by Kira Blakely
Why? Why do I look like a mess again when he looks like a reclined Roman sculpture even though both of us had sex on the ground in the middle of the vineyard?
“I’ll be right back,” I say and give him a quick peck.
I reach for my underwear, get on my feet, and sprint toward the shed.
Chapter 14
Chase
I lay my head back down, folding my arms behind me like a pillow.
Even after all the bullshit that’s happened in my life, the stars still shine so brightly.
I stretch my arm up, pretending to catch a few in my hand, and as I do, a memory ebbs back. It’s the memory of another starry night from my childhood, my father softly singing “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” while he has his arms wrapped around my mother, all three of us standing on the deck of a yacht.
My mother turns to him with a frown, asking who Lucy is, and he whispers something in her ear and gives her a kiss and the frown is gone.
I place my arm on my chest, sighing. My mom used to tell me to find a nice girl so I could have what she and my father had but I never thought it was possible. I never thought I could find someone who would smile at me the way my mother smiled at my father or someone who I could be myself with.
Not until I met Lauren.
She’s like this ranch, providing my soul with a little peace in the midst of all this chaos, simple but capable of making a world of difference, refreshing, rejuvenating. She’s like home and for someone like me, she’s exactly what I need.
A smile forms on my lips. I trace them, recall the kisses from her, to her, everywhere.
She’s given me so much. If only there was something I could give her, something I could do for her.
Footsteps rustle through the grass. I sit up, smiling, and turn toward her. “Lauren, what do you think about…?” My words die in my throat.
It’s Isaac, not Lauren, standing a couple feet away.
I scramble to my feet and put my shirt on, tug the collar down and gulp.
Isaac’s shotgun is trained on my chest.
The ebony barrel gleams in the moonlight. It’s the second time today that a gun has been pointed at me.
I show him my palms. Leaves crunch beneath my feet as I take a step back.
“Isaac, there’s no need to be hasty.”
He steps forward, pressing the barrel of the gun against my chest once more, right over my chest.
“Shut up,” he warns.
Beside him, Smoke seconds the warning with a low growl, transformed into a different beast, unrecognizable. His black, floppy ears are flat against his head and the hairs along his backbone are raised. He bears his canines.
“Where’s Lauren and what have you done with her?” Isaac asks, not blinking.
I turn my head to look around for her but the barrel of the shotgun touches my cheek, the cold metal scorching as it forces me to look right into the raven eyes of the man in front of me.
“She left,” I answer, doing my best to keep my voice from shaking as the gun points back at my chest.
“And?”
“I don’t know where she is.”
“I asked you two questions, dumbass.”
What was it again? Right. What have I done with her?
I consider lying, but Lauren’s blouse and blue skirt are still on the ground near Isaac’s boots.
I’ve lied about a lot of things recently. I might as well come clean regarding this.
I take a deep breath as I put my arms down. “I’m sorry, Isaac.”
“What was that?”
The barrel of the shotgun pokes my chest almost painfully as Isaac’s eyes narrow dangerously.
“I’m sorry,” I force myself to speak more loudly and more contritely. “Believe me, I never—”
Isaac’s fist lands squarely on my jaw, knocking my words and breath away and sending an explosion of pain across my face. Then he grabs the front of my shirt, Smoke growling louder beside him.
“You piece of shit!”
“Daddy, stop!”
Lauren’s voice sounds from a distance as she comes running, her hair damp.
In nothing but her underwear, she stands between Isaac and me, pushing us apart and then pushing her father back.
“Daddy, please!”
Isaac raises the gun, pointing it at me. “I welcomed you into my ranch and into my home. I hired you, fed you, shared my beer with you. And this is how you repay me?”
“Daddy, no!” Lauren tries to free the gun from her father’s grip but to no avail.
“I only gave you one rule, Chase. One rule. That you do not mess with my daughter. But that’s exactly what you did.” His voice quavers along with his hand, the gun lowering slightly. “You… treated my daughter like some broodmare. I saw you. I saw you now.”
Lauren stumbles. “You saw?”
He raises the gun again. “I’m going to kill you for what you’ve done.”
Smoke barks.
“No!” Lauren stands in front of me, arms outstretched. “I’m not going to let you do that.”
Isaac falls silent but keeps the gun raised.
“Smoke, that’s enough! Down, boy!” Lauren shouts.
The animal complies, concealing its fangs but still watching me intently.
“You too, Dad,” Lauren says.
“I’m not a dog.”
“I’m not going to let you shoot him, Dad,” Lauren says, her voice cracking with a plea. “If you want to kill him, you’ll have to kill me first.”
For a moment, Isaac doesn’t move. Then he shoots into the air, the bang deafening in the silence around us and the horses neigh in the stables.
He throws the gun down. “See? See what you’ve done to her?!”
He stretches his arm out at Lauren then places his hand on his forehead, his expression anguished. “I gave you everything I have. And you take my little girl away from me.”
“I’m not a little girl anymore, Dad.”
“You’re right.” Isaac nods, sniffing. “The woman I saw was a complete stranger.”
Lauren’s licks her trembling lips. “Dad, we didn’t do anything wrong.” She places her hand on her chest. “I’m going to be twenty-one soon.”
“I know how fucking old you are!” he shouts, throwing his arm down. “I’m your father! Or did all that… fooling around in the muck muddle that brain I thought you had?”
Lauren falls silent, her eyes growing wide with horror. Her hands roll into trembling fists at her sides.
I want to pull her into my arms, to hold her hand at least, but I don’t. As much as I have a part in this, this conversation is between Lauren and her father.
“Tell me,” Isaac speaks as he places his hands on his waist and hangs his head low, his voice calmer. “How long has this been going on? When did this start, huh?”
He scratches his chin.
“Back in the storm cellar during that tornado after I fell asleep or on your mother’s favorite kitchen table when I was drunk, like that time you made all those – what were they? – crepes?”
“No!” Lauren shouts with eyebrows adamantly furrowed.
“That night when you didn’t come home, you were with him, weren’t you?” Isaac asks.
Lauren falls silent.
“And yet, you lied to me. You hid it from me. And now you’re telling me you think you did nothing wrong?” Isaac spits on the ground.
Lauren steps forward. “I would have told you. I wanted to tell you, but I knew you wouldn’t understand.”
“Oh, I understand perfectly.” Isaac nods. “I understand that my daughter is stupid enough to be smitten by a lousy farmhand who has no ounce of gratitude or honor in his body.”
His glare pierces me, and I bow my head. I’ve hurt the old man –he was good to me, and this is how I repaid him.
“I want you to be off my property by sunrise,” he continues.
“Dad!” Lauren protests. “You can’t do that. Chase…”
I place a firm hand on her shoulder. She turns toward me and I shake my head. Isaac doesn’t need to know about my past or my current situation. Not now.
It’s won’t change what’s happening nor will it make what we’ve done forgivable.
Lauren gapes in disbelief but doesn’t say another word.
Isaac picks up his shotgun. “If you ever set foot on my property again, I’ll kill you.”
He picks up Lauren’s clothes next and throws them at her. “You. Back to the house. And for God’s sake, put some clothes on.”
As she hastily puts on her skirt and her blouse, Isaac walks off with Smoke beside him.
“Mr. Calver,” I call after him. “Thank you!”
He raises a finger in the air and keeps walking.
Lauren frowns as she watches him then turns to me, throwing her arms around me.
“Don’t go,” she whispers in my ear. “I’ll talk to him. Everything will be okay.”
She runs after her father.
As soon as she’s out of sight, I put my shoes on and go back to the old barn, dragging my feet and slouching my shoulders.
There, I pack my things. Not that there’s much to pack. I only have a few shirts, pants, pairs of underwear, and my toiletries. I’m only taking what I came here with and I’m leaving nothing behind.
Except Lauren.
I lay down on the cot as I wait for morning to come.
I’ll miss its creaks. I’ll miss the rotting barn and the chirping of crickets at night and birds in the morning. I’ll miss the smell of the hay and yes, even the smell from the animal barns. I’ll miss Smoke and Isaac, even though they hate me. And most of all, I’ll miss Lauren.
She’s practically begged me not to go, but I’ve already made up my mind. It’s for the best, both for her and for me.
Staring at the ceiling with the breeze blowing through my face, my eyelids eventually fall shut, allowing me to get a few winks.
I wake up before sunrise, the horizon turning purple as the early splotches of sunlight mingle with the night sky.
I get out of bed, take a shower outside the barn, and change my clothes. When I go back to the barn again to fetch my things so I can leave, Lauren is there, sitting on the bed, wringing her hands on her lap. She’s still wearing the collared blouse and the pleated skirt from last night, the rings under her eyes suggesting she hasn’t been able to sleep. When she sees me, she stands up.
“Chase,” she gasps.
I smile at her. “You didn’t have to come and say goodbye.”
She frowns. “Goodbye? You’re really leaving?”
I sit on the edge of the bed as I put on my shoes. “There isn’t any other option, really. I can’t stay here.”
“But you can’t leave.” Lauren kneels in front of me. “Your life is in danger. If you leave, they’ll find you and…”
I touch her chin. “Have you forgotten? They’ve already found me. This place isn’t safe for me anymore. Nowhere is safe.”
She sinks to the floor.
“Did you tell Isaac about me?” I ask her.
“No. I didn’t tell him a thing.”
I nod, putting on my other shoe.
She lifts her head. “Do you really have to go?”
“You know I do. I don’t want to but I have to. There’s somewhere else I have to be, something else I have to do.”
She places her hands on her knees. “Then I’ll come with you.”
I pause, my eyes wide. “Lauren…”
She gets on her feet. “You can’t leave me here.”
“I can’t get you more involved in this than you already are,” I tell her, walking over to the chair where my backpack is.
“What? Are you trying to push me away again?”
“Lauren…”
“If you’re leaving, I’m coming with you, and you can’t stop me just as much as I can’t stop you.”
Determination glints in her eyes. Or should I say obstinacy?
“Isaac will be even more furious.”
“I don’t care. He’s decided not to speak to me anymore anyway. I’m not good enough for him anymore. I might as well leave.”
I place my hands on her shoulders. “Lauren, if you’re coming with me because you’re mad at your father…”
“I’m not.” She takes my hands in hers. “I mean, I am mad at him, but I’m not coming with you because of that. I’m coming with you because I want to stay by your side.”
And I don’t want her to.
I clasp her hands. “I’ll be back for you when all this is over, I promise.”
“I won’t wait.” She shakes her head. “I’ll be with you until it’s all over, not when.”
I let out a deep breath. Damn, she’s stubborn.
“Come on.” She grabs my arm. “We’ll take my car.”
Chapter 15
Lauren
I sit back in the passenger seat of my car, watching the house fade in the rearview mirror as Chase and I go down the driveway, leaving the ranch behind as the sun rises.
It feels weird leaving the place where I grew up like this. Will I come back?
I’m with a wanted man, after all, a man caught up in a dangerous game where there are billions at stake, armed goons at play, and powerful men pulling strings behind shadows. It’s a world I’ve never known, a world I’m stepping into now.
Even if I manage to survive, I don’t know if I’ll ever be welcome back at the ranch again, not after that fight I had with my father, probably the most serious one we’ve ever had. Even now, I can still remember how those eyes that have always looked at me with pride and joy brimmed with disappointment. When he finds out I’ve gone, which is bound to happen any minute now, he’ll be even more disappointed.
The thought of him at the dining table all alone with shoulders slouched is enough to pinch my heart.
Chase places a hand on my mine. “Are you all right?”
I nod and force a smile. I give his hand a reassuring squeeze. “I’ll be okay.”
“Okay.” He places his hands back on the wheel as he turns his eyes back to the road.
Well, I’m not so sure I’ll be okay. From now on, nothing is certain and that scares the hell out of me. At the same time, though, I can’t help but a buzz of exhilaration
I’m leaving my tower and embarking on an adventure. It’s like I’m eloping, actually, although of course, Chase and I aren’t running off to get married, instead running off to get the bad guy and put his life back in order.
Not as romantic but what the heck, right?
“What are you thinking about?” Chase asks.
“Nothing,” I say. “Just that I’ve never done anything so defiant before.”
“And?”
I nod my head. “It’s all right.”
He chuckles. “I’m a bad influence on you.”
“Yes, you are,” I agree. “Still, I don’t mind.”
I may not know what’s going to happen next, but I don’t regret this decision. I don’t regret being with Chase right now. If I wasn’t, I’d be the one at home, sulking and worrying about him every minute. At least, this way, I can keep him safe or at least, keep him from being reckless. I’ll know for sure he’s okay and I’ll be here, within an arm’s reach, when he needs me.
I place my hand on his thigh, squeeze it, then sink into my seat, hugging my purse as I look out of the window.
The sky has turned a pale blue now, thin clouds swept across it. Beneath it, the fields and pastures stretch out for miles, overlooked by the mountains in the distance.
This is ranch country – acres and acres of land tucked away from the rest of the world, relatively untouched, undisturbed.
And I’m leaving it behind.
We spend the rest of the trip to Billings in silence except for the music streaming from the radio. My mind is occupied with thoughts of home and speculations about the future whereas Chase must be trying to figure out what to do next. I may be anxious leaving my home but he
must be even more so, trying to reclaim his.
Eventually, the fields and mountains disappear from view as the sun rises higher and higher, the clouds give way to it and vanish. Rows of trees flank the road now and soon, those give way to shops. We make a quick stop at one to buy some food. Then the shops are replaced with buildings, the sunlight bouncing off their glass exteriors.
We’ve arrived at Billings and the fact that Chase is putting on his sunglasses and his cap is proof that we’ve entered enemy territory.
I sit up, shoulders straight. We can’t take it easy anymore.
I glance at Chase. “Is that all you’re wearing? No headphones? No face mask?”
“I’m fine,” he says, running a hand over his cap to make sure it’s securely in place. “Anyway, I’m not going to be out in the open meeting anyone this time. I’ll stay in the shadows.”
I nod then adjust the rearview mirror so I can study my reflection it. “What about me? Do I need to wear a disguise?”
The last time I was in Billings, I was wearing one but only because I was tailing Chase and I didn’t want him to know it.
“Maybe put on sunglasses.” Chase reaches across me to open the dashboard compartment. “In case one of those thugs sees you.”
Of course. I’ve met three of them before and if any of them recognize me, I’m dead.
I take my oversized sunglasses out, putting them on as Chase closes the compartment.
My reflection in the rearview mirror sobers me. My eyes are hidden by the red-tinted lenses.
That’s better.
“And maybe wear a sweater,” Chase adds, grabbing the sweater in the back seat and tossing it on my lap.
A sweater? I look at the garment with furrowed eyebrows. There’s a stain on my blouse.
Blood.
I may have removed the bloodstain on my arm but not the one on my blouse, which I haven’t noticed until now.
Just the sight of it makes my stomach coil, bringing back an unpleasant memory, but I calm myself down and put the sweater on.
I fold the sleeves. “Where to?”
Chase shrugs and leans forward to peer through the windshield as the car stops at an intersection.
“I guess we have to look for a place to stay.”
* * *