Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
W ith the trailer purchased, uncertainty relentlessly swirled within Lynne. She should have had a contract or something. What if the trailer wasn’t still there on Sunday? What was the matter with her? She was typically organized.
Reilly was being generous, allowing her to park the trailer on his property, but she didn’t want to be beholden. A negative recommendation from West would severely impact her job prospects, though, and it might take time to find employment. If only her grandfather were still alive. He’d been her only solace when she had been told Reilly never wanted to see her again.
She’d have to lean heavily on her faith. She’d always gotten through doing that. She smiled. “It is what it is.”
The rain started when she was about a mile from her destination, Reilly’s house. She’d be soaked by the time she rode up that driveway. The rain pounded down, making puddles that ran across the road. If she didn’t take care, she’d crash, so she slowed down. The rumble of a truck came from behind her, and she waved for it to pass her.
When it roared by, it simultaneously forced her off the road, throwing her down the embankment and into the sticky mud below.
For a minute, she didn't move. One by one, she checked to make sure her extremities were still working. Upon assessing no damage, relief washed over her. But she was pinned beneath the heavy bike.
Pushing it up the best she could, she scooted out a bit and then repeated the process until she was free from the motorcycle. Just her luck. Why the truck hadn’t made a wide berth around her was puzzling. It was probably due to the rain.
Now all she had to do was lift her bike upright, somehow get it up the embankment, and ride home. The only way to get through a hard situation was to just do it. It took a lot of strength and jaw gritting before she finally got the bike upright. Pushing it up the hill was a no-go. It was a tiny hill, but it was impossible to push.
Maybe she could just try to ride it up and get back on the road. Bike, please start. She laughed when it started on the first try. Nothing ever sounded so good as the engine roaring. The bike, however, slipped on the hill. She scanned her surroundings. Riding in the gully seemed to be the best bet.
A warm bath, hot chocolate, tea, and soup. All the warm things she’d have soon. After riding through the mud for a while, she finally had enough speed to get the bike up onto the road, right where the turnoff for the driveway was.
By the time she got to the barn, she was soaked and covered in mud. But she was home. No, don’t think of this place as home. That would only end in heartache. Unbearable pain. Once was enough for her.
The sound behind her caused her to jump. There stood Reilly, with an umbrella over his head, carrying towels. He put down the umbrella and unrolled the towels. A change of clothes was bundled inside.
“Hurry, you’re shaking,” he urged as he handed the pile to her.
Taking the clothes, she stepped inside an empty stall and dried herself. Thankfully, most of the mud was contained to her clothing. But she was shaking, it was so cold. Even the dry clothes didn’t help much. She walked out of the stall, and Reilly instantly put his jacket on her. He hoisted her up and over his shoulder, picked up the umbrella, and quickly walked to the house.
He set her down on the chair closest to the fire, put on another log, and then he went into the kitchen. He came back out and handed her a cup of tea.
Tears filled her eyes. It had been a long time since anyone had shown her such care.
“Thank you. I appreciate all you do. I’m really an unnecessary nuisance.” Pulling her legs up, she snuggled into the chair.
It was as though he could read her mind. The next minute, he placed a blanket over her.
“Can’t have you getting sick,” he said. He sat in the chair nearest to her. “You’re still shaking.”
“Yes, but less than I was, thanks to you.” She smiled at him. “I paid for the trailer.”
“I figured as much. I arranged to have it hauled up here and have the water, sewer, and electrical hookups connected. Now skirting was mentioned as something you’d want, but I figured that would be up to you. You can use my internet. They’ll do it tomorrow.”
A massive weight was lifted from her shoulders. “I don’t know how to thank you. I’ve been so alone with no one to turn to. I won’t make a habit of it, though. I promise. And of course I’ll pay rent.”
“We don’t need to get ahead of ourselves. Let’s just get you settled and see about the animals.”
“See about the animals?” Did her heart just stop?
“There’s plenty of land that goes with this house. You could expand. I’m not sure if there is much call for a place for hurt llamas, though.” His grin warmed her.
“You’ll leave soon, won’t you?”
“I don’t know how soon. I still have some things to work out. I did speak to Stewart about the bull. Its name was Thor.”
She laughed. “Original.”
“Stewart knows you were never there. He never saw the bull. West and McKenna disposed of it.”
“Then why did he drag my name through the mud?”
“Because of me. He was just circling the wagons. I didn’t take you leaving me well. I started drinking and fighting. I almost didn’t go back to my last semester of law school.” He looked sheepish, with his head bowed.
It was almost too much to take in at one time. Stewart never told the world she killed his bull. Bigger than that though, Reilly thought she left him . She opened her mouth to ask him about it.
“You look exhausted.” He stood and held out his hand. “Let’s get you to bed, and we’ll talk in the morning.”