CHAPTER 23
Anna
The late afternoon sun was warm on my skin as Harper and I worked outside, tidying up the yard in preparation for tonight's cookout. The air smelled of freshly cut grass and the faint, smoky scent that still lingered from the cabin fire a few days ago, a reminder that refused to fade completely.
"And then she had the audacity to tell me the return policy doesn't apply to her because she's a 'valued customer,'" Harper said, using air quotes with her fingers as she recounted her encounter with a difficult woman from town earlier that day.
"I swear, Anna, some people think the rules just don't apply to them. "
I laughed, shaking my head as I bent down to straighten one of the chairs around the fire pit. "What did you say to her?"
"I smiled sweetly and told her that being a valued customer means she should value our policies." Harper grinned wickedly. "She left in a huff, but she'll be back. They always come back."
The lighthearted energy between us felt almost surreal after the chaos of the previous week.
The cabin fire had shaken everyone on the ranch, but we'd all rallied together to clean up the debris and restore some sense of normalcy.
The work had been exhausting. Dumpsters were delivered, tractors hauling away charred wood and twisted metal, all of us covered in soot and ash by the end of each day.
But we were determined to finish before Connor returned in two weeks.
I'd thrown myself into the cleanup with everything I had, even taking on extra tasks with the sale horses to help lighten everyone else's load.
My muscles ached each night, my hands rough and calloused, but there was something satisfying about that physical exhaustion.
It gave me purpose, made me feel useful, like I was truly part of something here.
I was becoming part of this place, part of this family.
Through the open kitchen slider, I could hear faint sounds of Jaxon moving around inside, the clatter of dishes, the refrigerator door opening and closing. I glanced toward the window and caught a glimpse of him arranging food on trays, his movements methodical and precise.
He'd been watching us earlier. I'd felt his eyes on me when Harper and I first came outside. Not in a creepy way, but in that quietly protective way he had, like he was always making sure I was okay, even from a distance.
The kitchen smelled amazing even from out here. The smell of grilling meats and spices drifting through the door, making my stomach rumble with anticipation.
"You know he's totally into you, right?" Harper said suddenly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
I whipped my head toward her, heat flooding my cheeks. "What? Who?"
Harper rolled her eyes dramatically. "Oh, please. Jaxon. The way he looks at you? Girl, that man is gone."
"He's just... we're friends," I stammered, but even I could hear how unconvincing it sounded.
"Uh-huh. Friends who can't keep their hands off each other." Harper smirked, bending down to grab the last of the cleaning supplies. "I saw how you two were at my store. That wasn't 'just friends' energy."
Before I could defend myself, or admit she might be right, Chester came trotting over, tail wagging enthusiastically. I bent to pet him, grateful for the distraction, running my fingers through his soft fur.
"Who's a good boy?" I murmured, scratching behind his ears the way he loved. His tongue lolled happily as he leaned into my touch. At least with Chester, things were simple.
The evening settled in beautifully as Denny, Paul, and Mitch arrived. The sun dipped lower, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, and the air had that perfect summer-evening quality—warm, with a hint of coolness creeping in.
Jaxon had started grilling, and the smell of burgers and hot dogs made my mouth water. Harper and I handed out drinks, cold beers from the cooler, condensation dripping down the bottles, and then Harper had the brilliant idea to call Connor on FaceTime.
"Connor! We're having a party without you!" she announced gleefully when his face appeared on the screen.
Connor's grin was infectious, even through the phone. "I can see that! Looks like you're all having a great time." Behind him, Felix and Mark waved at the camera.
We spent a few minutes catching up, Connor sharing news about the show. "We sold one of the horses today," he said, his excitement palpable. "Got a great price, too. If things keep going this well, we might wrap up sooner than expected."
"That's amazing!" I said, genuinely happy for him, but a small flutter of uncertainty stirred inside me. If he came home early, things would change. The easy rhythm Jaxon and I had fallen into would shift.
After we said our goodbyes and ended the call, the group gathered around the fire pit. The flames crackled and danced, sending sparks spiraling into the darkening sky. Laughter filled the air as everyone relaxed, drinks in hand, the week's stress melting away in the warmth of good company.
I sat for a while, soaking it all in, the firelight flickering across everyone's faces, the easy conversation, the sense of belonging. But after finishing my drink, I realized I hadn't seen Chester in a while. I assumed he probably went inside to escape the noise.
"I'm going to go feed Chester," I told Harper, standing and brushing off my jeans. "Be right back."
The house was quiet when I stepped inside, a stark contrast to the laughter outside. The kitchen was dimly lit, only the under-cabinet lights casting a soft glow. I expected to find Chester waiting by his food bowl, doing his usual dinner dance.
But he wasn't there. That was weird.
I walked down the hallway, my footsteps muffled by the runner carpet, and spotted him sitting on the front porch through the screen door. He was just... sitting there, staring inside, his tail wagging faintly.
I chuckled softly. "You could've just walked around, silly boy."
As I started toward the door to let him in, movement caught my eye.
A shadow. In the den.
My heart stuttered. Someone was inside. The shape shifted, a dark form moving in my peripheral vision, and every instinct in my body screamed danger. I knew I needed to run now.
I gasped, trying to step back, but a hand shot out and clamped around my wrist with bruising force. The grip was iron-tight, fingers digging into my skin, stopping me cold before I could even process what was happening.
Jared emerged from the shadows like something out of a nightmare.
Chester's barking exploded from the other side of the screen, frantic and protective, but Jared slammed the inner door shut with his free hand, cutting off the dog's view. The sound was like a gunshot in the quiet house—final and terrifying.
No.
Cold and paralyzing fear flooded my system.
My breath came in short, shallow gasps as I tried to pull away, but his grip was unrelenting.
The door's closure amplified the isolation, the outside world, the safety of the others, all of it cut off.
It was just me and Jared's menacing presence in the dim hallway.
I glared at him, trying to summon courage I didn't feel, and yanked against his grasp. "Jared—"
His other hand slapped over my mouth, cutting off my words. My eyes went wide with shock as he shoved me back against the door, his body pressing into mine. The weight of him, the smell of him, alcohol, sweat, and something sour made my stomach turn. I was immediately reminded of Daniel.
"Shut up," he sneered, his breath hot and reeking against my face.
Up close, he looked awful. Filthy, with a smear of grime across his cheek and a fresh scratch running down one side of his face, like he'd been in a fight. His eyes were wild, unfocused and dangerous in a way that made my blood run cold.
"Where's my good-for-nothing brother?" he growled, his fingers digging harder into my wrist.
I shrank back against the door, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might break through my ribs. The fury in his eyes was feral. I shook my head frantically, unable to speak with his hand covering my mouth, unable to breathe with his body crushing mine against the wood.
"I'm right here, asshole."
Jaxon's voice cut through the terror like a thunderclap. Low, dangerous and brimming with barely contained rage.
Everything happened so fast. One second Jared was pinning me; the next, he was ripped away, Jaxon's hand fisted in the back of his shirt. The sudden release made me stumble, gasping for air, as Jaxon slammed his brother into the den's doorframe with a force that rattled the walls.
Jaxon held him there by the arms, muscles taut with fury. When I saw his face, the murderous intent blazing in his eyes as he took in how Jared had touched me, I realized I'd never seen him truly angry before. It was frightening.
I stumbled away from the door, my legs shaky beneath me, relief and shock flooding my system in equal measure. The imprint of Jared's fingers still burned on my wrist, my pulse hammering against the bruised skin.
Jaxon was beyond furious. Every muscle in his body was coiled tight, ready to snap. Jared struggled briefly, but Jaxon's grip only tightened. The veins in his arms bulged with the effort.
"You don't touch her, you hear me?" Jaxon's voice cut through the air like a blade, a low growl rumbling from deep in his chest that made the hair on my arms rise.
His hands fisted Jared's shirt, knuckles straining white as he leaned in close.
"You don't touch anyone on this property.
You show up here dirty and drunk, and you expect me to take care of you? What the hell are you thinking?"
Jared mumbled something I couldn't make out, but Jaxon's grip didn't waver.
Then Jaxon's gaze flicked toward me, and something in his expression shifted. The murderous rage still burned beneath the surface, but when his eyes met mine, I saw something else. Concern. Tenderness. Fear for me.