trouble, and always there for each other...always.

Oakley's fingers hovered over her screen.

Is this really you, Cash? 

Oakley pressed send and instantly regretted it. She looked up at the door, half expecting Kayce to be standing there, angry, and yelling at her for being so reckless. But Kayce was probably at the barn now with Tate, saddling up the horses for their ride. Her phone buzzing made Oakley look back down at a reply.

I was almost named Grant after our mom's maiden name. 

Oakley felt tears prick at her eyes. It was him, that little bit of information being one only their family of four knew.

You can't be texting me.

Oakley placed her fingers against her lips as she waited for a response.

They'd have to find me first.

Oakley felt her stomach rise in her throat. He wasn't in prison then. But Kayce said Cash was when he investigated it after the missed call.

Where are you?

Oakley slowly walked to the front door, looking out the windows. She saw Kayce walking back up to the cabin and started to panic.

I'm safe. I just need to talk to you. In person.

What was Oakley supposed to do now? She glanced once more outside and saw Kayce getting closer, a concerned look on his face but he hadn't spotted her yet.

Where?

Oakley prayed for Cash to type faster. If she could get all the information first before Kayce blew a gasket, then maybe she stood a chance at keeping him calm.

Appleseed Creek. Tomorrow at 10 am.

Oakley let out a deep breath.

Done.

Oakley put her phone into her back pocket as Kayce opened the front door.

"Hey," Oakley said and then winced at how obvious she sounded.

"What are you doing?" Kayce asked, eyeing her.

"I uh..." Oakley swallowed hard, but she couldn't lie to Kayce. "Please don't be mad at me."

"What did you do?" Kayce shut the front door behind him to block the cold.

Oakley let out a sigh and took her phone out of her pocket. She showed Kayce the message screen she had just finished with Cash.

"Oakley," Kayce's eyes turned from concerned to mad. "Why did you text it back?"

"He said he needed help," Oakley answered.

"You don't know that it's him!" Kayce snapped. "We had a plan."

"I know," Oakley tried. "B-But I just thought...look, he said his name was going to be Grant."

"And suddenly that means it's your brother?" Kayce snarled.

"No one but our family knows that," Oakley argued. "For someone to guess that they'd have to be,"