Country Pride (Belle Ridge Book 1)

by Charlene Bright

  “But—”

  “I know everything you like. Your favorite food is lasagna. You grew up on a farm near here. You have the sweetest smile and you like to talk to yourself, or to your car, or whatever.” He brushed a tear from her cheek.

  “Did you … did you put water in Eth—my car’s tank?”

  He nodded, and a smile spread across his face. “I was so proud of that plan. I followed you to the hotel after your book signing, then waited for you to leave the next morning and trailed behind as much as I could and still keep an eye on you.”

  She searched her mind to see if she had had any inclination of someone following her, but she had been so focused on the beautiful landscape and thoughts of her childhood.

  “I was surprised that at first you seemed to be driving in the opposite direction of Carrollton,” he continued. “But it seemed to play in to my favor, really. Off the interstate, fewer cars. I was really starting to believe the universe was pushing you into my arms. The car would stop, you’d be stranded, and I’d come and save you.”

  She suddenly remembered the dark car that tried to stop before Jared waved it away.

  “You’d be so grateful. Then we’d talk for a long time and I’d take you to your book signing in Georgia, and we’d take a break together. Go to the beach.” His eyes glazed over with the fantasy.

  She stared in disbelief. “You think I would have been happy to know you tricked me into meeting you?”

  He shrugged and pulled out his phone to check it. “In time, you’d find it a funny story.” He put away the phone and gestured his head toward the still unconscious Jared. “But then he got there first, and on a friggin’ horse, no less.”

  Kinsley looked back at the boots, worry taking control again. The man grabbed her face and forced her to look at him.

  “I thought you’d just be here a day or two,” he continued, “and then get back on the road. I’d follow you to the next event and figure something else out. Maybe you’d recognize me from the book signing in Chattanooga.”

  She stared into his dark eyes and noticed the receding hairline. A moment in the Chattanooga bookstore flashed in her mind. Then she remembered the tea being dumped on Jared while they were in the city, and her eyebrows raised. “You bumped into us—Jared, and spilled tea all over him.”

  He nodded emphatically, his smile returning. “You do remember.”

  “Wait, how did you know I’d be … you’ve been here the whole time? You followed us back to Chattanooga.”

  “You were never alone. I kept hoping to find a moment to get you aside. I was very disappointed when you didn’t recognize me in that diner in Chattanooga.” He frowned.

  “The windshield, that was you?” The string of bad luck started linking together in her mind.

  He nodded and his smile returned. “By then you had gotten awfully close to the cowboy, much closer than I was comfortable with. I wanted to send a message to him. I was hoping he’d back off. I had already let out the calves gotten into the house where I stopped him before kissing you with that smoke detector. I wasn’t trying to do any major damage or really hurt him. The closest I got to that was getting that snake in his wood pile. That was no easy task, mind you.”

  “He could have been bitten!”

  He brushed the air and scoffed. “The man is a country boy. I knew he’d know how to handle himself around a snake, but I did kind of hope he might get hurt.” He frowned again, anger lining his mouth and causing his bushy eyebrows to twitch. “But no matter what I did, you two just seemed to get closer. Even the broken windshield put you two in a hotel room together,” he nearly growled.

  She felt the blood drain from her face, and her stomach threatened to rebel. “You haven’t just been following me around. You’ve been watching.”

  He nodded again, his eyes still squinting with suspicion. “From the moment you arrived in Chattanooga.”

  Kinsley’s eyes widened in horror and she looked around. “And the barn!”

  “I had to get rid of that place.” He looked over at the burned blanked in the corner. “I saw you there … with him.” The last two words he nearly spat out, a snarl on his lips. Then his face softened again. “I was really hoping you’d figure it out a lot quicker than you did. I left hints.”

  “The flyer,” she said matter-of-factly and shuddered at the thought of him in their bedrooms, touching her things, her clothing. She was fully aware at how his emotions were changing by the second.

  He nodded enthusiastically and smiled, seeming to be proud as she continued to connect the dots. “Where we first met face to face. I called you while you were on that radio show. I had gone to several of your book signings, followed from Chicago, and finally I got the courage up to talk to you.”

  Her eyes narrowed remembering the flyer and the times they found the front door unlocked. “You’ve been in the house more than once.” She shivered again thinking of him there when they were intimate or when Nikki was alone … Kinsley’s fear started changing into fire, but she kept her face stoic, trying to form a plan.

  He ran his fingers through her hair and leaned in to her neck and sniffed deeply. “You smell so good.”

  She forced herself not to gag, and pressed on an innocent smile. “You really are a fan, aren’t you?”

  He nodded, the strange giddiness returning to his face.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Ralph … Ralph Schmidt.”

  “And you have gone out of your way to get my attention, Ralph.”

  “Way out of my way.”

  “No one has ever done that for me,” she said, dripping as much sweetness as she could muster. He smiled eagerly as she continued. “I’m so flattered.”

  “I knew it!”

  She looked at him coyly, her mind quickly sewing links between everything he said and everything that had happened. “I mean, Jared just happened to be in the right place at the right time. There’s nothing really special about him after all.”

  He shook his head and began to relax his shoulders and sit back to observe her. “Just luck,” he said. “I was the one who planned, who followed my dream of having you. He’d never have done that.”

  “So, what do we do now? Are you still planning on coming with me to the next event, to Carrollton?”

  He sighed deeply, his eyes softening and a shy smile playing at his lips. “If you want me to.”

  “I should take the time to get to know the man who has done so much to show me how much he loves me.”

  “Yes, yes.” He scooted closer to her, his hands on her thighs.

  She lowered her eyes, gesturing at the ropes while she slyly glanced at Jared’s feet, encouragement rising in her as she saw them twitch. “Then untie me.” She tried to drip as much honey as she could from her words.

  He squinted and suddenly sat back. “I don’t know …”

  From the corner of her eyes, she could see the boot begin to slide back so that Jared’s knee was bending.

  She scooted closer to Ralph and purred. “Well, then I guess I’m at your mercy and you can do whatever you want to me right now.”

  He gulped and reached for her face, putting his cold hands on both cheeks. “I … I love you so much.”

  “I know you do, Ralph. You’ve waited so long for me. I don’t want to make you wait any longer.”

  He nodded and reached behind her, his onion breath hot in her ear. He untied the ropes and she pulled her arms out, rubbing her hands and wrists. “Much better,” she said, trying to keep his attention focused on her rather than the rousing cowboy a few feet away.

  “We better hurry up and leave before he wakes up.” He started to look back, where Jared was standing shakily, but Kinsley grabbed the sides of his face and pulled him into a kiss. He held her closely, and she peeked around his head to see Jared testing his footing. She put her arms around Ralph’s neck and gestured to Jared. His face registered surprise, then anger, and he quietly stepped forward as Ralph pulled back from K
insley’s embrace, pushing her arms in front of him.

  “Let’s hold that thought until we get out of here, my love.” He stood and held out his hand for hers to help her up. She scurried backward, and confusion spread across his face. She could see when he registered that her eyes were on the man towering behind him, Ralph turned just as Jared’s fist landed on his jaw. He stumbled and Jared pressed onward, punching the man in the stomach with his other fist. Ralph landed with a thud on his bottom, and Kinsley scrambled for her purse, pulling out her phone. For the second time in two days, she dialed 911.

  Ralph’s yell caused her to look over just as he was ducking under Jared’s arms and scrambling toward her. The disturbing man reached out and grabbed Kinsley’s legs, pulling her to the earth while the phone flew from her hand.

  Jared grabbed Ralph by his collar and swiftly pulled him away from her, shoving him behind him as he moved forward to help her. Ralph took advantage of Jared’s divided attention and kicked his knee. He doubled over and Ralph jumped up and sprinted back to Kinsley, grabbing her by the wrist with one hand while he picked up a shovel leaning against the wall with his other. He pushed her to the floor again, keeping his body between her and her phone, and swung the shovel against Jared’s head as Jared started to stand.

  She screamed as he toppled to the ground. Ralph stepped closer to the unconscious man, raising the shovel high.

  “No!” screamed Kinsley as she pulled herself to her feet and grabbed Ralph’s raised arms. “I’ll go with you. We’ll leave right now. No more stalling. Just don’t kill him. Leave him here.”

  The enraged man, his face red and chest heaving, lowered his arms slightly and turned to her. His face softened a bit, though he was still glaring at her. “Ok,” he said, catching his breath. “But we leave right now. And you won’t try anything else.” His breath slowed and he brought the shovel down, his tone now pleading, “Just give me a chance, Kinsley. That’s all I need.”

  She nodded vigorously and he tossed the shovel to the side, taking her roughly by the arm and heading toward the open doorway. A sound from the horse stall grabbed their attention and Marshall came running in, snorting and stomping his feet. He shook his head and swiftly made his way to Ralph, whose face turned from anger to horror. He let go of Kinsley and raised his arms as the horse reared up.

  Ralph’s face transformed into perplexity when Marshall came back to all fours, refusing to step any closer to him. Kinsley stood behind him, holding the shovel with both hands. The shaking man looked at her and she swung it across his face, knocking him to the ground where he became very still as blood pooled out of his nose. She then grabbed her phone a few feet away and ran to Jared. Kneeling beside his unmoving form, she positioned herself next to him where she could keep an eye on Ralph and dial the phone. Marshall was standing over the stranger, almost as if to guard him.

  This time, Kinsley was able to speak into the phone and quickly gave the operator the address and a few details about the emergency. Then she dropped the phone next to her and put her hands on both sides of Jared’s face, her eyes quickly scanning his face, very aware that his chest was rising and falling. A dark bruise had begun to settle in his jaw, but he was breathing and she could not see any blood besides the trickle from his hairline that he’d gotten earlier. Looking at Ralph, she surmised that while she had gotten a strong blow to the full side of his face, he’d just gotten Jared’s jaw. At least, she hoped.

  Jared’s eyes fluttered open as she rubbed his hair, watching for signs of trauma. He started to speak but she shushed him. “Police are on the way. Stay still.” He tried to sit up, but she steeled her voice and put her hands on his chest, pushing him back down and demanding, “Don’t move.”

  He relented and she leaned forward to kiss him gently on the forehead. More quickly than she would have liked, given his condition, he raised his hand to her head and pulled her face down until his lips met hers. She gave in to the kiss for a moment, before taking his wrist with her hand and pushing it down while she pulled back, her hands on his chest again.

  “I mean it. Be still.” Her tone brooked no argument.

  He nodded slowly and closed his eyes again, mumbling, “Yes, ma’am.”

  Her face softened. “Always the gentleman, huh?”

  He didn’t speak or open his eyes, but his mouth turned upward into a smile that any other time might have caused Kinsley to kiss him deeply.

  ***

  “I told you,” Jared said as Kinsley climbed into the back of the ambulance with him. “I don’t need to go to the hospital. It’s just a bruise.” He tried to sit up, but the EMT pushed him back down before stepping out of the ambulance to talk with the driver.

  “You were hit in the head with a shovel,” Kinsley protested as she sat next to him. “We need to make sure you don’t have a concussion.”

  He frowned and started to argue again.

  She put her finger to his lips. “Just humor me, okay?”

  He reached out his hand and took hers, squeezing it and pulling her close. “For you, then.” He nodded and relaxed onto the cart.

  “I am so sorry, Jared. I told you this was all about me. I brought this—”

  He pulled her down and kissed her, capturing the rest of her words with his mouth before letting her go. “Like I said before, it doesn’t matter if this was about you. You didn’t do anything to cause this, and I’m so grateful you got stranded here. So maybe I should be thanking”—he paused—“whoever he is.”

  “Ralph,” she said soberly. “Apparently, my biggest fan.” She smirked and then let out a long breath as if she had been holding it for the last hour. “Oh God, Jared. He’s been stalking me. Ethel, the windshield, the fire … he could really have hurt you or Nikki.” Tears began to pour down her cheeks. Jared put his hands on either side of her face using his thumb to wipe at some of her tears.

  “But he didn’t. Let’s talk about all of this later. I might have a concussion, you know.” He winked at her, and she laughed, sat back, and wiped tears from under her eyes. The door to the ambulance was open and he could see them loading the still unconscious man on a stretcher. “You must have gotten him good.” He nodded toward the scene, and she turned to watch.

  “This almost didn’t have a happy ending. If Marshall hadn’t come in to protect us …” She grew quiet, watching two EMTs load the troublemaker into a second ambulance.

  Jared couldn’t help it; he laughed loudly, picturing the horse coming to the rescue and cornering the man. “I think he was protecting you. He sure didn’t come in while I was being walloped.” He raised his hand and rubbed at the drying blood.

  The EMT who had been treating Jared climbed back in and shut the door and in a few seconds, the ambulance was in motion. Jared held Kinsley’s hand, keeping her near. They were quiet for the twenty minutes it took them to get to the hospital, but he kissed her before they wheeled him away to get an MRI.

  He lay still while the loud machine examined his brain and thought about what Kinsley had said about this almost not being a happy ending and what he would have done if Ralph had taken her or harmed her. If it had not been for the loud knocking sound all around his head and the strict orders to not move even a millimeter while the machine was running, Jared might have jumped up and gone to find the man. He was not someone prone to violence, quite the opposite in fact, but the rage and fear that swallowed him at the thought of Kinsley being hurt or worse was consuming and enraging. And at that moment, he wanted nothing more than to see the man in pain.

  But then he remembered that though she had not been physically harmed by the stalker, she would be leaving … and very soon. They had yet to discuss the status of their relationship, and Kinsley had more than hinted that she would be back, but would she be back for a visit or two? A short stay? Commuting through a long-distance relationship?

  It had been barely more than a week since she had come into his life, even less time since she’d started spending time in his bed, but suddenly
the thought of waking up each morning without her depressed him. And the fear of her never returning outweighed the fear of her not feeling the same about him.

  It felt like it had been an hour since he had seen her when the nurse finally wheeled his bed back to the room. He was happy to see his daughter standing there with Kinsley, but less than thrilled with the worried look in both pairs of eyes. Nikki raced toward his side and took his hand.

  “Daddy! Oh my God.” She looked up at the nurse not even trying to hide the panic in her voice. “Is he okay?”

  The nurse said neutrally, “The doctor will be with you in a moment as soon as she’s looked at the MRI. I’m sorry, that’s all I know.” She secured the bed and checked his blood pressure.

  When she’d left the room, he was flanked on either side by his daughter and his … girlfriend. He could clearly see that both had been crying. “I’m fine,” he said. “Just a bump on the head. I’ve had worse just working a farm all my life. This is nothing compared to the time I broke my leg when I stepped onto that old well.” He stopped talking when he saw the horrified look on Kinsley’s face.

  Nikki jumped in, putting her arm around Kinsley’s shoulder. “Thank God you and Kinsley are okay.”

  At the mention of her name, he brought Kinsley’s hand to his lips. “I’m just so happy that Marshall and I happened upon you first on that road.”

  Kinsley shivered closing her eyes while Nikki put her other arm around her to hug her. “I hadn’t really thought of what might have happened if he’d been the one to pick me up that day, …”

  Nikki let go of Kinsley and interrupted the link of thinking that followed Kinsley’s words. “But he didn’t. Fate intervened. Or maybe it was Ethel. She knew exactly when to stall.”

  “Thank the Lord for Ethel, then,” said Jared, his lips still on Kinsley’s hand. He closed his eyes and inhaled her floral scent. He dropped her hand when a knock sounded at the door and the doctor entered the room.

  Dr. Foster introduced herself to the three of them—Jared last—shaking each of their hands in turn. “Well, Mr. Adamson, you’re going to have a very colorful face for a few days and you indeed have a concussion, but I’d say there’s no permanent or serious damage here. And your brain looks normal.”