“I was hoping you’d join me in going inside the resort. It’s getting cold out here, and well, I think you’ll be much safer here than leaving with your stepfather when he goes.”
Tensing, unsure what to do, I flicked my gaze back to the phone. Where would he take me? “Inside” was too vague. Dr. Stringer smiled at me.
“Just like I told you, Calla. Rawhide Ranch is not what Jack’s been telling you it is. You’re safe there. I trust Eric to make sure you stay safe.”
Eric nodded. “You can even keep my phone with you if you’d like. I’m not sure if Dr. Stringer can stay on the line, but you’ll be able to redial her if you need to. My plan is for us to go up the stairs to the main entrance, then we’ll head through the lobby to a side wing where we have a sensory room set up. It’s actually brand new and you’ll be the first one to use it. We’ll stay in there for as long as you need, until you’re comfortable to leave. Then, if you feel up to it, we’ll get some dinner. We can eat it in the sensory room before we’ll head to the guest room wing and get you settled into a room. Tomorrow morning, after you’ve had a good night’s sleep, we’ll have some breakfast in the room, then head to Derek’s office–he’s the owner—to go over some options you’ll have while you stay with us. After that, I can give you a tour of Rawhide Ranch. But we don’t need to worry about any of tomorrow’s things today. I’m thinking you’ve already had a big day and keeping things easy and simple for you for the rest of the day is the way to go.”
Raising my thumb to my mouth, I chewed the edge, unable to process how this stranger knew what I needed. It couldn’t possibly be real, could it?
He slowly leaned in and unclipped his phone from the headrest before holding it out to me on his palm. He had long fingers with neatly trimmed nails. His skin was clean and soft, none of the grease and dirt that used to always stain Father’s hands from him working as a mechanic.
“You can trust Eric, Calla. He’s not like your father, or your stepfather. He knows what it’s like to be forced to be under someone else’s control and for them to abuse that power. I promise he understands what it’s like to be where you are right now. It’s safe to give him, and Rawhide, a chance. If for no otherreason than the only alternative is to go back with Jack and your mom to Denver.”
That thought had my lungs short circuiting. Snatching the phone, I held it close to look Dr. Stringer in the eye, something I didn’t do often, before firmly shaking my head.
Her expression softened as she sighed. “I didn’t mean to scare you, Calla. But you are an adult, and that comes with having to make some adult decisions. I realize Jack has made it so you don’t have a chance very often to have any say, but I’m thinking with Eric on your side, that won’t continue for long. Make this choice, Calla. Choose to take the hand he’s offering, to let him help you step into the light and start living your life.”
Closing my eyes, I forced myself to take a few deep breaths. Dr. Stringer was right. I needed to make this choice. Doing nothing was still a choice. And it was one that would lead me straight back to living with the monster. Rawhide was an unknown, but it couldn’t be worse than what I’d face going back to Denver. I could imagine how angry Jack would be if his plan to dump me here didn’t work out. I was certain that if Dr. Stringer trusted them to take care of me, they wouldn’t be locking me in an attic with nothing but old comic books and some craft supplies to keep me company like my father had done. They wouldn’t belittle me at every chance, take my phone, my meds, my crochet supplies away as Jack had done.
Straightening my shoulders, I blew out a breath and opened my eyes, focusing on Eric’s hand that still sat palm up in front of me. Quickly returning my gaze to Dr. Stringer, I gave her a nod.
“I’m going to end the call now, Calla. You can do this. And call me again if you need me.”
I nodded again and when the screen went dark, panic tried to take over, but I fought it down.
Feel the fear and do it anyway.
Something else Dr. Stringer had told me once. With my heart racing, I took a leap of faith and reached out with my free hand to press my palm against Eric’s.
“Good girl. I’m so proud of you, Calla. I promise I’ll keep you safe.”
Heat spread through me at his praise, even as my grip on the phone tightened, making sure I didn’t lose the lifeline to Dr. Stringer when he wrapped his warm fingers around my wrist and gently pulled me forward, guiding me from the car.
After being curled up for so long, my legs were tingling and when my foot hit the gravel, my knee buckled and I lost my balance. When Eric released my hand, I closed my eyes, braced for impact of hitting the ground but instead, a gasp tore from my throat when I was swept up by a pair of strong arms.
“Whoa, sweet girl.”
Blinking my eyes open, I stared at Eric’s bearded jaw, shocked to find myself cradled against his hard, warm chest, with one of his strong arms around my back, while the other was under my knees. His touch caused no discomfort. I didn’t want to push him away. A wave of dizziness swirled in my mind and, on instinct, I reached out to grip a fistful of his shirt in order to ground myself, breathing in his scent. His cologne was delicious, a mix of citrus and other things, with a hint of pepper. I wondered if he’d tell me what it was called, and if I could get a bottle.
“You’re safe, Calla. I’ve got you, and I won’t drop you. Let’s get you inside where it’s warm.”
He strode across the gravel and up some stairs but I kept my gaze on his face, marveling at this man who had shown up like some sort of knight in shining armor. An unfamiliar warmth strong like a warrior of old, he had no trouble holding my weight aloft. Confidence radiated from him as, with his head held high, he took me out of the cool afternoon air and into the warmth ofthe building, but I still couldn’t force my gaze away from him. For the first time in my life, I was completely captivated by someone. I took in every detail I could, from his well-groomed short beard that was the same dark color as his hair, his dark pink lips, to his straight nose. And since he wasn’t looking at me, I could stare at his eyes with their warm dark brown irises, dark lashes and small laugh lines at the outer corners.
Chewing my lip, I wondered if he was to look down and catch my gaze, if I’ddrown under the intensitylike I’d read in the romance books I’d discovered in the library at Pieces to Peace. I’d never understood the fascination everyone seemed to have with holding someone’s gaze before now. I’d always found it hard to do. But with Eric, maybe it would be different.
Sensing we’d moved from the open lobby area, I finally managed to shift my focus from Eric. Frowning, I took in the hallway we were moving down. It was lined with lockers and closed classroom doors. Was the Ranch a school of some sort? When he stopped in front of a closed door, I tightened my grip on his shirt. He wouldn’t take me into a classroom full of people would he? Put me on display to show others what autism looked like? Would they be allowed to touch and examine me to learn whatever it was they wanted to?
“Hey, Calla, you’re okay. You’re safe. Behind this door is the sensory room I told you about. No one is in there. It’ll be just me and you for as long as you need.”
Shifting his hold on my legs, he freed his hand to reach for the knob, opening the way before striding in and knocking the door closed with his foot. Eyes wide, I looked around as he continued further into the room. The overhead lights were on low, their purple glow gently lighting the space. Two large tubes that had bubbles floating up their length and radiated a soft blue light caught my attention just before Eric stopped in front of the biggest armchair I’d ever seen. Only once he leaned forwardand set me down on the seat, did I release my death grip on his shirt. And missed his warmth instantly. Feeling ungrounded and panicky, I pulled my legs up, my knees against my chest like I’d done in the car. Rocking, I tried to make sense of why Eric was affecting me like he was. I’d only just met him! Yet I was feeling like I had at losing Kimori. Even while being in this amazing room that was everything I could have dreamed of for an escape room. I should have been able to relax and find my calm easily here.
Using a single finger, he stroked across my cheek, tucking hair behind my ear as he spoke, “Make yourself comfortable, sweet girl. I’m just going to grab a weighted blanket for you.”
Again, his touch didn’t hurt, didn’t make me want to recoil and hide away. Instead, sparks sizzled across my skin. He must have some sort of magic in him. I didn’t move as he strode over to a wall of cupboards and opened one. Every shelf within was full but I couldn’t make out what with in the dim light. He took out a thick, fluffy purple blanket before he closed things up and returned to me. How did he know I liked purple?
“Have you had a weighted blanket before?”
After giving him a nod, he settled it over me, tucking it on either side so I was cocooned within its warmth. Dr. Stringer had them at Pieces to Peace and I’d found them so helpful. Just one more thing that Jack hadn’t allowed me to have. That reminded me of the phone I was still holding. Shifting and wriggling until I could free my hand, I held the phone out toward Eric.
