Chapter Two
Scrappy drug herself into Ranger’s stall.
The gates were finally closed for the night, and most everyone had left.
She hooked the bucket of grain up for the horse and then unwrapped the hamburgers she’d bought for her and Jaxx.
She made herself eat half of one and gave the rest to the dog.
She would have normally given him all of it, but she hadn’t eaten since the night before, and she was feeling weak and shaky.
She brushed both animals, making them look as good as she could, then rolled out her blanket and settled in for the night.
Jaxx came and lay down beside her, his head on her stomach while Ranger stood over like he was protecting her. Between the two, they made her feel safer than she’d ever felt, and she knew it was going to be hard to let them go, but she knew it was the best thing for them.
“Hey, my friends,” she whispered. “I want you to know I’ve found a place for you, somewhere safe to call home. You won’t have to worry about your next meal or if someone will hurt you.”
Jaxx whined.
“I know. I’ll miss you. You’re the only family I’ve ever had, but I have to think of what’s best for you. I can’t be selfish because I love you both so much.”
She couldn’t keep the tears at bay anymore and let herself weep for the only family she’d ever had. She hugged Jaxx tightly and cried herself to sleep.
She had no idea how late it was when Jaxx woke her, growling.
“Shhh, let me listen,” she told the dog and held him close against her chest.
She heard men’s voices, and her fear grew instantly. No one was supposed to be around after Percy closed and locked the gates at night. She heard a scuffle and a few grunts before everything went quiet again.
For the rest of the night, she sat against the back wall with Jaxx’s head in her lap.
It didn’t matter how tired she was, the adrenaline wouldn’t lessen enough to let her rest. There had been too many times since she’d left the convent when men had tried to hurt her.
So far, God had watched out for her, but she knew the chances of something bad happening grew larger every day.
Scrappy listened to the people arriving and the animals waking as the morning sun lit the inside of the stables. She stood and stretched, grimacing when her muscles pulled in her neck and back. She patted both animals. “You both will be so happy.”
She blinked back the tears burning her eyes and turned away.
She rolled up her blanket and set it by her backpack.
She planned to get them after the animals were gone.
She had no idea what she was going to do.
The fact that she would need money to move on made her stomach knot.
It was going to be hard enough to be without her family, but to see the empty stall would make it so much worse.
Scrappy caught sight of the man who was taking her family, standing next to her boss. She ran over to them. She suddenly felt shy when the man turned his full attention to her.
“You remember Thomas, don’t you?” her boss asked.
She nodded.
“Good morning,” Thomas said.
She cleared her throat. She knew the next few minutes would be the hardest of her life. “Good morning. My family is ready for you.”
Thomas put his arms behind his back, clasping his hands together, and stared down at her. Her nerves grew as the seconds passed.
“You’re still taking them, aren’t you?” she asked.
He tilted his head forward. “I am, but you’ll have to come with them.”
She blinked a few times. “What?”
“I’m taking all of you.”
She looked at her boss, who smiled, then turned back to the man. “I don’t understand.”
Thomas smiled. “I’ve bought the horse, and I have someone here to get him in the trailer and then home. You and the dog are coming home with me.”
She couldn’t wrap her mind around what he was saying. “Why would you want me with you?”
“Because I don’t think your animals would do well without you.”
“Oh, I’m sure they’ll be fine,” she said. “You don’t want me around. I’d just get in the way.”
She noticed the scowls on the men’s faces but didn’t understand them.
Thomas sighed. “You won’t be in the way. You’ll actually be helping my housekeeper, Daisy.”
The thought of staying in one place, especially with her animals, was a dream come true, but she’d learned early on that only people who deserved it got their dreams, not garbage like her.
“I’m sorry. But I don’t know anything. I’ll just be a bother.”
Thomas shook his head. “It’s nonnegotiable. If you want me to take the animals, you have to come with them.”
“Will you promise that when you get tired of me, you’ll keep them with you?”
The men glanced at each other, and then Thomas turned to her. “Yes, I promise.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “Okay.”
“Go get your things. I’ll be waiting here.”
She nodded, turned, and ran off.
“Slow down,” Thomas yelled.
She instantly froze and then walked the rest of the way to the stall she’d made her home for several weeks. The horse was gone, but Jaxx was still there waiting for her.
“Guess what? I’m going with you guys.”
Jaxx barked, making her smile. “We need to hurry.”
It didn’t take long for her to roll her meager possessions in a ball and stick them in the garbage bag she used to carry everything. She started to run back to the man, but caught his expression and slowed until she got to him.
“Thank you for slowing down,” Thomas said.
She nodded. She watched him raise his hand and then felt him cup her chin. She couldn’t prevent herself from flinching.
Thomas scowled. “You don’t like to be touched?”
She bit her lip. “It’s just that I’m not used to being touched.”
She could tell that made him curious, but thankfully, he didn’t ask any more questions.
Percy smiled. “This will be good for you. I know Thomas will take care of you.”
She nodded. She couldn’t think of any words, so she kept quiet.
Thomas wrapped a hand around her upper arm. “This way, Sweetheart.”
The endearment made her stiffen, but he didn’t seem to notice. He led her over to a large truck.
“Give me your bag,” he said.
She handed it over. She noticed his scowl but didn’t understand what had made him mad. He tossed her bag into the back of the truck.
“If you changed your mind, I’d understand,” she said.
His eyes narrowed. “I’m not going to change my mind.”
She nodded, then turned back to the truck, debating the best way to climb into it, when his hands grasped her waist and lifted her. A scream stuck in her throat at the abrupt movement.
“Move to the middle,” Thomas said.
“Where will Jaxx get to sit?” she asked.
“Beside you. Call him up.”
She smiled. “Come here, Jaxx.” The dog jumped in, and then Thomas closed the door.
She wrapped her arms around her dog’s neck and waved to her boss. She turned her head when Thomas slid in. They stared at each other for a moment.
She sucked in her stomach when he reached over her.
“I’m just going to put on your seat belt,” he told her.
She nodded and then hushed Jaxx’s growl when the man got close. She heard the click of the belt.
His scent filled her senses. It was overpowering sitting next to him, but when he was against her, it made her tummy tickle and her breasts feel weird.
Scrappy took a deep breath when he moved away and started the truck. She looked around at all the activity and was glad to see the last of it. There had been a hundred men around every day, and she saw very few women, so she got much attention, and it was the last thing she wanted.
She knew it was best she stay as invisible as she could, and for more than one reason.