Chapter Seven
Caroline picked at her delicious chicken dinner, waiting for Jameson to show. It sounded silly, but he built up the fried chicken dinner as sort of a celebration, and then he never returned.
Rebecca knocked on her door and entered, carrying a cherry cheesecake. “I heard you got Delaney’s fried chicken instead of broth and soft foods.”
“Do you want some? Jameson promised to return, and he hasn’t shown up,” she said, disappointed.
“The men held an impromptu meeting. It’s running late,” Rebecca explained. “How do you feel?”
“Did I do something?” Caroline asked quietly.
“What?” Rebecca asked, confused. “What makes you think you did anything?”
“Jameson showed me his cabin. He seemed excited. I told him my story of how I got abducted, and he grew quiet. Then, he left, and I haven’t seen him.”
“It’s work. Riley and Rachel will arrive in a bit. We can play cards, or Rachel can do a makeover on you,” she suggested.
“Oh, no. Riley already warned me against Rachel’s makeovers. No, thank you,” she said, laughing. “Where’s Delaney? I’d love to meet her and thank her for such a wonderful meal.”
“She’s staying mainly at her cabin these days. Delaney’s pregnant, and I think she’s going through a nesting phase,” Rebecca explained.
“I didn’t know about her pregnancy,” Caroline exclaimed. “She didn’t need to make me fried chicken.”
“Trust me, cooking calms her. We can play poker tonight. Rachel cheats,” Rebecca said, attempting to distract her.
“It doesn’t surprise me,” Caroline said. “You don’t have to entertain me. I’m sure you have things to do at home.”
“I’m not trying to,” Rebecca denied. “I’m attempting to befriend you.
At first, I felt grateful to you for getting the information to Jameson.
I became a pain in the ass and probably didn’t have much time left before they decided to kill me.
I knew Julio wouldn’t stop searching for me, and it kept me going.
The more we visit, the more I enjoy your company.
I know Rachel and Riley feel the same way. ”
“Maybe Riley. Rachel told me she felt jealous because I can probably fit into size 4 clothes, and since she started living here, she hasn’t fit into hers,” Caroline said, giggling. “I tried to explain my starvation diet did wonders, but she didn’t seem amused.”
Rebecca shook her head. “You and I use humor to deal with things. Since we taught Rachel how to use a gun, she’s more of a shoot first, ask questions later, kinda gal. Riley’s resilient and feisty.”
“And you’re smart, see things others don’t, and you’re a terrible liar. I can say after six years of learning to read men’s faces, I know a lie when I see one. Will you please tell me why Jameson didn’t come tonight?”
Rebecca took her hand. “You did nothing wrong. He called and asked if I might keep you company. I didn’t lie.
The men held a meeting this afternoon,” Rebecca said.
“Jameson hasn’t spent much time here. Every time he caught a lead, he took off, searching for you.
You made quite an impression on him. How did you meet? ”
Caroline pushed the plate away, not interested in the food. The memory of Jameson burst forth.
“Take the women and get them cleaned up. We have an auction tonight at midnight. Carrie,” he yelled.
Caroline groaned and stepped forward, knowing he had already started drinking.
“Sit on my lap,” he ordered. “Show the women what I want them to do tonight.”
“I’ll show them upstairs after they’re cleaned and dressed,” she said, pushing them forward toward May, who helped prepare the girls. Cain, in a drunken mood, tended to end in brutality.
“No,” he said, jerking her arm, making her cry out.
One of the new girls screamed in terror, catching Cain’s attention.
A sly smile formed on his face as he beckoned her forward.
The poor thing peed herself as she stepped closer.
Pushing Caroline away, he stalked forward and punched the girl in the stomach, sending her to her knees.
“Cain. We don’t have time to dress everyone,” she said sweetly, helping the girl to stand. It made her sick to even touch him. Her hand ran across his chest, distracting him from his latest entertainment. “Let her go, she needs instructions, or you won’t get the price you want for her.”
Grabbing her hair roughly, Cain pulled Caroline close to his face. “When I tell you to sit on my lap, you do it immediately,” he seethed. He twisted her arm as May led the women upstairs.
“You’re hurting me,” she yelled, grabbing the beer bottle from the floor and striking him on the head.
Cain’s eyes widened, and he weaved before he fell to the floor.
“Shit,” she muttered, glancing around to see if Cain’s men saw her hit him. He’d certainly kill her now.
“Go to the kitchen,” a large man with a tattoo running down from his neck said, kneeling beside her.
Cain stirred, and the large man slammed his head against the wooden floor, knocking him out again.
“Why did you do that?” she cried. “He’ll kill me.”
“Don’t worry about him,” the man said, taking her hand and leading her into the bar’s kitchen. He checked her swollen arm and grabbed a couple of thin towels to make a sling. His tender touch sent her shivering.
“I’ll wake him in a minute. Keep this on for a few days, even if it feels better,” he instructed. “Go along with what I say.”
She peered up into his green eyes, and she saw the concern for her shining in them.
“Don’t try to save me,” she urged. “Cain won’t hesitate to kill you.”
A cocky grin appeared on his face. “I’m not scared of him.”
“Did you hit your head? He’ll torture you and make you an example. Leave and let me handle this,” she insisted.
“Not on your life, slugger,” he said, wetting a towel and returning to Cain’s side. He moved the beer bottle by his lower leg and patted the wet cloth to Cain’s face.
“Boss, you all right?” he asked.
Cain blinked and scanned the room. His eyes narrowed when they landed on her.
“You took a nasty spill and knocked her over. She’s got a bad sprain.”
Cain appeared confused as Jameson handed her the bottle. “Why don’t you pick up the bottles? We don’t need another accident.” He turned to Cain. “It’s a good thing it didn’t happen to one of the new women. Did you want Caroline to stay with you?”
“Don’t tell my property what to do,” Cain sneered. “I tell her where to go.”
Jameson held his hands in the air. “You’re the boss.”
“Did you hit me?” Cain asked Caroline.
“I…I,” she faltered.
Jameson burst into laughter. “You must’ve hit your head hard. She saved you when you fell on her.”
Cain’s brow crinkled while he sorted out his memory.
“Caroline. Help May. Then get your ass back here,” he ordered. “Who the hell are you?” he asked Jameson.
Caroline scurried to the stairs, relieved she had skipped a beating. Sending a grateful glance in Jameson’s direction, she listened as he manipulated Cain into doing what he wanted. The man saved her. If she lived another type of life, he seemed like the type of man she could fall in love with…
When she finished telling Rebecca the story, her new friend wiped her eyes. “He’s a wonderful man. I met him when he lived on Serenity Mountain. I’ve never seen him work as hard as he did searching for you.”
“Cain owned me, yet Jameson never let it stop him from helping me. Most of Cain’s men got off on watching him hurt me,” Caroline said, recalling the times she lay on the floor, bloodied, broken, and beaten while they laughed.
“You’ll never have to worry about Cain again. We received word today he returned to the farmhouse where they held you. His bosses aren’t happy with him, and he’s struggling to stay important to the ring. We’ll give him another week to feel the weight of their ire, then we’ll pick him up.”
“Will you bring him here?” she asked, trembling.
“No. He’ll be held in a federal facility. I’ll interrogate him myself,” Rebecca informed her.
“He won’t stop searching for me. I’m his property,” she whispered.
“He wants you to believe you’re his property and you can’t escape. You’re free, Caroline. It’s up to you who you want to give your heart to,” Rebecca said gently.
“Did we come here to play cards or throw a pity party?” Rachel said, shaking her head in the doorway. “I came to win. Mama needs a pair of Jimmy Choo’s, and Matthew said I have to pay for half. Apparently, a budget means I can’t exceed the amount. I thought he gave it to me as a tip.”
“A tip for what?” Rebecca asked.
Rachel wagged her eyebrows, making the women laugh.
“Did Rachel share another part of her sex life again?” Riley asked. “She’s the female definition of a horn dog.”
“Ewww,” Rachel said, making a face. “Don’t even tell me what it is. It sounds fattening. Riley doesn’t like to talk about sex. She clutches her pearls at the mere mention of a position.”
“Some things should stay between a couple. I have to scrub my brain after spending the evening with you. I return home, and Garrett will ask some innocent question, like what’s for dessert, and I turn red, thinking about her description of meeting Matthew in his office wearing nothing but whipped cream and cherries for—”
“I think Caroline gets the picture,” Rebecca interrupted, sending a wink in her direction.
“We’re playing with chips, not cash,” Rebecca said firmly. “You’ll have to wait for your new shoes.”
“Why do you want expensive shoes when you live on a ranch?” Caroline asked.
“It’s a hobby of mine. Unfortunately, Matthew says I need to learn more about budgeting. I didn’t take him seriously. After all, he knows who he’s marrying. I’m worth every penny,” Rachel said, grinning.
“I wish I held an ounce of your confidence,” Caroline sighed. “You have it in leaps and bounds.”
“It took me a long time to grow it. One day, you’ll wake up and realize what you bring to the table,” Rachel promised. She let out an exaggerated sigh. “Let’s get everything set up. I’ll have to figure out how to increase my budget.”
Caroline secretly smiled. The women amused her, and they seemed genuine and honest.
“What’s taking the men’s attention tonight? Garrett didn’t return home. He texted, saying he got held up in a meeting,” Riley asked. Rebecca turned to Caroline, sending her an ‘I told you so’ expression.
She pulled the blankets back while Rachel handed her the robe, and Riley helped put on her slippers.
Rebecca went to set up the game table. Feeling like she found someplace where she belonged, Caroline led the way to the living room.
It felt almost normal, yet the only person she wanted to see wasn’t there.