“No sex, Edge. No baths, no trying to take care of me, no long, hard, deep kisses.”
“Got it.”
“That was too easy.”
“There’s nothing easy about it, Rebel. I can’t accept you no longer being a part of my life. If it means I can’t ever kiss you again in order to spend time with you, that’s something I’ll learn to accept.”
When he turned his horse around, I followed him back to the barn. Had I really just told him no kissing? I must be out of my mind. On the other hand, for the first time ever, just like I’d told him, I was focusing on me. Me and no one else.
We’d dismounted and were cooling down the horses when Edge’s cell phone rang. He pulled it out and looked at the screen. “It’s Hammer. Shall I tell him to ring you directly?”
“It’s okay, Edge. You can talk to him.”
He ended the call a couple of minutes later, saying the hearing for the dismissal of the murder charge was scheduled for four this afternoon.
“I’ll need to talk to Tee-Tee.”
Edge nodded. “You go. I’ll take care of your horse.”
“Thanks.” I handed him the reins and walked away.
“Hey, Rebel?” he shouted after me. “Good luck this afternoon.”
I waved and kept walking as I let the weight of his words fall on my shoulders, and that’s exactly what they did. Every step became drudgery as I realized I truly was on my own—just like I’d told him I wanted to be.
“I don’t understand, Mija. I’m sure Edge would go with you if you asked.”
“That’s the point, Tía. I told him I wanted to do things on my own. He said he’d respect that. I can’t turn right around and ask him to hold my hand.”
“If I had more notice, I could go with you.”
I smiled. “I appreciate that so much, but like I told Edge, I need to be independent. I need to figure out my life and what I want it to be on my own. The first step is this hearing. Once it’s over, I’ll be free.”
I knew Tee-Tee didn’t understand, and that had to be okay for both of us. I climbed into Susan and drove off the ranch, hoping that when I came back later, I’d be able to figure out how to get back in the gate.
“Where’s Edge? Parking the truck?” Hammer asked when I approached him outside the courtroom.
“He didn’t come.”
“What? Why not?”
“It’s my hearing.”
“He’s your custodian.” Hammer rubbed his hand over his bald head and then pulled
out his cell phone and walked away.
“Hey,” a familiar voice said from behind me. “What’s wrong with Hammer?”
I spun around and looked into Edge’s eyes. “I just told him you wouldn’t be here.”
“I have to be. I’m your custodian.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that earlier?”
When Edge put his hands in his pockets, something told me he did it so he wasn’t tempted to touch me.
“There you are!” shouted Hammer. “She said you weren’t coming.”