Page 58 of Shadows of Obsession

I knew it would take time and effort to bring the horses back into competition shape, but it was a goal I felt ready to embrace. I decided to make this something to work toward, something that felt fully mine.

Perhaps it could also be a way to distract myself from the uncertainties swirling around me, Jaxon and whatever was happening between us, Jared's unsettling presence, Connor leaving for three weeks, and finding a new rhythm in this ranch life.

The thought brought a hint of excitement, a spark of anticipation for what could come next. I feltconfident I could do this.

CHAPTER 17

Jaxon

Iswung the ax down with a grunt, my arms flexing as the blade split through each log with a force that seemed to vent some of the tension building in my body. Splinters of wood flew through the crisp summer air, scattering across the ground like shrapnel.

After a whole frustrating day of chauffeuring Jared around, I had nothing to show for it. He didn't have enough money in the bank to cover a security deposit, and the parole officer had no job leads for him. I'd wasted an entire day chasing dead ends, my efforts as futile as trying to catch smoke with my bare hands. I was stuck with Jared at my place longer than I wanted. Part of me thought about just giving him money to make him go away, to rid myself of the unwanted responsibility. But if he was serious about turning his life around, a chunk of cash might just be a shortcut back to bad habits. Gambling, drugs, all the shit that landed him in prison in the first place.

As much as I distrusted my brother—and I did, that doubt coiling in my gut like a restless snake—I couldn't be the one to set him on that path. I couldn't be the one to enable his self-destruction.

So far, Jared seemed to be coping, if not exactly thriving. He mostly stayed inside my cabin, sprawled on the couch, watching TV and fiddling with his phone with an air of apathy that set my teeth on edge. That meant I felt compelled to stay outside, like right now,chopping wood for the winter even though I already had a good stockpile. The logs were stacked high, like a fortress wall. More than enough to get me through.

But his presence in the cabin was stifling. Suffocating. It made me feel like a prisoner in my own home, my sanctuary invaded.

I'd gotten back late last night, too late to talk with Connor about the situation, exhaustion dragging at my limbs. I'd promised I'd stay at Connor's while he was away, but now I wondered if I'd have to leave Jared alone to keep that promise. The uncertainty gnawed at me, twisting my stomach into knots, adding another layer of stress to an already complicated situation.

I swung the ax down with such force it nearly split the stump I was using as a base. The wood groaned in protest.

Wiping sweat from my brow with the back of my hand, I let out a low growl of frustration and slammed the ax into the stump to let it rest. The stack of freshly split logs loomed before me. A monument to my efforts, but my thoughts spun too fast to focus on the simple task of piling them neatly. I needed to pull myself together.

I stomped back inside, my heavy boots thudding against the wooden floors, brushing past Jared without a word as I headed upstairs to my room. I needed to get out of my sweaty clothes and clear my head. To escape the cloying atmosphere of the cabin.

If I was going to leave Jared alone while Connor was gone, now was as good a time as any to see how he'd manage on his own. To test whether I could trust him not to burn the place down or steal everything that wasn't nailed down.

After a quick shower, the hot water rinsing away grime and sweat, I pulled on a basic T-shirt and jeans. Descending the stairs, I found Jared sprawled on the couch, flipping through TV channels with his usual air of indifference.

"I'm going to Connor's for a while," I said, keeping my tone flat.

"Mm-hmm," he muttered, not even glancing up.

I rolled my eyes, annoyance flaring hot in my chest, and grabbed my keys from the hook by the door. The way he dismissed me made me worry about what might happen while I was gone, but I couldn't babysit him forever. I reasoned that he was an adult and could handle afew hours alone. I left the house, locking the door behind me with a decisive click, and headed to my Jeep.

I pulled up to Connor's just in time to see him carrying what looked like a section of fence with legs out of the old barn, his muscles straining under the weight. Anna was struggling to drag a similar piece, though she was determined to get it where it needed to go, her face set in concentration.

I parked the Jeep and ran over to help, taking the weight of the heavy wooden section from her.

Anna looked up at me with a bright smile. A genuine, carefree grin that caught me off guard. Her eyes sparkled with gratitude and something else I couldn't quite place. When had she started looking at me like that?

Today, she wore jean shorts that hugged her curves and a loose white blouse tied at the waist. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail beneath a hat embroidered with the Whitaker Quarter Horses logo, a few stray strands escaping to frame her face. The simple, casual look suited her, highlighting her natural beauty in a way that made my chest tighten.

I grunted as I hefted the heavy structure, struggling a bit with the weight. "What the hell is this thing?"

Anna walked alongside me, her laughter bright and infectious—a sound I would give anything to hear again, after only hearing it a few times.

"It's a jump standard," she explained, smiling at my bewilderment. "You set up two pieces with plastic cups. Then you place the jump pole on top of the cups."

We carried it out to the riding ring, where Connor joined us with his section of the standard, his forehead glistening with sweat. Once we had the two pieces aligned, Anna pulled out plastic cups and positioned them in holes at the same height on each standard. Then she grabbed a jump pole from the ground and set it on the cups, the wood settling into place with a satisfying click.

She stepped back, hands on her hips, clearly pleased with her work. "Just like that," she said, brushing dirt from her hands.

There was a smudge of dust on her cheek that I found oddly endearing and I had to force my hands to stay still at my sides and not reach up to wipe it off.

I raised an eyebrow, watching her with an admiration I hadn't expected to feel. I hadn't seen her so confident and in control before and it was more captivating than I'd anticipated.