She shot Emily an apologetic glance.
Her sister-in-law smiled. "It's okay. Take your time."
Tears blurred Riley's vision and nausea filled her stomach as she replayed in her mind the things Collin had done to her. The way he'd touched her. The crude things he'd said.
Emily's warm hand settled around her clasped ones.
Riley blinked the tears from her eyes and looked up to see Emily's sympathetic gaze on her face.
"How long ago did it happen?"
The gentle and compassionate tone of Emily's voice opened a floodgate Riley couldn't close. Not until she'd purged every obscene and repulsive thing inside.
CHAPTER 10
Jake and Lottie were the only ones in the kitchen when Riley pushed open the kitchen door a few days later. "Good morning."
Jake’s brows shot up. "Aren't you chipper this morning?" He made a show of checking his non-existent watch. "And it's only a quarter after six."
"Just eager to start the workday." She poured herself a glass of orange juice.
"You're eager to dig post holes and wrestle barbed wire?" His gaze narrowed on her face, scrutinizing her. "Are you sure you're not excited about not having to clean the stables?"
She tipped her glass toward him and grinned. "That too."
Fixing fences was not her favorite job, but it meant she got to spend the day in the saddle. She and Daniel would ride more than twenty miles of the prettiest scenery on the ranch, stopping occasionally to repair patches of fence. It was a small price to pay to get to ride all day.
"I hope you and Daniel can cover the whole northern fence line today, but there's a good chance a storm front will movein this afternoon. If that happens, hightail it home. Or get to the north cabin and wait out the storm there."
"We'll do our best."
If they finished the northern fence line today, they wouldn't get back until dark. That was assuming they only had to make minor repairs. Bigger repairs would require more time.
Jake darted a glance at Lottie's back then stepped closer and lowered his voice. "How are you and Daniel getting along?"
Riley's stomach hardened as she recalled overhearing Jake call her difficult and fragile last week. But then she remembered the way she broke down in front of Emily later that afternoon and realized just how fragile she was.
"Good." She downed the rest of her juice "We're fine." She turned away from him to take her glass to the sink, signifying that she was done with that topic.
Not that it was any of Jake's business, but at least she'd finally stopped jumping and getting defensive every time Daniel got close. They'd been able to work well together lately. It wasn't the same as it used to be, though.
She hated the invisible barriers between them, but she wasn't sure what to do about it, not while she still struggled to put Collin's assault behind her. Talking to Emily had helped to a degree, but healing was going to take time, and Riley was not a patient person.
"Let me know if you need anything, okay?" Jake said from beside her.
His concern made Riley wonder if Emily had told him the things she'd shared with her.
No, she wouldn’t do that.
He'd stepped out on the back deck looking for Emily the other day and caught sight of Riley in full-blown meltdown. He'd apologized and disappeared quickly, but all he had to do was add that scene to the times she'd stormed away from the dinner table, and it was obvious there was something wrong with her.
"Thanks." She gave him a curt smile. “I appreciate that."
He leaned closer and lowered his voice even more. "And if you andDaniel decide you want to...get back together, know that you have my blessing."
Riley's mouth dropped open. "What? We...we're not..."
"I know." Grinning, Jake backed away from her, his hands up in surrender. "I'm just saying...it wouldn't be a bad thing." He winked before heading toward the back door. Before it closed, he called, "Think about it, Ri."
