Leading Hand (The Dusty Rider Series Book 2)

by Stella Knights

  Sighing, she lays down on her side.

  The wind howls, blowing the heavy rain against the tin roof.

  I hope we get a break from this rain soon.

  I sink deeper into the cushions and turn up the television volume.

  The movie ends, but Aiden still has not returned. I flip through the channels once again before stopping on the news.

  A boom of thunder resonates through the house and the lights flicker.

  Shivering, I pull the blanket tighter around my shoulders to block the damp draft surrounding me.

  Another crack of thunder grumbles. This time the lights dim, then go out completely.

  God, I wish Aiden were here.

  Remembering the flashlight in the kitchen pantry, I let my eyes adjust to the darkness before getting up to find it. Once it’s in my hand, I move towards the sink and glance out the window.

  How long does it take two guys to patch a fence?

  Staring into the darkness, I get a glimpse of the paddocks each time a burst of lightning arcs across the sky. Looking around the yard, my attention is caught by strange flashes of light coming from inside the shed.

  Is Aiden in there?

  Bending down, I pat Scout on the forehead. “Come with me, girl.”

  With only lightning and a flashlight to guide me through the darkness, I run to the shed. The rain soaks my clothes as I try to move across the muddy ground.

  Opening the door, there’s a strange glint of light, but I’m not sure where it’s coming from. Scanning the room with my torch, I move inside, my heart pounding.

  After taking several steps, the heavy door slams behind me, causing me to almost leap out of my skin.

  A chill runs up my spine with each step closer to the source of the flickering lights.

  Scout lets out an ominous whimper as we move further inside.

  Carefully, I peer around the corner and find sparks flying from the fuse box.

  That doesn’t look good. Where’s Aiden when I need him?

  The lights flicker and come back on.

  The clang of a tool dropping against concrete catches my attention. I turn to look for the source of the sound, but when I do, the fuse box crackles and the lights go out again.

  Aiming my torch across the room, my hand shakes, causing the torch to jiggle and create threatening shadows that do nothing to calm my nerves.

  Thunder booms again, and I can hear every nut and bolt squeak as the shed shakes under the pressure.

  Ugh! I hate being alone in the dark.

  I slap my palm against the dimming torch and attempt to bring it back to life.

  I turn to leave the shed and go back into the safety of the house, but a shadowy figure catches my eye.

  “Who’s there?” I yell at the sinister form.

  “Don’t be scared. It’s just me.”

  Oh, whew! It’s Toddy.

  Standing by the door, his words are slurred. “Holly, we finally have a moment alone.”

  An uneasy laugh leaves my throat. “What you mean?”

  He hiccups and moves closer. “I see how you smile at me.”

  My hands tremble while my fingers grip tightly around the torch. “What are you talking about?”

  “I know you want me.”

  Shaking my head in disbelief, I try to swallow the lump lodged in my throat. “Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t want you. I want Aiden.”

  “I see the way you look at me.” Almost incoherent, his speech comes out garbled. He takes another step closer and backs me up against a wall.

  I scan around the shed. There’s so much farming equipment that I don’t see a way to make my escape.

  He smirks as he inches closer and throws his Akubra onto the ground behind him.

  I can smell the sweetness of Bundaberg rum on his breath. “You’re drunk.”

  “Doesn’t matter.” He hiccups and pulls his shirt loose from his pants.

  Where is Aiden? Weren’t they fixing the fence together?

  Using the torch, I try to glance behind Toddy, but he’s blocked my view. My pulse quickens with the realisation that I’m completely stuck. My stomach sinks and I stutter, “Toddy, where’s Aiden?”

  “He’s fixing the fence, far away from here.” His body heaves as he hiccups again. “You are so beautiful, Holly. Just give me one kiss.”

  I again try to swallow the lump in my throat. “No! I’m not going to kiss you.”

  The smell of stale alcohol on his breath mixed with the scent of his sweat makes me nauseous.

  Thunder crashes loudly. The rain pummelling against the shed’s steel roof is deafening. My stomach knots at the realisation that if I tried to scream no one would hear me.

  How do I get him to stop and back away?

  I try to keep my voice even. “When’s Aiden coming back?”

  He steadies himself against a shelf. “Don’t know. Don’t care.”

  A bright flash and rumble of thunder shakes the shed.

  I glance upward at the ceiling. “We should go inside.”

  “We can stay right here.” He leans towards me and stares straight into my face, hitting me with breath so strong it’d catch on fire if I lit a match.

  I wince. “Please don’t.”

  “Don’t what?”

  As I press myself against the wall, my mobile phone drops out of my pocket.

  My phone! I can call for help. But who do I call? I don’t know Aiden’s number.

  Bending to reach it, I take my eyes off Toddy.

  He wrestles the torch from my grip and throws it to the ground. Without hesitation, he then kicks my phone across the concrete floor, straight into the darkness.

  Crap!

  Toddy pushes his leg between mine.

  “Get away from me.” I cry through gritted teeth.

  “Oh, but I know you want me.” He presses his body firmly against mine. “I’ve seen the way you stare at me.” He strokes my cheek with his calloused finger. “I can show you things you never knew about.”

  I cringe at his touch.

  Scout growls and lunges at us.

  “Ow! What the fuck?” Toddy looks down and kicks the dog off his ankle.

  Scout whimpers as she somersaults across the floor.

  I struggle, trying to peer around Toddy to see if she’s all right, but he holds me firmly in place.

  Aiden, where are you?

  I close my eyes and command, “Aiden’s going to be back any second. Let me go.”

  “After you give me a kiss.” He pants a hot, sticky breath against my ear as he pulls me closer.

  My heart beats fast. I wince and press my body further against the wall, trying to put distance, no matter how small, between us.

  If I let him kiss me once, will that give me a chance to get away? Oh, but that breath makes me want to puke. I don’t think I could do it.

  He grips my body while his mouth makes contact below my ear. He whispers, his putrid exhalation searing against my skin. “I know you’ve been flirting with me since we met.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Vomit rises in my throat.

  “Night after night, making me listen to you fuck Aiden.” He hiccups. “It’s my turn to have you.”

  I beg through my clamped jaw. “Please stop.” A shudder runs up my spine when I see into his blank eyes. It’s as though he’s not there.

  Thunder sends another tremor through the shed.

  My body freezes. I go numb, trying to not feel anything, as he presses harder against my body and his teeth bite against my neck.

  I close my eyes and choke back a sob, willing this moment to be over.

  But Toddy doesn’t care, or even notice that I’m petrified.

  I try to yell, but his hand clamps across my mouth, holding me back from making any sound. I attempt to move my jaw and bite his fingers, but he’s too smart and holds my lips shut. My screams reverberate back into my throat in a guttural sound drowned by booming cracks of thunder.

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nbsp; Toddy pushes me onto the cold concrete floor.

  I squirm, but his legs pin me in place. My body heaves and tears fall from my eyes.

  “Just relax, Holly. You’ll soon see that I’m much better than Aiden.”

  I struggle and try to shake my head free, but his grip is too tight.

  As drunk as he is, he manages to use his weight to hold me in place while one of his hands finds the waist of my jeans.

  Gasping for air, I whimper against the hand over my mouth.

  He stops and gazes at my face. “I’ve been in love with you since the moment I first laid eyes on you.” He takes his hand away from my mouth, stroking his fingers against my cheek while staring at me with empty eyes.

  “If you love me, you’ll let me go.”

  “You should be mine.” He grunts and pushes against my jeans. “Aiden always gets everything, even if I’m the one who deserves it.” As he fumbles with undoing his belt buckle, his grip on me loosens, giving me a chance to wriggle one arm free.

  I feel around the ground, trying to find anything I can use to knock him senseless. But my fingers find nothing except cold, unforgiving concrete.

  He whispers, almost as if he is trying to console me. “Holly, you have no idea how much I care about you.”

  Through tears, I choke out my words. “If you really care, you’ll stop. Please, Toddy. Don’t do this.”

  Slurring his words, he kisses my neck again. “But I have to. It’s the only way.”

  “You don’t have to. Let’s talk. Maybe there’s another way.”

  “I don’t think you’ll give me the time of day. You’ll be like all the rest. Everyone chooses Aiden. I’m always second.” He reaches down, grabbing at himself while he pushes against me. “I know once you have me, you’ll want more of me.”

  I squeeze my eyes shut and a tear runs down my temple. “If you won’t stop, will you at least put on a condom?”

  Nothing I say brings him back to reality. I go limp underneath him as he makes one final tear against my panties, leaving me completely unprotected.

  Boom!

  “Get the fuck off her!” Aiden’s roar follows the gunshot, cutting through the room.

  Opening my eyes, I find the glint of cold steel centimetres from my face.

  Aiden stands above us, his gun pointed at Toddy’s head. “Back off her now!”

  Toddy stumbles to his feet. “Chill, Aiden. We’re just having some fun.”

  “I don’t think so.” Aiden glares at Toddy before speaking. “You okay, Holly?”

  “I think so.” I sit up and struggle to pull my jeans back on.

  Dropping the gun, Aiden lunges forward, pushing Toddy to the ground in a bone-crunching blow. Blood flies across the room as he coils back his arm, hitting him over and over again, not slowing until Toddy goes unconscious against the ground.

  I’m in shock as I pull on my clothes and rush over to check Scout. Giving her a gentle shake, her head lifts but she does not stand up.

  After a few more punches, Aiden stops himself just as the lights come back on.

  Toddy lies against the concrete, blood spilling from gashes on his face.

  Aiden stands and rushes to my side. He lifts my face to meet his gaze, inadvertently smearing blood against my chin. “Are you really okay?”

  I nod and collapse against Aiden’s body. Sobbing uncontrollably, my body heaves in the safety of Aiden’s embrace.

  He lifts me into his arms.

  Through my sobs, I get out the words, “Wait. Help Scout.”

  “What? What do you mean?”

  I lift my hand, flaccidly pointing toward Scout, lying hurt near the wall.

  Aiden looks down and his jaw drops seeing his dog. “I’ll be right back, girl.”

  He carries me through the pouring rain and into the house, all the way upstairs to our bedroom.

  Putting me down on the bathroom counter, Aiden wipes the tears from my face. “Let me help you get cleaned up.” He turns on the shower and undresses me. Leading me under the tap, he grabs the sponge and washes away the imprints left by Toddy’s grasp.

  As the hot water flows across my body, the tears stop, but the shock remains.

  “Holly, I’m so sorry.” He peers down towards my feet. “But I have to ask. Did, he, ah, hurt you?”

  I close my eyes and can’t find the words that would answer his question.

  Aiden grimaces, patiently waiting for an answer.

  “He didn’t penetrate me if that is what you’re asking.”

  “Do you want to call the police?” He grabs my hand and holds my fingers against his lips. “I’ll stand by you with whatever you decide to do.”

  I shake my head. I’m exhausted, and I don’t know what to say or how to feel. I’m just glad Aiden showed up before it went any further.

  Besides, would the police even care? Toddy would probably get a slap on the wrist, and they’d call it assault even though it should be rape. Because that is how I feel. I said ‘no’, yet he kept going. Luckily, he was stopped before it went too far. All the same, to me that’s rape. To them, it’s something else they will minimise with fancy legal jargon. They’ll somehow blame me. I know how this game goes. There are no winners in these situations.

  Standing under the water, I let him wash me, cleaning away the memory of Toddy’s hands and replacing them with his tender touch.

  He turns off the tap and helps me out of the shower. Wrapping a soft, terry cloth towel around my body, he holds me, kissing the top of my head. “Let me go check on Scout.”

  I grab his arm. “Don’t take long.”

  Pulling me tight, he holds my head against his chest. “I won’t. I’m just going to get Scout and bring her up here.” After stroking my wet hair, he guides me to the bedroom. “Here, lie down.” He motions towards the bed.

  “Please don’t take long.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, Holly. I’ll only be a minute and I’ll lock the door behind me.”

  A tear falls down my cheek.

  He wipes it away. “He can’t hurt you now. I promise.”

  Aiden races down the stairs, the sound of his footsteps echo across the house, while I rest in the cotton sheets.

  A few minutes later, Aiden returns with Scout in his arms. Placing her on the ground, he checks her over. “I think she’s broken her leg. I’ll set it, and maybe I can get through the roads in the morning to get her to the vet to make sure it’s done properly.”

  I watch while he helps the quivering dog. He carefully wraps her in a warm blanket, and when he is finished, pats her head to help her relax. Standing up, he comes and wraps himself around me.

  His arms are better than any blanket.

  He smooths my hair and kisses my forehead. “I’m so sorry, Holly.”

  Exhausted, I fall asleep in his arms.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  SITTING IN BED, anger brews within me. Trying to suppress this emotion only makes me weary and numb. I rub my throbbing temples but memories of last night ignite my old fears.

  Last time, my heart was left in pieces. I lost so much because of one night. My self-worth, my power, my family. Why has this happened again? What will I lose this time?

  I let out an angry groan. The sound is stark against the stillness of the room but does not wake Aiden whose chest continues to rise and fall rhythmically. Looking at the floor, I watch Scout sleeping in the makeshift bed Aiden created for her last night.

  Thank you, girl, for trying to help.

  As if she’s reading my mind, her eyes open and meet my gaze.

  I’m too exhausted to even muster a half smile back to her. Closing my eyes, I think back to what led me to Australia in the first place.

  Aiden touches me, but I don’t flinch.

  He pulls my hand towards him, holding it against his bare chest. “You okay?”

  “Yeah.” I reply through a fake yawn.

  “I’m sorry.” His eyes look heavy as he stares into my face.

&nbs
p; “It’s not your fault.”

  He kisses the back of my hand. “I think it is. Toddy and I had a fight, and when he’s pissed off, he gets drunk and hellbent on revenge. He’s like a different person until he sleeps it off.”

  I look back towards Scout, unsure of what to say.

  Aiden exhales. “When I went into the shed to get Toddy to help me patch the fence, I found him hammered, completely drunk. I told him to clean himself up and get to work because shit needed to be done.”

  I turn my head to look at his face but stop mid-motion.

  Maybe if I keep my eyes closed I can disappear, leaving Aiden to always remember me in the way he does now, instead of how he’ll think of me once I tell him my past.

  He keeps talking, explaining what he thinks happened. “When Toddy finally got to the fence, I was frustrated and not thinking straight.” Aiden pauses, taking a slow breath. “I asked him about the rumours of him owing money and stealing cattle. He went ballistic and started shouting. He kept complaining how easy I have things and that I owed him. I told him he’s full of shit because I always cover for him, pay his debts and take the blame, and that’s the only reason he’s never spent a night in jail.”

  Continuing to avoid his gaze, I press my lips together, still unsure of what to say.

  “He said something about you hitting on him and how he wanted to hurt me for…” Aiden looks to the floor but doesn’t finish his sentence. He pushes a lock of my hair off my face. “I didn’t think he would hurt you.”

  I stare into his tear filled eyes.

  He studies my face. “Holly, I have to ask, did he ever make any moves on you before yesterday?”

  I should have said something before now.

  “He was always overly friendly and maybe even a little flirtatious, but I just thought that was his personality.” I exhale and bite at my fingernail. “I guess there were a few times he was inappropriate.”

  Aiden raises his eyebrows. “How?”

  “He made comments, and I’m sure he pinched my backside the day we were water skiing, but he said it was an eel.”

  Grinding his fist against his palm, Aiden says, “Why didn’t you tell me?” His nostrils flare while he breathes in a slow, deep breath. “I would have stopped it then.”

  “I thought he was harmless. He’s your best friend and if I caused a problem between you two, then you’d choose him. Isn’t that universal guy code?”