Chapter Seven #2
Garrett returned and pulled out his bags, setting them down in the living room of the homey cabin.
He surveyed the kitchen and opened the fridge to find a couple of containers full of food with reheating instructions.
A six-pack of beer, a pitcher of tea, and a piece of pie sat on the second shelf.
Reaching for a bottle of brew, he unscrewed the cap and continued his sweep of the place.
The large primary bedroom contained floor-to-ceiling windows, and he anticipated the morning light to see what lay beyond.
The overly large bath held a soaking tub big enough for two and a large walk-in shower with a seat.
“Not bad, Johnson,” he breathed as he considered a hot shower before eating the delicious food.
Stripping down, he walked across the cabin naked and grabbed his bag, taking it into the bathroom.
Garrett pulled out a pair of sports shorts and set his personal items on the counter.
He turned the shower handle to the hottest setting and enjoyed the peace and quiet as he soaked under the spray of water.
His thoughts drifted to the morning when he got the nerve to demand a job.
Mac seemed easy-going, and Matthew might take a while to win over.
The tight-lipped man didn’t say anything or bother to explain why they put him there.
He shrugged. What did it matter? Lathering the soap over his body, he scrubbed himself clean.
He dried off and wrapped the towel around his waist before trimming his beard.
After Garrett dressed, he hung up his clothes and hat before returning to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, he sighed as he opened the container to discover ribs, potato salad, and baked beans.
“Oh, yeah,” he said, taking out the food.
He searched the drawers for plates, feeling guilty for having more food in the fridge than Riley kept in hers.
Garrett resigned himself to checking on her in a couple of days and bringing them the biggest pizza ever.
After all, he hit her with his truck, it only seemed logical to reach out and see how she felt.
Taking a swig of his beer, Garrett waited for his ribs and beans to reheat in the microwave. His stomach growled as the scent filled the kitchen. Riley’s unusual blue eyes floated in his mind as he took out his food and dished it onto a plate. He went over the details of Riley’s apartment again.
The closet door swung wide open, showing only a few shirts hanging.
For females, they didn’t seem to have a lot of frilly things.
A faded backpack hung on the door, and he recalled the note.
It sounded as if Riley’s sister might be younger than her.
How much younger? Would she know what to do if Riley suffered any complications or needed to return to the ER?
Garrett shook his head. Didn’t he learn his lesson after Snow?
It didn’t matter. The worry already settled in, and he needed to check on her.
He’d play it safe and wait a couple of days.
Pick up a pizza, drop by, and say he was in the neighborhood and wanted to check on her.
Then, he’d walk away and concentrate on his new job.
After all, he wanted to fit in here. His need to work beside his brothers-in-arms grew stronger after seeing how Matthew and Mac worked together, and how Matthew had his six when Garrett called him to follow him to the apartment.
It’s what he missed at Mystic Ranch and hoped to find here.
Tomorrow, he’d ride Gus and survey the land.
Matthew Cartwright gave him three days to settle in, and he planned to use them to his advantage.
He wanted to explore how the ranch worked, and it piqued his curiosity about what other operations they ran here.
Maybe if he showed himself worthy, they’d let him in on their little secret.
The screened-in patio called his name as he grabbed a western paperback and delved into his book. The quiet stillness of the night and the chill in the air settled his soul. Yes, it seemed as if he was meant to live here.
Riley barely made it up her stairs and knew Garrett watched her before pulling out of the parking lot. She leaned against the door, panting. Her head throbbed, but she ignored it as she made her way to the bathroom and splashed water on her face.
Worried about what might happen if she showed up without Stitch’s car, or if her dad hid out to see when they returned home, Riley sat on the fire escape for some fresh air. The apartment seemed hotter than the outdoors.
“Riley?” she heard Garrett call from her apartment. She pressed herself against the building, embarrassed by where they lived. Garrett Johnson, despite hitting her with his truck, had done more for her than her own father. She didn’t need his pity.
A few minutes later, she heard him leave and sighed.
As soon as the nausea ebbed, Riley planned to get her sister and leave this crummy place.
Knowing her father found them made her stomach hurt more.
The man took what little money she made to purchase alcohol to ease his pain.
She didn’t know which one caused him to drink the most. The one where her mom died from a freak accident on their ranch, when the bank foreclosed, or when he started drinking and hitting them.
She refused to let Tara grow up in an abusive atmosphere.
Considering where Tara found herself now, Riley didn’t feel like she was doing a stellar job of it.
“Oh, Mom. I wish you were here,” she whispered. “You’d know how to fix things.”
The pain in her ribs hurt every time she moved. Riley knew deep down, if things went wrong, she wasn’t in any condition to help Tara. She lay on the air mattress and closed her eyes. As soon as the headache eased, she’d find her sister and get the hell out of this town.