Chapter 5

5

Mason

Leaning against the door frame, the weight of my responsibilities pressing down on me, Chloe Beecham appeared almost fragile against the backdrop of the guest house porch. I observed her, a hint of worry nibbling at me as I chewed on the inside of my cheek—a nervous habit that surfaced when uncertainty loomed.

“I should’ve thought this through,” I muttered quietly to myself. Renting out the place wasn’t solely about earning extra cash; it was about inviting someone into our lives—mine and Abby’s. Chloe carried an enigmatic air in her guarded gaze that made me question if I had welcomed trouble in addition to a tenant.

“Who’s that, Daddy?” Abigail’s high-pitched voice interrupted my thoughts, drawing my attention to her standing there with wide gray eyes filled with curiosity.

“That’s Miss Chloe, munchkin,” I straightened up, attempting to compose my features into a neutral expression. “She’s going to stay in the guest house for a while. ”

“Is she nice?” Abby asked, her small hand slipping into mine as she peeked around my leg.

“Well, we’ll find out.” Trying to muster a smile that felt more like a wince, I watched as Abby tugged on my hand and approached Chloe. “Can I say hi?”

“Sure thing, kiddo. Just be polite,” I advised as Abby skipped over to Chloe, her brown curls bouncing with each step.

“Hi! I’m Abigail, but you can call me Abby!” With all the confidence only a six-year-old could possess, she introduced herself eagerly. “Are you going to live here? Do you like horses?”

Setting down her box with a small smile playing on her lips, Chloe responded gently, “Hello, Abby. Yes, I’ll be staying here and yes, I do like horses.”

“Good,” Abby nodded seriously as if that settled everything. “Daddy has lots of them!”

As my daughter engaged with Chloe in an animated conversation about horses and life on the ranch, my heart swelled witnessing their interaction. A part of me hoped that maybe my initial reservations about Chloe were unfounded; perhaps all she needed was a fresh start—the same chance life had once given me.

Chloe smiled warmly at Abby as she chatted away, but I could see a hint of sadness in her eyes. She seemed genuinely interested in what Abby had to say, but there was something heavy weighing on her that she tried to hide.

When there was a lull in the conversation, Chloe looked up at me. “Thank you again for renting me the guest house, Mr. Bridges,” she said softly.

“Please, call me Mason. And you’re welcome,” I replied.

She nodded and brushed a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. That’s when I noticed the scar along her right temple. It looked old, but made me wonder what had caused it .

Abby grabbed Chloe’s hand, startling her slightly. “Come see my room! I have lots of horse posters and toys!”

Chloe hesitated, glancing at me as if asking permission. I nodded that it was okay.

Chloe allowed herself to be pulled along by Abby, her slight frame seeming even more delicate next to my daughter’s energetic presence. As they chatted on their way to the main house, I noticed Chloe favoring her right side slightly, as if protecting unseen injuries.

My brow furrowed as they disappeared from view, her reticence to show that vulnerability troubling me. What had happened to her? The scars and guarded nature suggested a traumatic past, perhaps even abuse. An unfamiliar anger simmered in my gut at the thought of someone hurting her.

Shaking my head, I tried to clear away the speculation. I knew nothing about this woman who would now be living amongst us, relying only on instincts honed from my own painful history. While part of me wanted to protect her, I knew from experience that pushing too hard would only drive her away.

No.

I didn’t know much, but I knew for damn sure it wasn’t my place to insert myself in her life. I’d keep things polite and friendly, but nothing more.

I stood at the bottom of the stairs, listening to Abby’s excited voice floating down from her room as she showed Chloe her collection of Breyer horses. Despite my misgivings, I couldn’t help but smile. Abby had taken to Chloe right away, and her friendly nature seemed to put Chloe at ease.

Chloe’s laughter rang out, light and musical, in response to something Abby said. The sound warmed me unexpectedly. It reminded me of wind chimes dancing in a summer breeze, carrying away the darkness.

I tried to cling to my doubts, but they slipped through my fingers. This woman posed no threat. If anything, she seemed in need of safety, although I didn’t yet understand from what.

When Chloe appeared at the top of the stairs, Abby clinging to her hand, the shadows had retreated from her face. The lingering sadness in her eyes remained, but the walls she had erected had seemed to shrink, if only a little.

“Abby, let Miss Chloe unpack for now,” I interjected gently not wanting to dampen their budding connection but mindful of boundaries.

“Okay Daddy! But can Miss Chloe come see the horses later?” Abby inquired excitedly before running back towards me already lost in other thoughts.

“Would love to meet your horses later!” Chloe’s chuckle surprised me—light and carefree like the earlier breeze carrying her scent towards me. I had to steel myself from getting too excited about it.

“Alright, we’ll take her up to the ranch some time. But for now, we gotta get dinner up and give Miss Chloe some space to settle in.”

I couldn’t help but catch her eye as I said her name and a part of me swore she smiled just a bit wider for me there. But I looked away, forcing myself to ignore it. It was probably my damn imagination, anyway.

“Thank you for the tour of your room, Abby.”

“You’re welcome, Miss Chloe!” Abby said, a decibel or two too loud.

Chloe chuckled and started back toward the cottage. “Thanks, again,” she said as she breezed past me, not waiting for an answer .

“You’re welcome,” I said, but she was already too far away to hear it.

The next day, I was caught red-handed staring at Chloe as she moved a few more boxes from her car to the cottage.

She’d hung a bright red sundress on a hook, airing it out in the crisp fall breeze. All I could think about was how good that would look on Chloe’s petite but curvy frame.

“Watcha doin’, Daddy?” Abigail’s voice, a curious hum, pulled me from my thoughts like a bucket of ice water over my head.

“Just thinkin’, kiddo.” I bent down to her level, the earlier tension in my shoulders melting away as I tucked a loose curl behind her ear. Her gray eyes, so much like mine, sparkled with unspent energy and innocence.

“About Miss Chloe?” she asked, her head tilting as she pieced together adult concerns with a child’s clarity.

“Something like that,” I admitted, marveling at how this tiny person could see right through me. “You like her, huh?”

“Uh-huh! She’s nice. And she likes horses!” Abby’s excitement was contagious, and despite my reservations, I found myself smiling genuinely for the first time that day.

“That she does.” I stood up, ruffling her hair, which always seemed to spring back defiantly.

“Can she come over for dinner? I wanna show her my doll collection.”

That wasn’t a good idea for a number of reasons, but my mama always taught me to be hospitable, something I’ve tried to instill in Abby.

Apparently it was working .

“I don’t know, maybe we should give her some time to settle in.”

“But she might not have food yet. That fridgerator is always empty.”

The little rascal had a point. I hadn’t seen her carry any groceries in, and I was embarrassed to admit, I’d watched every trip to the car she took.

I needed to keep a distance. I still didn’t know what her story was, and while I wasn’t concerned she would be a threat to Abby, I knew boundaries were for the best. And that was besides the fact that I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. I had no time for a relationship, or even messin’ around with women, and this one was far too young and far too mysterious to let myself get caught up.

Keeping a healthy distance was paramount.

But Abs looked up at me with her puppy-dog eyes and I couldn’t say no.

“Alright. We can invite her to dinner tonight. But don’t think it’ll become a regular thing, now. She’s our tenant. She has her life and we have ours.”

“Uh-huh,” she said, already bouncing toward the back door.

Hand in hand, we approached the guest house where Chloe was likely unpacking the few belongings she’d brought with her. The door stood ajar, an invitation or maybe just an oversight, I couldn’t tell. We knocked anyway.

“Hi there,” Chloe’s voice was soft, but it carried clearly from inside. She emerged, wiping her hands on her jeans, looking every bit as out of place and beautiful as I remembered.

“Hi Chloe!” Abby beamed, looking up at Chloe as if she were some kind of princess rather than a woman on the run from something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

“Hi Abby. Mason,” she said, looking up to me after a moment. Her eyes were guarded, but something about them drew me in far deeper than I’d ever admit.

“I’m gonna go look at your stuff,” Abby said, skipping over to the dresser, where Chloe had set out some perfume and lotions.

“Hey there, thanks for being patient with this one,” I said, my tone light but measured. “She doesn’t meet strangers, only friends she hasn’t played with yet.”

“Of course, it’s no trouble. She’s spirited.” The corner of Chloe’s mouth lifted in what could have been the start of a smile or a polite gesture. Hard to tell.

“Gets that from her mother,” I replied instinctively, then wished I hadn’t. But Chloe didn’t pry; instead, she nodded, accepting the information without judgment.

“Looks like you’re settling in okay?” I ventured, glancing past her at the modest interior of the guest house.

“Yes, it’s quite a haven for me.” There was a guarded edge to her words, a castle wall around whatever she was hiding.

“Good, good.” The silence that followed was thick, filled with all the things left unsaid.

“You can come over to our house for dinner tonight!” Abby practically yelled with buzzing enthusiasm. She was bouncing on her heels, unable to contain herself.

“Uh, yes. That’s why we stopped by. To invite you over for dinner.”

“Daddy’s makin’ chicken and dumplings! They’re my favorite.”

“Oh my, that’s awfully nice of you.” She looked at me with a crinkled brow, as if questioning that the invitation was being offered freely.

“We’d really love for you to join us. If you don’t already have plans, that is. ”

“Oh, no. No plans.” She looked around, probably looking for some lost excuses. But then she smiled and I couldn’t help but notice it reached her eyes. “I’d really like that. Thank you.”

“Our pleasure.”

“I’m gonna show you my dollies. We can play with them if you want.”

“Can’t wait.”

“Well, we won’t keep you. Dinner’s at seven. And if you need anything else, just holler.”

“Thank you, Mason. I appreciate it.” She didn’t step any closer, nor did I expect her to. This apparent dance of ours had rules neither of us fully understood yet.

“Let’s go, Abby. Let Chloe get back to it.”

“Bye, Miss Chloe!” Abby waved enthusiastically.

“Bye, Miss Abigail.” Chloe’s wave was more reserved, but she looked less guarded. Almost content.

As we walked back to the main house, Abby chattering about horses and the dumplings for dinner, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Chloe Beecham was a puzzle. A puzzle whose edges I wasn’t sure I should be trying to fit together, not when Abby’s bright world was at stake. But damn if I wasn’t tempted to try.