SAGE
5
My eyes flick to the front door of Toby’s cabin for the tenth time in two minutes. By my estimation, Kade’s been inside with him for no less than a quarter of an hour. As my concern grows, I’m tempted to gnaw on my lower lip, but I already did that once and it hurt like a bitch, thanks to the split in it created by my ex -boyfriend’s nasty backhand.
I let out a ragged sigh. I don’t claim to have any idea what Kade might do in these circumstances, but anxiety about what’s happening between them is killing me. There’d been no mistaking the vengeful look in Kade’s eyes, no matter how he’d tried to hide it. A knot forms in my belly, twisting and tightening with every additional second I’m forced to wait.
Maybe I should go in. The moment the thought enters my brain, a violent shudder runs through me. From the sting of my busted lip to the swelling of my eye, I’m certain I don’t want to be anywhere near Toby. Right before Kade left me here, he demanded my trust… but I can’t say for sure if he has it. A huffed breath blows past my lips as I search deep inside myself. All I can give him right now is that I trust him more than I do Toby. There is zero faith left within me for the man who assaulted me tonight. None.
Slipping my arms into Kade’s flannel, I shrug it on while staring at the cabin door. His now familiar scent surrounds me. It’s a comfort, but it doesn’t distract me from wondering what could be going down in there. The mental imagery of the two men facing off isn’t pretty.
Toby hides his true nature behind charming words and a boyish smile. The reality is he has a smart mouth as well as a wicked temper. Tonight in the bar, he let everyone have a peek at the real Toby Johnson.
I don’t know much about the man Kade has become, but he’s got size and strength on his side. He’s massive. Built to withstand ranch life, that’s for sure. Is he threatening Toby? Roughing him up?
My mind spins back to the way he’d effortlessly gathered me into his arms and carried me through the parking lot. Something about the fleeting memory makes my throat go dry. Damn, Sage. Snap out of it. I’m sweating just thinking about him, when I’m well aware it’s a bad idea to entertain wild thoughts about any of the Rivers brothers. There’s no love lost between our families. It’s surprising that my dad offered Rhett an apprenticeship position, even if from what I’ve seen, the eldest Rivers brother is going to make a great vet someday. But Ridge Everett would be pissed as hell if he found out who I’ve been with tonight, no matter that Kade came to my rescue.
I peer at the run-down cabin through the dark, anxiously looking for any sign of trouble. It’s been too fucking long. There’s a war inside my head as my thoughts swing back and forth dramatically from one second to the next—hiding away from everything that happened tonight seems like a good plan, but what the hell is going on in there? Not knowing is killing me. Maybe I should go in. After wiping sweaty palms on my thighs, I put one hand on the door handle and squeeze.
Just then, Kade appears, having to duck to exit through the doorway. My heart thuds heavily in my chest, then jumps up into my throat as he smiles faintly and lifts a hand. His long strides eat up the ground between the cabin and the truck. He’s back in the cab with me in no time flat. Staring out the windshield, he murmurs gruffly, “He’ll never hurt you again.”
I blink, studying his profile. “Is everything okay?”
Kade’s head swings toward me, his dark gaze finding mine. “Yeah.” His fingers grasp the steering wheel, and he nods slowly, his jaw working to the side. “He needed to fuckin’ understand he can’t treat you like that.” He shoots me a half smile before stretching an arm out to graze my cheek with a few fingers.
Unable to move with his eyes locked on mine and feeling the intensity of his gaze right down to my toes, I sit in stunned silence. Almost as if he senses he’s gone a little too far, he withdraws, then winks before reaching up to remove his hat. I follow his movement as he sets it in the back seat and brings a hand up to rake his fingers through his hair.
On a drawn-out exhale, he grits out, “Sorry it took a while. He was hell-bent on being an asshole about the disturbance to his beauty sleep. Took a minute for him to calm down enough to hear what I was saying. But you’re good. Like I said, he won’t be bothering you anymore.” His eyes flick away from mine. “You tell me if he does.”
I let out a relieved exhale and wet my lips while he presses the button to start the truck. The engine rumbles to life, and my sole focus becomes how quickly we can get to my house. “I could really use my bed.”
Kade glances at me out of the corner of his eye while he turns the truck around. “I hear that.” We bump along the country road in silence until he shifts to stash a pack of cigarettes and a lighter in the cup holder.
My eyes narrow as they land on them, and a frown tugs at my mouth. The Zippo is etched with a cowboy hat and lasso. “Is that… Toby’s? I gave him one like that.”
Kade clenches his teeth together, a grim furrow marring his brow line. “About that… he apologizes, but after our discussion, he’s agreed that y’all are through. He told me to give the lighter back to you. And also that he’d pack up anything of yours.” He peers at me from the corner of his eye for a moment. “I’d say I hate being the bearer of bad news, but based on what I saw tonight…”
My eyes crash shut, shame coursing through me. “Don’t—” I jerk to a stop, my throat thick. “We don’t have to discuss it,” I blurt out, needing to get all talk of Toby over with.
“Whatever you need, Sage. I’m not gonna pressure you to tell me shit about that asshole. As far as I’m concerned, he’s out of your life for good.” His lips twitch as we pass the lengthy lane that leads to Black River Ranch.
The closer we get to my house, the more time there is for what he’s said to sink in. A shiver rolls through me. In the quiet of the truck cab, my breathing is audible, each stuttered inhalation and every ragged exhale.
Kade begins to reach across the console—to do what, I’m uncertain—but then pulls back “Almost there, Sage,” he breathes out, giving me a brief, reassuring smile as he turns onto the road that leads to my family’s homestead—Lilac Meadows Ranch.
We pull up in front of my family’s two-story house, and I note Rhett’s farm truck down by the barn. Kade must see it, too, because he mumbles, “Rhett said something about bein’ needed here. ”
“Probably the foal Samuel and my dad were discussing earlier.” I begin to shrug out of Kade’s flannel but stop when his hand lands on my shoulder.
“Keep the shirt,” he rasps, his attention shifting to the house. “Your dad waitin’ on you?”
I grimace. “Not likely. Just up watching TV. He doesn’t sleep so well these days, and…” My mouth snaps shut. “I’m sure he’ll be glad I’m home.” Giving him a tight smile, I open the door and gingerly climb out, turning back because I feel like I should say something to him, yet not knowing how to go about it.
“I’ll wait until you’re safely inside.”
“Thanks. And, uh, thanks for everything tonight.”
He gives me a curt nod. “I’d do it again.” His dark eyes roam over me, and my tongue absently flicks over the wound on my lip. I incline my head in acknowledgment.
The headlights are bright as I walk around the front of the truck. I give Kade a self-conscious wave with one hand while clutching his shirt together over my chest with the other. As I make my way onto the wraparound porch, it occurs to me that the door might be locked. I’ll have to pray it’s not, because my keys are in my bag at the bar. With a swift inhale, I try the knob and thank my lucky stars when it turns and the door pushes open. I’m so tired, it’d be a miracle if I don’t fall on my face on the way up to my room. True to his word, Kade waits for me to enter, his eyes following my every move. With a quick wave, I enter the house and shut the door behind me.
The old farmhouse is familiar, and I creep forward on my tiptoes, carefully sidestepping the creaky boards in hopes of avoiding any sort of conversation with my judgmental father.
A random, muffled shout from the den startles me into taking a poorly chosen step. The hardwood groans under my boot. My eyes shut on a wince. I was hoping to avoid him. I am not physically or mentally able to handle his reprimands right now.
“Sage? Is that you?” my dad bellows from the armchair where he’s surely nursing a glass of his favorite whiskey while watching TV. Like I told Kade, he’d be up, but he’s not waiting for me. He’s hardly slept at all since well before my mother took off. “Laurel?” For fuck’s sake, another night with Dad drunk off his ass.
I cringe, not seeing a way to ignore him. “No, Dad. It’s me.” The sound of his voice leads me to the back of the house. Poking my head into the room, I purposely hide the side of my face that’s swollen the worst. Sure enough, he’s there in front of the television. It flickers in the dimly lit room with what looks like a video of his glory days as a football player. Sadly, there’s a big difference between the energetic young guy on the screen and the miserable man sitting piss-drunk in his recliner. He’s almost unrecognizable as the same person .
I squint at the screen with my uninjured eye, discovering a teenage version of my mother in a cheerleading uniform, waving her arms before a crowd to pep them up. And now that I’m looking, Alice Rivers, Kade’s mom, is cheering right beside her. Though, she was Alice Jenkins back then.
“Laurel, what the fuck are you wearing?” Dad grumbles as his eyes rake over my body.
I tear my eyes from the football game on the screen, my brow knitting. “Dad. For the last fucking time—I’m not Mom. I’m Sage.” I’m sick of this. Every time he gets drunk, it’s the same story. Several long seconds pass while I wait for him to recognize me. This sure as hell isn’t the first time he’s called me by my mother’s name, and unfortunately, it won’t be the last. My mother’s departure ripped yet another hole in our already broken family when she left me here alone with my father. As if it wasn’t bad enough that we all had to survive the death of my brother… my mother up and fucking left. She left me. She couldn’t handle the loss. We haven’t heard from her since and don’t have a clue where she is or if she’s ever coming back. Not that I’m certain I could forgive her even if she did.
Wrenching my thoughts from our family tragedy, my attention flicks back to the screen where Daniel Rivers walks up to my dad and hooks him around the neck in a celebratory bro hug. I’ve never seen this clip before. Were they friends once upon a time? If they were more than just neighbors, I never knew. For as long as I can remember, my father and Kade’s father have been at odds.
My father squints at me through the haze of booze, eyeing me up and down a second time. His leering gaze makes my stomach sick. “Were you out whorin’ yourself around town?” He sputters, trying to sit up. “Gonna ask you one more time what the fuck you think you’re doing wearing that out of the house.”
I’d been so preoccupied about him calling me by my mother’s name that it hadn’t registered that he’d noticed my clothing—or lack thereof. I suck in a breath, glancing down, and realize Kade’s flannel is hanging open… and it’d been hiding the outfit I wear at Boozin’ Boots. Clenching my teeth together, an uneasy sensation washes through me. Dammit. There’s a reason why there’s always a T-shirt in my bag to throw on after work. “Dad. It’s what all the girls at Boozin’ Boots wear to wait tables—it’s the standard uniform.”
The irate look on his mottled-red face tells me I should have been more cognizant of what I was wearing. I’m an adult but have always known it’d be a bad idea to parade around in the bikini top and skimpy shorts required of me in front of my father. It’s actually surprising he’s never mentioned it before. I know for a fact he used to frequent Boozin’ Boots every weekend, but I don’t know why Billy barred him. That happened before I started working there. His drinking has only worsened since he’s been doing it unsupervised at home.
“You look like a cheap whore.” Spit flies from his mouth. His bluster has a whole lot to do with his drunken state, as does his accusation. His jaw locks up before he bites out, “You act just like your mother.”
My brows crash together, lips tightening into a thin line. Ignore him. Why does he have to be like this? Shaking my head, I gesture toward the kitchen. “I’m getting some water and going to bed. You should probably try to get some sleep, too.”
But as I attempt to pass by him, he grabs my wrist, jerking me to a stop. “Where’s my money?” His fingers dig into my skin as he stares at me all bleary-eyed. He’s obviously feeling sorry for himself tonight, but that doesn’t mean I have to be his victim. And as for my tips—yes, we need what I bring in, but that doesn’t mean all the money I earn should automatically be handed over. That was never the agreement. He’ll only use it to buy more liquor, anyway.
I wrench my arm from his vise grip, wincing as his fingers scrape my skin. “I left my bag at work.”
His head rears back, and his eyes lose focus as he takes in my appearance. It’s as if he’s only just now noticing the bruises and cuts on my face. “What the fuck happened to you, Laurel?”
Shuddering hard at the idea that he looks at me and still sees my mother, I grit out, “I’m fine. It’s nothing.” He’s gape-mouthed as I hurry past, swinging through the kitchen to grab a glass of water before hightailing it up the stairs.
Upon entering my room, I spin around to lock the door before heading into the bathroom to get ready for bed. My reflection in the mirror truly shocks me. My face is a mass of bruises and swelling and cuts. I’m sickened by the fact my boyfriend did this—and that people will see me. I’m going to have to find someone to take my next few shifts. There’s no way I can go in with these injuries. They’ll know. I don’t want to be the stupid girl who puts up with an abusive asshole because— Fuck . I don’t wanna become another statistic. Just as tears prick behind my eyes, the sound of my father pushing from his chair reaches my ears.
My lip trembles, but I hurriedly wash my face, then brush my teeth. I peel off Kade’s shirt, remove my shorts, and untie the strings at the back of the bikini top. Swallowing hard, my gaze moves over the rest of the damage incurred. Shit. I’m a mess.
A carefully folded T-shirt and pair of sleep shorts sit on the counter, and I tear my gaze away from my battered body to pull them on before scurrying on quiet feet to find a pair of shoes.
Each stumbling footfall brings him closer. Each frantic beat of my heart makes me hurry that much faster to the window to make my escape.
The door handle rattles, followed by some indistinct muttering. I hop on one foot, then the other as I pull on a pair of running shoes. “Sage!” Once. Twice. Three times, my father’s fist bangs on the door.
There’s no waiting around to find out whether he’s too drunk to gain entrance or not. With a grunt, I shove the window open, then scoot out onto the ledge. My fingers scramble for purchase on a thick branch as incoherent mumbling comes through the door. The rough bark bites into my already abraded hands, and I gasp from the pain of it. But there’s no way I’m staying in my room. Once I’ve hoisted myself onto a branch, I reach back, pulling down the window with a sharp snap behind me. With my breath coming quick, I shimmy down the tree like I have so many times before, then pause, looking around. When I deem the coast clear, I begin to move toward the only place on this ranch I feel safe—the old hayloft inside the barn.
As I’m walking, there’s a scuffling sound in the distance near the horse stable. My head whips in the direction it came from, and my eyes scan the area. There’s a shadow lingering in the dark. Is it my imagination? For weeks now, I’ve felt like someone has been watching me. Is it Toby? Has he come back to finish me off?
Drawing in an unsteady breath, I jog across the lawn in the opposite direction. At the barn, I slide one of the doors open just enough to slip inside, then close it behind me, chaining the door for good measure.
No one can get to me in here, and for that, I’m grateful. My body sags in relief as I cross to the ladder and climb up into the hayloft. From a stool in the corner, I pick up the blanket and pillow I keep here, then lay them out on a bed of hay.
Long minutes pass while I listen for the sounds that whisper, This is it .
Jinx sneaks into the loft a few minutes later—the cat that belongs to the Rivers family. He likes it up here. With me. Maybe he understands I need someone. My lips twitch into a small smile. Perceptive little creature. Exhausted, I stroke my hand over his soft fur and mumble to myself, “Just another shitty night at Lilac Meadows.”