Scooting to the edge of the bed, Caroline entered the bathroom to get dressed. Turning on the faucet, she pulled her hair to the top of her head and put it in a messy bun. She took off her clothes and stepped into the hot spray, letting it ease the tension in her shoulders.
The last month passed rapidly while she recovered. The nightmares still occurred, and Caroline stopped bothering with the nightlight, leaving the bathroom light on to flood her bedroom while she slept. If she woke in the middle of the night, she no longer feared the shadows.
Her constant protector no longer slept in her bedroom and rarely showed up during her waking hours. She only knew Jameson visited when she smelled his spicy, leather scent in her room.Why did he keep avoiding her?
Her hand reached for the honeysuckle body wash, recalling the tenderness he showed her when he washed the muddy gunk from her hair. How did he go from treating her gently to not even caring to say good morning? Nothing made sense as she washed her body.
Her mind drifted to the sweet kiss he gave her. Warmth spread to her belly, surprising her. Sex seemed like an ugly act after what she endured with Cain, yet when she dreamed of Jameson, it felt…different. Her body loved the feel of his arms around her. She felt safe when she found him nearby.
Caroline didn’t delude herself worthy of capturing Jameson’s affections, not after what she went through. He must’ve felt anobligation to find her because of Rebecca. Then she acted like a clingy, scared rabbit, making him feel sorry for her.
Squirting the soap onto a washcloth, she scrubbed her body a second time, wanting to feel clean again, as if shedding all her old skin and getting a new one. Maybe he’d take an interest in her again. Everything seemed fine until he took her horseback riding, ensuring she saw all the security measures in place. When they visited his new home, she felt like she belonged there. She must’ve seemed delusional as she told Jameson how to decorate the charming farmhouse.
Rinsing off, she shut down the water and dried herself. She picked up a pink pair of leggings and a workout top from the clothes someone placed on her chair. Her stringy hair lay limp and untrimmed, and she twisted it into a bun at the nape of her neck.
With nothing left to do, Caroline packed her clothes, stripped the bed, and remade it with fresh sheets and blankets for whoever took her place. She sat in the chair by the window, watching the cowboys ride their horses to and from different areas on the ranch.
At one, Rebecca smiled as she entered. Seeing Caroline ready to leave, she grabbed the bags and led her to her truck.
“How do you feel about moving?” Rebecca asked her as she drove toward the subdivision.
“I’m a bit nervous. Have you seen Jameson? He hasn’t visited me lately. Did something happen?” she asked, watching Rebecca closely.
“He went on a job. I thought he told you about it,” Rebecca said, glancing at her.
“He said he might be leaving. I never thought he’d be gone this long,” she murmured as the fields went by in a flurry.
“Sometimes we don’t know how long until we get there,” Rebecca explained. “Do you want me to give him a message?”
“No,” she said quietly. If he didn’t send one, then he made his intentions clear.
“You’ll be in cabin four. At the moment, you don’t have a roommate. The community center stays open until ten and has a library. You can have meals there, too. The schedule is listed on the back of your door. You can make requests for items for your cabin, such as a specific food, soaps, clothes, or books,” Rebecca told her as they pulled into the driveway. They walked inside, and Rebecca handed her the key and showed her around.
“Thank you. I’m sure I’ll be fine,” Caroline said as they entered the last room.
“When I first moved here, I hated the night. It seemed like everything became real. A tree turned into a man who might hurt me. The wind sounded like someone breaking into the cabin,” she explained, opening the closet door. “In here, we keep a cot and a sort of call button. If you find yourself terrified or can’t distinguish what’s real, you can push this button. One of the counselors on staff will come to you immediately. We keep a cot in here if it makes you feel safer at night instead of the bed.”
“It seems you’ve thought of everything,” she murmured, peering out of the patio door, leading to a small porch.
“We try to make you comfortable. Have you spoken with a counselor? We offer training or college courses if you want to finish your degree. You’ll receive a visit from Terry later this afternoon. She’ll schedule therapy sessions with you or help you decide on goals. You said you didn’t have family, but if you choose to move, we’ll help you find a place to live and provide you with free counseling and support.”
“You will?” Caroline asked, surprised. “What if I want to move to Italy?”
“Then we’ll make it happen,” Rebecca said cheerfully. “Our mission is to give you a second chance. You can start over wherever you wish. Do you want to move to Italy?”
“No. My only goal for the moment consists of getting a haircut,” she replied truthfully. “It’s uneven and dry. It’s silly.”
“No. Fixing the little things sometimes helps the bigger ones. I’ll see what I can do about a haircut,” Rebecca assured her.
Someone rang the doorbell, and Rebecca answered, letting Rachel and Riley in.
“Surprise,” the two women chorused.
“How do you like your new digs?” Rachel asked, carrying a bouquet of balloons and a cake. Riley followed with a vase of flowers and a box tied with ribbon.
“Wow. You ladies amaze me,” Caroline said, tying the balloons to a barstool. “Thank you.”
“Rachel, Caroline wants a haircut. Do you know of anyone?” Rebecca asked, taking out dishes for dessert.
