Chapter Seven
Rafe stepped into the barn on a crisp Monday morning, the air carrying a slight chill that marked the arrival of September. The sunlight filtered through the wooden beams, casting warm, golden stripes across the hay-strewn floor. As he began his routine tasks, a smile tugged at his lips, thoughts of Maggie swirling in his mind. They had been seeing each other for a little over a month now, and he was convinced he would never have enough of her.
Leading one of the sleek, Shire horses out from its stall, Rafe noticed Fred ambling into the barn, the familiar sound of boots crunching on the straw. He paused, waiting for his boss to catch up.
“Good morning, Fred,” Rafe greeted, his voice echoing in the spacious barn.
“Hey, Rafe. How’s your day so far?” Fred replied, a wide grin creasing his weathered face.
“Too early to tell.” Rafe shrugged, a playful glint in his eye. “What are you up to?”
“I have a date tonight,” Fred announced with a sheepish chuckle.
Rafe’s grin widened. “Really? Well, good for you. Who’s this woman and how did you meet her?”
“I met her at church a few weeks ago and finally got the nerve up to ask her out,” he said, a hint of nervousness in his voice. Then his brows knitted together. “Am I crazy?”
“Hell, Fred, every man’s crazy to get involved with a woman, but it’s worth it,” Rafe responded, clapping Fred on the shoulder reassuringly.
“You don’t think I’m too old to date?” Fred asked, a flicker of doubt shadowing his eyes.
“Of course not. You’ve been alone for a long time. You’re only, what? Sixty-two?” Rafe replied, his tone encouraging.
“Yeah. She’s fifty-six. I like her. She’s the first woman I’ve been interested in for a long time,” Fred admitted, a touch of warmth coloring his cheeks.
“Then, enjoy it,” Rafe said with a nod of approval.
“What about you?” Fred inquired, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
“What about me?” Rafe asked, genuinely puzzled.
“Are you enjoying it?” Fred pressed on.
Rafe furrowed his brow, staring at Fred. “Enjoying what?”
Fred laughed heartily, giving Rafe a knowing look before turning to leave the barn. “You think I don’t know what goes on around my ranch? I’m happy you and Maggie finally got together. I’ll see you later.”
Rafe’s jaw nearly dropped, but he quickly clamped it shut, a chuckle escaping instead. How had Fred known about him and Maggie? It didn’t matter; Fred seemed pleased, and that was enough for Rafe as he watched his boss disappear into the bright morning light.
He couldn’t wait to tell Maggie about it. He wasn’t sure why he thought Fred would disapprove of him seeing Maggie, but to him, he just didn’t want to let Fred down and he would if he and Maggie stopped seeing each other.
But Rafe had to be honest, he never wanted to stop seeing her. He was in love with her, and he had been for a long time.
His phone vibrated and he removed it from his pocket and grinned when he saw a text from Maggie.
Hey, cowboy. How about lunch today at the diner? She had sent.
Sure. What time?
Twelve thirty?
Alright. I’ll see you then.
Okay!
Rafe chuckled as he put his phone back into his pocket.
“Hey, boss,” a familiar voice called out and he turned to see Joey, one of the ranch hands, walking toward him.
“What’s up?”
“There’s a section of fence down. Bobby and I are heading there to fix it.”
“Are there any horses in that section?”
“No. We moved them yesterday.”
“Okay. Could you tell how it was knocked down?”
“Not yet. I’m going to look when we get back. We saw it when we took some horses to the pasture and decided to head back to get the necessary tools first.”
“Good idea. Okay, let me know.”
“Sure thing.”
Rafe watched him walk from the barn and hoped an animal had taken the fence down and not someone wanting to steal horses again.
At twelve thirty, he pulled into the parking lot of the diner, parked, then climbed out and walked to the front. He pushed the door open and looked around, waving at the people who called out or waved at him. Then he saw Maggie sitting at the counter, talking with Sam Garrett, so Rafe headed for them.
“Hey,” he said, making Maggie look at him. She smiled, then stood and kissed his lips. The people cheered, making him shake his head. “Hi, Sam,” he said as he sat on the stool on the other side of Maggie.
“Rafe. How’s it going?”
“Okay. You?”
“Fine. Are you racing this year?” Sam grinned.
“I haven’t decided yet.” Rafe smiled.
“Well, if you do, my money’s on you.” Sam stood. “I need to get back to the office. I’ll talk to you soon. Maggie,” Sam said as he touched the brim of his hat, then walked toward the register and paid his bill.
Rafe looked at Maggie. “Hi,” he said.
“Hi, yourself. I’m glad you could meet me.”
“Sweetheart, I’ll meet you any time I can.” Rafe grinned, then told her about Fred. He laughed at the look on her face.
“How?”
He shook his head. “I have no idea. He just said, ‘you think I don’t know what goes on around my ranch’ and walked out. Oh, and he’s going on a date.”
“What? With who?”
“A woman he met at church a few weeks back. He said he just got the nerve up to ask her out.”
“I would love for him to find someone.” She touched Rafe’s hand. “Like I did.”
“And like I did.” He winked at her.
“I hope you race. I loved watching you win last year.”
“Nate talked me into it.” Rafe took her hand. “Maggie, we still need to talk.”
“I know, and I promise we will. I just have to get the courage up to tell you everything.”
“Alright, but we said no secrets.”
“I know. I will, soon.”
Once Connie took their orders, they ate and talked. Making plans for the weekend. When they were done, Rafe walked her to the shop, then headed back to the diner parking lot and headed back to the ranch.
The following Saturday, as Rafe labored in the barn, he wiped sweat from his brow, then stripped off his damp T-shirt and hung it on a peg that jutted from the weathered wooden wall. It was chilly out, but the barn was hot. He moved along the aisle, swinging open the first stall gate and stepping inside to shovel the old, musty straw into a waiting wheelbarrow. He had to work today since one of the guys had a death in the family. Rafe knew Luke and Bryce McCallister were visiting Fred, but he continued working, rhythmically shifting the straw.
“Rafe?” came an unexpected voice.
Rafe turned, his brow furrowing slightly, to find Luke standing there, framed by the barn’s wide entrance, bathed in the afternoon light.
“Hey, Luke. What’s up?” Rafe asked, pulling off his work gloves and extending a hand to greet Luke with a firm handshake.
Luke nodded. “I’m afraid I have some bad news,” he replied, his expression grave. “I wanted to let you know. Frederick is out of prison.”
“What? How?” Rafe’s voice was laden with disbelief.
“Good behavior, if you can believe that, plus the fact the prison is overcrowded,” Luke explained, the disbelief mirrored in his eyes.
“Son of a bitch,” Rafe muttered under his breath, tension coiling in his muscles. “You know he’s going to come after Maggie.”
“My thoughts exactly. Fred’s not happy either,” Luke agreed, concern etched into his features.
“Does Maggie know?” Rafe inquired.
“Not yet. I stopped by her job, but Vanna said she took the day off and there was no answer at her apartment. I didn’t want to tell her over the phone,” Luke replied, shaking his head.
“I know she had today off, she planned to do some shopping.”
“I’ll let her know as soon as I can.”
“He’s not in Clifton, is he?” Rafe asked, a hint of anxiety threading through his words.
“No, not yet. I’m keeping an eye out, and I talked with Sam, so he knows to watch for him too,” Luke assured him, though his tone was laced with worry. “She’s going to be devastated when she finds out.”
“That’s putting it mildly.” Rafe sighed heavily, the weight of the situation settling on his shoulders.
“I know,” Luke said softly.
“Is that why you came here today?” Rafe asked.
“Bryce wanted to bring Leah out to see Fred, and since I had to let him know, we just made a day of it,” Luke replied, shaking his head again. “I know Maggie’s going to be so upset.”
“Yes, she will. Maybe she should stay with Fred for a while,” Rafe suggested thoughtfully.
“Maybe, but that’s entirely up to her,” Luke conceded.
“I can tell you right now, she won’t want to burden him if she thinks Junior will be looking for her,” Rafe said, removing his hat to rake his fingers through his hair before resettling it on his head.
“I’m going to do my best to find out exactly where he is, and then I’ll keep a close eye on his movements. His lawyer must know some judge or something because we had him dead to rights in the theft of Fred’s horses,” Luke said, his voice tinged with frustration.
“Yeah, I know. I was hoping he’d rot there,” Rafe sighed, his voice heavy with disappointment.
“I did too,” Luke agreed.
“As hard as you worked to put him there and it was all for nothing. Damn, that has to piss you off, Luke,” Rafe said, shaking his head in disbelief.
“It does, but I’m more worried about Maggie,” Luke replied, his gaze softening with concern.
“Me too. I swear, if he lays a hand on her, I’ll kill him,” Rafe vowed, his voice low and deadly serious.
“I didn’t hear that, Rafe,” Luke cautioned, raising an eyebrow.
“Good,” Rafe replied, a steely edge to his words.
Luke chuckled softly, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “No, it’s not good. Please don’t do something that will put you where he needs to be. It doesn’t matter if he gets what he deserves, you’ll suffer more.”
“I won’t kill him, unless he makes me, but I’m not going to stand by and let him hurt Maggie or Fred either,” Rafe insisted.
“It took real courage for Maggie to help me, but I think she did it because it was the only way she’d be free of him. I don’t know what she saw in him,” Luke mused, shaking his head in disbelief.
“I never did either,” Rafe admitted, shrugging his shoulders.
“Well, if I hear anything, I’ll get in touch with you. I still have your number, unless you changed it,” Luke said, pulling out his phone.
“No, it’s the same one. Call me if you find out anything, please,” Rafe implored, his voice earnest.
“I will. I’m going to go talk with Fred a while. He’s probably spoiling Leah,” Luke remarked with a grin.
Rafe chuckled. “He probably knows he won’t have any grandchildren of his own.”
“True. Talk soon, Rafe. Have a good day,” Luke said, with a friendly nod.
“Yes, sir. You too.” Rafe watched as Luke left the barn, his footsteps echoing on the floor, then Rafe leaned against the barn wall, wondering how Maggie was going to take this. He knew he didn’t like it any more than Fred or Luke did, but it was going to shock her.
****
Maggie decided to visit Fred since she took the day off and also hoped to see Rafe. She parked beside the porch, walked up the steps, knocked on the door, then entered the kitchen and came to a stop when she saw Luke and Bryce McCallister sitting at the table with Fred, who was holding their daughter.
“Hi, Luke. Bryce. I didn’t even notice your truck here.” Maggie smiled but it slipped away when she saw the look Fred and Luke gave her. “What is it?”
Luke pushed his chair back, making it scrape on the floor, stood, looked at Fred, then at her.
“Maggie, we’re here today to tell Fred that Frederick is out of prison.”
She gasped. “No.”
“Yes, I’m so sorry.”
“How?”
“Good behavior and overcrowding,” Luke said with a twist to his lips.
“He hasn’t been in long enough to show any type of his true behavior,” Maggie snapped.
“I agree, but there was nothing I could do. We are looking for him—”
“And what happens when he finds me first, Luke? Then what?”
“That’s why I’m going to keep an eye out for him.”
Maggie shook her head. “It won’t stop him, Luke. He will come looking for me.”
“We won’t let him get to you.”
“You can’t stop him!” Maggie ran out the door, across the yard and entered the barn where she leaned against the wall and cried. God, what was she going to do? She supposed she could leave but she was tired of running.
“What choice do you have?” she muttered.
“Maggie?”
When she heard Rafe’s voice, she quickly wiped her tears away, straightened up, and watched him saunter toward her.
“Rafe.”
“Are you alright?” he asked when he reached her.
“Of course.”
Rafe cocked his head. “No, you’re not. You know, don’t you?”
She turned from him to leave the barn, but his fingers wrapped around her wrist, stopping her. She couldn’t look at him.
“Don’t you?” he asked again.
Taking a deep breath, she faced him, and tears rolled down her face.
“Yes. Luke told me that… Frederick was released.”
“He told me too. He came here to tell Fred, then stopped in to tell me.”
“I can’t believe his lawyer got him out for good behavior, and the prison being overcrowded, they let him out early.” She looked at Rafe. “He will come looking for me. I helped put him there.” She choked on a sob.
When Rafe pulled her into his arms, she wrapped hers around his waist and sobbed on his chest.
“Fred will probably want you to stay with him.”
“I can’t put him in danger. His son would have no qualms about hurting his father to get to me. I’m better off in my apartment.”
“You can’t stay cooped up in it all day. What about your job?”
“He would never cause a scene at my job. He wants people to think he’s such a good man. A man who stole his own father’s horses and raped me—”
Rafe grasped her arms and held her in front of him.
“He did what?” he growled.
“I-I didn’t mean to say that.”
“But you did. Maggie, did he rape you?”
“I’d never want Fred to know.”
“Come with me.” Rafe took her arm and led her into his office, closed the door, then pushed her onto the chair, and took the one beside her. “It’s time you told me everything.”
“You know he used to hit me…”
“Yes. What else?”
“He forced me into marriage. When we first met, he was working as a banker. I went to the bank with my father one day when he was trying to save our home from foreclosure. As we sat across from Frederick, he wouldn’t stop looking at me. He gave me the creeps. He told my dad there was nothing he could do to help us; I knew my dad had lost all hope. In desperation, I offered anything to save our home. Little did I know what kind of person that prick truly was. He said he would only help if I agreed to marry him and he would erase our debt.”
“And you did it?” Rafe shouted as he sat forward in the chair.
“I had no choice! You don’t know how devastated my father was at the thought of us losing our home! Do you think I wanted to marry a man I didn’t know? A man who scared me just by looking at me?” Maggie shook her head. “I had no other choice. We would have been homeless.”
Rafe shook his head. “I always wondered what you saw in him.”
“All I see is evil.” Maggie took a deep breath. “My father immediately stood up and told him to go to hell.”
“As he should.”
“But I convinced my dad to accept the offer. I told him I’d just divorce Frederick after he got on his feet again because Frederick couldn’t take the house if it was current. Looking back now, I know it was a mistake, but at the time my father was devastated about losing the house that held so many memories for him and my late mother. So, I felt like there was no other way. After Frederick lost his job at the bank, which I still don’t know why, he decided to open a car dealership. Then the last time he hit me; I ran. This ranch is so beautiful, but Frederick hates it and can’t wait for his father to die so he can sell it. God, I hate that man.”
“You’re still not telling me everything, Maggie.”
Maggie took a deep breath before continuing. “He forced himself on me on our wedding night and there was nothing I could do about it because I knew he’d make mine and my father’s life miserable. He wanted children but I lied and said I couldn’t have them. But the truth is, there was no way I was going to bring a child into the world with such a horrible man. I blocked it out every time he touched me.” Maggie let out a heavy sigh. “I know it’s not right to hate anyone, but I truly despise him.”
Rafe got to his feet and paced. “I wasn’t too fond of him before, but I swear if he stood in front of me now, I’d choke him with my bare hands.” He looked at her. “Does Fred know any of this?”
“Not about the rape, but I did tell him how his son forced me into marriage. My father was so disappointed that I agreed to it.”
“How did you get away from him?” Rafe sat back down.
“A couple of friends. When I called the police about him hitting me, they arrested him and put him in jail. That’s when I left. I took my maiden name back because I wanted nothing to do with that evil person.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how he got out of jail for that either. He was put on probation for a year. One damn year. I knew he’d look for me, but my friends hid me well. When Luke called me about him, I was scared at first to tell him where Frederick was, but I realized the only chance I had to truly be free of him was to help Luke. I knew when Luke asked me about him that he had taken those horses. He has a serious gambling problem.”
“He’s a prick. Why didn’t you ever confide any of this in me?” Rafe stared at her. “You’ve been putting it off. Anytime I’d ask you, you’d tell me not now. Well, you should have told me a long fucking time ago,” he snapped.
“Are you serious? I was ashamed!” Maggie shouted.
“I get it, but this is something you should have told me. I said I didn’t want secrets between us, and you sure kept a big one,” he said, his tone heavy with anger.
“I’m sorry. I know I should have told you, but it’s not something easy to say to someone.” Her confession spilled out like a secret long kept hidden as tears rolled down her face. “I’ve always been drawn to you, Rafe. But I knew I could never allow you to see it because of Frederick. If he ever suspected even the slightest hint of my feelings, he’d kill me, and honestly, that might have been preferable to enduring life with him.”
Rafe’s eyes darkened. “I may not have had the best upbringing, but Fred gave me everything he could – guidance and morals. I wouldn’t stand for any man laying a hand on a woman, child, or animal.” He paused, leaning forward so that his intense gaze locked onto hers. “I never understood what you saw in him. I remember teasing him once that he’d forced you into that marriage, and judging by the look on his face, I knew it wasn’t farfetched.”
Maggie’s voice dropped to a soft whisper as she shook her head in painful reminiscence. “I didn’t have a choice. Losing the house would’ve shattered my father. That house was all he had left after buying it for my mother, who adored it. When she passed, he struggled to hold onto it during those hard times. We went to the bank, desperate for an extension or any sort of reprieve, and that’s when Frederick presented his solution. The moment I set eyes on him, I felt queasy. He wouldn’t stop staring at me. I despised him instantly, but I couldn’t allow my father to lose our home. I had myself convinced that once Dad got back on his feet, I’d divorce him.”
“What about commuting to work, Maggie? Junior could easily track your every move.”
A shiver ran through Maggie as she admitted, “I know, but I can’t let Vanna down. Tourist season is still here and we’re busy.”
Rafe’s brow furrowed in concern as he inquired, “Is there any direct way from the store to your apartment?”
She sighed with resignation. “There used to be a door in the shop, but Vanna told me it’s been sealed off.”
His voice grew edged with worry. “I don’t like the idea of you having to wander alone around that building.”
“Don’t worry,” Maggie assured him, a hint of relief in her tone. “Once I tell Vanna what’s going on, I’ll ask her if she’ll park by my stairs. That way, she will be with me. Sometimes she parks right behind the building by the stairs anyway.”
“Alright,” Rafe conceded, “but if anything happens and she can’t make it, call me immediately.”
“Rafe, I can’t possibly expect you to rush into town just to walk me to my apartment,” she protested, her tone gentle yet firm.
“Why not?” he challenged.
“Because it pulls you away from your work, and it’s a solid twenty minutes to town, both ways. I know you’re exhausted by the time your day winds down.”
He shook his head dismissively, his jaw set stubbornly. “It doesn’t matter.”
“No, it really does,” she countered. “I won’t let you sacrifice your rest on my account.”
“You’ve got to be the most hardheaded woman I’ve ever met.”
“That’s the pot calling the kettle black,” Maggie quipped with a playful smirk.
They locked eyes, an unspoken challenge weaving between them until Maggie noticed a glimmer of a grin threatening to break Rafe’s stoic expression. Her cheeks flushed with warmth as he tilted his head ever so slightly.
“You could stay with me,” he offered softly, the suggestion hanging delicately between them.
“Oh, hell no,” she retorted instantly, her tone half-mock, half- serious.
“What the hell does that mean?” he pressed.
“You treasure your privacy and…” she began, trailing off.
“And… what?”
“I don’t want to be a bother.”
Rafe stared at her then laughed. “You’re always a bother.” He cupped her face in his hands. “Maggie, you can stay with me. I’d like that.”
“Let me think about it.”
Closing the distance between them, Rafe stepped closer until his body nearly pressed against hers. The air between them seemed charged as he reached out, his long, careful fingers delicately plucking a few stray strands of her hair. His eyes, deep and unwavering, held hers captive while he tucked the soft tendrils behind her ear. In a low, seductive murmur, he suggested.
“I like having you sleep beside me.” His eyes flickering from the enchantment in her gaze to the gentle, inviting curve of her lips before settling back on the depths of her eyes.
Maggie met his intense gaze with a soft warmth blooming in her heart, her inner fire kindled by his closeness. “That would be nice,” she whispered, her voice carrying both hope and tenderness.
In that suspended, almost magical moment, as Rafe leaned in to press his lips gently against hers, fate intervened. The sudden, insistent sound of Fred calling shattered their intimate bubble, scattering the charged silence.
Clearing her throat, Maggie broke the spell, calling out, “I’m here, Fred.” Her voice trembled slightly, still echoing the fading remnants of their private world.
“Honey, I’m so sorry,” Fred said, his voice heavy with remorse as he stepped toward her, his concern etched into every line of his face.
“It’s not your fault, Dad,” Maggie replied softly, wrapping her arms protectively around his waist in a tender embrace. The warmth of his familiar presence was a soothing balm as she asked, “Did Luke and Bryce leave already?”
Fred nodded, his voice now carrying a trace of worry. “Yeah. Luke’s visibly upset by the bad news, but he’s determined to do everything he can to track down that son of mine and keep a vigilant eye on him. Why don’t you stay with me for a while?” His words were layered with both concern and a practical suggestion.
“No. I won’t risk putting you in any danger,” Maggie replied, her tone gentle yet unyielding, as she carefully considered her safety and his.
“He wouldn’t hurt me,” Fred insisted, his worry battling with a stubborn assurance.
“He would, Fred. I truly believe he’d go to any lengths to get to her. I offered her a place to stay with me… but she turned it down.” His words trailed off, laden with unspoken apprehensions.
Fred considered this for a moment before saying, “That’s a fine idea, Maggie. Rafe has plenty of room.” His voice was an odd mix of pragmatic planning and underlying concern.
“You’re more than welcome, Maggie. The offer still stands if you need it,” Rafe explained.
“Rafe, I don’t want him coming after you either,” Maggie cautioned, worry creeping into her voice as she stepped away from Fred.
“I wish he’d try,” Rafe murmured, the defiant glint in his eyes unmistakable. “I’m not afraid of him.”
“I don’t care if you’re afraid of him or not. To stay with you would piss him off even more.” Maggie shook her head, her resolve firm as she continued, “No, I can’t do that. I’ll be fine.”
“You won’t be!” Rafe shouted, his voice rising with protective urgency. “We all know he’s going to come after you. You have to be kept safe.”
“For the rest of my life? I cannot let him see he scares me,” Maggie snapped back, her voice rising with both determination and a tinge of defiance.
“But he does, Maggie, and he fucking knows it,” Rafe countered.
The tension was thick enough to cut. “I am not going to stay holed up in my apartment and the shop,” Maggie declared, her tone firm in the face of the mounting argument.
“Maggie—” Rafe began, his concern edging into frustration.
“No! I’m not going to change my routine because of him. Besides, it’s the tourist season and he’s not going to do anything with all those people around. I’ll be safe,” she replied.
“And what happens when the tourists are gone?” Rafe countered sharply, placing his hands firmly on his hips as he glared at her, his eyes dark with worry.
“I’ll cross that bridge if we come to it,” Maggie said, her voice a mix of defiance and fragile hope.
“ If we come to it? Oh, we’re going to come to it, that I can promise,” Rafe retorted, his tone darkening with the weight of impending conflict.
“Rafe—” Maggie began, but her plea was cut short.
“You two need to stop arguing. It’s not helping the situation,” Fred interjected sharply, his tone both admonishing and urgent as he stepped between them.
Both Maggie and Rafe turned to him, the heat of their debate momentarily forgotten as they remembered he was there.
“I’m sorry, Fred,” Maggie murmured, her voice softening with regret.
“Me too. I’m just worried about what he’ll do,” Rafe added.
“I carry a can of pepper spray. I’ll use it,” Maggie said, her words a determined promise of self-defense.
“What you need is a gun—” Rafe started to insist, his concern punctuating every word.
“No! I hate them,” she snapped quickly, her defiance clear and uncompromising.
“Maggie—” Rafe tried once more.
“Stop it! Both of you. This is getting us nowhere,” Fred interjected, his tone firm as he sought to calm the escalating tension.
Maggie wrapped her arms around his waist again and let out a deep sigh when his arms encircled her in a reassuring embrace.
“I’m sorry. Again. I think we’re all a little tense. He terrifies me,” Maggie confessed, her voice soft and laden with vulnerability.
“It’s okay, honey. I know—but you should seriously give it some thought about staying with Rafe if you won’t stay with me,” Fred advised gently, his tone coaxing yet filled with concern as he held her close.
“I’ll think about it. I promise,” Maggie whispered.
“Well, that’s a start,” Rafe said.
“I’m sorry I snapped at you, Rafe. I’m just a mess right now.”
“It’s fine, Maggie. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” Rafe strode along the barn’s aisle but stopped and looked back at her. “It’s time Fred knew all of it.” Then he walked from the barn.
Maggie watched him walk out the back doors and disappear. She knew he was upset and wanted to protect her, but Frederick was an evil man, and he’d never give Rafe the chance to keep her safe.