“Get the fuck out of here now.” Dylan glanced down the ravine, rage coloring his face. “You okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” I said.
He jumped off the horse, curled his fingers, and lifted his fist toward the journalist, who was still on the ground.
The jerk cowered and held up his hands. “My associate is over there,” he said and motioned to the trees. “He’s getting everything on camera. If you hit me, I’ll edit the tape so it looks like it was an unprovoked attack. Then I’ll sue you. The PBR will kick you out.”
Dylan sneered. “Like I give a flying fuck about you or your threats.” He struck the journalist’s nose until blood spurted everywhere. “You and your associate had better leave before you both end up with more than a bloody nose.”
The journalist moaned and glared down at me as he mopped the blood now dripping from his lip and chin. “This’ll be all over the internet in an hour. Whatever career you thought you had, it’s done. That goes for you, too, Willows.” He stood and motioned to whoever was hiding in the woods. “Let’s get out of here. We have what we came for.”
A second paparazzo, wearing camouflage gear, came out from the trees.
Dylan swung around and grabbed the first journalist by the scruff. “Leave your cameras, or you won’t get off this land in one piece. There are fifteen ranch hands just a phone call away who’d kill for her.”
He shoved the shitty excuse for a human being away.
“This isn’t over,” the journalist spat, dropping his camera to the ground. He gestured for his colleague to do the same. “We have our story with or without the video or the photos.”
“You have nothing.”
“I have enough. It’d be easier to dam a river than to stop this getting out.”
His lies were about to destroy everything I’d achieved over the past ten months. There was no way I’d ever bounce back from this.
I firmed my lips. I wouldn’t cry, and I wouldn’t lash out.
I’d run and keep on running. No one would ever find me again. I needed someplace unpopulated. Someplace remote and isolated. One thing was for sure, I would never, ever, ever open up to anyone again as long as I lived.
Giving my heart and trusting someone with all my secrets was too risky. Going into town with Dylan last night had been one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Or maybe the biggest mistake of my life was falling for him and believing in the fairytale. That he could protect me and keep me safe. That we could stay here and live in our very own bubble-wrapped world.
As soon as the two scum bags were on their way, Dylan took the rope hanging on the side of Winston’s saddle and threw one end down to me. “Grab on.”
I reached for the rope, looped it around my waist, tied a knot and held on. As I walked up the embankment, Dylan pulled. My sprained ankle, which had been on the mend, screamed in pain, and my head pounded with every step.
When I reached the top, he gave me a once over. “You okay? I’ll call Mason and have him come up.”
Physically, I would heal. Mentally, not so much.
“No, don’t call anyone. Can you take me back to my cabin? I have to order a new phone and make plans.” My words sounded hollow, void of emotion.
He nodded as if knowing how much trouble he’d caused. How much him forcing me to do things I hadn’t wanted to do had fucked everything up.
Dylan helped me get onto Winston, but this time I didn’t ask him to hop on behind me.
Once we got to my cabin, I dismounted without any assistance, and when he went to hug me, I left my arms hanging by my side.
“You’re scaring me, girl.” His voice was soft and deep.
“They know where I am now and will keep coming and coming until they break me. I have to go.”
He stepped away and dug his fingers through his hair. “You’re running away? You’re going to let them think they’re winning?”
“They’ve already won.”
“I can protect you. I’ll stay with you. Truth is, I’d planned to drive up to Tulsa at dawn to take part in a rodeo, but I stayed because you needed me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, cowboy. I don’t need you. You can’t protect me. No one can. It’s time for you to leave. Go to Tulsa. Go back to your rodeo. “
I turned away and walked into my cabin. I closed the door, slid down to the floor and cried my heart out.
Useless.
Worthless.
Pointless piece of piss.
Dylan
The sound of her sobbing would haunt me for life.
She was right. I couldn’t protect her. I’d tried and failed.
If she wanted me to leave right now, then I would, and I’d never look back. I might not make it to Tulsa in time to compete, but I’d go there and get some practice in. I wouldn’t stay where I wasn’t wanted or needed.
I rode back to the house and threw my stuff into my bag. When I was all packed, I went over to the stables. Sampson poked his head out of his pen. I scratched between his ears and was rewarded with a head nudge. “See you soon, boy. Be good for everyone. Remember everything I taught you.”
“You leaving without saying goodbye?” Tricia asked from behind me.
I jerked my head around and saw thunder on her face. Spending time with her grandbaby hadn’t softened her any.
I’d crack most of my teeth if I clenched my jaw any harder. “Wasn’t
