"Wow, you just thought of everything," I sigh.
"That's my job, Elsie. Now get in the car." He commands as he walks to the back of the SUV, putting our suitcases away.
I drag my feet, trying to go as slow as possible but eventually get in the car. Matt doesn't call me out this time, but I can see in his face that he's losing his patience when I buckle my seatbelt.
Once the driver starts going, Matt returns to his phone, typing away. I look out the window and take in the sights. At least if I have to be here, I get to look at something beautiful. The lasttime I saw something like this was when I was ten and my mom sent me away to horseback riding camp for the summer.
I should ask where we are going, but I already tried that when we were on the plane and got nowhere. He kept tight lipped the whole time, only repeating what he told me in the hospital. His deep timbered voice still in my ear with a hint of annoyance. "Rose Valley, Elsie. Don't ask again."
It took everything in me not to act like a brat and tell him to make me. I thought better of it. Because I don't like how being around him reduces me to a bratty teenager. I don't react like this at all with anyone else. In fact, I'm known for following the rules. It's something my teammates make fun of, I pride myself on the control I can keep. But the moment Matt opens his mouth, commanding me, a knot in the bottom of my stomach starts to unfurl and I end up lashing out.
Suddenly the car turns on a dirt road, and it has me sitting up. My head swings from left to right, checking out my surroundings even more. When the trees open up, I let out a small gasp when it comes into view. A huge log cabin sits at the end of the road, as the trees surround it. Somewhat like they're guarding the cabin itself.
I've never been so hypnotized by a house before. The cabin has a huge porch wrapped around it with rocking chairs on it. A picture of me sitting in one of the chairs early in the morning with a coffee in hand. Taking all of nature in, to help energize me for the day.
The car barely stops before I'm jumping out to check out the beautiful cabin. Somewhere behind me I can hear Matt yell something behind me, but I couldn't care. Looking at the cabin in awe, all I can think is I can't believe this is where I'm staying. It's amazing. I guess if I have to be locked up for who knows how long this is the best place to do it.
Standing in front, I just take a deep breath, soaking it all in. The last time I was this surrounded by nature was when I was a small girl and my mother needed to get rid of me and she sent me away to camp.
I can feel his presence as he walks up behind me, and it’s confirmed when he asks, "Do you like it?"
"It's beautiful." I whisper.
"I'm glad you like it. But the next time you jump out of the car without my protection, I'm going to have your ass." His words have me looking at him over my shoulder, I narrow my eyes at him.
Before I open my mouth to respond, he beats me to it, "Let's go inside." Pressing his hand to my lower back, silently pushing me forward.
We reach the front door and that's when I notice that the driver is gone, and our bags are already sitting near the porch. Fuck, how long was I transfixed by this cabin?
Matt puts some code into the door and it opens. I walk in and the house is just as beautiful inside as outside, with an elegant rustic feel.
"Why don't you look around and I'll put our bags upstairs."
"Okay." I say, moving more into the cabin. The living room sits with a large brown leather couch in front of a huge fireplace with a television over the mantle.
If I could choose any home, this would be it. I think this is my dream house.
Slowly I walk into the kitchen, and it's the best one I've even seen. I mean this has to be a chef's kitchen. It's definitely bigger than the one I have in my condo. If I knew how to cook, this would be a great place to do it in.
Because I feel like being nosy, I open the cabinets to see plain white dishes. When I move toward the fridge, I'm flabbergastedto see it full. Full of food, most of them being some of my favorites too.
How did he get these so fast?
We just left a few hours ago?
"We're all set. You're in the room at the top of the stairs and mine is next to it." He says, entering the room.
I look up at him from the fridge. "How did you get food here so fast?"
"I had someone stock up the house before we got here." He replies. "But I just decided to come this morning." I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest.
"I knew you would listen and come to the safe house." He says, crossing his own arms across his chest.
"You mean you would've demanded it. If you needed to. It wasn't enough to manipulate me with my father, but you would've just carried me here. It doesn't matter what I have to say." I begin yelling.
Matt takes a step toward me, pushing me against the fridge. He places a hand next to my head, closing me in, when he whispers, "I would do anything to keep you safe. Even if that means going against what you want."
A shiver runs down my spine. But I can't let him get to me right now. Tilting my head, I look deep into his eyes, "You don't always know what is right. Especially for me."
