Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Is there a vehicle I can borrow to go into town?” Casey asked at breakfast a few days later. “I thought I could go talk to Bob about my car, run a few errands, then pick Wyatt up. I mean, unless you want to take the bus, sugar?”
“No! I want to go for ice cream after school,” Wyatt said from across the table.
“Good plan. I hadn’t even thought of that.” She absolutely had.
Jeb was being a complete ass regarding her sugar intake and it sucked. She missed her midnight lollipops. She missed her pick-me-up lollipops in the morning, noon, and right before bed.
It really wasn’t good for her metabolism.
“I’ll take you,” Jeb said.
“Uh, I can drive,” she replied. “You have work, don’t you? I promise I’m a good driver. I will be especially careful with Wyatt in the car.”
That had to be what was concerning him, right?
“That’s not my only concern,” he said as they all finished breakfast. “Wyatt, can you go brush your teeth and finish getting ready, please?”
“Sure, Papa.”
She’d noticed that a lot of the tension had dissipated from their relationship. On Sunday, they’d even managed to convince Jeb to have a picnic on the front lawn for lunch.
No candy charcuterie, though.
Today was Wednesday and she’d been here for just over a week. It was time to talk to Bob. Sure, she could call him, but she’d found going to see someone in person was often more effective for these sorts of things. Plus, she really wanted some ice cream.
After talking to Bob, she’d need to call Jordan and let her know how things were going.
“I’m a good driver, Jeb,” she said when Wyatt was out of the room.
He eyed her skeptically.
“I promise! And I’d never put Wyatt at risk.”
“Hey, I know that. I just . . . I guess I don’t like you being away from the ranch. Where I can’t keep an eye on you to make sure you stay out of trouble.”
“I haven’t gotten into trouble for days.”
Jeb leaned closer. “Did you forget you got your bottom smacked last night?”
Oh yeah. She had kind of forgotten that.
Last night she’d waited until she thought everyone was asleep then she’d snuck out of bed and gone on a sugar hunt. Unfortunately, Jeb hadn’t been asleep and she’d ended up back in her bedroom, bent over the bed getting a spanking.
That had sucked.
“That was a bit mean. And I wasn’t in that much trouble. Just a bit.”
“Hmm.”
“I need to get some girl stuff,” she finally said.
He didn’t even flinch, just raised an eyebrow. “Do you?”
“Yes!”
“All right. You can take one of the work trucks into town. Are you good with a stick shift?”
“Of course.”
“And you’ll message me when you leave and when you’re coming home. If anything happens I want to be told straight away.”
“Yes, Daddy,” she whispered. “I promise.”
“Oh my god,” she groaned as she took a lick of her butter pecan ice cream. “This tastes amazing.”
And it was helping to lift her mood. A little. She should feel ecstatic since her car would be ready to be picked up in a few days.
Jordan had been so happy when she’d called. But, for some reason, she just felt sad.
Because you don’t want to leave.
“You really needed some ice cream, huh?” Wyatt asked as he licked his.
“I really, really did. Your Papa hid my lollipops.”
“Wow. That’s mean. Can he do that when you’re an adult?”
Good question.
“He’s worried about my teeth.” And probably with just cause because that tooth at the back had been aching a bit lately. “How was school?”
Wyatt frowned and stared down at his ice cream which was quickly melting.
“What’s wrong, sugar?”
“Are you dating Papa?” he asked suddenly.
She froze. Shit. Had he seen them together? Why was he asking that?
“Why would you ask that?” she asked.
“That’s what Billy said. He said that you guys were at a motel and that meant that you were together and that I was gonna get a new stepmom who’d be mean to me.”
Wow.
Billy was a jerk and a bully.
“First of all, I would never be mean to you. Ever.”
Wyatt made a scoffing noise. “I know that. Billy was just trying to scare me.”
Whew.
“And I’d never try to replace your mama.”
Wyatt glanced away. “I miss her. She wasn’t always a very good mama but I think she loved me.”
“I know she did,” she said softly.
“I told Billy that if Papa wanted to date you that I would think that was cool because you’re cool. You’re not stuffy and bossy like those nannies. And you’re not like Billy’s mom all quiet and blank. You’re . . . you’re Casey. So if you were Papa’s girlfriend, well, I’d like that!”
Wow.
That was not what she’d expected him to say.
“Jeb’s girlfriend?” a voice asked, sounding shocked. “She’s not your father’s girlfriend.”
What the hell?
Casey turned to frown at the woman standing next to their table. What was Megan doing?
“I mean, I’ve heard the rumors,” Megan scoffed. “About them being caught at a motel together. But that doesn’t mean anything. Your father isn’t ready for a relationship yet. She’s just a bit of fun.”
“Megan! You cannot talk like that in front of Wyatt. Come on, we’re going,” she said to Wyatt who nodded, frowning at Megan.
“It’s just the truth,” Megan said. “If Jeb is going to choose someone to get involved with, it will be someone stable. Who lives in the community and isn’t going to leave in a few days.”
“Casey isn’t leaving in a few days,” Wyatt said as they both slid from the booth.
“Of course she is. As soon as her car is fixed. Did you think she’d stay here for good? Maybe that she and your dad would get married?” Megan scoffed.
Wyatt’s face grew pale then red.
Crap. What the hell was Megan doing?
“You’re a real bitch, aren’t you? What? Did you have dibs on him or something? Do you think you’re better than me?” Casey snapped.
“Are you staying?” Megan asked in a sickly-sweet voice. “Wyatt deserves the truth, right?”
“You don’t care about Wyatt,” Casey said. “And that’s none of your business.”
“See, Wyatt? She’ll be gone soon. Poof. Never to be seen again.” Megan stalked away.
That bitch.
Casey glared after her before turning back to Wyatt who stared up at her with devastation in his face.
“Wyatt,” she whispered, feeling broken.
Turning, he ran off out of the ice cream parlor.
“Wyatt!”
Shit!
She took off after him, dumping her ice cream in a garbage bin as she raced down the street. They ended up in the place where it had all begun.
Elise’s playground.
Wyatt sat on the swing and pushed it back and forth, refusing to look up at her as she stopped in front of him.
“Wyatt, can you stop and look at me, please,” she begged.
“When are you going?”
“What?” she asked.
“When are you leaving?” he asked, glancing up at her.
“I don’t . . . I don’t know. My car will be fixed in a few days. So, I guess soon. Wyatt, you always knew I was leaving.”
“I thought you’d change your mind! If you were Papa’s girlfriend you’d have to change your mind!”
Her stomach was twisted into knots. “I like your Papa.” Maybe she even felt more than that. “And I really like you.”
“Then stay!”
“Oh, Wyatt. It’s not that simple.”
“Sure, whatever.” He jumped off the swing and gave her a sullen look. “I wanna go home.”
Maybe that was for the best. She needed to talk to Jeb. The drive home was silent and her heart was heavy.
As she pulled up, Wyatt jumped out of the truck and headed inside.
Feet dragging, she headed into the house and moved to the sink to fill a glass with water.
Urgh.
What was she going to do?
She had to fix this somehow. Staring out the window, she saw Wyatt running past. Where was he going? It wasn’t long until dark now. He wasn’t supposed to go out on the ranch alone.
Shit. Shit.
Rushing out of the house, she ran after him. “Wyatt! Wait!”
He ignored her, running into the stables. Without thought, she ran after him.
That’s when she realized where she was.
Oh no. This wasn’t good.
Her heart started to race. A number of the horses were in here, and the hands were all done for the day.
But they weren’t free. As long as she didn’t go into any of the stalls, she’d be fine.
“Wyatt? Wyatt, please, where are you?”
Where was her phone? She needed Jeb. Shit. She’d left it in the house.
Just get Wyatt and get out.
A muffled sob hit her ears, making her wince. Where had that come from?
She followed the noise until she came to the last stall. A huge, black gelding was inside. Along with Wyatt who was huddled in the corner.
Oh no.
Oh god.
The horse would hurt him. She knew it would. But she had to save him. Nothing would happen to Wyatt.
“W-Wyatt. Y-you got to c-come out.”
“I don’t have to do anything,” Wyatt said, shifting around so he had his back to her. “Go away.”
“I k-know you’re m-mad at me. But it’s n-not safe in t-there, Wyatt. You’re g-gonna get hurt.”
“No, I’m not.” He turned back to stare at her curiously. “This is Frost. He wouldn’t harm me.”
She heard his words, but she was too far gone for them to really penetrate the fear buzzing inside her.
“I’m gonna . . . I’m gonna let him o-out. Then y-you go. G-get out of h-here.”
“Casey? What are you doing? What’s wrong?”
Opening the latch, she moved the door back. The horse moved and she cried out with fear. He shied back and she ducked down, crouching into a ball.
“Casey!”
“Wyatt, stay there. I’ll c-come to you! I’ll p-protect you.” Casey forced herself to move past the horse. She had to crawl, unable to get her legs to hold her weight.
The horse neighed and she threw herself at Wyatt, wrapping herself around him.
“Casey? What’s wrong?”
But she couldn’t answer him. She had to keep him safe.
Keep Wyatt safe.