Page 21 of Traces Of You

She walked over but stayed a few feet behind him and looked around his body to see a bed.

He took a few steps away for her to go past him into the room.

“This is great.” The bed looked to be a double. She didn’t know how Clay slept on it comfortably with his size. The mattress was bare, no pillows either.

Clay came into the room and opened a skinny door revealing a closet. There was a bar that might be three feet with hangers on it. On the floor was a plastic bin he pulled out.

“Pillow and blankets. We’ll get the rest to you before tonight.”

“As you said. Your mother told me I could do my laundry at the house.”

“There is no washer and dryer here,” he said. “No room for it. There is a satellite dish that will give you internet. It’s pretty good. Works for the TV and a laptop if you need it.”

“Thanks,” she said.

It saved her from asking that. She needed internet to check on her business that no one knew about.

A year ago she’d set up an online shop with printable templates, invitations and calendars.

Nothing she had to do other than manage her shop and create new items to upload. She tried to add a few every month to keep her shop fresh.

She deposited the couple hundred dollars a week she’d earned into a secret account.

Her escape fund.

That was how she thought of it. Not enough to live off of completely, but plenty to fill the gaps.

“You’re expected to be at the farmhouse for dinner at six tonight,” Clay said.

“What?”

“My mother knows who you are, but not what is going on. Ford will be there before you to fill my parents in. Remember Blaze, Gale and Ash?”

“Yes,” she said. “Your brothers and sister.”

“Yep. Blaze and Ash are working tonight, Gale will be here.”

“Is your whole family being brought into this? I don’t want to cause problems.”

Reenie didn’t know how long she’d be here. Her hope was just a few weeks. Enough time to make sure that Oliver wasn’t coming after her or had moved on with his life.

Even if it was a few months, that was fine, but for the next few days she had to get more things in order and calm down from being on the run.

She hadn’t had a full night’s sleep in over a week, always afraid someone caught up with her.

Clay’s attitude might be gruff and far from warm, but for the first time in a long time, she felt safe.

She hadn’t felt safe much in her life.

The last place might have been on this property around the Ridgeway family.

“Our family sticks together. You’ll be better for it in the end. But Gale is an attorney. You need to talk to her.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head.

“There are rules,” Clay said. “Ford will explain more. Blaze is an ER doctor.” Clay’s eyes landed on her arms. She had her sleeves up to clean. “He’ll want to check out those cuts.”

She yanked her sleeves down. “They are fine.”