Chapter 10
10
Rachel
R achel sent off an email, then opened a new one from Brent. The security system he thought was the best one wasn’t available to be installed for two months. The company in question was booked solid.
She picked up her pen and nibbled on the cap. The security system would be a good idea no matter what happened. It would allow her to keep an eye on the horses in her care. It had been two full weeks and still no signs of damage.
There wasn’t any way that whoever had targeted her was done. People like that didn’t just give up after one try. But maybe having Hudson on the premises was a decent deterrent. The men working on the shelter structures also made it difficult for someone to come onto the premises without being seen. Unfortunately, they were being called away to another project, as some of the materials they’d ordered for her had been delayed in shipping.
The schedule was being pushed back, and they would be leaving by the end of the week. The whole ranch would be quiet again. No more trucks and cars coming and going. It would just be Hudson and herself.
She bit back a smile as her thoughts shifted to Hudson’s surprise a few nights ago. He was actually a talented cook when it came to spaghetti. They’d had a decent meal, and she’d turned in early. But since that night, everything between them had shifted.
There was no putting into words what was happening. He still didn’t talk much unless he had some update for her. She remained busy with her work. But each time they bumped into each other in her house, the tension skyrocketed.
Her nerves were on edge. Her heart raced.
It was ridiculous. She couldn’t have a crush on him. Now was not a good time, and they weren’t a good match. At least that was what she continued to tell herself. Just because they were staying under the same roof didn’t mean they would fall for each other.
Was he a decent man? Of course. Did his manners leave much to be desired? Yes. That was all she needed to know.
He hadn’t come in from his post-supper perimeter check yet. It was dark outside and every sound she heard put her on edge. While she sat on her bed with the laptop in front of her, she listened for his return. The second he got back, she’d be able to breathe easily.
Rachel hated just how much she depended on his presence. It wasn’t like anyone had threatened her specifically. They’d only done damage to her fences. So why did she feel like another shoe was about to drop?
Her hands lifted to her throat, and she rubbed her neck as she tried to talk herself down from the ledge of anxiety she’d put herself on. There was a reason she was such a private person. People couldn’t be trusted.
A sound outside her window caught her off guard and her head snapped up. It sounded like something had fallen over. The muffled thud had her jumping out of her bed but not moving after that. She stared at the darkened window. Sheer curtains were drawn across it, so anyone outside would only be able to see movement but no details. For all she knew, there was someone standing right there on the other side of that glass.
For the first time since moving into this bedroom, she regretted being on the main floor. She should have taken a room upstairs. But that space was Hudson’s, now. It would feel weird if she were to intrude on his space.
Another sound from outside—but this time it sounded like someone talking. Her heart went into overdrive. She was too far from the lamp to turn off the light, and if she darted toward the door, they’d see movement. She was completely frozen.
A shattering crash burst through the room. Rachel screamed and ducked down, her hands over her head. Something ricocheted across the floor, followed by shouts outside the broken window. A breeze rustled the sheer drapes, bringing with it a fresh wave of terror as she heard someone at the window knocking more shards of glass to the ground. They were going to climb into her window.
Heavy footsteps thundered through the house, and Rachel scooted back toward the bed. There was just enough space for her to squeeze beneath it. She scooted as far as she could into its dark recesses just as the door burst open.
Shaking, Rachel wrapped her arms around her head and squeezed her eyes shut. Hudson would be here soon. He’d come back for her. She just had to remain quiet long enough for the intruder to leave.
With how hard her heart was pounding, there was no way they couldn’t hear it. Rachel couldn’t keep her breathing level either. The shuffling of heavy boots in her room and the man’s own heavy breathing sent tremors through her body. She blocked out her surroundings, taking herself to a different place, a different dimension. She was in her parents’ home, safely tucked into her bed.
Then she was yanked out from under the bed.
Rachel screamed and clawed at the floor. She hollered and grasped for anything she could get her hands on, but the man was too strong. He pulled her toward him, and she swatted at him as she tried to squirm away.
“Rachel!”
She continued fighting back, not registering that the assailant knew her name.
“Rachel, it’s me. It’s Hudson. You’re okay.”
Her eyes flew open. Or maybe they’d been open this whole time. She couldn’t remember. Everything over the last several minutes had turned into a haze. She blinked, bringing Hudson’s concerned face into view. Then she flung her arms around him and clung to him like he was oxygen itself.
Tears streamed down her face. Even in the cities where she’d grown up, the crime rate was so low that she’d never had to deal with a break-in. Copper Creek was so small. Everyone knew everyone else. She knew several people who kept their doors unlocked even when they weren’t home.
They were all fools.
She still couldn’t breathe. Her heart wouldn’t stop racing. There was nothing she could do to calm down. Dizziness overcame her despite the comforting arms of the only man she knew she could trust.
Rachel lost track of time as she continued to remain curled up in Hudson’s lap. He didn’t push her to move on. They sat there, and as the minutes turned into an hour, she was finally able to find a small semblance of peace.
“Are you okay?” Hudson whispered. His warm, soothing voice could have calmed a skittish, wild mare. If she could have gotten away with it, she would have leaned into him more and just let him lull her to sleep.
But that wasn’t reality.
Rachel nodded, rubbing her face into his shoulder. “I’m okay.”
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
“I got here just as they were trying to break in.”
Lifting her face, she stared at him unblinking. “Did you see who it was?”
Hudson frowned. “It was too dark. Their truck didn’t have any plates, and I couldn’t see the color. There were three of them, though.”
Rachel’s vision blurred as she stared off to the side. “Three,” she said without emotion.
He shifted, drawing her attention to the fact that she was still curled up against him.
She scrambled from his lap and got to her feet. “We need to call the sheriff—file a report. There has to be something they can do.”
Hudson peered up at her, then grunted as he got to his feet. He scowled at something on the floor and then moved toward it. She followed the path of his focus, finally seeing what he was so fixated on.
A rock about the size of a kitten sat on the floor, surrounded by a few shards of glass. There was a piece of paper wrapped around it, secured with a rubber band. Hudson scooped the rock up and pulled out the paper. He scowled at the note, then glanced up at Rachel.
“What does it say?” she asked in a small voice, moving closer.
He pulled the paper into his fist, crumpling it. “They want you to abandon the property.”
“They what ?”
“They said you’re not welcome,” he said with derision in a low voice.
“That means it has to be someone local, right? Maybe it’s someone who wanted to buy the land for themselves?” Rachel reached for Hudson’s hand to retrieve the paper, but he held it out of her reach.
“You don’t need to see it.”
She frowned. “Yes, I do. It was meant for me. I don’t see your room covered in broken glass.”
Hudson’s dark eyes grew even darker. “That doesn’t matter. Technically, it’s not for you either. It’s meant for your client.”
Rachel looked away. She wasn’t prepared to tell him the truth yet. Besides, it didn’t make a difference if he knew who the real owner was. This wasn’t about helping her; it was about saving the land. “What if the person who wants to have this land would use it in a way you were okay with?”
“What are you trying to say?” Hudson demanded. “Because it almost sounds like you’re considering giving in. It’s a note . No one was hurt.”
She lifted her chin in defiance. “Look around, Hudson. They broke into my home— our home. There’s glass on the ground. They got past the gates. They got past you . This is just a taste of what they’re willing to do.”
“You can’t give up,” he said, throwing a hand in the air. “You can’t walk away just because someone feels entitled to this place. Your client has an amazing vision for this place, and it’s a worthwhile one at that. Don’t let the bad guys win.”
Rachel’s jaw tightened, her fury matching the tone of his voice. “I don’t want to give up, but clearly, we need more security. One person isn’t enough around here?—”
“I’ll get my brothers to help.”
Her mouth dropped open. “You can’t expect?—”
“I have nine brothers and a brother-in-law who can help. We have a community that will be willing to stick up for you. Just don’t…” He shook his head and released a sigh. His voice softened, and his gaze intensified. “Just don’t give up yet. Once all the paperwork is filed and the horses get moved to the sanctuary, it will get easier.”
“You don’t know that,” she whispered. “What if they don’t stop?”
“We’ll find a way. I don’t know how, but we will.”
Her eyes narrowed as she stared harder at him. “Why do you care?”
Hudson shrugged.
“Don’t give me that. You’re too invested in this place for it to make sense.”
“I don’t need a reason to be a good person,” he said. “No one does.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Let’s get this place cleaned up, and then I’ll call my brothers in the morning. I don’t think they’ll show up again tonight, but if they do, I’ll be waiting.”
Rachel shook her head. “You can’t stay up all night.”
“I’ve done worse.”
“You need your sleep,” she insisted again.
“So do you.” His eyes drilled into her, making it clear he’d noticed her restless nights.
She looked away. “I don’t think that’s going to happen any time soon. I can hear everything that’s happening outside of my window.” She glanced over to the window again. “I’m guessing even after we board it up, it will be worse.”
“You’re not sleeping in here anymore.”
When she looked up at him with confusion, he continued.
“You’re staying in the room next to mine. I don’t like you being down here alone. We’ll board up the room and lock the door. It’s better for us to stay close.”
She couldn’t tell him how much his offer meant to her. To do so would inevitably push her to tears again. Instead, she simply nodded and said, “Okay.”