40. Sage
sage
The gallery was done. The paint on the walls was dry.
The floors were refinished. The desk at the front had my used but new-to-me tablet.
Soon I’d be collecting payments for the artists who’d be lining the walls.
I already had several local artists who were planning to showcase their art on consignment for the grand opening in a couple weeks.
After having the ladies here a couple months ago for the paint night, word had gotten around — for more reason than one — and everyone was asking when I’d start the wine and paint nights.
I was most excited to offer painting classes.
But I felt like none of this could happen if Clayton ended up laying down roots here.
I breathed in a deep breath, hoping to settle my nerves with the familiar scent of fresh cut wood and paint. I nearly broke down and asked Christian to come with me at the last moment, until he suggested I bring Arlo. Having him with me was therapeutic.
It was quiet. Lina and Reed were out at the ranch while they cleared the rest of the area where the doublewide had been while Penn was at school, so I’d have the place to myself.
I turned on some Kacey Musgraves on my little speaker system while I sorted through some new paints that arrived in the mail.
A knock sounded at the glass door, Arlo immediately releasing an alert bark.
I’d locked the door as soon as I closed it behind me, hoping not to be disturbed.
I didn’t know who I expected to see on the other side of the door, but it wasn’t Alani, the woman who’d shown up months ago looking for help.
I smiled and waved, happy to see her, and hurried to open the door for her. Rain was starting to fall and she lowered the hood of her jacket.
“Come in. Get out of the rain,” I offered.
Arlo once again didn’t seem too happy with her presence.
“Hi,” she greeted. “I hope this isn’t a bad time.”
“No, not at all. Let me just put Arlo in the other room.” I grabbed him by the collar, pulling him away. “Come on, buddy. She’s a friend.” I pulled him away, putting him in the workroom and closing the door.
He didn’t seem to like that very much, still barking.
“Quiet,” I commanded, heading back out to the gallery where I left Alani.
She stood there, looking around. “It seems like you’ve done a lot to the place since I was here last.”
I smiled. “It’s coming along. We’ll be having a grand opening in two weeks.”
“That’s exciting.”
I nodded. “I was so worried about you when you just disappeared.”
Her eyes returned to me, a brief grimace on her face before it smoothed into a pleasant smile. “I know. I had to figure some things out, but I think I’m here to stay now.”
“I’m so glad to hear that. Do you have a place to stay? My offer still stands,” I told her.
“Oh, yeah, I’m staying at the Bare Buckle Motel for now. Thank you, though. I was hoping you could help me with something else?”
“Sure, anything you need.”
“My therapist told me that art could be healing and since you have a studio, I was wondering if maybe you could teach me how to paint?”
My smile grew. “Absolutely!” I hustled around the desk to open up the appointment book I’d gotten for just this occasion. I’d hoped to fill up the calendar with all kinds of art lessons. “You can be my first student. Did you have a time in mind?”
She looked nervously around the place again, her hands twisting nervously. “I was hoping it could be a private lesson. I’m not comfortable being around other people and the sooner the better. Could there possibly be a time today where it could just be you and I?”
I considered for a moment, knowing I needed to find time to go talk to Kale and then Chuck and Jude.
Alani’s eyes were pleading with me. I wanted to help.
I had no idea why she disappeared when I offered to help her before, but I was certain there was a good reason for it.
“You know what? Sure.” I gave her a reassuring smile.
“Let me just send a text really quick and we’ll figure this out. ”
She released a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank you.”
I opened my text app and shot Kale a message.
Me
Do you have time to chat today?
Kale texted me back immediately.
Kale
Yeah, I’m heading to the farm right now to do some training. Could I text you when I get back?
Me
Sure. Are Chuck and Jude going to be there too?
Kale
Chuck for sure. I’m not sure about Jude. Why?
Me
Just text me when you’re done and I’ll head to the farm before my shift tonight.
Kale
You sure?
Me
Yeah. I have some things to do at the gallery. I’ll catch you later.
Pocketing my cell, I smiled back at Alani who was waiting patiently, her eyes still taking in the gallery.
“Looks like I’m free for most of the day. I just have some place to be this evening.”
“That would be great. I just have some groceries in my car that I need to take back to the motel. Can I go take care of that and be right back?”
“Sure, can we say like in an hour? I’ll just put your name down here. Make it all official.” I nearly laughed, excited that I was making my first appointment. “Alani …” I jotted her name down.
“Just Alani is fine,” she said.
I nodded with a smile, glad she was being more hesitant about sharing information now. “Three o’clock then. I’ll make sure to put Arlo up in the apartment so he doesn’t bother us.”
She gave me an appreciative smile. “Thank you so much, Sage. You have no idea how much you’ve helped me.”
I smiled in return. “I’m glad you came back and that I’m able to help you in some way.”
Alani returned her hood to her head, opening the door to head back out in the rain. “I’ll see you in about an hour,” she called back.
“See you soon!” I waved as I watched her run through the rain to her car.
“Come on, buddy. We have to put you up for a little bit.” I tried to get Arlo to follow me up to the apartment before Alani came back. He seemed agitated, wanting to stick by my side while I opened the apartment and flicked on the lights.
It had been a while since I’d been up in my apartment now that Lina and Reed were staying here. No one had returned, but I figured they wouldn’t mind Arlo hanging out there while I worked. He’d be more comfortable in his own home anyway. A dog bed still sat by the sofa.
“Bed,” I told him.
He slinked to his bed like he was in trouble, his ears back.
“Good boy.” I held my hand out straight. “Stay.”
He laid his head down.
“Good boy.”
His head lifted, his ears perking up. A low growl emanated from his throat as the door downstairs opened, the little bell tinkling.
Knowing it was Alani, I quickly shut the door before Arlo could think to follow me.
“Coming,” I called, hustling back down the stairs to the gallery. “I already laid out some paints for us,” I was saying right as I reached the bottom of the stairs, ready to greet Alani.
I raised my eyes, my breath caught and I stalled in my steps when I saw Clayton standing there.
“Hey, doll,” he said, his lips curving into a smile, his eyes sparkling beneath his cowboy hat.
Arlo was barking and scratching at the door upstairs.
This is it. I knew it in my gut. That freedom I thought I had vanquished by his looming shadow that seemed to suffocate my light.
I immediately started strategizing an exit.
I couldn’t go back up to the apartment. There was no way to escape from there.
Alani may walk in at any moment. Maybe I could leave with her.
I could leave through the workroom to the back alley, then make my way to The Rooster.
I could try and call Christian, but he was all the way up the mountain at the farm.
I could call Lina. Maybe she and Reed were close by.
I thought this was about the time they picked up Penn from school.
I felt my pocket, pulling out my phone. Clayton’s eyes flicked to my hand, then back to me.
“Going to make a call?” he asked, not caring that I was two seconds away from calling for help.
He took a step toward me and that was all I needed to turn on my heels and bolt toward the workroom.
“Stop her!” Clayton yelled.
I didn’t stop to see who he was talking to, barreling toward the exit. The workroom door flung open and I ran right into a solid chest, my hands going out to steady myself. My gaze flicked up, a silent scream catching in my throat.
Glacial blue eyes were staring back at me, his dirty blond hair beneath a cowboy hat. It was like seeing a ghost.
“Junior?” I asked.
He only smiled in recognition.
I squirmed out of his reach, crashing into the easel I’d set up for Alani, and landed hard on my hands and knees, my cell flying as I caught myself.
Not stopping to assess whether my knees were bruised, I scrambled to reach my phone, only to be stopped by Junior grabbing my right foot and dragging me back along the floor while Clayton kicked it out of reach.
“No,” I growled, attempting to kick Junior with my free foot and dig my nails into the floorboards.
I turned over on my back, hoping to connect my heel with Junior’s nose. The studio door clicked behind me as Clayton closed us off from the rest of the gallery. My only hope of anyone walking by to see this going with it.
“Get off me!” I cried, desperately kicking and thrashing as Junior hunched down and threw his weight on top of me, his knees pinning my legs, his hands like iron vises wrapping around my arms.
Clayton approached, his boots mere inches from my head as he looked down at me. “This really could go much easier if you stop struggling. You’re going to hurt yourself if you keep this up.”
“Fuck you!” I spat, panicked breaths wheezing through my gritted teeth and nose. Loose hair hung in my eyes, fluttering with each pant of air.
He only sighed. “I’ve missed this. My little fighter.”
Clayton crouched down, invading my space and stinging my nose with his expensive cologne. He brushed hair out of my face, the brief contact making me flinch and jerk my head away from him.
“You shouldn’t be so surprised. You know I keep my promises. Unlike you, I don’t mess up.” He released another heavy sigh of disappointment. “I hate to say it, doll, but you fucking messed up.”
There was movement in my periphery and I tilted my head to see who else was here.
Alani stepped into view.
I sucked in a breath. “Alani!” She stepped with sure feet, her mouth set firm, and her face stoic as she approached, a leather tote bag slung over her shoulder. Her eyes did not flick to mine but remained steady on Clayton as if waiting for instruction. “Alani?”
“Ms. Ashwater here was hired as my private investigator to find you. I had my suspicions you were here when I found out your brother was bull riding out of Willows. For a while you didn’t resurface.
I was so concerned something may have happened to you, but then when Junior showed up in the drunk tank on the reservation asking for safe haven — I knew his brother — he helped confirm Kale had a sister who was here, too.
I sent Ms. Ashwater to confirm your whereabouts before I decided to make an appearance. ”
Alani stood, her hip cocked and her face stern.
My heart fell.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Sage, but if I have to I will,” Clayton continued.
Alani opened her bag and pulled out a case where a syringe and vial lay. I gulped, shaking my head. “No.” A lump formed in my throat and my vision blurred. “Please.”
Clayton sighed, brushing the tears from my eyes. I looked up at him, his dark gaze looking tenderly at me. “I don’t want to, doll. Don’t force me to make this choice.”
Alani was already filling the syringe. Junior’s weight was pressing down on me, making it impossible to move.
“Please, Clayton,” I pleaded.
“Come with me, then. Come home.”
I sobbed, my tears running down the sides of my face and soaking my hair. Fear coursed through me like clammy heat. Slowly, Alani approached with the syringe. Junior was holding my arm down while she crouched to push my sleeve up.
“Will you come home with me?” Clayton asked.
On a gut wrenching sob I started nodding furiously.
Clayton brushed another hand over my cheek, a smile creeping across his face. “That’s my girl.”