Matthew cracked a grin. “I might be required to spin out shortly. When I do, you’ll report to Mac. Sometimes my fiancée will request a few jobs. Make sure it gets done.”
“Got it,” he said, giving him a nod, and listened to the radio. When his truck came into view, Matthew pulled over and let him out. Once Garrett got situated, Matthew pulled onto the road to lead him to his quarters.
A few minutes later, Matthew pulled in front of a cabin, and Garrett parked beside him, gazing up at the homey abode.
“You’ll be staying here,” Matthew said, unlocking the cabin.
Garrett followed him inside, noticing the updated kitchen, a good-sized living room with a comfortable couch and two chairs. To the right of the kitchen, a hallway led to the remaining rooms he’d explore later.
“This makes up for the months of waiting before you called me,” Garrett said with a wink. “Damn sure beats a bunkhouse.”
“As I said, don’t get used to it. As we hire more hands, you’ll end up with a roommate at some point,” Matthew reminded him. He handed Garrett a packet to fill out and a duty roster. “Fill these out and give them to me in the morning. I’m heading home. Rachel’s waiting for me. There are a few staples in the cabinet and fridge. After Mac shows you around the property, take some time to settle in and get your things in order.”
“Thanks for the opportunity and for helping me out today,” Garrett said, shaking his hand.
“No problem,” Matthew replied. “If you need anything else, you got my number.”
Garrett returned and pulled out his bags, setting them down in the living room of the homey cabin. He surveyed the kitchen and opened the fridge to find a couple of containers full of food with reheating instructions. A six-pack of beer, a pitcher of tea, and a piece of pie sat on the second shelf. Reaching for a bottle of brew, he unscrewed the cap and continued his sweep of the place. The large primary bedroom contained floor-to-ceiling windows, and he anticipated the morning light to see what lay beyond. The overly large bath held a soaking tub big enough for two and a large walk-in shower with a seat.
“Not bad, Johnson,” he breathed as he considered a hot shower before eating the delicious food.
Stripping down, he walked across the cabin naked and grabbed his bag, taking it into the bathroom. Garrett pulled out a pair of sports shorts and set his personal items on the counter. He turned the shower handle to the hottest setting and enjoyed the peace and quiet as he soaked under the spray of water.
His thoughts drifted to the morning when he got the nerve to demand a job. Mac seemed easy-going, and Matthew might take a while to win over. The tight-lipped man didn’t say anything or bother to explain why they put him there. He shrugged. What did it matter? Lathering the soap over his body, he scrubbed himself clean. He dried off and wrapped the towel around his waist before trimming his beard.
After Garrett dressed, he hung up his clothes and hat before returning to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, he sighed as he opened the container to discover ribs, potato salad, and baked beans.
“Oh, yeah,” he said, taking out the food. He searched the drawers for plates, feeling guilty for having more food in the fridge than Riley kept in hers. Garrett resigned himself to checking on her in a couple of days and bringing them the biggest pizza ever. After all, he hit her with his truck, it only seemed logical to reach out and see how she felt.
Taking a swig of his beer, Garrett waited for his ribs and beans to reheat in the microwave. His stomach growled as the scent filled the kitchen. Riley’s unusual blue eyes floated in his mind as he took out his food and dished it onto a plate. He went over the details of Riley’s apartment again.
The closet door swung wide open, showing only a few shirts hanging. For females, they didn’t seem to have a lot offrilly things. A faded backpack hung on the door, and he recalled the note. It sounded as if Riley’s sister might be younger than her. How much younger? Would she know what to do if Riley suffered any complications or needed to return to the ER?
Garrett shook his head. Didn’t he learn his lesson after Snow? It didn’t matter. The worry already settled in, and he needed to check on her. He’d play it safe and wait a couple of days. Pick up a pizza, drop by, and say he was in the neighborhood and wanted to check on her. Then, he’d walk away and concentrate on his new job. After all, he wanted to fit in here. His need to work beside his brothers-in-arms grew stronger after seeing how Matthew and Mac worked together, and how Matthew had his six when Garrett called him to follow him to the apartment. It’s what he missed at Mystic Ranch and hoped to find here.
Tomorrow, he’d ride Gus and survey the land. Matthew Cartwright gave him three days to settle in, and he planned to use them to his advantage. He wanted to explore how the ranch worked, and it piqued his curiosity about what other operations they ran here. Maybe if he showed himself worthy, they’d let him in on their little secret.
The screened-in patio called his name as he grabbed a western paperback and delved into his book. The quiet stillness of the night and the chill in the air settled his soul. Yes, it seemed as if he was meant to live here.
Riley barely madeit up her stairs and knew Garrett watched her before pulling out of the parking lot. She leaned against the door, panting. Her head throbbed, butshe ignored it as she made her way to the bathroom and splashed water on her face.
Worried about what might happen if she showed up without Stitch’s car, or if her dad hid out to see when they returned home, Riley sat on the fire escape for some fresh air. The apartment seemed hotter than the outdoors.
“Riley?” she heard Garrett call from her apartment. She pressed herself against the building, embarrassed by where they lived. Garrett Johnson, despite hitting her with his truck, had done more for her than her own father. She didn’t need his pity.
A few minutes later, she heard him leave and sighed.
As soon as the nausea ebbed, Riley planned to get her sister and leave this crummy place. Knowing her father found them made her stomach hurt more. The man took what little money she made to purchase alcohol to ease his pain. She didn’t know which one caused him to drink the most. The one where her mom died from a freak accident on their ranch, when the bank foreclosed, or when he started drinking and hitting them. She refused to let Tara grow up in an abusive atmosphere. Considering where Tara found herself now, Riley didn’t feel like she was doing a stellar job of it.
“Oh, Mom. I wish you were here,” she whispered. “You’d know how to fix things.”
The pain in her ribs hurt every time she moved. Riley knew deep down, if things went wrong, she wasn’t in any condition to help Tara. She lay on the air mattress and closed her eyes. As soon as the headache eased, she’d find her sister and get the hell out of this town.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The morning light shone through the window as Riley groaned and turned over, shielding her eyes. It appeared she slept the entire night away, making her feel guilty Tara spent it in the windowless room. She rolled out of bed, showered, dressed, and brushed her teeth, feeling slightly better. At least her mind didn’t feel as muddled as the night before. Heading into the kitchen, she pulled out a bottle of acetaminophen and took two tablets, washing them down with tap water.
Surveying the shabby apartment, Riley began to plan. She grabbed a backpack, put the envelope Garrett handed her in the front pocket, and then added a couple of T-shirts and a pair of jean shorts. The rest she filled with Tara’s things. She glanced once more around the apartment for anything she might need before walking to the cereal box where she kept her stash of one thousand twenty-two dollars. Riley learned long ago to keep an emergency fund after her father stole their money and went on a bender while she fed Tara rice for all three meals. Noticing a note and Stitch’s keys, she assumedGarrett left it, but she didn’t bother reading it. She needed to get to Tara.
