“For about a year. It was during her whole final season. She would get voicemails and cryptic messages on her phone. She had a saddle destroyed. Her old trailer was broken into. It wasawful.” He shakes his head. “She made me promise not to tell anyone. But after her accident, I told her I wouldn’t hide it anymore. The Vegas police came and asked me questions. I told them what she told me and what I saw. They never figured out who was behind it. They were focused on me for so long after her ex told them I wanted to be in a relationship with her. I think it’s him, or he’s part of it.”
“Do you still have the voicemails?” Butcher looks at me, and I shake my head.
“I couldn’t keep them. They were awful.” I shiver as I remember the fear from that time. It’s a wonder I was so high in the points in the competition with everything going on.
“Such as?” Butcher asks, but I don’t want to tell him.
“I remember one of them,” Ty says. “It was a robotic voice. They threatened to gang rape her if she didn’t back out.”
“Fuck.” Butcher walks away briefly. “I’m staying,” he says when he returns. “I don’t care what you say. You need protection. This person has escalated.”
“What’s happened now?” Ty looks at me.
I fill him on the letters, new threats, and my counselor’s murder.
“You can stay here.” Ty moves toward the big house he shares with his brother and father.
I don’t want to stay with people. I still need to be alone to process everything that happened with Callum.
“Can I stay out in the old cabin?”
Ty looks at me, then at Butcher. “There’s a duplex cabin out there. You can Each pick one. You’ll be close enough to hear her.”
“Okay.” Butcher heads to his bike while I get back in my truck.
My trailer has already been detached. I drive down the road, away from the house, with Butcher following me.
Ty’s grandfather built the remote cabin. His ranch foreman used to live on site in the other half of the duplex. This was a large cattle ranch before Ty’s brother turned it into a rehab farm. They still have stock, but not as much. It’s primarily for their own use now, with only a small amount going to market.
I park and get out. Butcher stops next to me. I grab my bag from the back seat before walking to the porch.
“I like this side.” I point to the one on the left.
Opening the door, I enter and lock myself in.
I’m exhausted and just want a shower before heading to bed. The walls aren’t thick, so when I do cry, it’ll have to be under the spray of the water. I knew Callum would destroy me if he ever didn’t want me the way I want him. I can’t believe our time together was so short. I don’t hate him for choosing Ria over me, but I wish he had talked to me before he told Striker.
Before climbing into bed, I pull out the burner phone I purchased on the way here. I send Lia a message, letting her know I’m safe.
I fall asleep to dreams of Callum, my body aching for his touch.
It’s beenfour weeks since I arrived. Every day I grow closer to Raine. Today I’m feeling off. I haven’t been able to eat, and I’m dizzy. Today is going to be my first time on her back.
Ty has worked with me and her. I’ve gone from sitting on the fence and her coming to lay her head in my lap, to me sitting in her pen while she walks around me, then finally her leaning over and putting her head near mine. That last step took me a while to get used to. We worked on it all last week. I was so scared of her, and she would get nervous, feeding off my energy. I just want mybest friend back. Raine and I trusted each other until that day. Not only do I fear her, but she fears me too. We both were badly hurt.
“I have an idea. How about you ride the Gator or the dirt bike, and I’ll take Raine? Just in case either of you panic,” Ty says from the edge of the round pen.
“Okay.” I climb to my feet.
I lean into Raine and wrap my arms around her neck. She hugs me back, lowering her head and wrapping one of her legs around mine like she used to do. Taking her lead, I walk to the side and hand her off to Ty before climbing over the fence. My head swims slightly, and I wobble.
“Are you okay?” Ty asks me when I jump down.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
I walk away from him. I don’t want him to worry. I’m pretty it’s because I’ve been struggling to sleep at night.
Butcher headed to town today. When he does this, I worry he’s going to tell Callum where I am. So far, Lia and Striker have kept my secret.
