The Log House on the Right

Prologue

My story started before I was born. My mom, Khrystal Dovaughn, gave birth to her only daughter, me, in early summer of June 1998. Las Vegas, Nevada, was the first place I called home. It was just my mom and me for the first eight years of my life. I don’t ever ask about my dad anymore. I never received any clear answers when I asked, so I no longer bring up the subject. The only thing she had ever said before was that he was a dependable person who did everything in his power to support her and her happiness. But there is no excuse for why he vanished before I could take my first breath in this world.

My mom stayed busy making sure the money kept rolling through. I remember seeing her face on billboards and taxi cabs around the city, advertising for events and shows. She was an incredible dancer who performed at many concerts and various shows. She’d come home after all her auditions so happy and confident. Everyone loved her and noticed her exceptional talent for dance. While I was at school, she would perform in the matinée shows. During the evenings and weekends, she would pick up a few bartending shifts just down the road from where we lived. That’s if she knew I would have a babysitter. I’ve always looked up to my mom. She worked hard, stayed humble, enjoyed life, and looked good doing it.

We moved to Los Angeles, California, right before my ninth birthday. As a kid, it wasn't easy to uproot the life I started with school and friends. After my mom received encouragement from her friends and coworkers in Las Vegas to pursue her dream of becoming an actress and explore modeling, she packed everything we owned, and away we went. She had the look for fame. Olive skin tone, light facial freckles, deep blue eyes, and long, thick, wavy chocolate hair that reached her lower back. When she wasn’t auditioning for work, she was waitressing and bartending at two places to make ends meet. I could always tell she was exhausted. She was a single mom and working two jobs, all while trying to keep a smile on her face for me. I’m sure that wasn’t the easiest thing for her to do. However, not too long after we settled into the studio apartment we called home, she met the love of her life, Rian Barlowe. We didn’t stay in California for long due to my mom’s lack of success at work. Rian was a pilot and flew commercial planes. He introduced her to the airline industry, and she began working as a flight attendant.

The three of us ended up moving to Rian’s hometown, just thirty minutes away from Bozeman, Montana. My mom and Rian married shortly after we settled into our new home. Rian never had any children of his own, nor had he ever been previously married. They were happy with me as an only child, and I was pleased with the parents God gave me. Growing up, Rian always treated me like his own and constantly treated my mom like a queen. To him, we were royalty, and I was very grateful to call him my dad.

I fell in love with my life in Montana. I met my best friend, Ember Ellis, when I started fifth grade, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. Going through my school years with Ember was always an adventure. In high school, I was determined to follow in my mom’s performing footsteps and join the dance team. As a shy teenager, being on the dance team and befriending Ember helped break me out of my shell, giving me the confidence to meet new people. Other students started noticing me more, and my friend group grew.

After graduating from high school, I returned to my old stomping grounds of Sin City. College in Las Vegas was a remarkable experience. I found myself running into old friends and family, all while experiencing Vegas in a new light as an adult. I studied Early Childhood Education and Psychology with a career goal of family therapy and trauma therapy for children.

My classes helped distract me from my struggles with dating as a young adult. I was caught in unwanted miscommunications and pure immaturity. My poor choices in men led me to give up on the dating life altogether. Was it because I was shy and allowed anyone into my life? Or was it my ability to trust everyone around me? With a history of being this shy and reserved girl, I’ve always had to change myself to fit in with friend groups and be attractive to certain guys. I never really felt like I could live my life as Jaemes. Sadly, I no longer know who Jaemes truly is. I do know I can’t continue to quietly sit in a corner for the rest of my life. It’s time to show who Jaemes really is, whoever that may be.

When I moved back home to Montana after graduating from college, I vowed to focus on myself and my career. I need to grow and make a promise to myself to continue evolving beyond my shyness and become the strong person I want to be. No more getting pushed around like my heart isn’t fragile enough. I figured this wouldn’t be an issue. However, the plan that you lay out for yourself is most likely proven to fail if it’s not the path you are meant to be on. Crazy enough, I found that out for myself first-hand when I returned home. Whether I liked it or not, my story continued in a direction I hadn’t seen coming.

PART ONE

ALDER DAUGHTLER

Chapter One

I have a million and one things to focus on. My mind is repeatedly shifting through the list of what I still need to do and all the what-ifs now that I’m back home. I’m an adult who just finished college and is about to start her life all on her own. However, I’m reminded differently when my best friend, Ember, sweeps me away with a giant hug inside the airport and removes me from my stressful train of thought.

“Hey, Jaemes!” she squeals. “I fricken missed you so much.”

“You’re crazy. I just saw you a few weeks ago,” I laugh as she lets me go.

Ember helped me with packing most of my belongings in Vegas. We maintained our strong friendship throughout our college years, despite the long distance. She stayed in Montana and was accepted into a nursing program. We visited each other numerous times and made sure we met during holiday breaks. Like many close friendships, we always continued right where we left off.

“Yeah, well, so? Can’t I still miss my best friend?”

“I missed you, too, you freak of the week,” I tell her and return the hug.

Ember hooks arms with me, and we head outside with my neon yellow hardshell suitcase following behind us. As we near her vehicle, I see her boyfriend, Bennett Tanner, and her younger brother, Eric Ellis, waiting for us.

Ember and her brother, Eric, could pass as twins with their perfect porcelain skin and deep red, curly hair. Ember’s lengthy hair reaches just past the middle of her back. I have always been envious of her natural beauty. Many people are surprised that she doesn’t wear colored contact lenses, given that her eyes are different colors. Her right eye is green, and her left eye is blue.

“As you can see, I needed company. Plus, I thought maybe you would like to see these guys too,” she says close to my ear as if she wanted to keep that a secret.

“Of course I do. I’ve missed everything about home,” I tell her, taking in a breath of fresh Montana air.

“Welcome home,” Bennett says as soon as we reach the vehicle.

“Thank you. I’m glad to be back,” I reply.

“Can we please stop to get something to eat?” Eric asks without looking up from his phone. Ember takes my luggage and gives it to Bennett to place in the trunk.

“No. I’m sure Jaemes wants to get home,” Ember assumes.

She assumes correctly.

Eric scoffs and opens the car door to get in. “Are your parents even home?” he asks me.

“I spoke with my mom before my flight departed. They won’t be home for a few days. With me being out of the house for the last few years, they’ve been working a lot more, so no surprise there.”

“You’re coming to my house with us then,” Ember says. “We have a lot to catch up on.”

My hometown is approximately forty minutes away from the airport. The whole drive home, I admire the mountains surrounding us, the cows and horses spread out in the fields, and all the natural beauty Montana has to offer. It’s nothing like the artificial beauty from the loud city and bright lights of Las Vegas.

The afternoon sun is warm, but nothing like the desert heat I was accustomed to. I’m craving this fresher air and can’t wait to sit outside and relax in it. We turn onto a gravel road, indicating we are almost at the Ellis household. This road evokes a range of memories and a sense of joy. I see the left turn up ahead, and I can’t help but notice the log house on the right. The Ellis’ have always lived down the road from this log house, which has never looked this elegant and well cared for.

“Whoa, someone actually cleaned this place up?” I ask.

“My buddy from work bought it a few years back and fixed it up,” Bennett mentions.

“Whoever it is did a phenomenal job. It looks amazing,” I say, trying to quickly glance at the log house and the property around it as we drive by.

“Alder Daughtler,” Bennett says, clarifying his name.

“You should have seen the amount of work and hours they put into that house,” Ember adds. “If they weren’t working, they were working on that house.”

Bennett looks back at me from the passenger seat. “We got it finished up about a month ago.” He turns to Ember. “He’s probably getting things ready for his housewarming bonfire tonight.”

Bennett works as a construction electrician. He explains that he and Alder want to start their own business soon. They have been good friends for years and have always worked well together. Ember expresses her interest in going to Alder’s bonfire, and Bennett states that he told Alder they’d attend but had to pick up a friend from the airport first. I’m hoping they don’t expect me to join. All I want to do after a long day of traveling is relax with my best friend and catch up on whatever needs catching up on. We are due for some much-needed one-on-one time. The last thing I want to do is be dragged along for a night out.

Ember pulls into their driveway and parks the car.

“Alright, Bennett, I think it’s time for that basketball rematch,” Eric says.

“You’re just asking for more embarrassment, dude,” Bennett replies as he goes into the garage to grab a ball.

The boys start their one-on-one basketball game in the driveway, and Ember and I walk down the road. The sun is about to set, but thankfully, it’s still giving off some warmth.

“How’s everything going with your nursing career? I know you were looking for the right position, but are there any updates?” I ask her.

“Actually, I recently accepted a travel nurse position. I’ll get to meet new people and see some pretty neat places,” she tells me. “Although I’ve just started, I know it’s going to be the job for me. My coworkers seem awesome, which makes it even better.”

“Will that affect your relationship with Bennett? I’m sure it can’t be easy.”

“We’ll make it work. It will be like having a typical relationship and a long-distance relationship at the same time,” she laughs.

“I guess distance makes the heart grow fonder.”

“Are you happy to finally be back home?” she asks, then engulfs me in a bear hug, causing me to nearly tip over onto the gravel road.

“You know, I love you and the love you have for me, but one of these days, you’re actually going to hurt me.”

“Don’t be a baby. Just take it,” she chuckles. “Oh! Please tell me you’re going to the town’s party next weekend.”

I roll my eyes at her before responding. “Ember, the last thing that’s on my mind right now is going to the town’s party, let alone a housewarming party at this house,” I say while gesturing with my hand to the log house we are nearing. “Why is there a town party anyway? I’ve never known this town to do anything like that.”

“The mayor is hosting a party to celebrate the town’s one hundredth anniversary. It should be fun…if you go too!”

“We’ll see.”

Our walking route has taken us to the front of the log house, and I’m now able to take a better look at it. Before we turn around to go back, I examine everything in front of me. The barn features brand-new siding, the lawn has been freshly mowed, the logs on the house have been refinished, and there is a fire pit with concrete edging for outdoor seating.

I see a man on the porch working on the wood paneling. Three large dogs are roaming around the yard. They look like Labrador Retrievers—one white, one chocolate, and one black. After the dogs start barking our way, he looks up and sees us and waves us down, which makes Ember nudge my arm with her elbow before walking toward the property entrance. He walks down the porch steps and meets us halfway down the driveway. He’s tall and fit, wearing ripped blue jeans that are dirt-stained and a gray Coors Light t-shirt. His white ballcap is on backward, and he’s wearing black sunglasses. As I look at him a little closer, I notice he has some facial hair. It’s longer than a five o’clock shadow but shorter than what I would consider a full-on beard.

“You’re still not done with this place?” Ember asks him.

He shakes his head and then removes his sunglasses from his face. “I can’t seem to catch a break.”

I can tell he’s trying to figure out who I am when he finally looks at me. His eyes are hazel, and they sparkle in the setting sunlight. Ember takes this opportunity to introduce us. “Alder, this is my best friend in the whole world, Jaemes.” She turns to Alder. “Jaemes, this is Alder.”

He holds his hand out to shake mine, but doesn’t say anything. However, I don’t say anything either. I’ve been known to be socially awkward, and I don’t want to chance saying anything stupid. His hands are calloused and dirty, but he holds a tight grip during our handshake. He seems to be the type of man who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty with a project. Someone who would take matters into his own hands if it came down to it. Someone who doesn’t take shit from anyone. A man who is entirely different from the egotistical, preppy, party boys I was into in college. But these are only assumptions, like judging a book by its cover.

An extremely handsome, manly book cover.

“Hi, it’s… really lovely to meet you,” I blurt out loud. My face instantly feels numb. Really lovely to meet you? Could I sound any more eager? Although I’m trying to be a more talkative and outgoing person, I still come across as awkward and embarrassing. I have a lot of work to do if I want to change who Jaemes is. It’s a constant battle within myself—getting rid of the old that’s been alive for over twenty years and building a new self with a different personality that you're proud to show everyone, in and out of your life. Starting a new life in your hometown isn’t easy. I want people who know me not to recognize me, and for new acquaintances to know exactly who this new version of me is. So far, I’m not doing a great job.

I look at Ember, waiting for her to say something since I seem to be having a hard time.

“So, are you good to go for tonight?” she finally asks.

“Just about. Once I’m done with this bullshit,” he says, gesturing towards the area of the porch he is working on. “You guys are more than welcome to come. I told Bennett about it a few days ago.”

“We just might. I think Jaemes needs a fun night out,” she says, tilting her head my way with a smirk on her face. Again, I roll my eyes at her and shake my head. She knows I would much rather sit at home and sleep in what was once my bed.

“Cool, see you later then,” Alder says before looking at me one last time and then returning to his porch, while we slowly make our way back down the road to Ember’s house.

“You are so awkward,” Ember laughs.

“I’m totally no way, not going,” I tell her, then glance back at Alder, making his way back to the house.

My comment causes her to stop in her tracks. “And why not?”

“Ember, I know when I’m not wanted. Did you see the way he looked at me?”

She scoffs and continues walking again. “No, you’re being ridiculous.”

“I’m not stupid. He didn’t say one word to me. That wasn’t a good first impression. There’s no way I’m going back to that house.”

“You’ll be fine. Give him a break. He’s probably tired from constantly working on house repairs. You always get this way when you meet new people. Have a few drinks, loosen up a little, and have fun. Try to overcome your awkwardness.”

She’s right. I don’t do well with large gatherings, especially with people I’m not familiar with. It’s not enjoyable being the shy one. I was content and comfortable in high school because I could spend many years with the same people. It was the same experience during my college years. Now that I am back home, I feel out of my comfort zone as I comprehend starting all over again. But is there a better way to start a new life than going to a stranger’s housewarming party on your first night home?

I guess there’s only one way to find out.

Chapter Two

Here we are on walk number two towards the log house. This time, Bennett accompanies us. Ember and Eric spent the last half hour arguing about whether or not he could also attend Alder’s bonfire. As much as we all love Eric and his unique sense of humor, these people seem more mature and might not want to spend their evening with an eighteen-year-old.

By the time we arrive, it’s completely dark outside, and many people are already gathered near the fire pit. The log house glows from the lights shining through all the windows from inside. As we approach the patio doors, the music can be heard before we open them. Once we step inside, I look at the downstairs level. I have always wondered what the inside of this house looked like. A bar is located immediately to the right of the patio doors, with people surrounding it. Straight ahead of the patio doors is a nice living room with a sectional couch and a TV mounted on the wall. The layout is open and spacious, with a few bedrooms, a bathroom, and a laundry room. Surrounding the walls are assortments of animals that are also mounted, lending the log house a more outdoorsy atmosphere.

Ember engages with someone she seems to know and takes off, leaving me alone. Once again, I feel awkward and find myself looking for someone to talk to without feeling the need to hide behind Ember the entire time.

“You want a drink?” one of the guys behind the bar asks me.

“I could go for a Jack Daniel's and Coke if you don’t mind. And make it a double,” I immediately respond.

“Ah, a whiskey girl. My kind of lady.”

Of course, I am.

It’s about what every other guy says when I mention that I have the balls to drink whiskey. I have Rian to thank for that. Every day, no matter what kind of day he has, he will make a Jack and Coke to end his day. If it weren’t for him introducing me to the savory taste of whiskey, I’d probably be a damn vodka drinker like most girls.

The guy hands me a tall glass, and I thank him for the drink. After he winks at me, I turn around and see Ember talking with a small group of people near the couch. As I attempt to get to know new people, I find that the guy who made my drink is already conversing with a group of people who just arrived. I walk over and join Ember to see if this will be any easier with her around.

“Hey, thanks so much for leaving me,” I say to her sarcastically.

“Oh, good, you have a drink!” she says ecstatically. “I went to search the house for some beer, but apparently, everything is down here.” She heads toward the bar and helps herself. Many people who were at the bar earlier are now sitting outside by the fire.

As we walk across the lawn and onto the cement slab surrounding the fire pit, we notice that all of the white wooden chairs are taken. Since we didn’t bring any chairs of our own, we remain standing with the rest of the group.

I try to incorporate myself into Ember's conversations. I chime in when I can; otherwise, I listen, nod, and drink. Music is playing on a portable speaker in the background. With the combination of the music and all the chatter from everyone here, it’s somewhat difficult to make out what people are saying at times.

“Hey, whiskey girl.” When I turn around, I see the guy who made my drink standing behind me. “Looks like it’s almost time for another one.” I’m not ashamed of how fast I drank my cocktail. He’s the only one who would know my pace anyway, since he was the one who made it.

“Well, I will say you made it pretty damn good,” I tell him.

As I finish off my drink, he grins and holds out his hand, indicating that he will refill it. I smile back and give him my glass. The liquid courage will kick in at some point.

My eyes scan around the fire pit, and when I get to the other side, I surprisingly catch Alder’s eyes on me. He no longer has a hat on, so now I can see his hair. It’s short and chestnut brown. A shorter cut on the sides and it’s slightly longer on top, which shows a subtle shaggy style.

A blonde girl is sitting on his lap, giggling at a different conversation. He doesn’t seem phased by me catching him staring. He slowly looks away and turns his attention back to her conversation. I almost feel relieved to be noticed by him. Maybe I didn’t completely blow it with my first impression. I keep my eyes steady on him just for fun, and then he makes eye contact with me again. This time, he gestures for me to accompany him with a two-finger beckoning sign.

I take a slow, deep breath through my nose and then start to filter through everyone and their diverse conversations. When I reach him, he appears more intimidating than before.

“What’s up?” I ask him, trying to conceal my nerves.

He turns his head to me and slowly looks me up and down. My eyebrows narrow with confusion as I impatiently wait for his answer.

“He’s only trying to get in your pants,” he finally responds.

“Excuse me?” I say back.

“Tate. He has his sights set on you; I can tell. I’d be careful.”

“Who is Tate?” I wait for him to answer, but instead, he gulps his beer and then shakes the can to see how much is left. “Okay, well, thanks for the heads up, but I think I can handle whoever Tate is.”

“Like I said, just be careful. He gravitates towards people who are new to town.”

“I’m not new. I just moved—” I become distracted when I suddenly feel a hand on my back. The guy who has been making my drinks is now standing beside me again.

“So, what are we talking about?” he asks us eagerly as he hands me my drink. By this time, the blonde girl sitting on Alder’s lap ends her separate conversation.

“Oh my God, I have to pee,” she says, finally noticing we are standing here. Her face turns from friendly to sour when she sees me. With her eyes still locked on me, she gives Alder a playful peck on the cheek before grabbing another girl and going inside.

“Wanna go for a walk? See the property?” Alder asks me, standing up from his chair now that his lap is finally free.

“Nah, bro, she’s good,” Whiskey Maker says and then puts his arm around me, pulling me closer to him as if I’m his.

Ah, this must be Tate.

I shrug my shoulders and smile. After Tate walks me back to the other side of the fire pit, I throw his arm off of me. He confirms my assumption as he introduces himself as Tate.

“Good to know,” I tell him frankly. “I’m Jaemes.”

“I wanted to make sure you knew my name before you started calling me whiskey guy or something,” he confesses.

I laugh at that. “Awe, you’re my little whiskey boy,” I say while pinching his cheek.

Oh boy. Either the liquor is kicking in, or I’m doing a fabulous job of my new version of flirting.

He flirtatiously nudges me with his elbow in response. I feel his fingers lightly graze my hand in an attempt to hold it, but he immediately lets go when Alder grabs hold of his arm and snatches him away from me.

What the hell?

Alder takes him back to the other side of the cement slab.

“What’s up with that?” I ask Ember, showing her the intense conversation that’s being had between the two guys.

“They have always butted heads. He must have done something to piss Alder off because he doesn’t take any shit, especially from Tate. You’ll understand once you get to know him better.”

“Who, Alder or Tate?”

“Both.”

Tate shakes his head and throws his hands up defensively before walking away from Alder. He approaches the patio doors and meets the blonde girl, who is coming back from the bathroom. As those two talk, I walk back over to Alder, now knowing who he was referring to.

“How about that walk?” I ask him. He seems a little heated from his conversation with Tate, but I’m hoping a stroll around the property will help him cool off.

“Follow me,” he says, leading the way to the barn.

When he turns on the lights, I notice the horse stables to our right. It looks well taken care of, as if horses could be boarded here. To our left is an entryway to a more open area.

“Do you plan on training horses?” I ask.

He chuckles. “No. I have no idea how to train horses.”

“This is a perfect place to board and train horses, Alder. Why did you fix it up this way?”

He shrugs. “This is how it was. All I did was restore its appearance and reinforce its structure. Who knows, I might sell it one day if the right offer comes along.” He walks over to another entryway, and I take in all of his hard work. After a moment, he whistles to get my attention and smiles when I turn to him. “Come over here.”

“Did you just whistle at me?”

“Sorry, it’s a habit. I have three dogs, remember?” His smile becomes fuller. It’s the first time I’ve seen his face like this. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me feel a little warm inside. His smile enhances all of his features beautifully.

I join him in the last part of the barn. It’s a garage that looks like it was turned into an office space or an extra living quarter. It has a desk and a filing cabinet in the far corner. A large couch is up against the wall to our left. A TV hangs on the opposite wall, and repurposed cabinets surround a small kitchenette. Much cleaner and more amusing than a garage.

“This is nice. Do you ever park anything in here?” I ask him.

“No, not normally. This is more of a guest house. I just park my truck outside. I guess if I had to park something in here, I would, but so far, I haven’t needed to.”

He walks over to the kitchenette and makes himself a cocktail. When he finishes, he takes a large sip and then sits on the couch, patting the seat next to him. “You can sit; I don’t bite.”

“So, what’s up with you and Tate?” I ask, sitting beside him.

“There’s nothing to talk about when it comes to Tate. He’s just…” He takes a drink of his cocktail, and I do the same to silence the awkwardness. “What’s up with you? Are you from here?”

I get the hint that he wants to change the subject and nod. “Kind of. I’ve lived in a few different places, but I’m mostly from here, yes.”

“And what does that mean?” he questions.

I freeze up a little inside, as if I've just realized we're in a building alone, making it hard to have a conversation with him. I take another sip of my cocktail and swirl the ice around the glass. When I don’t answer his question, he asks, “Okay, well… when did you move here initially?”

Come on, Jaemes, stop acting weird and just talk to the guy.

“When I was nine. That’s when I met Ember, and we’ve been best friends ever since.”

“Makes sense,” he responds.

“When did you buy this place? I don’t ever remember seeing you around.”

He thinks for a moment. “Three years ago. Almost four. I moved here from South Dakota shortly after Bennett. We’ve been good friends for most of our lives as well. After trade school, we found jobs at the same place and eventually want to start our own electrical business. What do you do for work?”

“I just graduated from UNLV with a degree in Early Childhood Development and Psychology. My end career goal is to counsel children who experience childhood trauma or families with children who need guidance getting through traumas. But until then, I found a few positions that might help me get my foot in the door. I’m pretty interested in a certain one at an elementary school. I would work with children at school who typically express their feelings through negative and aggressive behaviors and help navigate them back to more appropriate behavior for a school environment.”

I realize I’m unintentionally rambling when he only asked about work.

“Good for you,” he chuckles after my speech. “You’ve got a lot of patience.”

He places his arm on top of the couch. His hand is nearly touching my shoulder. This conversation and alone time must be fueled by alcohol consumption. When we were introduced earlier today, his demeanor was as if he couldn't care less about who I am and where I came from. Now he’s sitting close to me as we remain the only two together, separated from everyone else, in a room that’s located in a different building. How did this happen?

Our drinks become empty, and I tell him that I’m going to make one more and then head out. He follows me out of the barn initially, but then joins everyone at the fire. Ember accompanies me to the bar inside the house. We each grab ourselves one more drink before calling it a night.

Well, that was supposed to be the plan.

Chapter Three

My head is pounding, my throat aches, my eyes burn, and my face is… wet? I get the strength to open my heavy eyes, and...

END OF SNEAK PEEK