Chapter 25 Roni
Roni
Today has been an okay day at the shack.
I finally convinced Debbie to let me hire Chloe, who moved back before securing a job.
It helps she’s cute as a button. Customers are going to love her.
It’s her first day, and she has taken to customer service and making orders like a pro.
That's all I really care about. She’s happy to work any time she’s needed, and I get to hang with my sister from another mister.
I’ll finally be able to cut down on the hours I've had to put in since Mercy ghosted us, and not for nothing, I’m kind of hoping Phoenix might want to take a few days away.
Do a little soul-searching together, perhaps.
Speaking of, I'm very excited to see him later.
I want to do something special for him. And as much as I love fucking the man, it doesn't always have to be sexual. I want to show him what else I can do. Maybe cook. Show him I’m at least adult enough to decorate spaghetti. Ugh. I'm hopeless.
If the cooking doesn't work, I have a backup plan. A package should be waiting for me when I get home, with a spicy little outfit. I’d love to surprise him. In fact, I think once I've wrapped things up here with Chloe, I'll haul ass to my apartment and get cleaned up.
The rumble of a diesel engine snaps me from my daydream. Through the window, I spot the now-familiar truck kicking up dust as it swings wide to accommodate the horse trailer it’s pulling. My favorite rancher. Chloe's eyes widen at the size of the truck.
“Why don't you take this one?” I tell her, reaching for the door. The alarm chimes as I push through. The pavement scratches beneath my sneakers as I make my way to the trailer.
“Hey, so you are here,” he greets me.
“I sure am. Pretty much live here these days.” I can’t help but chuckle sarcastically.
“Looks like you got some fresh meat,” he jokes.
“Yeah, it's her first day.”
“Well, I don't think she can fuck up my black coffee.”
“No, no,” I giggle. “She’s pretty good at pouring those.”
“Here you go, mister.” Chloe hands his coffee out the window with a giant smile. “That’ll be two dollars.”
“That’s great, babes. I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you go ahead and pack up and meet me back here tomorrow morning. Let’s say 9 a.m., after the morning rush. Okay?”
“Great.” Her eyes light up before turning to the rancher. “It was nice to meet you, Sir. Thanks again, girl. I’ll text you later.” She waves at me, and a moment later she’s waltzing out the back door and skipping toward her vehicle.
“So, what do you have in the back today?” I ask excitedly.
“I’m bringing this one back down from upstate. Nothing too fancy. Young mare. My boss wants to take a look. Not really sure what he has in mind. I didn’t ask too many questions. You ever have those kinds of conversations?”
I admit it’s pretty much the only way communication happens between me and the owner here. “I hear you.”
“Anyway, since I pulled in and could use caffeine to get me the rest of the way, I figured I’d see if you want to take a look, considering how much you seem to like them.”
“You already know I do. I’m never going to say no.”
“I figured,” he says, making his way to open the back gate of the trailer.
My body moves on autopilot as I climb into the trailer, positioning myself carefully to the mare's left. Her chestnut coat gleams under the slanted light. She barely flicks an ear in my direction, just stands there breathing softly, her eyes half glazed.
I edge closer, my fingertips just grazing the velvet of her muzzle when metal scrapes against metal behind me. A hollow thud reverberates through the trailer floor. I whip around to see nothing but the closed gate where my exit should be.
My palms slap against the cold metal. “Hey! Excuse me!” The words bounce back at me.
Outside, boots crunch on the tar, followed by the distinctive clunk of the driver's door.
The engine growls to life, drowning my voice.
“HEY! I'M STILL—” The trailer lurches forward, throwing me against the mare's warm flank.
She shifts, hooves clattering nervously as we accelerate.
My stomach drops as it occurs to me Phoenix might have been right.
This isn't happening. This can't be happening.
My heart slams against my ribcage like it's trying to break free. The realization crashes over me in sickening waves—I'm being taken. Kidnapped. Stolen away in a horse trailer like some piece of livestock.
“Stop!” I scream, but my voice fractures, thin and useless against the rumble of tires on asphalt. We're picking up speed. The trailer sways, metal walls pressing in around me. The mare's frightened breathing matches my own—rapid, shallow, panicked.
Sweat beads on my forehead despite the chill. I'm trapped in a rolling metal box, and no one knows. The thought repeats, drilling into my skull like an ice pick, and I slide down the wall until I'm huddled on the floor.
Phoenix's face flashes in my mind—his crooked smile, the way his eyes crinkle when he laughs. Will I ever see that again? If I disappear now, that's how he'll remember me. Not the whispered dreams, but the stupid girl who ran away.