Finding Limits (Corrupt Cowboys #6.5)

Prologue

Six Months Ago

“ G ood to see ya.” My old friend, Jimmer Carson, greets me with a slap on the back as I step into the foyer of the Dirty Souls MC clubhouse.

“I appreciate ya gettin’ here so quick.” He tips his head at me gratefully.

“Only for you.” I shrug, following him through the foyer to a door on the right that leads down some narrow steps toward a basement.

“This ain’t the way we usually treat our guests but…this one’s a little different.” He stops in the corridor and turns to face me with a concerned look on his face.

“Mitch, I’ll warn ya before we go in there. This girl… she’s been to hell and back.” His voice lowers to a whisper as he scratches his beard. “She’s Skid’s old lady’s sister, and she’s been kept in some filthy bunker by the cult leader Addison ran away from.”

“Cult?” I stare back at him. “Didn’t those kinda things dry out in the seventies?”

“This ain’t no Charlie Manson shit, Mitch. I can’t even begin to tell ya what shit those fuckers were preachin’.”

“And this cult, I’m assumin’ they’ve been dealt with?” It seems a stupid question, I’ve known Jimmer Carson for a lot of years and he never does half jobs, but I like to cover all bases.

“Of course, but for this girl, I’m afraid the damage is done. Her sister got out five years ago, but the husband she ran away from took all his grievances out on her little sister when she left. He’s beaten her every day since as a punishment. Kept her chained in that bunker like a dog, you can imagine what that’s done to her head.” He frowns.

“ Jesus .” I shake my head.

“So what are we supposed to do for her back in Fork River?” I move on to the reason I’m here. If Jimmer wants me to take this girl, I need some kind of clue on what to do with her.

“She can’t heal around Addison, she’s still got all those beatin’s drummed inside her head, sometimes she chants the words he said to her. We need to get this girl away from her sister until she’s feelin’ better. It’s breakin’ Addison's heart, but we all agree it’s what's best. She needs time to adjust to a normal life. Somewhere she can ease into gently. Somewhere off grid, and quiet.”

“You ever known Fork River to be quiet?” I raise an eyebrow at him.

“Well no, but my nephews have got it handled, and I know there are people I can rely on there,” he points out, and I nod my head in agreement. We all wear the Carson brand to prove it.

It’s been good watching Jimmer and his nephews get closer over the past few years. Jimmer’s brother, Bill, always resented him and the life he chose over the ranch, but since Bill's death, the bond his sons have made with their uncle has become solid.

“I’ve had Maddy look into some shrinks in your area, we’ll organize all that and fund it, but for now she just needs to be taken care of. It’s not gonna be an easy road for her. She hardly talks, she’s afraid of her own shadow. But with some patience and understandin’, I think she can get better.” Jimmer looks hopeful, reminding me that despite the brutality he’s capable of, he’s got a good heart inside that strong chest of his.

“I’m sure the girls back home can be all those things for her.” I smile back to reassure him. Maisie, Leia, and Savannah are all good women, and they’re not just kind, they're strong. It sounds to me like they’re just what this poor little wretch needs.

“Come.” Jimmer turns and walks toward the door at the end of the corridor.

“So, why ya keepin’ her down here? Didn’t ya say she was locked in a bunk?—”

“It’s where she seems most comfortable. Everythin’ beyond this room seems to trigger her.” He shrugs sadly before he opens the door.

At first glance, the girl I see resembles a scolded child. She’s sitting in the corner of the cold, damp room with her arms wrapped tight around her knees. Her hair is cropped short and uneven and her bony arms are covered with bruises.

“Everleigh.” Jimmer approaches her with caution.

“I want you to meet a friend of mine.” He crouches down, leaving a respectable gap between the two of them. The girl doesn’t look up, she just keeps rocking herself and staring at her feet.

“His name is Mitch and he comes from the town that I grew up in, Fork River. It’s in Montana and it’s real beautiful there, darlin’.” He looks up at me and smiles sadly. “It’s quiet and it’s the perfect place to do some healin’.” He keeps his tone soft, so soft that I almost forget who he is and what he’s done over the years.

“I need ya to trust this man the same way you’ve trusted me. I give you my word that he won’t hurt ya.”

The girl says nothing, just slides herself up the wall so she’s standing. She looks so small and fragile, I can’t understand how any man could have gotten his kicks outta hurting her.

“Pleased to meet ya, Everleigh.” I take off my Stetson and lower my head, and when her eyes flick up to meet mine, I’m immediately struck by how blue they are. Her eyelashes bat wildly as she stares at me for what seems like minutes and I feel something inside me shift.

“Jimmer’s right, darlin’, I may look scary but you got my word that I won’t hurt ya.” I hold out my hand for her to take and when I step forward she flinches back against the wall.

“She won’t be touched,” Jimmer tells me, lifting a bag off the camp bed that's in the corner of the room. “The girls here all pulled together and packed her some clothes and essentials. I take it you’ve got the cabin ready?” he checks

“It’s gonna need some work, but it’s livable,” I assure him. The old safe house Jimmer’s father, Hank, built on the ranch’s land hasn’t been maintained for years.

I notice the way Everleigh looks at Jimmer, desperate and helpless. She doesn’t want to come with me, she doesn’t understand that all this is for her own good. And why should she? Five years locked in a bunker, being beaten and God knows what else would cause anyone to lose their faith in humanity.

“Darlin’, I can’t keep you locked up down here, it ain’t good for ya. The world’s waitin’ for ya out there, and I know you’re scared, but I can promise that the worst has already happened. Let Mitch take ya to the Copper Ridge ranch. There ain’t no place like it. You can look for miles without seein’ another buildin’, and the sunsets are perfect. You’ve spent far too long starin’ at walls. Go, be free.”

She nods her head and smiles ever so slightly. Then when she turns to me she takes a brave breath and allows the smile on her face to grow a little wider.

The girl is so weak she can’t make it all the way up the stairs without stopping to take a breath, but we’re patient, and I remind myself not to touch her when she has to press her hand against the wall for support.

When we eventually make it outside, I open the door of my truck for her to get in the passenger seat and she just about manages to pull herself up. Jimmer hands her her bag through the window and she smiles at him gratefully.

“You gotta long ride home. Will ya make a stop off?” he asks me as I get into the driver’s seat.

“Nah, I stopped at a motel a few miles back and got my head down for a few.”

“A motel?” Jimmer looks offended. “You know you could’ve stayed here.”

“C’mon, we both know there wouldn’t have been much sleepin’ goin’ on if I’d stayed here.” I wink as I get myself behind the wheel.

“Good luck.” Jimmer nods at us both, and I salute him before taking another look at the girl who’s so beautifully broken I wanna be the one to fix her.

I wait until I get outta Manitou Springs before I make any attempt to have a conversation with her. I can see she’s nervous by the way her eyes keep flicking across to me and how her hands are shaking as they cling to the bag on her lap.

“So, ya lookin’ forward to seein’ Montana? Jimmer’s right, it's beautiful there.” I keep my eyes on the road and when she makes no attempt to answer me, I figure I need to try a little harder. “You're gonna love the girls that Jimmer’s nephews are shacked up with. You’ll get on well Maisie, she’s Garrett’s wife, and they have triplets together. Two boys and a little girl. Then ya got Leia, who’s with Wade, they got a little one on the way too. Maisie’s friend, Savannah, can be a little wild, but she’s good fun and I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before Cole pulls his finger outta his ass an?—”

“Are you my master now?” The girl interrupts me with a quiver in her tone.

“ Your what? ” I almost crash the damn truck, and when I quickly pull over and turn to face her, she looks petrified by my reaction.

“You listen to me, where I’m takin’ ya there are no masters. There are no bunkers or beatin’s and the only god you have to believe in is the one you decide to make ya peace with.” I don’t mean for my words to come out so harsh, but seeing this girl so fragile and afraid makes me pissed that the fucker who hurt her is already dead. I’da really liked to have taught the bastard a few lessons of my own.

Despite how stern I am, Everleigh seems to take in my words, closing her eyes and nodding, then with a relieved, little sigh that sounds all kindsa beautiful she rests her head against the window and goes to sleep.

“Home sweet home.” My eyes are heavy when I eventually pull up outside the cabin, Everleigh is the opposite. She’s bright and alert as she stares at the space around her in complete awe.

“Jimmer wasn’t lyin’ when he said you won’t see anythin’ for miles.” I chuckle as I get out the truck and move around to hold the door open for her. I’ve driven all night and straight through to morning because I didn’t want to put the girl through a stop off. I’m assuming this is a big enough transition for her as it is.

“Ya smell that?” I inhale deep as I stretch out my back. “That’s fresh, early, Montana air. It’s good for ya.” I give her some space so she can get out the truck and when I offer to carry her bag for her she shakes her head and keeps it clutched to her chest.

“Now, I’ll warn ya, this place ain’t nothin’ fancy, but the roof don’t leak, it’s got runnin’ water, and somehow the electric wires are still workin’.” I lead her onto the porch, almost knocking my head on the oil lamp that's hanging from the rafter.

“Fuckin’ thing.” I rub the back of my head and when I see the slight hint of a smile on her lips, it automatically causes one of my own.

“Glad you found some amusement in that.” I clear my throat before I open the door for her and when she steps inside, I watch as her eyes slowly take everything in.

“Kitchen’s over here, I had Josie, Garrett's housekeeper, stock the fridge. The TV works but ya ain’t got all them fancy channels.” I point over to the living area. “There’s a bedroom through here.” I step across the floor and open the door. “Ya can put your bag right here on the bed.” This time when I go to take it from her she lets me.

“I’ll organize someone to get you a phone so you can call me if ya need anythin’ and I’ll check in on ya every day?—”

“No.” Suddenly those pretty, blue eyes grow wild with panic, and she shakes her head.

“Jimmer said you’d take care of me.” I notice that her chest is rising and falling far too quickly.

“And I will, darlin’, I?—”

“You can’t leave me out here by myself. It’s too exposed. What if he finds me?”

“Sweetheart, from what I heard, the man who hurt you is dead. He can’t?—”

“They can’t be dead. God wouldn’t allow it. He needs them.” I don’t know what she’s talkin’ about but when I automatically go to comfort her she steps back and knocks into one of the chairs behind her. It startles her and when she screams I hold up both my hands to assure her that I won’t touch her.

“Calm down. It’s just a chair. You're safe here,” I tell her. Jimmer wasn’t bull-shitting. This girl really is messed up.

“You can’t leave me.” She shakes her head frantically. “You can’t leave me out here all alone.” Her eyes fill up with tears and I feel her pain as if it’s my own.

“Okay. Okay, I’ll stay.” I move slowly, managing to get a little closer.

“Promise?” she whispers as those tears spill from the corners of her eyes and roll down her cheeks. She’s so pretty and it makes the urge to wipe them away hard to hold back.

“I promise. I’ll stay right here. I’m not gonna let anythin’ happen to you, Everleigh. And no one’s comin’ for ya. There ain’t no one left to come.”