CHAPTER 16 #2
He sat up eventually, rubbing his face, and stumbled toward the bathroom. I waited, fighting the urge to check every corner of my house to make sure nothing was out of place, nothing was missing. The paranoia was probably unwarranted, but with Jared, I'd learned never to assume anything.
Once he was ready, or as ready as he was going to get, we headed out to the Jeep. The drive toward town took us through Connor's property, and I found myself slowing as we approached the riding ring.
Anna was there, riding one of the horses. A bay, moving him through ground poles with practiced ease. Even from here, I could see the focus on her face, the way she moved in perfect sync with the animal beneath her. I slowed to check in and make sure she was okay after this morning.
I rolled down the window as I pulled to a stop beside the fence. "We're heading to town. Need anything?"
The words sounded off, too casual, too forced. I was trying to sound normal but failing spectacularly. Typical.
Anna looked up, and something in her expression shifted when she spotted Jared in the passenger seat. She sat straighter in the saddle, her shoulders tensing the way I'd come to recognize, the same way she'd stiffened that first day when I'd crowded her space at the cabin.
"No, I'm good," she replied curtly, turning the horse around, deliberately dismissing us.
The rejection stung more than it should have. My expression darkened, brows furrowing as I glanced from Anna back to Jared. He seemed uninterested, eyes locked on the phone in his lap, seemingly oblivious to the tension radiating off her. I realized she was uncomfortable because of him.
With one last uncertain look toward Anna, I turned the Jeep back onto the gravel road and headed toward town. That sinking feeling settled in my gut like a stone. Did she think I was taking advantage of her? Did she believe Connor's overreaction this morning was justified?
Shit. I shouldn't have fallen asleep. The weight of that hit pressed down on me as I drove. The last thing I wanted was for Anna to feel uncomfortable or pressured in any way. Now, not only did Connor question my intentions, but Anna might too, despite what she'd said earlier.
The drive into town was tense, filled with that familiar kind of silence that exists between two people who have nothing to say but are stuck together anyway. I cranked up the radio to drown out my thoughts, but they kept circling back to Anna.
To the way she'd felt against my shoulder. The trust it took for her to fall asleep like that, knowing what she'd been through. The look on her face this morning when Connor interrupted us. The way she'd just dismissed me at the fence.
I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel, trying to push the thoughts aside. I had enough to deal with without adding Anna to the list of things keeping me up at night.
But she was already on that list. Had been for a while now, if I was honest with myself.
We finished at the bank. Jared checked his pathetic account balance, then headed to meet with his parole officer. My phone stayed silent the entire time. No text from Anna. No message from Connor. Just the weight of everything unsaid pressing down on me like a physical force.
Jared's phone, on the other hand, was a disco light of activity, vibration after vibration from his side of the Jeep. Probably him linking back up with old buddies he had no business seeing. Not while he was staying in my house, anyway.
Eventually, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out, expecting Connor.
It was Anna.
[Anna]: I rode out toward your house and saw your front door wasn't shut. I closed and locked it, just so you know.
My jaw tightened immediately. The door wasn't shut all the way?
[Me]: It wasn't shut all the way?
[Anna]: No. It was cracked, just touching the frame. It looked like you didn't pull it tight.
I glanced at Jared, slouched beside me in the parole office waiting area. I leaned in slightly, keeping my voice low and firm. "You didn't shut the door all the way at home."
Jared barely reacted, lifting his eyebrows in mild surprise. "Oh? My bad. Must've been an accident." He waved a dismissive hand and turned back toward one of the office doors.
"Don't dismiss me," I said sharply. "I live in the woods. You can't just leave the door open like that. Be more responsible, will you?"
He lazily met my gaze, indifferent and bored. "Fine," he replied flatly, clearly uninterested in prolonging the conversation.
I exhaled slowly, turning back to my phone.
[Me]: Okay, thanks for fixing it. Wouldn't want any wild animals finding their way in. Jared's enough.
I hit send, hoping the humor would ease some of the earlier tension. Hoping she'd know I wasn't upset, that I understood why she'd been uncomfortable. I was focused on being a friend and looking out for her.
I stared at the phone, waiting for a reply. When none came, I slipped it back into my pocket and picked up a magazine from the waiting area stack, using the distraction to bide my time.
It was going to be a long day.
Anna
After cleaning up inside, I went out to the old barn and started working with the horses I'd planned to. I rode one, a light session, then put him back out in the pasture with his friends.
As I was putting away the tack, footsteps sounded behind me. I turned to see Connor leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, his expression softer than it had been this morning.
"Hey," he said quietly. "Can we talk?"
Great. Here we go.
I nodded, setting down the bridle I'd been cleaning. "Yeah. About this morning?"
Connor sighed, running a hand down his face. "I'm sorry I overreacted. I just... when I saw you two out there, I panicked. I know nothing happened, but—"
"Connor," I interrupted gently, "I get it. You're worried about me. But you have to trust that I know my own boundaries. If Jaxon had made me uncomfortable, I would have left. You know that, right?"
He nodded, though concern lingered in his eyes. "I do. It's just hard seeing you getting close to anyone right now—even Jaxon. Especially after everything with Daniel."
Daniel's name sent a familiar chill down my spine, but I pushed it away.
"I appreciate you looking out for me. Really, I do. But I need to figure things out on my own. I can't live in fear forever."
Connor was quiet for a moment, then gave me a small smile. "You're right. I'm sorry. I'll try to back off a little."
"Thank you," I said, returning his smile. "And for what it's worth? Nothing happened. We just fell asleep. That's all."
"I know," Connor replied, pushing off from the doorframe. "I trust you. Both of you, actually. Jax is a good guy, even if he's dealing with his own shit right now."
I considered that he was a good guy with a dangerous brother living in his house.
"I know he is," I said quietly, picking the bridle back up. "I want to get these horses done early if you're done with the lecture?" I raised an eyebrow at him.
Connor nodded. "Okay, just be careful. If you need me, I'll be in the office."
As he left, I grabbed a banana and an energy bar from the tack room counter, thinking about Jaxon's late visit last night. It was strange he'd stayed after I fell asleep. I wondered why he had stayed.
I shook my head, pushing the thought aside. For now, I had work to do.
I was on my second horse when I heard tires crunching on gravel. Looking up, I saw Jaxon's Jeep pull up beside the fence, and my stomach flipped unexpectedly.
Then I saw Jared in the passenger seat, and the flip twisted into discomfort.
Jaxon rolled down the window, his tone forced. "We're heading to town. Need anything?"
I looked past Jaxon and caught Jared's eyes as they raked over me with a hint of appraisal that made my skin crawl. It reminded me too much of how Daniel used to look at me—as something to be assessed, catalogued, owned. I knew I couldn't go through that again.
"No, I'm good," I replied curtly, turning the horse back around to end the conversation, and Jared's unwanted attention.
The bay shifted beneath me. I patted his neck quickly, whispering reassurances even as my own heart raced. It wasn't fair to project my anxiety onto him.
Through my peripheral vision, I saw Jaxon's expression darken before he turned the Jeep back onto the road and drove off. Did he think I was rude? Mad at him? I shook my head at myself.
I couldn't deal with that right now, not with Jared's eyes still burning into my memory, not with the way my hands were shaking slightly on the reins.
I finished quickly and walked the bay back to the barn.
After turning him out, I decided to take Choco for a trail ride.
With Jared going into town with Jaxon, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to explore the trail leading to Jaxon's house.
I liked it best because it wound through the woods, offering seclusion from the rest of the ranch.
I quickly texted Connor to let him know my plans, then mounted up and gently squeezed Choco's sides. He recognized the path and seemed eager, picking up the pace with a spirited trot.
The trail was shaded by tall trees, their leaves rustling in a gentle breeze that cooled the air. Dappled sunlight flickered across the path, creating a calm, serene atmosphere that immediately eased the tension in my shoulders.
I loosened the reins and let Choco gallop. It was exhilarating. The wind whipping through my hair, the rhythm of his hooves beating against the earth, the way my body moved in perfect sync with his. This was freedom.
As we galloped, I couldn't help but think about Jared and the uncomfortable feeling he gave me.
Jaxon said he was looking for a fresh start, but those eyes.
.. they seemed to pierce right through me, sizing me up.
It reminded me too much of Daniel, whose charming exterior had eventually given way to darker intentions.
The thought sent a chill down my spine despite the warmth of the sun filtering through the trees.