“How’s the new colt comin’ along with the breaking for Mr. Johnson? He’s been askin’ bout him every time I seen ‘em in town.” Jameson spoke, eyes hoping for a morsel of news.
Beau piped up. “He knows how long I take to work with these colts. I’m not the breaking type. He wants me to teach that colt to handle a saddle and hold a rider, he’s gotta give me time to teach him, not just demand they do it.”
Rhett shook his head, “Ain’t that the truth. We don’t just throw some miracle grow at ‘em and expect big things. I don’t see him down here puttin’ in no effort.”
Beau grinned. “Darn straight.’”
Questions about Zeus came up and Beau handled them. I knew he’d grown up with horses, but the amount of knowledge he’d accumulated over the years astounded me. I’d been sitting enjoying the revelry of company and family when I realized that I was finally at peace.
For once, I wasn’t looking for every escape route out of the room I was in. I was content to just sit and listen to the guy’s goof off and the girls flirt. I looked over at Beau and he winked at me, then resumed his talking.
I took another quick scan around the table. I wondered if I was enjoying my time here a little too much. My thoughts strayed back to what I left behind.
Would his family even notice I was gone? Would they come looking for me when they found out he was dead? Had they even found his body yet? I had been too scared to even google it for fear there was a trace and show I knew something. I know that’s ridiculous. I was working myself up with the rapid questions firing off in my brain, but I couldn’t get them to stop. The stress over everything that had happened since I asked for a divorce was front and center…and then the text came.
I’m coming for you, Cassidy Mae.
Chills shuddered up my arms. This was a new, unlisted phone number. No one had this number except my parents and those on the farm. To add to the foreboding in my gut there were no caller details. I felt a panic attack coming on. The blood rushed from my face and my head felt light and dizzy. I looked up to find Beau trying to read my face. Everyone around us continued on like nothing happened, but I was still in a state of shock. It’d been weeks since I left and I hadn’t heard from anyone. I panicked. Sheer terror ran through my veins, pumping my blood with fear and adrenaline. I had no reason to be afraid, but I couldn’t help the overwhelming feeling of dread that crept through me as I thought about what happened next.
“Cassidy Mae?” Beau questioned. I swallowed and tried to hide the fear, but Beau could see right through it. I felt his warm breath on my skin as he leaned over and whispered, “What’s wrong?”
I shook my head. I couldn’t tell him what was going on because I wasn’t exactly sure how to explain anything. My phone slipped from my fingers, no longer able to hold on. Beau grabbed it right before it hit the floor and saw the text. His mouth line tightened and his eyebrows furrowed as he read it. Anger was apparent all over his tight face. Shame hit me and I shielded my eyes from him behind my bangs.
I felt his hand on my shoulder and I relished the comfort it gave me. “Oh, Cass. I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise. I’ll protect you. Just breathe.”
“Cassidy Mae,” Reagan’s voice hit me next. Clearly, conversation at the table had come to a slamming halt and all eyes were focused on Beau and me. I hated it. I didn’t want to be the center of attention.
Luckily, Beau seemed to know that I didn’t want to make this into a big deal. He shook his head, “Eat, Rea. We can talk about it later.”
She nodded, giving me one last look and started up another conversation. I was thankful for these people, but I knew there would be questions after everyone had gone back to their own homes on the property.
Sure enough, later on, we were all seated on the couch in the living room when Beau brought it up. “Cassidy Mae, I know you don’t want to talk about whatever happened, but at this point, we need to know. I need to know, so I can keep you safe. I can’t protect you if I don’t know what I’m protecting you from, understand?”
“Okay,” I said almost silently. My eyes found the floor again as I shuddered out the next couple of words. “How much do you know?”
“Not much, just that someone hurt you real bad in several ways.”
Did I trust Beau Montgomery with more of my truths? The ugly, dirty part of my life that I didn’t want anyone to know? I had to at least give bits and pieces. At this point, he was involved now too after offering me this job. So, I felt it was my duty to at least share the basics.
“Well,” I started, not giving him a chance to answer. “As you know I went and did a stupid thing marryin’ Andrew. The signs were all there from the start, but I fell into the blinding lie that comes with love. Things were good while we dated. Then we got married and things were fine. Two years into our marriage, he got into a fight at the bar. He changed and I… I can’t… won’t tell ya everything, just that he wasn’t a good man. When I saw a chance to run, I took it. I can’t even…” I
