Page 28 of A Furever Home (Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue #8)

“Uh, I don’t know. I’ve never used this kind of cell phone. It came up this way, but I’m hiding in a closet. I don’t think Brooklyn can hear me.” She met, and held, my gaze.

“Very well. I am the head of this household. You are the child of my flesh. I have raised you, housed you, and clothed you for seventeen years. I have seen to your education. I have been far more lenient with you than with my other children.”

I hadn’t seen any proof of that, but I hadn’t been around.

“I appreciate that, Father—” With just the right amount of tremble. “—but I can’t do it. Not Harvey. Don’t make me.”

“There will be a marriage, Cheyenne, or there will be serious and lasting consequences.”

“What consequences? Dad, don’t.” Her eyes flickered panic.

I grabbed her left hand and pressed our clammy palms together. Look into my eyes. Believe I’ll keep you safe. Whatever he’s threatening will never come true so long as there’s breath in my body.

Dad growled, “Cross me and find out. Remember the time you brought home that useless puppy of Mr. Gordon’s, the sickly one, and stole our food to give it?”

Tension radiated through Cheyenne. “Y-yes.”

“You remember I tanned your hide till you couldn’t sit for a week, and the mutt still died?

That’s what happens when you defy me. Everyone in this family pulls their weight, everything has a purpose.

And Harvey and I have a purpose for you, girl.

You get your ass back here, you do as I say, and you won’t have to sleep on your stomach for a month. ”

“Harvey’s mean. He’ll…hurt me.”

“Harvey’s a decent man. Nancy gave him two living kids and had no complaints, and you’re going to do the same. You’ll marry that man as soon as it can be arranged, and take care of his kids, and do your wifely duty. Or you won’t have to wonder about those consequences. ”

Cheyenne gasped, pressing a hand to her mouth.

Never, in my entire life, had I been so angry. I wanted to reach into the phone and kill my father myself.

Finally, through tears, Cheyenne spoke. “What if I don’t come h-home?” She gulped a sob on the last word.

“You’re seventeen, underage, a runaway. I’ll set the cops on Brooklyn, throw him in jail where perverts like that belong.

They’ll drag you back here in handcuffs.

Don’t you imagine you can get away from me again.

” He let that hang for a moment. “Now you go out and find a motel. A cheap one, you hear? Do you have money for a cab?”

“A few dollars,” she lied. She’d spent the thirty-six she had on food to survive her trip to me, but I’d given her a hundred to keep tucked away in case she needed it for something. We’d both felt safer if she wasn’t broke, should the need arise.

“When you find a place, have them call me and I’ll put your room on my card. And damn you girl, for making me use it. I have half a mind to have the cops haul you to jail after all, save the money, but the last thing I want is Left Coast cops all up in my business. Don’t make me change my mind.”

“I w-won’t.”

“Find that motel and stay put. Gonna take three, four days, but you don’t budge. You barely breathe. While you’re alone, you can contemplate your marriage to Harvey. He has two young children in need of guidance and…love.” He said the word with such contempt that I winced.

“Yes, Father.”

“Behave.” With that, he cut the line.

Cheyenne shoved the phone toward me. I located the app and stopped the recording. I listened to the first few seconds to confirm we had it. The app asked me if I wanted to store a copy to the cloud. I figured two were better than one, and I saved the recording.

Wynn had been doing something with his phone as well. Finally, he nodded toward Cheyenne. “You did great.”

“He’s an a-asshole.” Her voice shook.

“Yeah, he is.” I offered what reassurance I could. I wanted to hug her, but there was a brittle quality to her tone, and the way she wrapped her arms around herself said she wouldn’t welcome my touch.

“We got what we needed.” Wynn’s approval came though warm and strong in his voice. “Physical threats and a focus on the marriage against your will. Well done. I know folks two decades older who wouldn’t have kept their cool as well.”

Cheyenne’s pale face took on a bit more color. “Thanks.”

Sadie whined, loud enough to make me jump.

I chuckled hoarsely. “Okay, that was good timing. Would’ve been difficult to explain the dog to Dad.”

Cheyenne nodded. “Yeah. Can I…go sit with her?”

“Chey…enne.” Damn, I’d nearly used my nickname for her. “Don’t get attached to Sadie. The owner might show up at any time.”

“You know she won’t, Brooklyn. You know that. If she were my dog, nothing would’ve kept me from coming back here to get her.” She blinked. “I certainly would never allow someone to leave her to die—” She gasped again, tears filling her eyes.

I didn’t know about the puppy or what happened, but clearly it was a painful memory for Cheyenne. Yet another cruelty of my father’s I’d never forgive. “Yeah, go and maybe talk to her. Do not, under any circumstances, open the crate or stick your fingers through to touch her.”

She nodded.

Even in her current state of distress, I believed her.

“I think I should sleep on the couch in there—to keep her company.” She turned to Wynn. “If this doesn’t work out—if I have to go back—I’ll run away again. Only no one will ever be able to find me.”

Slowly, Wynn nodded. “I understand. To be clear, though. Do not, under any circumstances, say that to the judge. She’ll think you don’t plan to obey her court orders, and that can have consequences.

You can legitimately say you fear for your safety.

I heard the conversation and can attest to it.

” He smiled. “You get some rest. Brooklyn and I have the review of paperwork to do and then I can get things filed in the morning. Rest well, okay? Know I’m doing everything I can. ”

She rose slowly and then, to my surprise, put a hand on his forearm.

“I believe you. Believe in you. That you can save me.” With that, she headed toward her bedroom.

Likely to put on her pajamas that we’d bought for her today.

Maybe she’d brush her teeth, and then I had no doubt she’d grab a blanket and pillow and head for the family room.

Maybe that was best for all of us.

I checked my phone. I’d said, “Chat later,” to Arthur and I desperately wanted to hear his voice. But there was no text from him, and it was getting late, and maybe he was in bed. I could wait till tomorrow.

I sighed, then turned my attention back to Wynn. “What’s next?”