Chapter 14 Olivia
I close my eyes and listen to the sounds of the night—most notably the frogs in the background.
This is the only time I feel at peace. I’m breathing fresh air, nature is all around me, and I’m not in chains or locked in a commercial freezer that’s been changed into a steel prison cell.
A cell in which the floor is stained with blood from the man who still haunts my dreams.
I push the hair out of my face and take a deep, shuddering breath.
I thought Winnie would be back by now, but she’s still out.
I’m never alone, though. Winnie’s housekeeper, Mrs. Dynes, is here.
She lives with Winnie. She’s a sweet older lady who has been really nice to me.
I need to figure out what I’m going to do with my life, though.
I can’t keep staying with Winnie. It’s time I start rebuilding my life.
I haven’t used Bear’s money, and I don’t want to.
I loved him. I didn’t love him for what it could get me.
Knowing I got that money because my brother killed him …
I just can’t touch it.
I’d give my life if it would bring Bear back.
I wouldn’t even have to think about it. Hell, I’ve prayed for that exact same thing a thousand times.
I stand up, pulling the black-and-white checkered throw—that I have over my shoulders—tighter.
Maybe I can make some tea to help me sleep.
Mrs. Dynes is always suggesting it. I hate hot tea, but I’m desperate enough to try it tonight.
With any luck, it will bring a dreamless sleep.
Just as I turn to go inside, a truck pulls into the driveway.
My body tenses up. I start to run inside.
I’m not good at meeting people—especially strangers.
I have the doorknob turned to hurry inside but stop myself.
I’m so fucking sick of being weak. My brother and his buddies have destroyed me over and over.
I can’t allow them to keep taking everything from me.
It takes everything I have not to run away.
I wring my hands together and stare at the truck, my eyes squinting as the headlights shine directly at me.
I worry I’m in my nightgown, but it’s down to my ankles, and my breasts could probably be seen through the silky fabric.
At least that’s hidden under the throw that I grabbed to chase away the chill of the night air.
“Evening,” an older man with salt and pepper hair and a muscular frame says as he gets out of the truck. He appears to be in his forties, but I can’t be sure. He has a scar along his cheek, and he’s wearing a black Stetson, faded jeans, and a blue buttoned-up shirt with long sleeves.
“Eve …” I stop when my voice comes out squeakier than I’d like. I clear my throat and try again. “Evening.” It’s sad that saying one complete word would feel like a victory, but it does.
“Is Winnie around?”
“No, she went into Cherokee. I’m not sure when she’ll get back. Can I tell her who came by?”
“You must be Olivia. I think Winnie may have told you about me. I’m Carson Wells.”
I look at him in surprise. You look different than your picture Winnie showed me.”
“You mean I look older,” he laughs.
“No, I didn’t mean that—not exactly,” I stammer, blushing with embarrassment.
“I’m just kidding, Olivia. I wanted to see if Winnie had talked to you about our offer.”
“She told me you offered to let me stay at the ranch and protect me until Douglas was found.”
“Have you decided?” he asks.
I sigh and go back to my chair. “Would you like to sit down? I could have Mrs. Dynes bring you some coffee.”
He shakes his head no, lumbers up onto the porch, and sits down in the white swing across from me. “Nah, if I drink coffee this late at night I won’t sleep, and Lisa will kill me.”
“Lisa?” I ask.
“My wife. I think you’d like her.”
“How do you figure? It’s not like you know me that well.”
He lets out a self-deprecating laugh. “This is true. Still, the two of you have a lot in common. You’ve both survived hell and managed to keep standing.
” I look at him blankly, refusing to ask the question that starts swirling in my brain.
He seems to understand. “I actually wanted her to come with me to talk to you, but she’s pregnant and since she was sleeping, I didn’t want to disturb her. ”
“Congratulations,” I answer automatically.
“Thank you. We’re happy. It was unexpected. Lisa is younger than me. I did worry I was too old to be a father, but I’m looking forward to it. Anyway, I did tell her I was going to try to talk to you tonight, and she gave me permission to tell you a little of her story.”
“You asked for permission?” I question.
“Always. My wife gets to decide who knows her past and who doesn’t. I won’t betray her by telling people she doesn’t know or want to know.”
“You love her.”
“More than anything in the world,” he admits at once. “She had a stalker. He held her for weeks before I was contacted to find her.”
“Contacted to find her?”
He lets out a sigh and nods. “I didn’t know her. We met for the first time when I rescued her,” he confesses.
“Oh. She’s very lucky to have you, then.”
“I think I’m the lucky one. I’d be lost without her. Anyway, I wanted to personally extend my offer to you. You’d be safe at the ranch, but more than that, we’re like a giant family there. I think you’d grow to love living there.”
“Aren’t you worried I’d bring Douglas and whoever is stupid enough to follow him to the ranch? If they tracked me down, your wife would be in danger. I can assure you my brother doesn’t care who he hurts. In fact, he takes great pleasure in it,” I say, twisting Bear’s ring on my finger.
“If he shows up on my ranch, he’ll die before he ever gets close to you or Lisa. I can promise you that. There is one thing that you might not like.”
“What’s that?” I ask at once.
“Our ranch is made of ex-military, some are ex mercs, and others are men who needed a new life and a place that didn’t judge them for their past.”
“Ex mercs?” I question.
“Mercenaries. Ex-soldiers who get paid to do things that might be illegal but need done.”
“Oh,” I murmur, not sure what else to say.
“I can promise you, they only accepted jobs to help save innocent people,” he assures me. I nod my acceptance. For some reason, I believe him. “Each person at the ranch is completely vetted, Olivia. I promise you’d be safe there.”
“I wouldn’t feel right living there and not contributing somehow. That’s not me, and I don’t think I have it in me to be a bodyguard—or whatever you guys are labeled as.”
He laughs. “I really need a secretary,” he answers.
“We also have a clinic at the ranch. If you’re interested in a CNA position or whatever.
I know from talking with Winnie that you were your father’s primary caretaker.
I’m sure that type of position is available too.
You would get the standard pay, and if that’s what you want, you can pay rent for the cabin you will live in on the territory. ”
“It kind of sounds too good to be true, Mr. Wells.”
“Carson,” he corrects at once.
“Carson,” I agree.
“I tell you what, Olivia. What if you and Winnie come to visit next weekend? Spend time there and let me show you around. You can tour the ranch and the cabins. It will give you a feel for the place and the available jobs. What do you say?”
“I’d have to check with Winnie to see if she’d be free.”
“Good, you two discuss it and I’ll call her tomorrow evening and see what you’ve decided,” he answers.
“Mr. Wells,” I begin, and he gives me a look that’s accompanied with a grunt. For some reason, that makes me smile. “Carson,” I respond with a smile. I really do feel at ease around him. “Can I ask why you’re doing so much to try to help me?”
“Because, Olivia, you’ve endured hell. You deserve the chance and opportunity to begin again, without looking over your shoulder every single second, minute, and hour of the day,” he answers, and his words are like a gut check.
He’s describing exactly what I do each day just to make it through. It’s exhausting.
“I’ll talk to Winnie,” I finally tell him as he stands, shoving his hands into his pockets.
“Good. I hope you’ll come, Olivia. Even if Winnie can’t make it, you should still consider coming. You can stay with me and Lisa. She’ll take you under her wing. I promise you’d be good. If something happens and I’m wrong, then I’ll bring you back immediately.”
I nod, liking Carson Wells more and more. I watch as he gets back in his truck with an easy wave, and then backs out of the driveway. It kind of feels like this is my chance to start over, and for the first time ever, that’s something I would really like.