Page 34 of Wild and Unruly (Three Rivers Trevors Ranch #3)

bonnie

The weather in Kentucky over the last week was hot and humid, sticky and wet, and frankly, when I step out of the terminal in Denver again, I have to take a few moments to adjust to the hot, dry air.

It felt weird being back and having to adjust my lungs, but I’ve done it more times than I can count.

The week went by slowly, and I was still stewing, still thinking over every little thing that I had fucked up.

Including losing the man I love.

I power up my work cell, glancing at the time, and realize I have enough to get into the office and talk to my boss.

Before I left for the trip, I was angry, I was sad, and I was confused and frustrated with everything that happened, and I let my boss know it.

Storming through the halls of Horse Universe , eyes track my every step as I march straight to Virginia’s door. She was on the phone, which was a clear sign to not disturb her and yet, I barged in without a care .

“Why did you publish it?” The tremor in my voice gave away my anger, as did the clenching of my fists, I was sure.

“Let me call you back, Davis.” She smiles into the receiver, probably trying to convey a happier moment, but her eyes tracked me as she hung up the phone. “Can I help you, Ms. Helix?”

“Why did you publish the article about Smith?” I ask, leaning over her desk and refusing to budge. I felt completely vulnerable at that moment, but I wasn’t about to back down.

“First of all, I am your boss. I expect to be treated with respect.”

“Yeah, well, so do I. Respect goes both ways, and you blew it by publishing that without speaking to me first.”

She eyes me with that shrewd gaze, but I hold my ground. “I don’t need your permission, Bonnie. This is my magazine, and the board agreed to publish it. Tommy Smith was a hazard to his community. I checked your resources, got reassurances that everything was accurate. There’s no need to be upset.”

“But I had no time to—” I cut myself off, working through how to explain how I didn’t get to warn the Trevorses or Stetson.

“Listen, this is how this goes sometimes. You had to have known that as soon as I had confirmed this story was legitimate that I would publish it.”

I hung my head, then stood straight before pacing away. I did know that. I did. I can’t believe I didn’t talk to her before she did it, though, or tell everyone.

“I need to give you my resignation.” The words left my lips before I could fully think them through, but as they did, I felt a relief sweep through my body like never before. It was the right thing to do.

“Bonnie,” she sighs and sets her hands interlocked on the desk. “You need to be in Kentucky.”

“Find someone else!” I spun around, anger spearing through me. “You broke my trust. I basically blew up my own life! ”

“Bonnie, you made a commitment to this magazine, to that story in Kentucky, and you need to see it through.”

I grit my teeth, tears threatening to fall once again as I thought through what to do.

I didn’t know what work I could find after this job.

If I quit now I wouldn’t get any kind of reference from Virginia.

She was shrewd, and what made her a good editor was her no bullshit filter and her ability to see things for what they are without feelings involved.

“Fine,” I gave in, feeling air leave my body rapidly enough that it was hard to suck in another breath. “I’ll go, but when I get back, we’re going to talk.”

Now, I was home and as I made my way to her office, the Kentucky article already in her inbox, I knew what I was going to do.

Virginia smiles as she sees me walk through the door, and I hang tight to my shoulder bag, bracing myself for what’s to come.

“Ms. Helix, welcome home.” Her comment makes something twist in my gut, and I keep a neutral gaze and nod.

“Thanks.” I take a breath, then say, “You need to publish the Three Rivers article. The Trevorses deserve to have their good work highlighted.”

Virginia stands behind her desk and looks over at me as she walks around it. Standing in front of me now, she says, “Tommy is facing criminal charges for his crimes against those horses.”

I blink and feel a gathering of heat behind my eyes, but I sigh and say, “Good. He deserves it.”

“I have a feeling, from what I’ve gathered on some of the comment boards, that he’s not taking it well, that he has a bit of a dark side and won’t go quietly. ”

I shrug, pretending this has nothing to do with me. “I’m not sure what to say to that. He hasn’t contacted me.”

Then again, my personal phone was still tucked away somewhere at my apartment, where I left it to not be tempted to nag on Stetson or, worse, not receive any messages from him.

Shit. I hate that I don’t have it now.

“Just…promise you’ll be careful,” Virginia says, squeezing my arm. “Now, as for the next print, I had this made up.”

She goes to a large stand that was facing away from me, and turns it, revealing a large mockup of the next cover of Horse Universe .

It was the picture of Dani and CT I asked them to use. The sun was near the top of the magazine, with the title of the magazine over it. And in the corner of the magazine was a byline.

three rivers ranch

building a thriving community

while maintaining the sense of

home and family.

by bonnie helix

I swallow, refusing to allow the tears that threaten to come. What the heck was wrong with me? In the last week, I have cried and wallowed more than I have in my entire life.

“It looks amazing,” I comment, finally looking to my boss and nodding.

“So…” She rounds her desk again, taking a seat in the high-backed chair. “Have you thought more about your job here?”

I nod and swallow, bracing myself. “I’m holding to my resignation. ”

Her eyes flutter, and she sighs. “I’m sorry to hear that, Bonnie, really. You’re an asset to our team.”

“I appreciate it, but it’s time for me to move on.”

She steeples her hands. “What will you do?”

I shrug. “I’m not sure yet.”

By the time I get home to my apartment, my feet hurt and my back aches from all the hours I sat at my desk, preparing people via email with my resignation.

This last week at work was going to be hard, not just emotionally, but with everyone needing things from me, I was going to be running around like crazy.

As I climb the last step that leads to my landing, I see some newspapers on the ground. I sigh as I bend to pick them up.

Then, suddenly, I feel something shove against my back, and I fall toward the door, my face slamming roughly against the metal material. I groan, wondering what tipped me over.

I stand and turn to look, but that’s when a dark figure rushes me. I scream, but a hand clamps over my mouth, and I’m slammed roughly against the door, the back of my head hitting it with a sharp whack. I feel my teeth rattle in my mouth, and my vision goes slightly blurry.

“You fucking bitch,” a seething voice rasps, and I blink, trying to see who this figure is that has his entire body pressed against mine. I jerk and try to pull away, but my bag has one of my arms tied up between our two bodies, and I can’t get a proper breath in.

A tear leaks out of my eye, and finally, as my vision clears, I see Tommy’s face.

“You’ve ruined my entire fucking life with your stupid little magazine,” he growls, pressing hard against me so I was sure to bruise .

I don’t care if I do. I was more worried he was about to kill me.

“You’ll recant every fucking statement you made, say you’re my jealous ex who wanted payback, and restore my good name.” He presses a forearm to my throat, making me gasp, and I see the evil slide across his face. The mask he usually kept in place of the charming horse trainer was gone.

“I…can’t,” I choke out, fear coating my every word.

Fuck. I was going to die. I thought I did the right thing, but I didn’t consider this. I never considered being killed over something I wrote.

I knew he was crazy, but this was not what I expected.

He reels back for a moment. I gulp in air, but before I can blow it out again, his fist connects with my face, making me cry out in pain and lean against the door for support. His fingers wrap around my throat, squeezing too tight.

“You can.” He pushes harder until I can’t even make noise because there’s no air. “You will. Or you’ll find out what happens to those who betray me.” He clicks his tongue, his wild eyes tracing over my face. “It’s not pretty, little Bonnie.”

Then, air returns, and I slide down my door, gasping and watching with blurry vision as the silhouette of the man disappears.