54. Fable

Chapter 54

Fable

T he mountains are a different beast at night. I sit awake in the cabin, staring at the clock as it slowly ticks closer to two in the morning. They stopped coming to check on me, letting me have my peace, and I'm thankful for that. My sewing machine and the backpack with Jinx's urn are sitting by the door, ready to go when I am. Everything else is piled on the bed. Clothing, my costumes, everything.

The leather Colt had gotten me.

The fabrics Gunnar had let me pick out.

The turquoise bracelet Rhett gave me.

. . . the sword Trent had forged for me. . .

It's all there, because I can't take it with me. I want to. How I want to. But I can't run from them and keep those gifts, not without thinking of them, not without being slowed down. So they sit on the bed, laid in a row, perfectly aligned.

I thought about writing a note but dismissed that idea. I'm running away from them. A note isn't necessary. What would I even say? Sorry you're drug traffickers and I had to leave? I can't very well be honest and tell them how I feel about them. Not when there are so many reasons I shouldn't.

So, no note. Instead, I just leave the gifts on the bed, the costumes. My cowgirl hats are there, hanging from the hooks above the bed, the wild card Colt had tucked into the hat band mocking me as I stand and stretch.

Jethro whines and I wince. I look down at the border collie I've come to think of as mine. Is it stealing if I take him with me?

"I can't take you on a plane, Jethro," I rasp, running a hand through my hair. "Fuck, it doesn't matter. I'll figure it out. Kate will help me." I pat my thigh, and he follows me eagerly. "But you have to be quiet," I tell him. "No whining. No barking. If they catch us, I don't know what will happen."

Carefully, I ease the door open and look around. The ranch is silent. No one moves around. The animals are all asleep. I open the door all the way and pick up my sewing machine after putting on my backpack. The urn thumps against my spine, reminding me it's there, heavier than one would expect. I step out onto the porch and look around, waiting. When no one comes running, I tap my thigh gently again and slip into the darkness with Jethro at my side.

At first, I follow the driveway, but when I get far enough from the big house, I turn right, climbing the white picket fence and heading in the direction of Steele Mountain. It's gonna be a long walk. The thought alone makes my leg ache. The uneven ground doesn't help. In the distance, a howl goes up, and I freeze.

"I don't think that's a dog," I whisper to Jethro when his ears perk up.

Shit. I didn't even think about the wild animals. I start moving again, this time picking up my pace just in case there are any bears or mountain lions prowling out here. There's no way I'm dying by one of them while trying to avoid being killed by a couple of sexy cowboys.

I check my phone after a while and see I've been walking for an hour. I'm still in Circle Bee. I haven't even reached the Steele Mountain border yet, and I growl in frustration. The distance between them is larger than I anticipated. Maybe I should make my way to the road after all.

Just when I decide that's a better idea, a shout echoes in the distance behind me. That shout is followed by whistles. Jethro perks up, listening just like I am.

"Oh no," I whisper when I realize the sounds are coming from the direction of the big house.

I start to move faster, hoping they assume I've gone toward the road, but those hopes are dashed when the sound of a horse meets my ears. Hooves at first, then a whiny.

I start to run, but it's hard to do with the sewing machine in one hand. I don't want to drop it, but when the hooves get closer, I realize I'm gonna have to make a choice.

My eyes well as I choke out an, "I'm sorry," before I set the sewing machine on the ground and really start to run. I'm not very fast, not at all, and my leg starts to ache even more as I force myself past my level of comfort.

" You're running away from the sexy cowboys ," Jinx echoes in my mind.

"That's the point," I grunt, pushing myself faster.

The sound of hooves behind me matches the thundering of my heart.