Page 17 of The Runaway and the Rugged (Dusty Meadows #1)

Although Greta was already standing and the closest to me, Garth shot out of his chair and went to his knees beside me.

“Whoa, hold on there, Outlaw. Just relax, all right?” His tone was that of a worried father while his expression revealed uncertainty. Tight, strained features had stretched down the length of his neck, but it was the flare of apprehension in his gaze that began tugging at my chest.

His hands then flexed on the cushion just beside where I laid as if he were fighting the urge to reach out to me.

Calm me.

Which was ironic because he had no problem manhandling me onto the back of Ella or in front of Greta. What was holding him back now?

With my hand still covering my mouth, I was too caught up in Garth’s unnecessary concern to let my stomach fully take over.

“Greta, go get a bowl from inside,” Garth told Greta without taking his eyes away from me.

Jesus, he’s handsome .

I hadn’t realized until now that I was breathing like I had just completed a marathon. Chest climbing and falling to the beat of my heart, I gradually lowered my hand into the center of my lap.

“I’m okay,” I whispered, my voice meek and unpersuasive. “I’m okay,” I repeated, but both Garth and Greta appeared reluctant to accept my words.

Moments later, Greta was gently shoving her brother to the side from where he was hunkered down on his knees beside me. With an unenthusiastic grunt, he rose to his feet and let Greta take his place.

“Emelia, darlin’, I’m goin’ to need you to woman the fuck up for me and calm down, all right?” she demanded in a no-nonsense Southern twang that had me immediately catching my breath.

It was a splash of cold water to the face. A slap of reality.

“Be easy, Greta. Jesus,” Garth growled, and as much as it made my heart flutter from his protectiveness, I knew Greta was right.

For seven long years, I’ve remained on the sidelines of my own life.

Watching mindlessly as life passed me by with nothing in return but too afraid, too powerless, to do anything about it until now.

And even now I wasn’t so sure of myself.

“There you go, just try to relax and breathe normally.” She calmly began to coax me into a synchronized breathing exercise with her. In and out, I followed her movements until the only thing I could hear was the steady thumping of my heart.

“I’m sorry.”

I’m sure she was tired of my apologies, but it seemed to be all I could muster up.

Her expression softened as she took both my hands in hers and squeezed gently.

“No more apologizin’, all right? We may not know each other all that well, but when it comes to a fellow female, I’ll always take her side over a man any day of the week,” she reassured, prompting my chest to expand in relief.

I didn't expect her to side with me so easily. If anything, I expected to face much more grievance or at least an onslaught of questions as to why I wasn’t going through with the wedding. Instead, she decided to trust me.

“I had already planned on asking if you were really set on marrying this guy.” Her scarlet mouth curled at the corner.

If she only knew she wasn’t the only one to ask that question.

“Emelia, no offence, but good riddance.” She gripped my hands in a tighter embrace. “The second I met that man, I hoped and prayed that the woman he was marrying wasn’t going to be a good-hearted person and, goddammit, that asshole does not deserve you.”

Good-hearted? I don’t think I’ve ever been called that before. Definitely many other cringey accolades by Nathaniel, but never a compliment that had me flushing and genuinely speechless at the same time.

“It only took me until my wedding day to realize that.” A wistful smile touched my lips, and if it weren’t for both sets of eyes on me, I would have let seven years’ worth of held-back tears fall freely.

But rather than giving in and conveying just how fragile I felt on the inside, I did what Greta demanded I do and womaned the fuck up while holding my chin up high.

“Better late than never, Outlaw,” Garth added, his body hanging closely behind his sister with his hands shoved deep into his pockets.

“Dodging a major bullet with that one.” She released her grip on my hands and leisurely rose to her feet while brushing off her knees. “Now we just have to figure out a way to tell him without igniting World War Three.”

Not just an argument, not just a poignant, intense fight, but World War Three. The words hit me like a bomb detonating in my chest, and just when I thought the worst of it was over, it wasn’t.

“Tell him to get the fuck off our ranch. What else is there to say?” Garth answered, as if it were an easily accomplished task.

His confidence was admirable, but I knew better than to think it would be as easy as a few quick words thrown at him to get him to leave.

It was more like someone would have to drag him by the skin of his teeth to get him off the ranch, and luckily there were a few cowboys here that could handle that.

Not that I wanted them to, but in the worst-case scenario, I had a strong feeling Garth wouldn’t let Nathaniel linger much longer on his property.

“Last thing we need is for you to have to explain to Grace why her dad got into a fight today.” Greta nailed Garth with a “you better listen to me” leer before settling her gaze back on me. “Beau and I will handle it.”

“I’m not letting you go back there, are you crazy?” Garth growled as he seamlessly removed the hat from his head and dragged his fingers slowly down his scalp. My throat immediately went dry as I followed the movement, but when his eyes strayed over to mine, I swiftly averted my stare.

“The big brother act was cute when I was twelve. I’m thirty now, I don’t need you to play my protector anymore.”

He grunted, obviously refusing to pick up what she’s putting down.

“Besides, Emelia’s friend Clarke will be there and if I’ve read her correctly, we won’t even need Beau’s reinforcements.”

She had definitely read her correctly. Clarke was the city version of Greta, minus the Southern accent and cowgirl boots. Both were like fire and ice who had no problem with putting men in their place.

“Beau would be about as useful as a glass hammer,” Garth grunted.

“A glass hammer?” She chuckled. “Can’t you have a little more faith in your ranch hand than that?”

Garth muttered something under his breath before setting his hat back onto his head. He looked worn out, eager to get the day over the day over with already.

“And you,” Greta suddenly brought me back from my thoughts as I felt her attention shift over to me. “What are your plans now then? If you need our help, just say the word and we can get you out of here quick.”

That was the foremost issue; I had nowhere to go. With no money besides what little I had in my wallet, I wasn’t financially prepared in any respect.

“I haven’t—I haven’t actually made any arrangements yet.”

It was one bad thing after the next and from the way Greta’s face slipped into a frown, it wasn’t the reply she was looking for.

“Emelia…” She sighed heavily before shooting a steely glance at Garth. “Have you not thought any of this through? I mean, I’m not in any position to judge, but you put yourself in one hell of a pickle now.”

If I wasn’t so ashamed right now, I might have laughed at the use of her word pickle. Because she was right. I was in a major fucking pickle and as if to make matters worse, my stomach began to audibly growl as if I hadn’t eaten in months.

They both peered down at my abdomen in question and it didn’t take long for me to notice the disappointment emanating from them.

“No, I have not thought this through when I know I should have. And no, I have no idea what I’m doing or what I plan on doing.

All I know is that I’m tired of living in the shadow of a man who only sees me as a shiny object he can show off.

I’m tired of staying silent and pretending like everything's okay, when all I want to do is shout from the fucking treetops that I’m not okay.

” I inhaled sharply as more words rushed to the tip of my tongue.

“And yes, I know I probably should have thought this through more thoroughly, and not chosen the day of my wedding to throw in the towel, but I didn’t.

I couldn’t,” I croaked, hating the way my throat tightened to the point of pain.

“I may not have a roof over my head, or any of my shit figured out yet, but it sure as hell beats going through with a marriage because I was too scared to leave.”

By the time I’m finished, both Greta and Garth were watching me with wide-eyed shock. I think it's the most I’ve said all day and it certainly showed as neither of them could summon a response.

“Shit, Emelia.” Greta sat beside where my feet laid, her head slightly slanted downward.

“My goal wasn’t to make you feel like shit, I don’t care if he was the sweetest man in the world and you didn’t want to marry him, I would have supported you because that's what women do. We look after each other.”

I offered her a somber smile.

“I know it’s not. I’m just ashamed that I couldn’t have done something sooner.” My gaze darted to my lap where my fingers were subconsciously toying with the tousled fabric of the wedding dress. And all the while wondering why Garth hadn’t spoken up yet.

I didn't need him to, but his unfaltering stare made it seem like he had a whole lot to say.

“But anyway, I’ve caused enough problems today, so I promise I’ll be getting out of your hair soon.” I shifted myself higher onto the back of the couch with a groan. “I’m sure I can find somewhere to go.”

“Yeah? And where’s that?” Garth finally voiced.

Arms crossed, gaze determined, I had a feeling the only way he’d be reassured would be if I gave him exact logistics.

“Somewhere Nathaniel won't find me.” It sounded so grim to say, but it was the reality of leaving a man who would search the ends of the earth to find me.

And not in a romantic way either.

Garth’s brow furrowed at my answer, and a glimpse of rage flickered in his stare.

“Not exactly reassuring to hear that,” he rumbled low.

What more did he want from me? It wasn’t like he was entitled to know where I was going. Why did he even care so much to know?

“You don’t have to leave right away, Emelia,” Greta added, making me feel more guilty. And just when I was about to speak, Garth interjected with an order I hadn’t expected.

“She’s right.” He uncrossed his arms and pierced me with a heavy look. “You ain’t leavin’ right away, because you’re going to stay here tonight.”