She writes that down, flashes us a smile and disappears.
“So, tell me Rachel, what do you do for a living?” Roy asks, placing his hands on the table and leaning forward just a little so he can hear me.
He really is cute.
“I’m currently training to be a full-time legal assistant.”
“Wow, that’s a great and rewarding career. What made you want to do that?”
I shrug. “I always liked the legal side of things, but never had the determination to go the while way and become an actual lawyer.”
“Well, it sounds like you’re in a good position then.”
I nod. “What about you? What do you do?”
“I work and breed horses at a ranch just south of here.”
Wow. That’s surprisingly hot.
“Wow, that’s really awesome. Do you like it?”
He nods. “Was raised on a ranch, lived on them my whole life, and horses are my passion. It was a win-win for me, I always knew it was what I’d do.”
“That’s amazing that you’re so dedicated and know exactly what you want in life, not many people have that kind of drive anymore.”
“No, you’re right about that, they don’t. I was raised right, I can’t deny that. I always knew what I wanted to be, I always knew I wanted a family, and a good life on a ranch.”
“That’s admirable.” I smile. “So, have you not had any long-term girlfriends that have wanted the same?”
He shakes his head. “No, unfortunately, that life scares most of them away this day and age. They’re too afraid of getting their hands dirty, or ruining their hair, not many girls are willing to endure that kind of thing.”
“That’s a shame, because most girls should know there aren’t many men left around that are willing to put in the kind of commitment you want.”
He grins. “Then I guess it was your lucky day when you approached me at the bar.”
I giggle. “I didn’t approach you, technically you approached me and I was simply using my manners.”
He chuckles. “Either way, I’m glad.”
“Yeah, I’m starting to think I might be too.”
The waitress comes back with our pizza after about half an hour of easy flowing conversation. She places a pizza down in front of us, and my mouth waters. Oh, my gosh, it looks incredible. Thick crust with some sort of creamy sauce as the base, then pieces of chicken, bacon, and mushroom, coated with cheese and some sort of creamy swirl on top. It looks so good, my stomach grumbles in protest.
“This looks amazing,” I say. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“It does look incredible. Dig in,” Roy says, handing me a plate and placing a piece of pizza on it for me.
I take it, without hesitation. I was never one of those girls that nibbled food in front of a man, worried about how it might look. I love food. I’m not even close to being ashamed of that. If a man doesn’t like that I’m a woman that can eat, then he needs to walk out the door, because it isn’t about to change anytime soon.
“Good to see a girl that isn’t afraid of food.” Roy laughs when I take a bite and moan out loud.
“I love food too much to even pretend I don’t live for it,” I say after swallowing. “This is sooo good.”
“You’re right, it’s incredible.”
We eat in silence, because the food is too good to talk through. Once we’re done, and I’m so full I can hardly move, Roy pays for it and we head out. He drives me home, and we talk the entire way. It’s nice. He’s a good guy. And I’ve had a great day. I turn to him when he stops in front of my cabin.
“Thank you so much, I had a really great day.”
“Me too, thank you for letting me show you around. Maybe we can do it again?”
“Of course.”
He winks at me. “Enjoy the rest of your day, darlin’.”
I grin at him and then climb out of the truck, waving as he disappears down the road.
“A cowboy. Didn’t pick that as your type.”
I squeal and spin around at the voice behind me to see Slade standing, arms crossed, watching Roy’s truck disappear.
“What would you know about my type? You don’t even know me.”
“I know how you kissed me last night, that was enough answer.”
I gape at him. “You have some nerve, for a man who slept with another woman after kissing me. I don’t play those kinds of games. You should know by now there are plenty of other females who do, but I’ve never been one of them, and I don’t intend on starting anytime soon.”
He studies me. “Not what your kiss said. You wanted that as much as I fuckin’ did.”
The arrogant jerk.
He has some nerve.
“You know what, Slade? I was drunk. I don’t even remember it. I know one thing, though, I do not like you. Not at all. Now, if you don’t mind.”
I pivot and walk up the stairs and into my cabin.
That man.
He has to ruin all my good moods.
Gah!
~*~*~*~
I’m still so full a few hours later, so I decide to go for a walk. I haven’t really explored the woodland area around my cabin, and figure it’s time I go and have a look. Besides, I need to work off some of that pizza. It’ll be dark in just over an hour, so I’ll wander down Ryder’s path and check things out. I pull on a pair of running shoes, a pair of jeans and a jacket, and pull my hair into a ponytail.
I grab a bottle of water from my fridge and head outside. The air is crisp; it’s going to be a cool night. I glance over at Slade’s cabin and see him standing on the porch, watching me, talking on the phone. I don’t wave, I just skip down my steps and walk into the woods. It’s gorgeous in here, the area filled with shrubs, trees, logs, and rocks. It’s a new discovery wherever I turn.
A cool wind trickles through the trees, and birds sing up high. I can see why Ryder comes in here—it’s peaceful, the kind of peace you simply cannot find with people around. I walk without thought, moving deeper and deeper into the woods, running my fingers over flowers, picking up different shaped rocks, and just enjoying what’s been so beautifully presented for me.
A loud crashing noise behind me startles me, and I spin around too quickly, tripping backward over a rock. I try to stop myself from falling, but there’s no hope, I hit the ground hard, twisting my ankle. A crack fills the air. I wince, and my already tender ribs from the other night cramp up. Dammit. Only I could ruin a perfectly peaceful moment by falling over.
I go to push up, and a sharp pain stabs through my ankle. It’s so severe, I fall forward again, a sweat breaking out across my forehead. I twisted it harder than I thought. I glance down and see it swelling already. I try once again to stand, but I can’t put any weight on it. You’ve got to be kidding me! Frustration bubbles in my chest, and I let out a pained growl.
Damn this week. Dammit.
The sun is just starting to set on the horizon, which means if I don’t get out of here soon, I’m going to be left alone in the dark. I don’t know much about the wild animals that roam in these woods, but I don’t want to find out when the sun sets. I didn’t bring my phone, either, which was completely stupid of me. Who doesn’t bring their phone when going for a walk into the woods alone?
I’m an idiot.
It’ll be my own stupid fault if I get eaten by some crazy creature out here. Nobody will even know until I don’t show up for work tomorrow, and even then, it’ll be days before they find my chewed up remains. I shake my head at my own overdramatic thoughts and think. Maybe I can use a stick to hobble out? One that’ll let me take the weight off my foot. Yes, that seems like a logical idea.
I glance around for a stick big enough to hold me, but in the close vicinity, there is nothing. Not a twig, not a stick, nothing. There are a few fallen logs, but that is hardly helpful to me. I’m going to have to hop, or at least try and hop. Hopefully, there is a stick near by, and I won’t have to hop my way out of these woods. Tak
ing a deep, shaky breath, I push up, keeping my ankle off the ground. I swallow down the pain that shoots up my leg. I did a good job. I hope I have only sprained it.
I hop once, using the trees near me to place my hand on to steady myself. I do this for a solid ten minutes, but still can’t find a stick. The sun is beginning to set even faster, and it’s getting cold. Freezing, even. I shiver as I try to catch my breath. I try not panic take over, but the fact of the matter is that I’m in the woods, and it’s about to get dark, and I’m hurt.
I don’t want to spend a night alone out here.
I fight back the tears that build up in my throat and catch my breath. I can stand here and cry about it, or I can keep going until I find something to get me out of here. I slow down my panting, and then start hopping again. My good foot is starting to ache, from the pressure being put on it to hop my entire body weight through a forest. I don’t stop, though.
As the sun lowers down on the horizon, I find myself becoming even more panicked. Once the sun is down, I won’t even be able to see. What if I go in the wrong direction? Oh, God, if that sun goes down and night falls, I’ll have to stop to avoid getting lost, if that happens, I could very easily die out here. The tears finally fall, and I don’t stop them. I also don’t stop hopping, I hop until my lungs burn and my body aches.
I came in further than I thought.
I was so lost in my own thoughts, I must have walked a whole lot further than I first thought. I suppose hopping probably makes it seem like a bigger distance, but the fact of the matter is, I can’t even see Ryder’s fort, and until I do, I know I’m not close to the edge. It could be close by, it could be another half an hour away, either way, the sun is dropping quickly and it’s getting dark.
My chest is tight with panic, and I try to suck it in to stop it over taking and slowing me down. It doesn’t take away the horrible feeling making itself known in my chest, spreading until my heart is pounding and my stomach is turning. I’ve read stories like this, the ones where someone goes missing and is never found again.
I’m being dramatic.
Calm down.
I’m not that far away from civilization—worst case scenario, I spend a night out here. I’ll be OK, I’ll freeze and likely get eaten by something, but I’m sure, I’m sure, I’ll be OK. Right? A sob escapes, and I didn’t even realize I was crying so heavily. I’m afraid. There’s no point in denying that. I’m afraid, I’m freezing and my ankle is killing me.
Every hop is getting harder and harder, all my muscles hurt, and my foot is throbbing and swollen. I find a log, and I know I have to sit down. If I don’t, I’ll never make this last stretch. The sun is dropping lower on the horizon, and with every passing minute, it gets darker and darker. I drop my head into my hands, trying to catch my breath.
My lungs feel like they’re on fire.
Another sob escapes, and my teeth start chattering together. Even all the hopping isn’t enough to keep me warm from the night time weather that’s coming in. It gets cold here at night, and I’m not wearing enough to keep me warm when that sun disappears completely. The pain in my foot is bad enough now that the very idea of standing and hopping again makes me cry harder.
Dammit, I came here to start a new life, to be better off, and all that I’m getting is constant crap from every direction.
Another sob.
Someone calling my name. My head jerks up, and I blink through my tears, trying to squint through the trees to see if I was imagining it. A flashlight swings down the path, and I cry out in happiness as my name is called again. Slade. I’d know that voice anywhere. My sobbing gets harder as relief floods my body. I’m not going to die out here. I’m not going to spend the night out here.
“Fuck.”
Slade comes into view and shines the flashlight on me. I hiccup and swipe my cheeks, so relieved. Slade takes one look at me, and lowers the flashlight, striding over until he reaches me. He tucks it into his pocket and then leans down, scooping me into his arms with one swift movement. He lifts me into the air, and with a warm breath against my ear, he says to me, “You’re OK, I’ve got you. You’re OK.”
“I just went for a walk,” I stammer. “I didn’t ... I didn’t ...”
“It’s OK, I’m here now. You’re freezing. I’m going to get you warm, honey.”
Honey.
I close my eyes and turn my face into his chest, breathing in a smell that brings me comfort.
Right now, I’m so grateful to him.
So grateful.
NINE
“Can’t I just—”
“No,” Slade says, getting a blanket and some warm clothes and handing them to me. “No, you can’t have a shower. If you warm up too quickly, you’ll make yourself seriously sick. You have to do it slowly. You were colder than you thought.”
I shiver, and I can see the faint tinge of blue in my hands. He’s right, I’m colder than I think. My head is aching, my body hurts, and right now the only thing I want to do is go and sit in my shower for hours, but I know he’s right, I know I can’t. So, I take the blanket, not wanting to move from the spot on the sofa that he put me, because my entire body aches.
“Get changed, I won’t look. I’m going to make some tea.”
He turns and walks into the kitchen. I watch him go, slowly shuffling out of my clothes with a wince, and putting on the warm track pants he gave me as well as the shirt. My clothes are slightly damp and they were making me colder than I realized. Pulling on the dry clothes makes me feel warmer straight away. Slade comes back from the kitchen with a cup of tea in his hand. He takes a seat beside me and hands it over.
“Thank you,” I say in a whispered voice as I take it and my body shudders with happiness as warmth radiates through my hands and up my arms.
“Drink it real slow,” he orders. “Don’t put your body into shock.”
I nod and take a sip of the tea, closing my eyes and loving how it feels sliding down my throat.
“What were you thinkin’ goin’ into the woods alone so close to dark?” Slade asks me in a scratchy, low tone.
I’m sure I look sheepish, because I feel sheepish. I should know better than to go into the woods alone, especially when I know absolutely nothing about what’s out there. It’s so clear now, but I was just so frustrated earlier and I just needed something to take my mind off everything. That nearly caused me more than I was willing to give.
“I know it was stupid,” I tell him, glancing at my cup instead of the piercing brown eyes that are fixated on my face. “I just needed to clear my head and before I knew it I had walked further than I thought, and then I twisted my ankle ...”
I trail off and glance down at my ankle. Slade put ice on it as soon as he put me down on the sofa, but he didn’t let me hold it on too long because my body was already so freezing. It’s swollen, and aching still, but the painkillers he gave me have set in and it isn’t throbbing like it was.
“You need to get that looked at in the morning,” he tells me.
“Do you think it’s broken?”
He shakes his head. “No, it’s not broken. You would be in agony if it were broken. I think you’ve just sprained it, but you want to check for ligament damage, maybe even a fracture.”
I put my head in my hands. “I just started my new job, this week is the worst of my life, what am I going to say to them if I can’t walk around and do the job they hired me to do?”
“I’m sure they’ll understand, it’s not your fault. They can’t get angry at you for it,” he murmurs, reaching down and placing his big, warm hands around my ankle. He lifts it up and I have to hold back the gasp of air as he gently rolls it from side to side, looking at it. “Now,” he continues, still holding my ankle in his hands. “We’re going to finish talking about why you were in those woods.”
“Can we not?” I murmur. “I told you already that I just needed to clear my head.”
“Why?” he demands.
“Why are you so bossy?”
I mutter, pushing my bottom lip out further than I’d like to admit. I quickly pull it back in and stop the sulking.
“Tone down the snippy comments and just answer me.”
I exhale. “I just don’t feel like I’m fitting in here. I’m having a good time, don’t get me wrong, but things just keep going wrong.”
“Like?” he prompts.
“Like my boss being a dick, my neighbor being a dick, for a start ...”
He stares at me. “I’m not being a dick to you. If I recall, it’s been you coming over and throwing your weight around, running your mouth off ...”
“That’s because ... that’s because ...” I trail off.
“I’m not the only one being a pain in the ass.”
I open my mouth, close it, think on it, and then say, “I was new here, I had no idea, you saw I was alone and honestly talking to you or getting help from you was like talking to a damned brick wall. You would barely say two words to me.”
“I didn’t know you,” he mutters, placing my ankle down. “I still don’t. And you barely gave me five minutes to even try and talk before you started running that mouth off and shutting me down.”
I frown. “I wasn’t that bad, was I?”
He raises his brows.
“OK, well, maybe I was, but you have to admit you’re a difficult person to talk to, also,” I say.
“Never said I wasn’t. I don’t like people a great deal.”
“Funny,” I say under my breath. “You had heaps of people around for that party. You seemed fairly social then.”
His jaw ticks. “We’re getting off track again.”
“No,” I say sipping my tea again. “I think we’re ironing out the issues and moving on from all this bullshit.”
His eyes lighten just a little, and it makes his whole face seem less harsh. He’d be a dangerous kind of perfect if he smiled. He has an edge, but if he softened it just a little. “Hmmm,” he murmurs, low in his throat.
“Maybe we should start again, with you being less of a dick and me being less of a pain in the ass. What do you think?”
He stares at me.
So, I take matters into my own hands, extending one forward and saying, “Hi, I’m Rachel. I moved here from the city so that means I’m not really a country and girl and I’m still getting used to living out of town like this. I am currently single, because men suck, and I love meeting new friends. I’m currently working as a trainee legal assistant. Oh, and I’m scared of bugs. Like deathly scared.”