Chapter Eighteen
Jolene
F all is in full swing in Aspen Hollow, with the temperature cooling down to jeans and hoodie weather.
The trees look like they're on fire with their vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows while the farm is dreamy and cozy, with the scent of crushed leaves and fresh-tilled earth from the fall harvest filling the air.
It's my favorite time of year. Most people think it's because the bulk of the growing season is done, but it's because everything slows down.
Sure, the B&B is bumping, but the world around it is growing sleepy as it prepares for the cold of winter to settle in.
It also doesn't hurt that I love all things to do with the spooky season.
In Aspen Hollow, the entire town leans into the spirit of the holidays, but especially Halloween—or Samhain Eve, depending who you're celebrating it with.
I've always loved partaking in the Samhain Eve traditions with Rieka and Kenina.
Being with them on that night is damn near indescribable.
It's like the air pulses around them as energy ebbs and flows.
Its fucking magical, for lack of a better word.
I tried explaining it to Beau, but he didn't seem to get it. Good thing he was busy at the station, so I was still able to join my favorite ladies before heading to the town festival. To everyone's relief, this one went more smoothly than the Fourth of July.
Not only was the festival quiet, but there hasn't been any funny business brought to my or Nana's attention since the incident with Ricky and Calli.
Nobody seems to miss Ricky. They had no problem believing he got in deep with his drug dealer and fled instead of facing the consequences of pissing off the wrong people.
Little do they know that at least that was partly true.
Ricky sure as fuck pissed off the wrong people when he decided to use sweet Calli as a punching bag.
I'm heading in from taking Rogue out—she needed to work off some of her energy—when I see Calli in the round pen with a skittish horse who was brought to the farm in hopes of rehabilitating or at least living out her days in peace here.
Slowing Rogue, I dismount, then walk up to the fence to watch the progress.
I'm not sure if Calli heard us coming, but the filly sure did. She shakes her head angrily at me and Rogue as she paws at the ground. Calli's mouth is moving, but I can't make out her whispered words from this far away.
I suck in my breath as Calli continues to talk to the beautiful paint horse while she slowly takes a step towards the agitated animal.
I don't think I breathe again until Calli is right in front of the horse, her hand raised, with the horse resting its head in her outstretched palm.
It's astonishing watching the animal relax little by little under Calli's spell.
Not wanting to interfere any more than we already have, I slowly step back and give Rogue's mane a little tug.
My girl picked up on the anxious vibes rolling off the filly and comes with me quietly.
Back in the barn, I brush her down and give her a few extra treats.
I can't give her too many since Beau likes to sneak them to her any time he thinks I'm not looking.
I'm just cleaning everything up when Calli walks in.
"Hey, girl. I have no fucking clue how you do it, but in a few days, you've been able to get closer to that filly than I have been able to in months of her being here at the farm. I'm really fucking glad you took me up on the offer to hang around and work for me for a bit."
"Thanks, Jo. That means a lot coming from you."
"Just tellin' it like I see it. You think you'd consider staying on and working with the animals full time?"
"I'd love that. But are you just being nice to me because you know everything I've gone through with…" Calli's words drop off as she remembers the night I showed up and her world changed.
I’ve watched her grow stronger, more confident, over the last month or so since she’s been here, but any mention of Ricky, and it’s like she backslides before my eyes into the timid, meek girl she used to be. Her head hangs as she picks at her nails and refuses to make eye contact with me.
"I'm positive. If you haven't noticed, I'm not one for fluff.
If I think someone's doing a good job, I'll let them know.
But the same can be said if I think they're shit.
You're far from shit, Calli.” I step closer, grab her hand, and give it a gentle squeeze until her eyes finally meet my own.
“You've got the magic touch when it comes to the animals.
Especially the ones who have had a rough past. If I have someone like you on my team, I can take more animals like that filly we have now.
With someone who can dedicate their time and care to the animals, we can rehab and rehome more, which would make it a viable program to consider for the farm. "
"Wow, you really think I could help make that happen? Because honestly, Jo, that sounds like my dream job." Her face brightens for a fraction before she tries to hide the hope shining in her eyes.
I’m sure hope has been a fickle bitch for her in the past, but I’m not going to be the one to steal it from her when she’s come so far.
"I more than think you are capable of handling this task. Look at what you've accomplished already, and you've only been here for a little while. Where did you learn so much about animals, by the way?"
"My best friend growing up had a farm. She also has a brother with special needs.
Once her pa discovered her brother did so much better when he interacted with the animals, they started looking into the benefits of therapy for children with special needs that included animals.
Tansy loves her little brother so much, and I loved both of them as if they were my real siblings.
Tansy went to school for equestrian therapy.
I wanted to go with her, but school was always a struggle for me.
I didn't have the grades for college, so I stayed home and helped out with her little brother while she was gone.” Calli smiles wistfully as if remembering happier times.
"We would video chat almost every day, at first, and talk over the things she learned at school.
I started to try some of the techniques and discovered not only did they work, but I was somehow able to connect with the animals.
Tansy got her little brother into a program through her university, so they didn't need my help as much, so I stopped spending as much time at her place.
That's when Ricky came along. I was so damn lonely without Tansy around and not seeing her family all the time that it wasn't hard for Ricky to worm his way in.
It wasn't long before he completely cut me off from Tansy and her family.
" Calli’s eyes are downcast again, avoiding mine.
If I could, I’d resurrect Ricky and kill him again, but this time draw it all to give him a fraction of the pain he’s inflicted on her.
"I'm sorry, Calli."
"Me too. But that's all changed, thanks to you.
I got out, and Tansy and I have started to rebuild our relationship.
She was one of the first people I called once we got settled here, and I'm so glad she picked up that phone call.
The first few conversations were rocky, but now it's like no time has passed at all. Well, at least it was until…"
"Until what? Did something happen?"
"I don't know. I can't really say because I haven't seen anything with my own eyes, but Tansy got a boyfriend, and I've got a bad feeling about him."
Instantly, my hackles are up, but I keep my cool facade in place. "What's the bad feeling telling you?"
"That's the issue. I don't know." Calli runs a frustrated hand through her hair. "I can't tell if I should trust my gut or if I'm just being cynical because of what Ricky put me through."
"Hey, don't be so hard on yourself.” I squeeze her shoulder. “You went through hell. But if anything, I feel like that gives you an upper hand in sensing when something isn't right. So, what made your spidey senses tingle?" I raise my brows at Calli.
She huffs out a laugh before sobering. "I suppose it's the little things.
Tansy has always been outspoken and independent, but lately it's like she's folding in on herself.
I've only met her new boyfriend once, but there were so many similarities to how Ricky was when we first got together.
Ordering for her as if he's being sweet, when it's really a control thing.
Making a snide comment when she went to order a second drink.
Openly checking out several women and even going so far as to hit on them in front of us, but then aggressively grabbing her arm and cussing her out when she politely thanked our male server for her food, and accusing her of flirting. "
"Fuck. Yeah, that really doesn't sound good."
"No, it wasn't good. And that was right after we got here.
She's slowly withdrawn more and more every day since then.
I haven't seen her in two weeks, and it's always because her dickhead boyfriend needs her for something or they have plans, or he might want to see her, so we can't do anything.
Honestly, I've had panic attacks on multiple occasions after getting off the phone or seeing her because of how eerily similar it was to what I dealt with. "
"I think you were smart for trusting your gut. Would you feel better if I did a little digging?"
Hope fills Calli's eyes as she turns towards me. "Would you really?"
"Absolutely. But you can't mention anything to her, and I won't even let you know when I'm going to do the snooping. I don't want you involved, just in case your gut is wrong. I don't want to jeopardize your friendship."
"Thanks, Jo. I really appreciate it."