Applewild

by Heather Lin

  “That’s a shame.”

  Monroe joined them, sitting in the chair beside Alton, on the other side of the tiny table. He wanted to move it out of the way; he didn’t want anything separating them again.

  “He knew better. He signed a confidentiality agreement, for goodness’ sake,” Madison said. “I don’t feel bad at all about whatever the consequences are for Jamal. I just want to see consequences for the online magazine, too.”

  “Do you have anything on Jamal besides speculation?” Alton asked.

  “I’m honestly hoping he’ll just confess in exchange for a plea deal.”

  “I’ll look on his Facebook,” Monroe offered, pulling out her phone. “I always used it to see if he was calling out because he was sick or because he’d been partying the night before.”

  “Great,” Madison said. “The more dirt we can take to the police, the better.”

  “I don’t understand how he would have taken the picture, though. Unless…unless, wait, yes I do.” Monroe looked up from her phone to Alton. “He was already pissed at me for reprimanding him. He knew where to find me. I bet that’s how he made contact with the webzine in the first place. He sold them the picture.”

  Alton shook his head, anger seeping into his veins. Monroe turned back to her phone.

  “He blocked me,” she said. “But I have Shannon’s login.”

  She tapped her phone a few more times. “There’s a status update from the day he left. ‘Quit my job. Found a better-paying gig’ and then a few days later he links to one of the articles and says ‘Wonder how this got out. Winky-face.’ I can take a screen shot and send it to you.”

  “Perfect. Let me give you my number,” Madison said, taking Monroe’s phone and entering her information.

  Monroe sent the pictures, and then Madison set her phone aside to focus on Monroe. “Now that’s done with, I want to know how you’re doing.”

  “I’m fine,” Monroe replied. “Really. This was nothing compared to the first time.”

  Madison shook her head. “That whole ordeal must have been just awful. I had no idea you’d been through so much.”

  “You weren’t supposed to. I was hoping my past would stay in the past. My father had other plans.”

  Alton noticed Monroe was avoiding eye contact, nervous about discussing her personal history, things she’d never meant to mention. He also noticed she wasn’t wearing her glove. The top button of her shirt was undone, leaving the corner of the bandage visible. She was coming to terms with her scars, with her past, and no longer giving it as much hold over her present.

  “We’re glad you’re okay,” Madison told her. “And you’re welcome here as long as you like, as often as you like. I wish I could offer you your old job back, too, but maybe we could find you a diff—”

  “No,” Alton interrupted.

  Monroe stared at him. He hadn’t meant the word to come out so abrasively. He backtracked.

  “I just mean…I was going to ask you to reconsider coming to New Zealand with me. Your dad’s no longer a threat. I know being in the public eye is nerve-wracking, but we can handle it. Together.”

  Monroe seemed to think about it for a moment, but when her eyes met his they were apologetic. His heart sank. “I want to be with you. But I have responsibilities here. I’m sure it will be more than a few days before I’m allowed to leave the country. I have the job at the tack shop and the townhouse. And I don’t want to leave Werther for three months. He’s in a new place with strange horses and strange caregivers…”

  “We’ll take him. We’ll board him,” Madison said quickly.

  “Then fly out to meet me when you’ve gotten everything sorted out. Or, hell, I’ll come back and get you.”

  Monroe looked from Madison to Alton and back again. She sighed and smiled.

  “Okay, then.”

  XIX

  “Easy, Werther,” Monroe murmured as she unhitched her horse from inside Applewild’s trailer.

  Madison and Beth were there to help him get situated in the barn. She thought she’d never see the inside of that building again. It was great to be back, even if she had to say goodbye just as quickly. It broke her heart to know she was leaving Werther for so long, but it broke her heart even more to be away from Alton. He’d already been in New Zealand for a week, and she missed him more than she’d thought possible.

  Beth led the way to Werther’s stall. There was fresh straw on the ground, fresh water in the bucket, and a few sugar cubes in his feed pail. She smiled at the part-time hand, who gave a modest shrug.

  “I just wanted to give him a little welcome home present.”

  “Thank you. I’m glad he’ll be in good hands”

  “Of course.” Beth smiled and patted Werther on the neck as Monroe closed the door, shutting him inside. “I can e-mail you pictures and updates, too, if you want.”

  “That would be great.”

  “Do you have time for a walk before you go?” Madison asked.

  “Sure.”

  Monroe walked with Madison along the familiar path to the back pasture. She’d been busy for the last week and a half. She’d put in her notice at the tack shop. Her apartment was under contract, and although it had been cleaned so well there was no trace left of the confrontation with her father, the memory was burned into her brain. She would have to move eventually, for sanity’s sake, but for now she had miraculously found someone to sub-let it while she was in New Zealand. Most of her things were in storage. She had two suitcases and a carry on in her truck. Madison had volunteered Beth to drive her to the airport.

  “Are you all ready to go?” Madison asked.

  “More than ready.”

  “And you’ve cleared everything up with the police?”

  “They’re not pressing charges. I had to go in for another round of questioning, and I’ve left them my information in New Zealand, of course, in case they need to get in touch for some reason. How are things looking for Jamal?”

  “He’s been charged with installing eavesdropping equipment. Could get up to ten years. It’s his first offense, so I’m sure his sentence won’t be too extreme. But hopefully he’ll learn his lesson.”

  “I hope so. He created so many problems. I’m sure he didn’t even consider all the different ways his leaks could affect people.”

  Madison paused, and then asked, “The articles helped your father find you, didn’t they?”

  “They did.”

  “And Alton? Did he use him, too?”

  Monroe looked at her feet, trying to decide if she should tell her. “He did.”

  “Did you tell him that?”

  “No.”

  “Good. It would tear him apart.”

  “I know.”

  “I’m glad you two found each other,” Madison said. “You’re good for him. I’ve never seen him so happy.”

  “You don’t have to say that. Sophie made him happy, too. I just won’t make the mistake of losing him.”

  Madison wrapped an arm around Monroe and squeezed. “I’m glad to hear you say that.”

  They headed back to the barn, where Beth was waiting for her.

  “I put your stuff in the truck,” she said as Monroe reached her.

  “Thanks.”

  Monroe went in to rub Werther’s nose and say a final farewell. “Sorry I’ve been saying goodbye more often than hello,” she murmured. “But there’s another man in my life now.”

  Werther gave a snort she imagined to be indignant, and Monroe smiled. Then she made herself turn away and join Beth in the Applewild truck.

  As they pulled away, she waved to Madison, then looked down at her phone to send Alton one simple, life-changing text.

  On my way.

  If you enjoyed Applewild, be sure to check out the Westridge trilogy, now available on Amazon Kindle! Don’t have a Kindle? Download the app for your phone or tablet.

  About the Author

  Heather resides in Delaware with her husband, cat, and yell
ow lab. She began writing romance and erotica in 2008 and hasn’t been able to keep her mind out of the gutter since. Follow @heatherlin88 on Twitter, like Heather Lin on Facebook, and visit HeatherLin.com to stay connected.