Page 16 of Traces Of You

“Ford. You can’t watch over me all the time. I need to work and live and he’ll find me at some point.”

“Do you want to leave the US? Leave and never return? Forever? Because you’ll always be looking over your shoulder if you’re that fearful of him. I know I’m not getting the entire story. There is more to it, but I won’t push right now.”

There was no use lying.

She’d lied enough in her life. Taught herself how to talk her way out of any situation if she was forced to even open her mouth.

It was how she got away. Acted like everything was fine with Oliver when deep down she was lying through her teeth.

“No. I don’t want to leave.”

What she wanted was to stay here forever, locked away from the pain, grief and hardships of her life.

The same way she’d felt twenty years ago.

It wasn’t realistic back then and wasn’t now either.

That didn’t seem to stop her from listening to what Ford had to say.

“Then you’re not. You planned your escape. I’m going to give you your freedom.”

4

ONE LEVEL OF TRUST

“What the hell are you talking about, Ford?” his older brother, Clay, asked him thirty minutes later.

He’d left Reenie in the bakery kitchen with his mother, sitting in the corner and having a coffee.

His mother wouldn’t question anything because she knew he’d fill her in the minute he could.

Clay was the first person he needed to talk to.

He found his brother in the mill. The newest venture of Ridgeway Orchards.

“I need the old cabin for a bit. I’ll clean it out, but I need your help to watch someone.”

There was no one he trusted more than his siblings. They’d all be getting a call soon enough.

“Watching how?”

“I need you to keep her safe. Reenie will be just as safe here with you as she would be with me.”

Clay snorted. “She’ll be safer.”

His brother was bigger than Ford. Had more muscle. More mass. More meanness if he was pushed.

Hell, you didn’t even have to push his ex-Navy SEAL brother for the meanness. Most just took one look at Clay Ridgeway and ran for the hills.

But the guy had a heart of gold that only a select few got to see.

Family were those few.

“I won’t get into it with you,” he said. “I don’t have time.”

“Give me something,” Clay said. “Not that I care if you use the cabin. It’s sitting empty.”

He felt bad that it wouldn’t be modern, but he knew damn well Reenie wouldn’t stay with him, nor in his parents’ house.