Page 5

After Colt brought my groceries in, he got a call from one of the ranch hands and had to go.

He promised to be back later for his share of chicken and dumplings.

Part of me was relieved when he left. The more time I spent with him, the harder it was to hide the bruises.

Another part of me was sad. Colt was one of the few people in the world I felt comfortable being around, so not telling him the full truth made me feel guilty.

With more free time on my hands than I knew what to do with, I put away the groceries and unpacked some of the boxes I had brought with me from Dallas.

I stepped into the middle of the living room, admiring my new temporary home.

The place was small but cozy—exactly what I needed for now. The soft beige walls were freshly painted, giving the space a warm, inviting glow. Colt had clearly put some work into this place. It had a perfect balance of comfort and style.

The kitchen, just off the living room, was a blend of function and charm. The wood cabinets stained a light color, and the countertops were a beautiful slab of white and gray marble.

A small dining table sat beneath the window, where sunlight streamed in, casting patterns of light across the room. The window looked out over the backyard, giving a view of the lake off in the distance, where the horses roamed nearby.

It was the kind of place you could imagine yourself settling into, making dinners, lounging on the couch with a good book, or spending lazy afternoons rocking on the back porch, lost in thought.

I stepped towards the window, looking out over the yard. The wind rustled through the trees, and I could just make out the sound of horses neighing in the distance.

It was quiet here. Peaceful.

And for now, that was all I needed.

I stood there, letting the stillness of the room settle around me.

The moment was perfect until my phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled it out, seeing the familiar number on the screen. My stomach twisted.

It was a message from Jason.

You can’t hide from me forever. I will find you.

The peaceful feeling I’d had just moments ago shattered in an instant. I stared at the words, reading them over and over, my mind racing.

What did he want? Could he really find me ?

When I left our apartment that morning, he was at work. I made sure to leave when he wasn’t home because I knew he wouldn’t let me go without a fight.

I took a deep breath and put the phone down on the counter, trying to steady myself.

Part of me wondered if I should tell Colt, but the last thing I wanted was for him to worry about me unnecessarily. He had enough stress from running the ranch, and I didn’t want to be a burden.

Still, the thought lingered. What if he could help? What if Jason showed up at the ranch, or at the guesthouse, unannounced?

What would he do?

No, just ignore him and he’ll go away.

I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of any more of my time. I was done with him and his antics.

I tucked the phone back into my pocket, forcing myself to take a deep breath. I could handle this. Everything would be fine.

I turned away from the counter, trying to ignore the anxiety gnawing at me. I needed to do something to get my mind off of everything.

When I was a kid, horseback riding was my escape from the stresses of the world.

I remember the first time my dad took me riding. I was terrified. My eyes welled with tears, as my dad tried to calm me down.

“Cowgirls don’t cry, Ellie,” he had said, patting me on the back.

“You can do this, you’re the bravest person I know.

” He encouraged me, leading the horse around the pasture.

After a few laps, I got the hang of it. From that day on, horseback riding was my escape from the reality of the world around me .

Ha. Look at me now Dad, running from my problems.

Reminiscing about how much I loved riding made me want to visit the stables.

I pulled my pink cowgirl boots on, secretly hoping Colt would be there to see me wearing them again.

I made my way towards the stables, surveying how much had changed since I was last here.

The old wooden beams were newly reinforced, the worn-out planks replaced with fresh lumber that still held the scent of pine. The once-faded red barn doors were bright again.

Inside, the scent of hay, leather, and horses filled the air. Sunlight streamed through the high windows, casting warm, golden patches on the packed dirt floor.

The stalls, neatly lined on both sides, were cleaner than I remembered, each one filled with fresh straw and bearing a small brass nameplate for the horse inside.

A few horses poked their heads over the wooden half-doors, ears flicking in curiosity as I passed, while others dozed lazily in the afternoon light.

Along one wall, neatly hung saddles and bridles gleamed from a fresh oiling, each piece of tack arranged with care.

The loft above still stored stacks of hay bales, though it seemed less cluttered now, more organized. A soft breeze drifted through the open doors.

I guess I hadn’t noticed how much had changed this morning when I came to see the horses because the sun was still rising and there wasn’t a lot of light.

“Colt?” I asked, my voice echoing throughout the barn .

No response.

I scanned the area, my eyes landing on a saddle resting on a nearby rack.

Without a second thought, I grabbed it, strapped it onto the first horse I could find—Sunflower according to the name on the stall door—and swung myself up into the saddle.

I recognized this horse as the one Colt was riding when I drove up to the ranch yesterday.

Getting on a horse that I wasn’t familiar with was probably not my best decision, but I was desperate for a distraction. And any horse that Colt trusted, I could trust too.

I clicked my tongue, urging the horse forward.

With a gentle nudge of my heels, she picked up her pace, trotting towards the pasture.

I dug my heels in deeper, and she responded instantly, her powerful muscles springing into motion as we raced across the open field.

Riding a horse was just like riding a bike—you never forget how to do it.

As the horse picked up speed, warm wind rushed past me, the world disappearing into a blur around us.

This felt like pure freedom. I was a little girl again, lost in the simple joy of the ride, free from the harshness and demands of adulthood.

In this moment, nothing else mattered. The world outside of the pasture ceased to exist.

I inhaled deeply, savoring the fresh, earthy air, letting it fill my lungs as if it could cleanse every worry I’d ever had .

I couldn’t help but smile, certain that if there was such a thing as heaven, I had found it right here, riding across this open field.

But then, without warning, the horse beneath me came to a sudden halt.

My eyes snapped open, scanning the open field, trying to figure out what had caused the abrupt stop.

It didn’t take long to spot it—just inches away from the horse’s hooves, a rattlesnake coiled in the dirt, its tail shaking loudly, warning the horse to back away.

I gently pulled back on the reins, trying to guide her away from the reptile, but the horse panicked.

With a sudden burst of speed, she bolted to the right, charging wildly. I barely had time to brace myself before she started bucking violently, her hooves pounding the earth beneath us.

I fought to stay in the saddle, but the force threw me off.

I hit the ground, the shock of the impact slamming through my body. A sharp, searing pain shot through my shoulder, and I gasped, unable to catch my breath.

“Shit,” I muttered, struggling to steady myself, the pain clouding my thoughts.

I wasn’t sure how far I’d ridden before the horse spooked.

The vast, open fields stretched endlessly in every direction, and now, with no one around to know where I was, the weight of the isolation hit me.

How long would it take for someone to notice I was missing? How long before they started searching ?

The pain in my shoulder was almost unbearable, and the heat of the June sun was already taking its toll.

Sweat trickled down my skin. A couple of hours out here on my own would be more than my body could handle.

Suddenly, a sharp pain erupted in my skull, as if someone had slammed a hammer against it.

I tried to push myself up, but a wave of dizziness sent the world spinning.

My limbs felt heavy, my breath shallow. Defeated, I sank back down, struggling to hold on.

The last thing I saw was my pink boots dazzling in the sun before everything went dark.