Page 37 of Wild and Unruly (Three Rivers Trevors Ranch #3)

bonnie

Being back in Acton was like finally taking a deep breath after nearly drowning.

I was currently lying in Stetson’s bed, watching his back move up and down with each breath, taking in the morning sun streaming through the curtains and the smell of the fresh coffee that was brewing in the kitchen.

I’ve only been back one night and already the relief that grips me makes my eyes water with tears I don’t want to shed anymore. I have never cried so much in my entire life.

Everything felt so wrong before I got here like I was on the outside looking into my own life.

Watching as I confronted my boss and quit my job, standing by while Tommy assaulted me, holding a hand over my mouth as Mason yelled at me for not leaving things alone, cringing as I was questioned by the police in the hospital.

That was mortifyingly humbling.

I had been admitted for a night to keep an eye on a concussion that they assumed I had.

They were right. Along with that, my ribs were bruised from where he shoved me against my door, three stitches in my forehead by my hairline from him ramming my head into the wall, and severe bruising… kind of everywhere.

Each box they ticked off, I watched as Stetson’s anger grew and grew, and when they finally left, after they took their pictures and my statement about what Tommy had done, I begged Stetson to crawl into the too-tiny hospital bed and hold me. He did so without reservation.

Mitch was a welcome surprise on our little journey home, and the next morning, when he showed up to help us out of the hospital, he had two suitcases full of my stuff ready to go back to Acton.

I was relieved to hear I wasn’t heading home, that we didn’t even have to have that conversation for Stetson to know I didn’t want to return to my apartment.

Or maybe he was being protective. But either way, I was overcome with gratitude.

Before we left town, I called Virginia and explained what happened. She—surprisingly—told me not to worry about anything and to take care of myself. I told her to stay safe, knowing that Tommy was completely unhinged right now.

The next phone call was to my mother, who was horrified by what happened and wanted to see me immediately. I wanted to see her too, but I couldn’t face my brother. I was so disappointed and angry with him that I wasn’t sure what I was going to do about our relationship.

Mom assured me that going with Stetson was a good idea and promised she would come see me soon. I let more tears fall as those words settled over me because it felt like she was accepting what I’d chosen as my life.

And my life, hopefully, was in Acton.

Stetson’s steady breath changes, and he turns, stretching his arms above his head before his right arm reaches out, searching for me.

Gently, I grab a hold of his hand, and he turns, giving me a sleepy smile.

Of course, I look like shit, so his smile is quickly washed away with anger at what Tommy made me look like.

“Good morning, gorgeous,” he rasps, moving closer to me and gently pulling my body to his. I’m still sore everywhere, like I just got the shit beat out of me by Rocky Balboa himself, but I move into his arms regardless.

“I don’t know about gorgeous.” I crack a small smile. “More like a bruised peach.”

Stetson doesn’t smile at my joke and lets his gaze roam over every spot on my face.

For a few moments, he hovers half over me, his left hand gently skimming the skin of my stomach. One of his shirts rests on my chest, the only thing I could physically handle changing into before I crawled into his bed last night.

“I’m so sorry.” His words come out rough, and I lift my hand, running a finger over his jaw.

“You have nothing to apologize for.”

I was serious. What did he do? He wasn’t the person who outed Tommy. He had nothing to do with any of it.

He swallows hard, and his glossy eyes rake over my face again.

“I do. I should have been with you. I should have followed you immediately after you left. I just…I didn’t know where you lived.

” He shakes his head and blows out a harsh breath.

“I had no idea my brother could find someone so fast, or I would have found you sooner. ”

“Stetson…” I turn his face, pulling his gaze back to me. “You couldn’t have done anything to prevent this. It’s all on me. I did that.”

“No.” He presses his lips together, his chin giving a slight tremble. “No, Tommy fucking Smith did this, and he’s going to pay.”

I sigh, letting my hand drop and looking at him sadly. “I don’t know. He’s gotten away with so much.”

“Bonnie.” Stetson looks at me suddenly, maybe having some sort of realization. “You don’t know what’s happened, do you?”

I frown and shake my head. “I was in Kentucky. I didn’t take my phone or check socials because?—”

“Because you thought I wasn’t blowing up your phone?”

Pursing my lips in embarrassment, I nod.

“Well, let me tell you something, Bonnie Helix, you are mine.” His grip on my hand tightens assuredly. “There hasn’t been a day since I met you that you weren’t, Bo. And even though I was upset, I was never mad at you. It was the situation.”

Another tear slips from my eye, and I absolutely hate that I’m crying again.

“We’re going to go through some shit, you know. But you and I…” His hand reaches up, cupping my jaw gently. “We’ll get through it together.”

He presses his lips to my mouth, and I let out a sound of surprise and happiness. Having him confirm that we were still together, that everything between us was going to be okay, was a balm to my soul that I had no idea I needed.

“Stetson, I love you.” I whisper the words I’ve never said against his lips, and he grins, kissing me deeper.

For several long moments we allow ourselves to get lost in the feeling of each other, in finally settling into that comfort of feeling like we are home safe once again.

He pulls away, kissing my nose before looking down at me like he wants more than kisses, and I want to give that to him. But when I move, pain shoots through my side, and I have to lie back.

“We’ll get to that.” He winks and I blush, wishing I could move my body properly. “But you need to know some things.”

“Okay, what?”

The serious expression on Stetson’s face has me sitting up and watching him. “While you were gone, Eugene Waters died.”

“Eugene…” I gasp lightly. My trembling hand reaches for his, and my eyes—these freaking eyes—water again. “He died? How?”

Stetson shakes his head. “They say suicide, but we know better.”

It takes a moment for me to find the words, my mind spinning in absolute disbelief. “T-Tommy killed Eugene? But he’d been working there for years. There’s no way.”

He looks at me pointedly, his gaze roaming over my cuts and bruises.

“I’m not defending him, I’m just…”

“Shocked.”

I nod my head. “So…he’s still out there, having killed a man and beat me up.”

He looks at me then like he’s about to say something he knows I won’t like. “You can’t be alone, period. I don’t want you leaving my side until he’s in prison or…” Stetson trails off and I see his fist clench.

“Stetson.” I reach out, covering his fist with my hand. “Please don’t do anything that will take you away from me. ”

“I don’t want that either, Bo. But I can’t let him just wander the streets knowing he put his hands on you, that he’s a murderer.”

I absorb those words for a moment and sigh, letting my head fall in a nod. “What about Celina?” I ask, panic in my voice as my gaze snaps back to his. “She was part of it, too. She was named.”

He nods, rubbing a hand over my back in comfort.

“CT let me know that she came by. Apparently, she was dating the other trainer at the Smith’s place, and they were trying to do what you did.

” He looks over my face again, obviously feeling the same regrets that slithered through me when he looks at the bruising on my face.

“They took their shit from there and are moving out of Colorado to start fresh. She came and got her horse this morning and told CT to tell you good job.”

Relief like I’ve never felt lands on my chest, and I let out a breath. “Well, I’m glad she’s okay. I don’t know if I deserve a ‘good job’ though.” My eyes heat with more tears just thinking about that poor man who lost his life because of the evil that lurks in Tommy Smith.

“Hey.” Stetson puts a finger under my chin and lifts my head. “You did the right thing, Bo. Maybe it was the hard thing, but you are saving people from getting hurt or worse.”

“I just don’t feel like I’ve helped anyone,” I say, my words barely a whisper. “I feel like I caused more issues to come about.”

Stetson pulls me into his chest, holding me as I cry.

I was embarrassed to be acting this way, but I was also grateful that I had Stetson here to help keep me together.

“Everything’s gonna be okay,” he whispers against my temple, and I take a few minutes to let it all out before I pull back, wiping my face and pulling myself together.

“But for now…” Stetson sends a little smile my way, pushing aside our serious conversation. “I have something I’d like to show you if you feel up to it.”

“What?” I ask, a tendril of excitement pulsing through my chest.

“It’s at the ranch, so you might run into some people.”

I reach up, gently touching the piece of tape that’s covering my stitches, and frown.

His hand covers mine, pulling my fingers to his lips and kissing them. I could get used to this kind of morning, where he comforts me and looks at me with this much love, all while shirtless.

I really wish I wasn’t in pain.

“You’re beautiful.”

I smile at the lie—or not really lie, but the version of me that he always sees, which is just not the version of myself that I see.

I need to work on that.

“Okay, let’s do it.”

The ranch was just as beautiful as it was a week ago, and breathing in deeply, I let myself soak in the hot sun and fresh air. When Stetson stops, he pulls me out of his side of the truck, sliding his hands gently around my waist and setting me down.

I smile up at him, and he tugs his hat into place, interlacing our fingers and pulling me toward the barn. It was almost eerily quiet, and I wondered if they knew we were coming and wanted to give us space .

Heading into the barn, I take in a breath of the air, letting myself hear all the shuffling noises of the horses and not caring one lick of how weird I probably look, inhaling and smiling at a barn full of horses.

When we get to the end, I peek inside the stall and see who’s there, smiling at the little filly inside. “Freckles! You graduated to the barn!”

I open her door, not waiting for Stetson to say anything, as I rub my hands all over her neck and face. She was already getting so big, and I probably can’t consider her a filly anymore. She was a full-on mare.

“Have you still been working with her, or is she with Logan now?”

Stetson watches with a warm look in his gaze, his lips tipped up at the side. “Nah, I’m keeping her on with me.”

I glance at him in surprise. “You are?”

“Yeah.” His grin broadens now, and I frown at him in confusion. “I’m going to train her to be a team roping horse.”

I gasp. “Aw, are you keeping her?” I rub between her ears and down her cheek and smile when her head dips into my stomach, her silent way of asking me to keep going.

“We are.” He nods and doesn’t say anything else.

“ We are?” I frown in confusion.

“I bought her for you.”

His announcement is met with slow realization and reluctance to actually accept the words he said. “You…bought her?”

He nods. “For you.”

Fuck my freaking eyes, but tears gather as I realize what he’s really saying. I look back to him, standing in the doorway of the stall, looking handsome in his boots and hat, grinning at me like he just won the lottery .

My voice cracks when I say the words out loud, my hands shaking even as I continue to scratch on her, keeping my focus on the horse to try to hold back the emotions. “You bought me a horse?”

He nods again and says in a low voice, “Yeah, baby, I bought you a horse.”

A sob threatens to escape through my throat, and instead, I bury it in Freckles’s neck, holding her to me in a brand-new way.

She was mine. I had a horse again that was all mine, and the emotion tied to that was making me a sappy mess.

His arms come around my waist, and I turn immediately, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and holding him to me tighter than I should, given my bruising. But I can’t help it.

“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice hoarse. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

And through my words, he just holds me, rubbing my back, and I feel Freckles nudge my side, and for the first time in years, I finally feel like I’m where I belong.