Chapter 25

Chapter Twenty-Five

Ashley

A shley was excited. Though her new mat and clothes had yet to arrive, Carter had promised to take her back to the pond again for yoga. Actual yoga this time, he had sworn.

Now that their secret was out, Ashley was relieved. Although she’d still have to deal with Lucas, it felt good that they weren’t hiding things from anyone.

Carter had asked last night if she knew how Ryker had found out, and she really didn’t. If Christian or Nate had told on them, then she wasn’t mad and wasn’t going to ask. She reasoned it had been wrong of them to ask anyone to keep that secret as it was.

“I’m almost done sending everything over to Ryker and we can be on our way. I want to get back before Liam is done questioning Julian so we can be on when he tells Ryker and Matt about it.” Carter sat at the counter on his laptop, where he’d been all morning.

“Sounds great. I can keep it to a short session so it won’t take that long.”

She was looking forward to this more than she had in recent weeks. Her heart was light again now that she wasn’t trying to keep her mind off Carter, and him being there only helped to ease her nerves.

The only thing weighing on her was finding a way to tell him she didn’t want to leave. Truthfully, she loved it here, and being with Carter was only making it harder to want to go.

Problem was, she didn’t know how he would react. He seemed to want her here, but on a permanent basis? That was a lot to ask so new in a relationship.

There was also the small matter of Ryker’s job offer. When she’d told Carter that she felt obligated to take it, she was being serious. But she wasn’t above using family influence just yet and would try to make whatever it was a remote position.

“Ready?” Carter pulled her from her thoughts and into his lap.

“Stop.” She giggled, standing back up. “I told you, yoga.”

“We aren’t there yet, so I haven’t broken my word.” He reached for her again, and Ashley stepped away.

“Yoga,” she reminded him.

Carter was smiling as he stood and closed the laptop. “Let’s get on with it then.”

They’d washed the blanket from last time, and she carried it with her out to the pond. Carter took a seat on the bench, where he messed with his phone as she laid out the blanket and began her meditation.

She cleared her mind and listened to the sounds of the animals and the rustle of falling leaves. It was so easy to get centered out here. The calm she found was so different than in the city. Nothing was easy there or slow enough to truly get as centered as she needed.

There, she felt like she was going through the motions with everyone else. Even in her yoga classes, her mind wandered to the next thing and the next, never truly settling. Here, she was calm, focused, and under control.

As she moved through her flow, a sound stuck out to her, causing her to stop and look back. It seemed like someone was in the woods, and she wondered if Carter had walked away to take a call or something.

As she turned, she caught Carter still sitting on the bench, neither of them having a moment to react before a shot rang out, sending Carter onto the ground.

Blood pooled from his wounded shoulder as he brought his other hand up to his waist, pulling out his own gun. She moved a step toward him, but something stopped her.

Carter looked back at her then, his eyes wide. “Hide,” he mouthed.

As quickly and quietly as she could, Ashley backed away from her makeshift mat and into the woods opposite the sound. She found a tree to hide behind and held her breath, praying it was just one of the hands that had accidentally surprised them.

It had to be someone they knew. There were too many people on this ranch for Julian to get through them and out here. Plus, he was supposed to be in jail for all the other things he’d done while chasing her.

From her vantage point, she couldn’t see them, but she could hear their movement. She wanted to turn and look but didn’t. Carter was bleeding on the ground, but she could do nothing for him.

Julian shouted into the trees, “Where are you, Ashley?”

“She’s not here,” Carter said.

“Don’t play with me. I know she’s here. I saw you both,” Julian snapped.

Ashley’s breaths were shaky as she continued to hide. The leaves on the ground made moving impossible unless she wanted Julian to chase her. Fortunately, it also meant that Julian couldn’t sneak up on her.

“I know she couldn’t have gone far or I would have seen her, so why don’t we play a little game?” Julian was still yelling, making sure she heard every word.

“How are you here?” Carter asked. “I thought you were arrested.”

“Stroke of luck that one. I dropped the car I’d stolen in the city, hoping some thugs would tear it apart. Imagine my surprise when it drives past me not long later. Probably shouldn’t have left the keys in it. But from his profile, that guy would pass as me. I stole another car and came here. The police scanner app is amazing, and I heard that guy get pulled over. Figured you’d all assume it was me.”

“Fuck.” She heard Carter swear.

“Then the fact that no one could question him until the morning? I love these shit little towns and their backwards ways of doing things. Gave me time to get here and wait for an opportunity.” She heard leaves crunch, and it must have been him moving around because he was closer when he spoke next. “Now, where is my future bride?”

“Do you really think she’ll just marry you and not tell anyone what you did?” Carter asked.

“Absolutely. You know why? She wants you to live.” There was a pause, and he yelled again. “Ashley, if you don’t come out, I’ll shoot him in the head.”

“People will have heard that first shot and be heading this way,” Carter warned.

Julian laughed. “They would be, but the fire I set would have prevented that from happening too quickly. I wouldn’t be surprised if they assumed the gunshot was ammo from the fire.”

Tears streamed down her face as she resolved to do what she had to. There was no way she was going to let Carter die for her.

“What did you light on fire?” Carter asked.

As long as he was talking and Julian was engaged, she stood behind the tree, shaking but away from him.

“What did you light on fire?” Carter’s voice was getting weaker.

“Some little building I found. The quicker she comes out here, the quicker you can go help them. I just want to marry her and get a brat in her. Then you can have her back. Can’t promise she’ll be gently used though.” He laughed again.

Ashley cringed at the laugh of a man that was clearly out of his mind.

“Good thing I had the foresight to put all of that in a contract since the man went and kicked the bucket before I made it in her bed. I was almost there when you showed up and ruined everything. Foreign exchange student my ass. In college?”

Carter groaned in pain.

“Ashley!” Julian shouted. “Come out now or I am going to kill him. Quit playing hide and seek, love.”

“Don’t move,” Carter’s yell ended with a groan.

Sirens wailed in the distance as the acrid smell of smoke drifted her way. A lot of people, and animals, were now in danger because of her. Indecision warred within her over whether to listen to Carter or do what she thought was right.

Another gunshot rang out. Ashley nearly jumped out of her skin as a scream escaped her.

“That was the only warning shot he’ll get, Ashley. If you want your lover to live, you better get out here.”

“Don’t move, Ashley,” Carter yelled again.

At the sickening sound of something hitting flesh, Ashley leaned forward and lost her breakfast. There was no way Julian hadn’t heard her, and the decision was made for her.

Ashley stepped from behind the tree, using her sleeve to wipe her mouth. She looked back at where Carter had been to see him slumped over on the ground, not moving.

Julian was looking a different direction, and she considered hiding behind the tree again before he saw her. She didn’t know if Carter was still breathing, but she knew he needed medical help, so she pushed forward.

Terrified and shaking, she called out, “Julian.”