“So technically, nobody even needs to know I’m here, then, do they?”
4
Heather
As soon as I say it, I realize I’m giving up more information than I should be. I know he’s already suspicious of me. He looks at me curiously. “So about that, what are you running from?”
“I’m not running from anything.”
He tilts his head to the side. “Okay – who are you running from then?”
I stutter for just a second. “I’m not running from anyone.” I can barely meet his eyes.
I never was a good liar. It could have something to do with the fact that I was beat a time or two for it.
He takes a step toward me, and I freeze. “Look, I’m not trying to get into your business. I just need to know if trouble is going to show up.”
I look at him worriedly. I tried to cover my tracks, but who knows? I only had enough money to get two hours away on a bus. It’s probably less in a car. But surely, the cops won’t find me. I paid for the ticket with cash. “I don’t think…”
He shakes his head and comes another step toward me. “You don’t think the problem will find you.”
I almost argue with him and say no, but instead I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t know.”
He laughs. He may be handsome, but he sure is irritating with his snarky, know-it-all smiles. “It’s going to catch up with you. You think you can run, but whatever or whoever is going to catch up with you. It would be a lot easier for the both of us if you just tell me what it is.”
I know he’s right. But I don’t know what I should tell him – or if anything. I jut my chin out. “I can just leave, and you won’t have to worry about it.”
He stares back at me, and when he can see that I’m serious he backs off. “I understand you don’t trust me. You just met me, I get it. We can talk about it later. Just know that I got you.”
When he says ‘I got you’ I can feel it all the way to my toes, but I can’t let him see how it makes me feel. I’m tougher than that. “What do you mean I got you?”
“I mean, if someone or something comes, I’m taking care of it.”
I cross my arms over my chest. I have to or else I’m going to run the few feet and grab on to him and make him promise me to keep me safe. “I don’t need someone to take care of me.”
“That’s all well and good. But you are now an employee of the Barrett Ranch. We look out for our own. So as long as you’re here, I’m going to look out for you.”
He’s staring at me as if he’s daring me to argue with him on this. I’ve never in my life seen a man like him. I have no doubt in my mind that he will keep his word on this. He will protect me. But I’m not used to this. I’m not used to someone caring about me, no less protecting me. “You don’t have to…”
He holds his hands up and interrupts me. “No one is going to hurt you ever again.”
He says it with finality and walks off into his bedroom and shuts the door.
Stunned, I stare after him. I can’t imagine it… I can barely imagine not being hurt in one day.
Instantly, I start to think about a future where I don’t have to worry about what’s happening. Overwhelmed, my eyes start to well up. It’s been forever since I cried, and now here I am, in a stranger’s house and he’s just a little bit nice to me and I start blubbering.
I’m wiping my eyes as fast as the tears fall when his bedroom door suddenly opens again.
His mouth drops in shock before he rushes to me. Instead of retreating, I let him take me in his arms. His hug is tight and soothing.
And I melt into him. I’ve never in my life felt safe before, but right now, I feel safe.
It’s a foreign feeling that completely catches me off guard.
And I cry harder.
He’s rubbing my back with one hand and holding me with the other. “Go ahead, let it all out.”
My sobs get bigger, and my whole body shakes from them.
He pulls back, and I’m afraid he’s letting me go, so I hold him tighter.
In an awkward move, he bends down and puts one arm behind my knees and picks me up. I hold on to him as he carries me toward the couch and sits down with me in his lap.
He doesn’t say a word, just holds me and lets me cry.
Brett
I came back out of my room because I hate that I just left her like that. My innate yearning to take care of her is strong inside me. I can’t imagine something happening to her. But as soon as the door closed, I worried that she would just leave. And I can’t have that. I panicked and was ready to apologize. But when I opened the door, I never dreamed I’d find her crying.