It’d been two weeks since I’d shown up in this sleepy little town way south of the Mason-Dixon line. I was slowly becoming less jumpy and on edge, waiting for the next shoe to drop. The fact that I hadn’t heard anything from back home solidified that he was truly gone. I knew no one could ever come back from what I’d seen.
Every day was the same for the most part. Rea would come over and pick me up and we’d head to the stables. We’d spend the day taking the horses for turnouts in the morning, hang out watching them in the fields, and help feed them. I couldn’t ride or muck out stalls because I knew my cracked ribs were still healing. I’d made every excuse in the book every time Reagan asked if I wanted to. Changing the subject, walking away, shoving it off with a laugh.
I was getting more comfortable in my routine and we’d fallen right back into being the friends we had been before I’d left. She hadn’t asked what happened to me and I hadn’t so much as offered it either. She was included in all of this mess now and I didn’t want to keep it from her.
Each afternoon I spent a little time with Zeus. I was drawn to him. Wanted to help him, but I had no idea how. I’d decided that day by day I would spend an hour sitting just outside his stall. For some odd reason I wanted him to trust me and I figured the longer I sat there, the more he’d realize that I wasn’t out to hurt him. After a week and a half, he finally came out from the corner in the back of his stall. He wasn’t hanging his head out and asking to be loved on, but I figured it was progress. I didn’t know if it was me or the fact that Beau had been working with him, but I told myself I was part of the reason for it.
I’d been standing talking softly to Zeus when a noise behind me made me jump. I turned around to see Reagan looking at me with that look. The one that said today was the day I was going to spill my secrets. She wasn’t going to let it go this time, I could tell. This was my come to Jesus talk.
“Look, Cass, I’ve given you weeks to come out and tell me what’s going on, but it’s clear that isn’t going to happen. So now, I’m asking. What the hell happened to you? You’re jumpy. You won’t let anyone get close. I’m so worried about you and I can’t just keep ignoring the obvious problem.”
She reached out to touch my arm and I flinched… “I’m sorry, Rea. I’m dealing with my own crap. I didn’t want to drag you into it.”
“Well, that’s shit and you know it, Cassidy Mae. We’re best friends. Yes, it’s been years since we’ve hung out, but that doesn’t change the fact that we were like sisters growing up and I’ll always be worried for you.”
“I… I.. I’m so ashamed of myself. Ashamed that I didn’t leave. That I.. I couldn’t make myself leave him even when he treated me like garbage. Eventually, I finally left but not before his anger came out full force. The night I asked him for a divorce he told me he was having an affair with some Italian mob boss’s wife.” I explained the story from the beginning.
The tips of her full lips turned down at the corners. “Oh, Cass… You need to go to the cops. Report him. Report what he did to you.”
“I can’t, Rea. No reason to now.” A shiver tore through me and I shook my head. I couldn’t do it. If they started looking into it then they’d know he was dead and I’d be the first one they came looking for. Fear crept in at the mere mention of him. I’d never been so afraid of someone in my life. He’d only laid a hand to me the one time, but his threats scared me. I knew that he was a man who kept to his word. I knew who his associates were, what his brother Devin did for a living.
“Ok, I’ll stand beside whatever decision you make then. I may not agree with it, but I trust you.”
That small bit of a win felt huge. The fact that my best friend knew the partial truth was weight lifted from my chest. I’d finally broken my silence and told someone.
“Did he… did he beat you, Cass?” Tears welled up in my eyes again and I shuddered just remembering the only time he’d left welts on my body.
“Why do you think I’ve been making excuses to ride and help mucking out stalls? Cracked ribs take six weeks to heal at least.”
“Cracked ribs? Oh… my… god, Cass.” It came out as a whisper, like she couldn’t hardly believe it. The one thing that gave me comfort after I told Reagan my secrets was that she didn’t look at me any differently. Her face was laced with concern and not judgment.
I couldn’t say anything else. It was all out on the table so to speak. The only thing I hadn’t shared was that I hoped his death had been slow and painful, I had no doubt they’d killed him. I don’t think I could ever share that secret.
“Cass?”
“Yeah?”
“Does he know you’re here in Moonshine Springs? Will he come for you?”
“No, he’s dead. He won’t ever come for me again.”
“Good. That’s good,” she paused and removed all emotions from her face. “Do you think… maybe you…to hell with it. I’d feel more comfortable with you staying here at the farm Cass. With
