3. Cassidy
Chapter 3
Cassidy
S even hours into my drive, with plenty of scenic stops and photos taken on the way, I stopped into a small lake town called Rosefield about an hour before reaching the Canadian border. In another two days, breaking up the trip with long enough stops, I should be happily lodging at my friend’s ski resort, sipping on Mimosas. As great as that sounded, I still had a ways to go, and I’d been on edge driving the entire way so far. The snow hadn’t stopped since the moment I’d left Manhattan.
I appeared to be driving down what looked to be Rosefield’s quaint main street and, with closer inspection, their only street that had any shops or services. I pulled over in front of what looked like their local café, noticing the little sign that read “open.” I stepped out of the car, immediately frostbitten by the cold. The depth of the snow worsened the further out of Manhattan I drove, and this small town was certainly no exception. Looking down the main street there wasn’t much in this town and I wondered if they got a few tourists in the summer because of the lake and mountains I’d been driving alongside for the better half of an hour now.
I held myself tightly as I walked into the small café, immediately relieved by the fire crackling and warmth that hit me. The café had a couple of retro red booths and singular barstools along the counter. A woman with beautiful red curly hair greeted me with a smile as she looked me up and down. I definitely did not look like a local. I self-consciously adjusted my designer jacket.
I froze the moment I saw the huge looking wolf that barked and ran for me. I squealed closing my eyes and throwing my hands up. My heart pounded. But nothing happened. Slowly, I peeled one eye open and then the next. A cold chill ran down my spine. Oh God. It was sniffing my shoes. Oh God, was it going to pee on them? Please don’t pee on them.
The redhead now seemed a lot more interested as she leaned over the counter. “You friendly with dogs?” she asked with a slight Californian accent.
I tried to smile through it. “Ummm, friendly isn’t a term I would use. But perhaps unfamiliar with them.”
She chuckled and called out to someone in the back. “Hey, boss man, your dog’s harassing a customer.”
Two older ladies sitting in one of the booths stared in bewilderment, their jaws dropped in shock.
“Is it legal to keep wolves as pets in this town?” I squeaked.
“He’s a German shepherd,” a robust voice growled. An even colder shiver washed over me. My eyes almost bulged at the sight of the ginormous man that stepped out from the kitchen. How the actual fuck did anyone grow to six foot six and the width of a doorframe. I was guessing he was in his late thirties. His green eyes narrowed on me, a thick black beard and eyebrows covering what might’ve been an attractive face. Not to say he wasn’t with the beard… but it covered a lot. And I wasn’t so used to seeing men with full-grown beards in Manhattan. He whistled, the dog immediately returning to his owner’s side.
“And he doesn’t go to anyone but Eric,” the redheaded woman beamed with a smile. “My, my, my, ego must be rather bruised right now, huh?” She pressed the tongue inside her cheek as he gave her an effective look. I gulped, terrified. The woman only found it more amusing.
“What are you in for, hun?” she called out. “A cup of joe for the road? Flat tire? Wood?”
Disheveled from the confrontation with the dog and the modern-day version of the Hulk walking through the door, I tried to muster my thoughts and pulled down on my pink marshmallow-looking jacket. I tucked back some of my hair, feeling significantly out of place. “Umm do you do any types of juices here?”
She politely mulled over a smile, although I could tell she was trying not to laugh.
“We’ve got orange juice. A whole big bottle for the trip if you’re willing to pay the right price for it.” She winked.
I smiled politely. “Um just a glass will do, and can I use your bathroom?”
“Straight through that way,” she said, pointing. I noticed the smirk she offered the tower of a man. He stood with his hands strapped across his chest, staring at me walking away and brooding the entire time.
The bathroom was, well, as expected at a place like this. And I’d been in far worse predicaments on a night out in Manhattan, especially after someone had vomited. I pulled my phone out to text my friend Alice in Canada, checking in that I was safe and going to find a hotel to stay in for the night. I wasn’t a confident enough driver, especially on these snowy and wet roads. And now that it was turning dark, I wasn’t going to risk gray hairs over it. I’d been driving like a grandma the entire time, my knuckles turning white over the steering wheel as I considered my demise every time I hit a corner in the mountain range. I cursed under my breath when my cell appeared to have no reception.
I finished up applying lip gloss and then ducked my head out the door. When I peered down, the great big hulk’s beast of a dog was standing outside the door, tail wagging.
I grimaced. Shit. I was cornered. “Umm, hi.” I curtly nodded and tried to swoosh it away. My experience with animals was near to zilch. Anything with fangs was in the “not to be trusted basket.”
“Yo, Eric, your dog has the poor girl cornered in the bathroom,” the redhead called out. I tsked, embarrassed that I’d been spotted but also grateful that someone would save me. I heard the grumpy man grumble and a whistle drew away the dog’s attention again.
A sigh escaped me. “Thank you.” I curtly nodded as I readjusted my handbag.
“We don’t get a lot of your type out here,” the older lady in the booth said to me as I walked past them with a smile.
“Type?” I asked, furrowing my eyebrows. I’d received various names in the past, known for my party-girl habits, but these women didn’t even know me.
“The pretty kind,” her friend crooned.
I felt red spread across my cheeks, embarrassed I’d thought the worst. “Oh, thank you, that’s so sweet to say.” Although flattering, I wasn’t entirely sure if it was a compliment.
When I turned and sat on a stool at the bar, a glass of juice was already waiting for me. I looked at it, intrigued, and then to the redheaded woman. The hulk and his dog had vanished into the back. The woman was wiping down the counter. “Juice straight from the carton.” She winked.
I looked down at it ominously. I was certain this wasn’t made on sight. “Thank you,” I said sweetly. I got out my cell, disappointed to find the lack in reception again. How was I going to find the closest town to find a hotel? “Um, excuse me. Where is the next big town from here? I’m wanting to stop over somewhere for the night?”
She whistled thoughtfully, throwing the tea towel over her shoulder casually. “It’s going to be about an hour drive and heading over the border. We’re central in the mountains here, you’re not going to find any major town for a while yet. Sorry, hun.”
I gulped. I wasn’t entirely comfortable with driving another hour in the dark, but I supposed I could manage it. I took a sip of the juice, almost keeling over from immediate sugar overload. “Oh wow.” I gasped, covering my mouth, deplored that I’d said it out loud.
She openly laughed at my misery. “Not what you’re used to huh?”
“It’s different,” I charmed. And definitely not freshly squeezed. “Can I have this in a to-go cup?” I had no intention of drinking it but didn’t want to seem rude. I pulled out my credit card, idly trying to find reception on my cell again as I handed it over to her.
I started swiveling on the chair, hoping the angle I positioned the cell would make a difference as I tried to hit send on my text message.
“Sorry, hun, your card’s declined.”
I looked up at her slowly, dragging myself away from trying to manifest cell reception. “What has? My credit card?”
She swiped it through again in front of me, a big red message appearing. My eyebrows knitted together. “That can’t be right,” I laughed. I flicked through my purse. “Here try this one.”
Again, the same message appeared. “Is this because there’s no reception here?” I asked.
“Sorry, hun, but this worked for Ann and Patrice, just fine.”
Confusion and dread coiled in the pit of my stomach. My parents wouldn’t have... Did my parents cut off my credit cards? “Oh, umm. That’s fine sorry.” I flicked through my purse finding my personal card that I’d almost entirely maxed out until my next pay and handed it to her.
What is happening to me right now? Dread filled me, and I wasn’t sure if I was nervously laughing on the inside or openly, probably looking like a psycho. Oh my gosh. I only had a quarter tank of gas left for the rental car. It couldn’t possibly get me to my friend’s ski resort, I’d have to fuel up somewhere. But if they’ve cut my funds off as consequence for running away… I was completely screwed.
Fuck, suddenly this juice needed vodka or prosecco in it ASAP.
“Yep, that one went all through fine, hun,” the redhead said cheerily. “And here’s your juice to go.”
Go? Go where? How was I going to get anywhere with a quarter tank of fuel. Were my parents purposefully doing this, so I’d have no choice but to call on them? My back straightened. There was no way I was calling them. If I did, I’d only be admitting I depended on their money and would have to fall back into their agreement. A cold sweat ran over me. But hadn’t I been, since I’d been using the credit card all this time?
The doorbell chimed again and an old man missing half his teeth and only a few strands of hair waltzed in with a limp. He stopped dead in his tracks and looked at me, his hands wringing nervously. “Woah, we don’t get girls like you here in Rosefield.”
“Your wife is sitting here,” one of the ladies harrumphed from the booth.
He gave her a smile and walked over, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “You’re still my everything, my beautiful Ann.” There was something oddly sweet in his endearment. “It’s looking bad out there.”
The could-be-secretly-Hercules man walked back out, his width filling the doorframe. He watched me from the corner of his eye and then spoke to the older man. “What is?” The dog sat at his feet, an intimidating glare aimed at the older man. I felt almost bad for him. Together, the duo was terrifying. And yet somehow, this man seemed misplaced in this town. He looked like he should be a part of some mafia or motorcycle club. Oh gosh. What if I was stranded in some dangerous town?
While I spiraled into way too many thoughts, movies, and subplots about how I’d ended up stranded in the deadliest town possible, the man continued talking. “The winds pushed an old tree over the main road heading into the town over, I’m going around and letting the locals know now in case anyone needs to get out any time soon.”
“Wait, in the direction I need to go?” I clarified with the redheaded woman.
She grimaced and nodded. I stared at her. This could not be happening. “Well like there’s back roads and stuff, right?”
The attractive brute, Eric, kicked up a sneering smirk. “In that little car of yours out there, it’s a surprise you made it even this far. You won’t get out on any back road without a truck.”
Despite his reasonable response, I certainly didn’t appreciate his tone or attitude. A tight smile crossed my face and the redhead seemed almost apologetic. What was I going to do? I took a breath and stared at the juice. Great. I had no money. No reception and my only way out had been blocked. How could my luck be that bad?
I held everything in, making sure not to laugh at my circumstances because I was certain I was about to cry. I couldn’t go back to my parents or him. It wasn’t an option. Come on, Cassidy, you’re creative, think of something.
“Are you going to have somewhere to stay?” The redheaded woman worriedly asked. I looked up at her, surprised since I’d been in my own thoughts. A place to stay? I couldn’t even afford a place to stay. I had my car, but what would that do in this snowy cold weather? I’d freeze.
At my lack of response, the locals glanced around at one another. Oh shit, now they were taking pity on me. “Oh yea, I’ll be fine. It’s no problem whatsoever. I’ll just…” I fell short. I’d just what? Chop down the tree in front of my path? Magically make money? Shit, I didn’t get my last pay check for another month.
Amongst the awkward silence, I chewed my bottom lip. I could work something out. I wasn’t anyone’s responsibility here. Absentmindedly, I noticed the dog’s ears prick up and he walked over to me, my shaky breath coming out in short bursts. He began to nudge my leg.
The old man gasped. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he said to his wife, Ann. “Ye seeing, this?”
“You should’ve seen him when she walked in. He walked straight up to her,” Ann crooned with the same bewilderment.
Immediately, my gaze snapped to his owner, who was once again unimpressed with arms crossed over his chest.
“Why don’t you stay with one of us for the night until the fallen tree’s sorted,” the redhead suggested. “And by one of us, I mean my brother Eric here.”
“What?” Eric and I snapped in unison.
His gaze sharply landed back on me. “I can’t take her in.”
“You know we already have a full house back at Mom’s and what are you going to do, let a poor woman freeze to death?” Now she crossed her arms, a scary, intimidating demeanor kicking in. Now that she’d mentioned “brother” I kind of noticed the resemblance. Not in the hair color but in their nose and eye shape.
“Lori,” he gritted out in warning.
“It’s fine honestly, I’ll figure something out,” I said quickly.
“The snow’s been picking up again too, it isn’t safe driving at night. Not in a car like that,” the old man said and whistled, obviously making Eric feel bad.
The dog nudged against my leg again. Slowly and cautiously, I reached down. He sniffed, then rubbed his head against my open palm, its soft silky fur threading through my fingers. A tension rippled through me. This wasn’t so scary. Despite the circumstances, it was somewhat soothing even.
“And what would Mom say?”
“Fine,” Eric threw his hands in the air. “You can stay with me,” he gritted out.
I quickly found myself saying, “It’s fine, really.” Because who knew where this man was actually taking me. For all I knew he was taking me out into the woods to chop me into tiny pieces. Again, the scenes from movies and plays ensued.
As if reading my mind, his expression softened—if that was even possible—and he uncrossed his arms. “You’ll be warm with me tonight.” His eyebrows knitted together. “Well not with me but in my home.”
Lori threw back her head and laughed.
“Shut up,” Eric gritted out.
I noticed then the slight blush on his cheeks. Was he embarrassed?
“That’s very gentlemanly of you, Eric,” Ann crooned and offered me a wink. I had no idea what was happening, but I suddenly felt like I was the one being used for a personal prank. But what choice did I have? If I at least had a place to stay for the night, I could gather my thoughts and plan of action. I suddenly questioned why I’d been so reckless with my money and every impulsive purchase I’d ever made. Why didn’t I have savings like normal people?
“I’m just closing up the shop,” he grumbled and then called his dog back. “So, get your stuff out of your car.”
“Please,” Lori added, looking at her brother with disbelief. “Do they really not have women where you come from?”
His gaze snagged hers again and he looked at me, then back to her again. He simply grunted and said, “You’ll need to leave your car out front because it won’t make the drive up the mountains. So grab your bags, please.”
“Mountains?” I squeaked. But he was already gone.