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“Let me just text your mom and let her know I’ve locked up.” I nod as Zoey picks up her phone to send out the text.
She places the phone in her back pocket and sighs loudly as she gathers up her purse. She stands there for a moment lost in thought but then her eyes find mine and she gives me a sad smile. I move to stand next to her and wrap my arm around her shoulder to bring her closer to me. We make our way out of the store and Zoey locks it up.
For a moment she doesn’t turn back. She takes a shuddering breath and stares at the locked door. Zoey wipes the tears that have fallen to her cheeks and turns back to me. Her eyes don’t meet mine but I pull her close as we walk the short distance to my truck.
It’s a short drive to my house, but the couple minutes that we are in the truck, Zoey doesn’t say a word. She just sits there and stares out the window. I get out and run over to her side of the truck. Opening the door, I lean in and unbuckle her. Wrapping my arm under her leg and the other around her waist, I pick her up and carry her in. Her body goes limp against mine and her head finds the crook of my neck. I take her straight to the couch and lay her down.
The minute her head hits the pillow, she’s asleep. I stand there for a minute and stare at her beauty, seeing her red hair pulled into a braid that lays on her shoulder, her soft, pale skin that I love to run my hands over, her quiet breathing that calms me.
Zoey is unlike any woman I have ever known.
I walk back into my room and rummage through the closet for another blanket. Quietly, I head back to the couch and lay it on her, making sure she’s warm and comfortable. I walk into the kitchen and grab a bottle of water and place it next to her. I then kiss her and then head out of the house, locking up the door behind me.
Something’s gnawing at the back of my head. I’m positive she believes she fixed it, but none of this makes any sense. Why would the wood go missing? Did one of the hands do this to purposely to mess with her?
Then there’s the problem with her already lying to me about her identity. Maybe that’s what’s bothering me. She’s asking me to trust what she’s saying, but she’s hidden so much from me already. I know she still harbors secrets, and that’s probably what allows my doubt to creep in.
She lied about who she was, and granted, it was for a very good reason. But still. That’s why my doubt still makes me waver. That’s also why I need more information on her. I need the truth.
Tell a lie once and all your truths become questionable.
Chapter 12
Zoey
Yesterday was fucking awful.I only got a few hours of sleep after Ryker dropped me off at home. But as usual, I woke up sweating from a nightmare. My heart was beating so hard it hurt. Ryker was nowhere around to help calm me.
So, I found a corner and wrapped a blanket around me, pulling my knees up and trying to calm my shivering body.
Mitch. He knows where I am. There’s no doubt in my mind that Mitch sent Brett. Now I feel like I have to constantly watch my back, more so than ever before.
Then everything that went on with the fence. There’s no way that any of that happened. I know I fixed that damned fence. I don’t understand how pieces of wood can up and walk off. They were nailed into the fucking posts. I’m not super handy, but I can handle a damn nail and hammer. Ugh. Nothing’s making sense. Was Brett involved with this? Maybe this was his way of fucking with me. Did he do something to that fence?
Today I feel like I have a hangover. My head’s spinning. The headache grows with each passing second. I take the palm of my hand and push it against my forehead, trying to relieve the pressure. My stomach turns, making me feel queasy.
The walls feel like they’re closing in on me. My chest feels tight. The pressure of staying hidden is becoming more difficult, especially now that Ryker knows about my past. Even more so now that I’ve fallen for him. I need fresh air. I need to get out of here. I’ve got to get away from the ranch for a while.
With everything that happened yesterday, the Hollidays thought it would be beneficial if I took a few days off from ranch work. It kills me to think that they doubt me. Ryker tried to tell me that they didn’t doubt my side of the story, but I saw the disappointment in their faces. I know that look all too well. My parents had that look every single day, every single time they looked at me.
It’s getting a little cooler here in Wyoming, so I need to buy some warmer clothes and a jacket. So, I quickly dress and pop some pain relievers to dull my headache. I look in the mirror and see the black circles under my bloodshot eyes. I run my hands through my hair and exhale. The stress is getting to me.
When I enter the living room, I grab my purse and keys. As I walk through the front door, I stop and stand on the porch, looking out at the ranch. It’s beautiful here. The vast open landscape, the sounds of the animals in the distance. The wonderful family that works together to keep this place going, the Hollidays. They’re wonderful people who made me feel like I was special to them the moment I arrived. I feel a sharp pain in my heart. I need to leave. The Hollidays don’t need to deal with my problems. I sigh, locking the door behind me. I rub the space over my heart as I walk over to Ryker’s old pickup truck and hop in. A good retail therapy session can help take my mind off things and maybe numb the pain.
I drive into town and pull up to a store front along the main street. Body Canvas Clothing is a cute little store in town that caters to women. They have everything from stuff to wear on the ranch to little black dresses for date nights. I walk through the door and my eyes sweep over the store taking it all in. Light blue walls surround an expansive space full of rustic wooden décor topped with countless clothes. Country music plays over the speakers above me, which makes a small smile play on my lips.
“Hi there! Welcome to Body Canvas Clothing! Anything I can help you look for?” A short blonde woman approaches me, looking cheerful as ever.
“Uh, hi.” I back up a step from her. “I’m just looking for now.”
“Okay! My name’s Miranda. If you need any help, just holler!” With that, Miranda bounces off to another section, singing along to the music and leaving me in peace to browse.
After about an hour of trying on things, I pay for my stuff and head out. Miranda ended up helping me find some outfits that’ll be handy to wear around the ranch. She was nice, which again is just another testament to how wonderful the people are in this town.
I sigh as I walk down the street. I have no idea what I’m going to do. There’s a part of me that wants to move on from this place, but I know I can’t. Mitch already knows ‘Zoey’ is here. I don’t have any of my old contact information for Cyrus, so I can’t get a new identity. If he found me once, he can find me again.
So, what the fuck do I do?
Every day I stay here, I put Ryker and his family in danger.