I can feel my legs buckle as the righteous monster, who just saved my life, strides toward me and scoops me up. My crutches smack the hardwood and within seconds I’m lying on the sofa, staring into the whisky brown eyes of my rescuer.
“I’m so sorry, blondie. So damn sorry. I shouldn’t have left, I should’ve waited and just had someone get those fuckin’ eggs tonight. Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“No.” I move my head side to side, and feel a tear leak from each eye, then run down to my ears. “He didn’t touch me… but he was going to.” My jaw tightens and I grit my teeth to avoid becoming a sobbing mess.
“Dixie… has anyone hurt you before? I promise anything you tell me, will stay with me.”
I’ve never told a damn soul—except my horse. I swallow the lump in my throat and whisper, “Yes.”
“You never need to feel afraid when you’re with me.Do you understand?” I feel the backs of his fingers softly brush my cheek, and I believe him. “You need some water, some more pain meds, and that ankle needs to be elevated.” We hear Grady's tires whipping through the gravel, past the house and quickly fading into the distance. “Good fuckin’ riddance.” He growls, then strides to the kitchen to get all the things he says I need.
I can hear him on the phone talking to Brian. He’s telling him what happened and making sure he knows Grady isn’t permitted on the property, for any reason. What did I even do to Grady? I didn’t show up here and start being the asshole—that was him. I took his spot on the drive, but that wasn’t my fault. And I didn’t mean to slip off a cliff, but that’s what happened. Maybe there isn’t a reason at all. There wasn’t a reason backtheneither. You can’t fake your way out of being a girl when that’s exactly what you are. My life has taught me that girls get hurt, that girls aren’t safe, that men hunt us like animals.
Until Chris.
Chapter Twenty
It’s been a week. I’ve been sleeping inhisbed for a week. Every night he tucks me in, and every night he tells me to call for him if I need anything. I never do it because it feels weak, but I won’t say I haven’t wanted to. The doctor came by today and said I can probably kick the crutches and just use the walking boot in another week. He said I’ll still have to wear the boot for at least two more after that. I can’t drive as long as I’m wearing it though. It would be my luck to bust my driving foot.
The boss’s girls are fun though. They keep me company, and I get to help with their chores and watch Evolette practice her barrels too. I go out to the barn and brush Blaze every day. She’s almost perfect. There was a vet that came by and said she probably had some bruised ribs, but she’s gonna heal up just fine. I can’t ride her yet—not that I could even if I wanted to. But Justin walks her for me.
I’m back to not going anywhere without my gun. After that run in with Grady, I had a realitycheck. I haven’t let that thing off my hip for fifteen years andthatright there is the reason.
“Blondie…” He says, striding toward me as I swing my crutches to exit the barn. “Wanna come with me?”
“Sure, boss!” I say with a smile. “Where are we going?”
“I’m hungry. Let’s get lunch.” He tosses his head toward his truck.
“Where’s Addie and Evie? They comin’? I haven’t seen them for a few hours.”
“No, they weaseled Justin into taking them home to see Blythe and the baby for the afternoon.” He opens the passenger side door of his big truck. “Let’s go.”
I swing my crutches forward, but as soon as I do, he’s right next to me. He takes the crutches together in one hand, bends his knees and throws me over his ridiculously buff shoulder.What the hell?
“Hey, I need those!” My tone is serious but if I’m being honest, it’s the closest thing to flirt I’ve got in me. He chuckles and suddenly we’re moving—I’m completely at his mercy.
“We’re going for a ride, and these damn things slow us down.” He tosses the walking devices into the bed of his truck. “I’m more than happy to pack you around if it means we get food quicker. I’ve hauled men out of combat zones for years, carrying you is nothing.”
Placing me in the passenger seat, he winks, then closes the door. He makes me laugh; he makes me forget. He makes me feel safe.
Chapter Twenty-One
Ever since I caught that son of a bitch in my living room, stalking toward her, about to put his hands on her…I’ve been on edge. I don’t know who I can trust anymore? Grady was a newer hire, but he’d been around long enough that I considered him one of the good guys. He was arrogant, and I knew that, but I’d never seen him around a woman until Dixie showed up. How long did he think I’d be at the bunkhouse? What he did was reckless, but I guess he was on a mission and saw his chance. I can’t leave her alone anymore. Sometimes it takes everything I have to stay pinned to the couch instead of sliding intobed with her—for security reasons of course.
Bullshit.
But it helps when I tell myself that’s what it is. My feelings for her are tangled, at best, and I don’t know what to do with them. So I tuck her in every night, and find excuses to touch her as often as I can. Usually blaming the crutches as an inconvenience. There’s a localdive bar in town and I’ve been craving the fish and chips there—so that’s where we’re going.
“So, uh, where’s lunch?” She pipes up after a few minutes of silence.
“It’s calledThe Broken Spur.Has the best steak, burgers, fish and chips—and the best beer on tap you’ll find in the entire state.” The corner of my mouth tilts up in a subtle grin.
“I could go for a burger.” She bites her lip, and a smile creeps through.
As we pull into the parking lot, I see quite a few vehicles. I guess it is a Friday, but still kind of unusual. I put the truck in park and tell Dixie to wait, while I round the hood to open her door. When I do she looks at me like I’m crazy. “I don’t have my crutches.”
I turn around and bend my knees. “Get on, blondie. You’re going for another ride.”
