Chapter Five
Garrett packed the rest of his things and loaded them into his truck. Turning toward the path he used earlier in the morning, he donned his rain gear and walked the familiar trail in the dark.
Part of him hoped he might find Snow sitting on the rock waiting for him, and part of him lumped her with all the other women who let him down. He sat on the rock and listened as the lake rippled. The water calmed his thoughts down.
Whatever compelled him to drive over to the Serenity Ranch and demand they give him a chance, worked.
When he left here, he planned to go to the big house and tell Mr. Baron he intended to leave.
He didn’t like getting lumped in with those guys who up and left.
This time, he’d have to suck it up. Getting a job at Serenity Ranch felt like the right move.
He didn’t fit in with the men here. The Houser brothers made a mess of things every chance they got.
The manager turned a blind eye to avoid catching flak from the two men himself.
“Heard you planned on leaving,” Frank said behind him. “I sure hope it’s nothing we said.”
“Don’t worry your small brain about it,” Garrett said, listening to where the man stood on the trail.
“Snow ran off with the biker from the bar. Nan’s fit to be tied. Mr. Baron sent someone after them. It appears she preferred him over you,” he cackled.
“What has you out skulking in the woods, Frank? You’re only brave when your brother’s with you. I don’t see him,” Garrett replied.
“Baron sent me searching for you. He didn’t want you to leave without your pay. Maybe I’ll tell him you already skedaddled and I’ll forward it along to you,” Frank said bravely.
Garrett laughed out loud. “Baron won’t believe you. He knows no one entrusts you with money.”
“You’re an asshole, Johnson. None of us can say we’ll miss you. Where do you plan on going?”
Garrett slid off the rock, giving up on the idea of having a few minutes of peace with Frank around.
“None of your fucking business.”
Frank launched himself at Garrett as Buddy tackled him from behind. The three men fell to the ground. Garrett let his fists fly blindly, catching one of the Houser boys under the chin. A punch caught his shoulder as he heard the satisfying crunch of a broken nose.
“Shit. I think he’s busted my nose,” Buddy caterwauled.
Frank tried pinning him to the ground, but Garrett’s training kicked in and soon, Frank lay in the grass, not moving.
Garrett leaned over, catching his breath. The thunder rolled above him as the lightning flashed across the sky, lighting up the area. Buddy dropped to his knees, no longer concerned about his nose.
“You killed him, you bastard,” he yelled.
“He’s not dead, only passed out. It’s what happens when you jump a man from behind,” Garrett said, bending and placing his hands on his knees. “Maybe this will teach you assholes to stop fucking with everyone. Consider it your warning to leave me the hell alone,” he growled.
Garrett stomped his way up the path and climbed into the driver’s seat. He drove up to the ranch house and rang the doorbell.
Mr. Baron greeted him. “I heard about some scuffling down at the bunks. My foreman assured me it’s all under control, but seeing you here makes me think he lied.”
“I’m leaving,” he said, getting right to the point.
“You came to give me your two-week notice?” he asked hopefully.
Garrett shook his head. “No. I’m afraid not. I’m leaving today. I want to ask if I can purchase a horse from you. I can give you my month’s pay if you’ll give me Gus.”
Mr. Baron’s eyebrow rose slightly. “You know he’s not a spring chicken. Old Gus turned fourteen a few months back. Why do you want him when you can buy any of the horses in the barn?”
Garrett removed his hat. “I heard about Snow. The Houser brothers took pleasure in torturing the poor animal to make her miserable. With her gone, they’ll make Gus a target for all their jokes. He’s a gentle creature and doesn’t deserve to be mistreated.”
“I agree. Sadly, it says a lot about how I run my ranch. Take him. I’ll write out your paycheck for the month if you give me a minute. May I ask where you’re going in such a hurry?” Mr. Baron asked as he poured two glasses of whiskey and handed one to Garrett.
“Serenity Ranch. When I started here, if you recall, I mentioned I only wanted to work month to month. I hoped to get hired on there.”
The older man waved him away. “They have a nice setup. I didn’t realize how badly things grew out of control on my own land. Tomorrow, I think the Houser brothers will need to find new jobs. Take Gus with my blessing. I hate losing you, Garrett. You’re a fine worker, but I understand.”
“Thank you,” Garret said as he downed the drink, anxious to return to the Serenity Ranch.
“If you change your mind, you’ll always have a job here,” Mr. Baron assured him as he wrote out a check, ripped it from his book, and handed it to him.
“I appreciate it, sir. With the two brothers gone, I’m sure you’ll find your ranch running much smoother. I wish you the best,” Garrett said, shaking his hand.
“Good luck, son,” Mr. Baron said as he led him to the door.
Garrett drove to the barn and hooked up his trailer to the truck. The few cowboys hanging out in the barn waiting for the storm to pass sent curious glances in his direction, but never said anything to him. He reckoned they figured it out on their own.
Opening the horse’s stall, Garrett led Gus to his trailer and secured him. As if the horse knew what he planned, the animal nuzzled his head near his shoulder. Garrett stroked his velvety head, assuring the horse knew he planned to give him a better life, far from here.
Garrett pulled through the barn and stopped to close the doors. He tipped his hat to the remaining cowboys before climbing into the driver’s seat and driving slowly down the driveway.
The storm clashed above him, showing no signs of stopping as he turned onto the highway. He hoped Gus felt safe in the back. The older animal usually stayed calm during inclement weather, but he rarely rode in a tin can as the rain beat down on the metal.
The road’s curves appeared more treacherous as he made his way in the thunderstorm. The sky turned pitch-black. His lights shone on the blacktop, but the rain made visibility even harder.
“Shit,” he muttered as he slowed for the next curve, hoping to keep the trailer close to the edge. Thunder clashed, and in the near distance, he saw the lightning spread across the sky and hit a tree. It burst into flames, illuminating the field.
Garrett relaxed as he made the curve and glanced back in his rear-view mirror, checking on the trailer.
A big thud hit the right side of the truck, scaring the daylights out of him.
Thinking it most likely an animal trying to reach shelter, Garrett pulled off the side of the road.
He refused to allow any creature to suffer from getting hit and then lying in pain in the blasted storm.
Pulling his rain gear over his head, Garrett took his gun from his holster, preparing to put the poor animal out of its misery.
Gus whinnied from inside the trailer, and he stopped long enough to open it and check on his new four-legged friend. Gus’ eyes seemed larger than usual and he appeared anxious. Garrett climbed inside and comforted the old horse.
“It’s all right, Gus. I’m taking you to a new home.
We only have to make it through all this damn storm,” he said, patting his neck.
When he felt the horse calm, Garrett stepped out and secured the door.
He used his hand to guide himself toward the front of his vehicle as the rain pelted his face, making it hard to see in front of him.
He moved to the passenger side and stopped to grab the flashlight. The last thing he needed was to run across a wounded wild animal in the weirdly green and dark sky. Turning it on, he aimed it in the direction of where he heard the loud thud.
Garrett gasped as he saw the form of a woman lying on the ground. A plastic sack covered her head and blood dripped from a large gash across her forehead.
“Shit,” he exclaimed as he dropped to his knees beside her. He debated on whether to move her due to her injuries as he dialed 911 and waited. The phone never rang. He glanced down and saw he didn’t have any service. The storm must’ve knocked out a nearby tower.
Panic set in as he debated carrying her to the vehicle and heading to Embers for the closest hospital. The woman groaned and decided for him as she turned on her back.
Her hand went to her head, and she flinched.
“Hey, hey,” he said, grabbing her hand and gently lowering it to the ground. “My name’s Garrett. I didn’t see you in the rain. Why the hell are you even out in this crap?” he barked nervously.
“Garrett Johnson,” she whispered as her teeth chattered. “I have to find Garret Johnson.”
He leaned close to make sure he heard her correctly.
A loud siren from the nearby town echoed from behind him, indicating a tornado.
The wind picked up, and debris flew across the road.
Gus stomped his feet, getting restless in the trailer.
Having no other choice, he gently picked up the drenched woman.
The bag flew off her head, and her braid whipped around his arm as he opened the door and braced himself against it as he set her inside the cab.
He adjusted her legs, buckled her in, and closed the door.
He ran in front of his truck and jumped inside.
“Don’t worry. I’ll get us out of this,” he said, holding her to the seat.
He turned back onto the road and pressed the gas, getting him closer to Embers.
The rain suddenly stopped as everything came to a standstill.
The tornado must be closer than he thought.
Garrett slowed when he finally saw the gate for Serenity Ranch.
He pulled in front of the old farmhouse.
Banging on the door, he yelled at the top of his lungs.
“Open up. It’s Garrett. We have an emergency. ”
No one responded. The house appeared empty. Garrett shrugged out of his rain gear and wrapped it around his hand. Grabbing a stone figurine from the porch, he broke the window on the door, reached inside, and unlocked it.
Garrett barely made it down the steps when Matthew and Mac raced toward him in their vehicles. Damn, he didn’t think they put an alarm inside the old house. He threw open the passenger door and wrapped the woman’s arm around his neck as he lifted her.
Seeing the situation unfold, Mac jumped inside Garrett’s truck and pulled the trailer to the barn as Matthew helped him get the half-conscious woman into the house.
“What happened?” Matthew asked, examining the woman’s head. “She belongs in a hospital.”
“Have you seen the weather outside? The radio said it’s headed our way,” Garrett snapped.
“Take her to the basement,” Matthew ordered as he showed the way. “I have to return home. Stay there until I return. There’s food, ice, and warm blankets. Keep her awake until we can get her help.” He turned and raced back to his vehicle.
Garrett placed the woman in the chair. She shivered and her teeth chattered while she kept her eyes closed.
“I’m taking you out of these wet clothes.
You’ll get warmer faster,” he explained as he knelt and slid off her boots and socks.
Noticing a bathroom, he ran and grabbed some towels to dry her hair.
He unbuttoned her shirt, wrapped the blanket around her, grasped the clasp on her bra, and removed the soiled and sodden items.
Her head lolled to the side as he moved her to the bed. Covering her lower half to protect her modesty, he tugged her jeans down and then her panties. The house shuddered as the wind picked up, and Garrett paused to listen.
Searching the room, he found a bowl and filled it with water.
He returned and sat on the edge of the bed, dabbing the blood from her head.
The gash didn’t appear as dire as he initially thought.
She needed stitches, but it’d wait until the tornado cleared their path.
Gently undoing her braid, he wiped the mud from her hair and dried it as much as possible.
“Come on, sweetheart. Open your eyes. We need to keep you awake,” he said as he wiped mud from her cheek. She blinked. Nothing prepared Garrett as she did as he bade. He stared into a pair of crystal blue eyes, sending a shock straight to his heart.
“I’m Garrett. When I came around the curve, I accidentally hit you. Can you tell me where you hurt?” he asked.
She clutched at the blankets as she pulled herself up to sit. She winced when she tried to move.
“Garrett…Johnson?” she asked hesitantly.
“Yeah. Do you know me?” he asked.
“No. And I wish to hell I never heard your name,” she whispered before swaying and passing out.
Garrett’s heart raced as he stared at her pale face. Her cheeks appeared flushed, and tiny freckles dotted her nose. Worried she may have other injuries, he placed a towel over her breasts and removed the blanket to discover the dark bruise forming on her lower ribs.
Unlike other women, she didn’t act fragile. Her eyes shot fire as she cursed him. He tried to recall if he ever met her, yet he couldn’t place her. Garrett didn’t miss how she fit in his arms, and despite the mud and rain, she appealed to him.
“Shit,” he mumbled as he covered her and waited for the storm to end. She already made her feelings about him clear. Like all the other women in his life, the blonde beauty pushed him away. Garrett ran his hand through his hair as he wondered how she knew his name.
Outside, the storm continued to rage while he watched over her.
It felt like his mood. Still mad at Snow for acting carelessly and running off with a strange man, dealing with the Houser brothers, and hitting a defenseless woman walking in a storm, his stomach churned.
The tempest seemed to warn him that life was about to change.