As if on cue Ash appears behind Troy. His smile falls as he looks at me in question.
“Troy is going to hang out with us,” I announce.
Ash grunts in response before he moves in my direction. He hands me a rope with a hook on the end and then motions towards one of the stalls.
“I want you to get Dash out. He’s the calmest horse that we have that you should be able to ride on without any trouble.” He states.
I nod and then move towards the tan horse that Ash had pointed out.
“Hey, Dash…” I greet while patting his nose.
Taking a deep breath, I attach the hook to his halter before I open the stall up. I bounce on my heels as he slowly exits the stall.
Moments later I tie him up so that I can begin putting his saddle on.
Ash steps forward to help me, but Troy beats him. I grab the blanket while Troy grabs the saddle.
We quickly get everything on the horse before Troy takes a step back.
After a few minutes, Ash comes over to inspect our job before he sighs roughly.
“Okay, you got everything right, but the strap under his belly is too loose. If you were to get on the saddle, you would end up falling off within seconds.” Ash stresses.
“Oh…” I breathe out.
He bends down and then tightens the strap quickly before patting the horse’s rump.
“There, now you’re good.” He states.
I nod and then smile as he motions towards the saddle. “Are you ready?”
“Yes,” I answer.
Without warning, Ash grabs hold of my hips before he lifts me up and onto the back of the horse. I laugh for a few moments until I notice Troy glaring at Ash.
I clear my throat and then wait for Ash to give me my next instructions.
He glances towards Troy for a moment before holding out the reins. “Do you think you could lead Scarlett to the round pen on the other side of the barn?”
Troy nods and then takes the reins from Ash before he begins walking out of the barn.
Ash remains behind as I glance back at him sadly.
He gives me a quick smile before he begins following us.
Sighing softly I turn my attention back to Troy as he leads us around the barn and then into a large pen. Once I’m inside, he hands me the reins before walking back out of the pen.
Feeling brave I kick the horse gently to get him moving.
To my surprise, he follows my commands.
And for the moment I forget all of my troubles or the fact that it wasn’t going to be easy to break up with Troy without making him angry.
That was something that I definitely wanted to avoid.
I didn’t want there to be a fight between Ash and Troy. And I didn’t want to be what caused their friendship to end either.
“You’re a natural,” Ash calls out as I make my first lap around the pen.
I smile proudly before pushing the horse to go faster.
With the breeze flowing through my hair I laugh with excitement. For the first time in a very long time, I laugh wholeheartedly.
To be honest, this was way more freeing than running ever had been.
This was something that I could easily get used to doing often. Unfortunately, reality sets in, and my joy dies with the thought of this ending.
Instead of stopping, I continue to ride.
Chapter Seventeen
“Scarlett, are you ready to give that horse a break?” Ash calls out with a hint of humor.
I sigh and then reluctantly slow the horse down before guiding him towards the fence where Ash and Troy were watching me.
“Do you feel better?” Ash questions while Troy grabs the horse’s reins.
I nod and smile. “I do, but I really didn’t want to stop.”
“You did really well, but you have to give Dash a break.” Ash pushes before he continues. “If you want to keep riding you could come with me.”
“I’d like that,” I reply before looking towards Troy. “I mean, if that’s alright with you.”
“It’s fine with me, but I think I’m going to catch a ride back home. We have school tomorrow, and I really need some sleep to get rid of this hangover I’m dealing with.” Troy replies.
He holds his arms up towards me, and I jump down.
I gaze into his eyes as his hands linger on my hips. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yes, you will.” He replies before leaning in to kiss my forehead sweetly.
He then turns to Ash. “I’ll take Dash to the barn.”
“Let Trevor know that he needs to be taken care of,” Ash instructs.
“Will do…” Troy replies.
Without another word, he walks away with the horse following close behind.
Once Troy disappears from view Ash releases a heavy breath. “I swear he knows. If looks could kill, I would have been dead ten times over.”
“What am I going to do?” I ask. “It’s going to look suspicious if I end things so quickly, especially if he thinks we’re getting closer.”
“I don’t want to cause a fight,” I stress.
“Then take your time ending things,” Ash replies. “Just don’t sleep with him.”
“I wouldn’t do that to you,” I reassure.
After a moment, I sigh. “Who knows if I’m still going to be here long enough for it to be a problem?”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Ash replies sternly.
“Let’s be realistic for a second, Ash,” I reply. “My mother is a bitch, and sooner or later she will ruin things with your father. It might have already happened, or it might happen a month from now, but we can’t pretend that this will last forever.”
“I understand that which is why we should make the most of our time together.” He replies before continuing. “And if we’re forced apart I’ll find a way to stay in contact with you. I’m not going to let you go that easily.”
“Now come on, let’s ride and find a nice little-secluded spot where we can finish what we started earlier.” Ash then states while holding his hand out towards me.
I grin and take his hand in mine before allowing him to pull me close.
He gazes deep into my eyes while brushing a few stray strands of my hair behind my ear. “I know it’s too soon to say this, but I am falling hard for you, Scarlett.”
“It’s not too soon because I’m feeling the same way about you,” I reply.
“But you still like Drake too, don’t you?” He argues lightly.
“Does it bother you that I do?” I question curiously. “…Because you have nothing to worry about. I have a much deeper connection with you than I do with him.”
Ash grins. “I’m not worried. I know how to keep you returning to my bed every night.”
I snort and shake my head. “You are cocky.”
“You like it,” Ash replies.
Before I can respond Trevor interrupts us by clearing his throat.
“What the hell is going on here?” He questions while I take a step away from Ash.
“What do you care, Trevor?” Ash snaps a bit too harshly.
“I don’t like it, and I doubt that Troy would like how close you two just were,” Trevor replies while pinning me with a look.
After a moment he shakes his head while barking out with laughter. “You didn’t sleep under my bed last night, did you, Scarlett?”
“That’s none of your business,” Ash growls out. “She can do what she wants when she wants.”
“Whatever; you two do what you want, but don’t come crying to me when things fall apart, and you get caught cheating,” Trevor replies.
Without another word, he walks away.
Ash curses softly while tugging his hand through his hair.
He sighs after a few moments. “We should go for that ride before someone else ruins our time together.”
I nod and then move towards him again before allowing him to lift me up and onto the horse’s back.
Seconds
later, he hops on behind me before nudging the horse forward.
****
“Are you ready to go back?” Ash whispers into my ear before he kisses my bare shoulder.
“No. I’d rather stay here with you,” I answer with a heavy sigh as I lay on my back to look up at him. “I’m scared that I’ll have to leave you.”
“Like I said, I won’t let you go that easily,” Ash replies.
What he didn’t know was that my mother would make it impossible for us to even communicate with each other. The few times that I had tried to make friends she had ruined it.
I always believed that she was jealous of me.
Love wasn’t something she ever found easily, if at all, and I had a feeling that she would always keep me from finding love too.
If I was able to keep Ash a secret from her, then I would be lucky.
After a few minutes, Ash sighs. “If we stay out any longer Drake is going to begin putting puzzle pieces together, and if that happens, then he’ll make a big deal of this.”
“Then we better not waste any more time,” I reply.
He grins and then kisses me before pulling back slightly. “Not a second with you has been wasted.”
We share a few more kisses before parting ways to get redressed.
Once we’re ready Ash lifts me onto the back of the horse before climbing on behind me. In seconds we take off back to the farmhouse.
As we ride closer to the house, we spot Drake standing outside staring in our direction.
“He doesn’t look very happy.” Ash breathes out.
From here Drake appeared more agitated more than angry. It looked like he wanted us to move a little faster than we were too.
Without a word, Ash tightens his grasp on me before he kicks the horse to go faster.
Mere minutes later, we stop next to Drake.
“We have to go home. Dad called and wants us back as soon as possible.” Drake announces as he holds his hands out towards me.
I jump down, and he catches me before placing my feet on the ground.
“Do you know why he wants us back so soon?” Ash questions tensely.
“No. Dad wouldn’t say a word over the phone.” Drake replies before continuing. “Whatever is happening didn’t sound good though.”
I curse softly. “I don’t want to go back.”
“You’re going to have to face this sooner or later, Scarlett. I know it really sucks, but you won’t be able to hide forever.” Drake replies gently.
Sighing softly I nod in agreement. It was best to face this now and hope for the best.
Drake turns his attention towards Ash. “Trevor is in the barn waiting for you. I’ll help Scarlett gather her stuff inside, and we’ll meet you at the car.”
Ash grunts in response before he rides his horse towards the barn.
“Did you at least have a good time while you were here?” Drake asks as we begin walking into the house.
“I actually did,” I answer honestly.
“Good. Hopefully, this won’t be the last time you’ll come here.” He sighs.
“I hope it isn’t either,” I reply softly. “I really like it here. I always wanted to live on a farm. I promised myself that when I got a place of my own, it would be similar to this.”
“Maybe one day you’ll get the chance,” Drake replies as we stop at the bottom of the stairs.
He rubs the back of his neck while bowing his head before he looks at me. “Scarlett, you do know that I care about you, right?”
I nod. “I do, Drake.”
“I don’t know how you did it.” He chuckles. “Hell, even Trevor likes you, and he hates nearly every girl we’ve ever brought here.”
“I’ve never been like those other girls,” I reply.
“No, you’re not anything like them.” Drake agrees.
After a few moments of silence, he speaks again. “Whatever happens, Scarlett, you will always have a place here. The second that you get the chance to escape your mother you can come here, okay.”
“Thank you, Drake,” I reply gratefully.
“You’re welcome, Scarlett.” He replies. “Now, go get your stuff so we can face our parents together.”
I nod and smile before going upstairs.
Chapter Eighteen
“What are we going to do, Drake?” Ash whispers fiercely.
I stand quietly just around the corner as they speak to each other in the living room with Trevor.
“There isn’t much that we can do,” Drake replies gently.
Ash releases a long-winded sigh before speaking again. “I can’t shake this feeling that if she leaves, we’ll never see her again, and not in the she’s left kind of way, I fear for her safety, Drake. Her mother is nuts.”
“I’m worried about her too, but Scarlett can handle her mother.” Drake insists.
“And if it comes down to it then she can come back. I’ve promised her that there will always be a place for her here.” Drake adds.
“Is this girl really worth getting this worked up about?” Trevor questions abruptly.
“She is.” Ash snaps. “Don’t ever ask that again.”
“Alright, alright…” Trevor replies.
“This girl is family, Trev,” Drake states calmly.
I smile in response. Ever since my father had left, I hadn’t felt like part of a family, and it was nice to be included in one, especially this one.
“Okay, then lets fight for her like we do for each other,” Trevor replies.
A moment of silence passes before Drake speaks again. “Does Dad know that you’re coming home with us?”
“I called him earlier.” Trevor answers.
“Good, then he’s had more than enough time to warn Scarlett’s mother that you’re coming,” Drake replies before continuing. “The last thing we need is a huge fight to break out again.”
“As if that will stop her from being a bitch…” Ash snorts.
After a moment Ash sighs. “Either way we need to behave so that we don’t make matters worse.”
Drake barks out in laughter. “Hell must be freezing over. I can’t believe you’re ready to behave yourself.”
“Well, it’s time that I act my age, and if it helps Scarlett, then I’ll do whatever it takes,” Ash replies.
Silence fills the room, so I take a step forward.
They look in my direction as I enter the room.
“There you are,” Drake states before continuing. “We were beginning to think that you got lost upstairs.”
“I was kind of taking my time,” I admit.
“I don’t blame you, but our Dad keeps texting us so we can’t stall any longer.” Ash stresses.
Sighing softly, I nod. “I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Then let’s go before we change our minds and stay here,” Drake replies.
Without another word, we move towards the front door. Along the way, Ash grabs my bags from my hands and then bumps his shoulder gently against mine as he smiles.
I smile back at him and then brush my hand against his as we walk outside.
Once we reach the car, Ash slips into the backseat with me while Drake sits in the driver’s seat. Trevor takes his place in the passenger’s seat before glancing back at me and then Ash.
His brow rises, but he remains quiet as he turns back around in his seat.
I share a look with Ash for a moment before slipping my hand behind my bags. Ash intertwines his fingers with mine as Drake starts the car’s engine.
Moments later we take off towards home and the unknown.
****
No one says a word as we stare at the inside of the garage. We had made it home, but no one wanted to make the first move to get out.
I certainly wasn’t ready to face my mother.
The very thought of it had my heart pounding.
“Are you alright, Scarlett?” Ash whispers.
I shake my head in response as I look at him.
&nbs
p; “Take a deep breath.” He instructs softly before leaning forward. “Trev, can you grab the bottle of pills from the glove compartment?”
Trevor grunts in response before he follows Ash’s directions.
He hands the bottle back to Ash while Drake produces a bottle of water.
Drake watches me as Ash places a pill into the palm of my hand before opening the water bottle for me next.
No one says a word as I swallow the pill and wash it down with the water.
“Are you going to be alright?” Drake asks softly.
I nod and give him my best smile even though I, in fact, did not know if I would be alright. I was a bundle of nerves, and I didn’t think that a pill would help calm my racing heart.
Ash sighs and then shakes another pill out of the bottle before placing it into his mouth. I hand him the water bottle, and he takes a long drink.
Drake sighs. “Ash…Are you going to be able to keep it together?”
“I’ll try,” Ash replies.
As Drake and Trevor move to exit the car, I grab Ash’s hand tightly in mine.
He looks at me before reaching up with his other hand to tuck a few stray strands of my hair behind my ear. “Everything will be alright.”
I nod and bite my bottom lip in response.
After a moment I release his hand and then open my door to get out.
We quickly join Drake and Trevor at the door to the house before we walk inside together.
Seconds after the door shuts behind us Benjamin appears.
“There you are. I was beginning to think that the four of you were dead on the road somewhere.” He huffs out dramatically. “I nearly called the police to search for you.”
“Seriously, Dad…?” Drake breathes out.
“No, but a call that you were going to be later than expected would have been nice,” Benjamin replies.
After a moment Benjamin sighs. “Either way I’m glad that you’re here. Now we can have dinner together.”
With that he walks away, leaving us standing frozen in place.
Trevor clears his throat while glancing back at the rest of us. “I don’t know about you three but I’m starving and whatever that delicious smell is it’s driving me crazy.”
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