Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

Rae

T he bathwater had grown tepid, but instead of getting out, I pulled the plug to drain the clawfoot tub so I could refill it. The scalding water was the only thing that eased all the different pains throughout my body.

I twisted the nozzle, making the water pouring from the spout a little hotter, then squeezed my eyes closed against the burn. I was not going to cry, damn it. Even though every muscle in my body throbbed. Even though every inch of my legs were covered in bruises and scratches. Even though the sunburn on my shoulders and arms left my skin feeling chilled and the blisters on my feet wouldn't stop bleeding. I would not cry, no matter how badly I wanted to, because I wasn't going to give that mean cowboy the pleasure of knowing he'd been right.

This had been one of the worst days of my life. I didn't know what the hell I was doing, and if the occasional snickers from the men I worked alongside were anything to go by, they all knew it too.

They weren't rude, exactly, more like they just watched, waiting for me to quit. But I wouldn't give them the satisfaction. No matter how badly I wanted to, I pushed myself until I thought I might break, then further when that didn't happen. If my entire body didn't feel like one gigantic pulsating bruise, I would have been pretty damn proud of myself. I accomplished more than I thought I could. It was all out of spite, sure, but I'd still done it.

The one bright spot in my day had been Hal. The ranch foreman, which I learned was the highest position a person who didn't actually own the ranch he worked at could have. He hadn't taken it easy on me, per say, but he had been kind, at least. When he saw me struggling, he helped. When it was obvious I didn't know what I was doing, he took his time to explain it to me, exuding patience until I finally got it. When I'd been attacked by a goat that looked too adorable to be as damn mean as it was, he had laughed good-naturedly and assured me Gretel, the asshole goat, treated most people that way so I shouldn't take offense.

He never once made me feel out of place or incompetent. I actually got the impression that he was silently rooting for me, which wasn't something I was used to. Other than my parents, I didn't have many people in my life cheering me on, so Hal's steady guidance and help had come as a pleasant surprise.

He'd taken the time to tell me about the ranch and the family who owned it. He talked about Rory and her parents, then explained that the mean cowboy was Zach, Rory's son. He assured me Zach was actually nice. A "good man and fair boss", but I wasn't buying that. So far, in our very limited interaction, I hadn't seen either.

When it was finally time to call it a day, it had taken everything I had not to weep tears of joy that it was over. Hal told me everyone usually headed over to the lodge for a home-cooked dinner—something I would eventually have to make—and invited me to ride with him, but despite the fact my stomach had been growling like a bear coming out of hibernation, I politely declined, claiming I wasn't all that hungry even though it felt like my stomach was about to start gnawing on my backbone at any moment. The truth was, I'd reached the limit on my ability to fake it, and I needed to break down in peace .

I barely made it back to my cabin without limping like a lame horse—an expression I learned today. Zach had been right about my boots. They were a joke. The only thing they had managed to do was rub the soles of my feet and the backs of my heels raw. My blisters were so damn big they had blisters of their own. The longer the day wore on, I started to feel like those devil shoes were filling with my blood. I wanted to rip them off my feet, set them on fire, and scatter the ashes to the wind.

As soon as I was behind closed doors, I ripped off everything I'd worn today, cursing every article for basically being worthless, and hobbled to the bathroom. I still hadn't made it to the grocery store, but I scribbled bubble bath and bath salts onto the mental shopping list I had running in my brain.

I didn't have my credit cards any longer, but I wasn't completely broke. I had money for some necessities, and hopefully a few pairs of jeans, a couple shirts, and boots that wouldn't scrape off the top two layers of skin on my feet.

Honestly, I didn't own a single article of clothing that would stand up to the work I'd be doing. They were all made for fashion, not function, and for the first time ever, I kind of hated all my clothes.

I soaked in the tub until my fingers turned pruney and had actually started to doze off in the warm water when the sound of knocking brought me back into full consciousness. I waited, wondering if I had dreamed the noise, but heard it again a few seconds later. It was a much lighter knock than the one from the grumpy cowboy earlier that morning, so it couldn't have been him.

"Just a second," I called out, then pushed myself to my feet with a pained groan. My arms trembled under the strain of lifting myself up, and I couldn't help but worry how I was going to get through the following day.

Another knock sounded as I rushed the towel over my skin to dry off. I threw on the silk robe I had hanging on the back of the bathroom door, my wet hair soaking the material at my shoulders, and hobbled into the living area. "Coming," I called just before reaching for the knob and giving it a twist. I pulled it open to reveal a woman who looked to be roughly my age with long, glossy black hair and deep forest-green eyes that sparkled, thanks to the beaming smile she had stretched across her face.

"Thank God you're here!" the stunning beauty exclaimed, pulling me into a startling hug that made my entire body protest in pain. "It's so good to meet you! I can't tell you how happy I am to have you here. Don't know if you've noticed yet, but this place is a real sausage fest. Sure, that might seem like fun, but trust me, it's not."

"Ouch," I hissed, followed by a low whimper I couldn't help but let out when she squeezed, activating all the pain receptors in my sunburn and aching back.

"Oh my God!" The woman quickly released me, taking a step back. She looked me up and down, noting all the injuries on my legs, my blistered feet, and the sunburn stretched across my nose and cheekbones with a sympathetic wince. "Looks like you had a rough first day. I'm really sorry."

I blinked, my confusion at who this person was palpable. "Um, thanks...?"

"Oh, crap. Sorry! I just unloaded all over you and you probably don't have any clue who I am. I'm Lennix."

"Oh. Rory's daughter," I said, once recognition of the name dawned.

"That's me," she beamed brightly. "I wanted to stop by and introduce myself yesterday, but I was stuck at the bar. Speaking of, I thought you might be in need of a little booze after your first day." She snatched up a bag that had been setting on the wooden Adirondack chair on the cabin's small porch and reached inside, producing a six pack of beer. I wasn't much of a beer drinker, honestly, but after the day I had, I was willing to try anything, even more of that rot-gut bourbon that tasted like pure gasoline.

"You're a lifesaver," I declared, immediately deciding this woman was my new best friend. She giggled happily and extended the pack to me. I happily took it, holding it to my chest like my most prized possession. "Would you like to come in and have one with me?" I offered, taking a step to the side to make room for her to enter. I didn't know this girl at all, but suddenly the idea of being alone didn't hold the slightest appeal. To tell the truth, I was lonely, and it wasn't just from being in a new place where I didn't know anyone. I'd been lonely for a while now. Even when I was surrounded by people. The longer I was away from my life in L.A., the more I realized how empty it had been. None of my supposed friends really knew me. Hell, I barely knew myself. That wasn't really a recipe for true and lasting friendships. Not that any of the people I surrounded myself with were looking for such things in the first place. We were all a bunch of coattail riding, opportunistic fakes.

She smiled at my invitation. "Sure, I'd like that," she said, taking a step across the threshold. "I've got some other stuff in here as well." She lifted the bag in indication. "Hal said you didn't make it to dinner, so I fixed you a plate in case you were hungry. I also have some clothes. I'd guess we're about the same size, so they should fit. I took a chance we were the same shoe size as well and brought you a pair of my old boots. They aren't fancy or anything, but they're comfortable."

"Oh, wow. That's—" I had to clear my throat against the lump of emotion that had formed there. "That's really nice of you."

She shrugged like it was no big deal. "The food was my idea, but my brother is the one who asked me to swing by with the clothes."

Her admission caught me by surprise. Fortunately, even my eyelids hurt too much to go wide with shock. "Your brother?"

"Yeah. Zach? I'm sure you met him today."

Oh, I had, that was for damn sure, but I couldn't believe the guy who'd ripped me a new one earlier that morning would be thoughtful or nice enough to ask his little sister to spare me some clothes and boots that wouldn't murder my feet. "Yeah, I met him. But I've been referring to him as Grumpy Cowboy."

Lennix dropped her head back on a laugh. "I'm sure he'd love to hear that."

A sudden wave of panic crashed into me. "Please don't tell him I said that," I pleaded, unable to mask my desperation. I didn't know this Zach guy well, but I couldn't afford to lose this job. If I got kicked off this ranch on day one, my parents would be so disappointed. I wouldn't be able to bear it.

Lennix's expression shifted, the humor falling into a frown of concern. "Hey, I was just teasing." She reached out and wrapped her fingers around my forearm, giving it a comforting squeeze. "I won't tell him, I promise. But I assure you, even if I did, he wouldn't care. He's actually really sweet when you get to know him. He's just a little weird when it comes to change."

The tension that had knotted up my shoulders let go, and I let out a sigh of relief, needing one of those beers even more than I had a second ago.

She moved toward the small kitchen table with the kind of ease that indicated she'd been in this cabin before and knew her way around. She placed the bag on top and fished around inside, unearthing a dish covered with tinfoil. "How about I heat this up for you while you get dressed, then we can have a couple beers and get to know each other while you eat. Sound good?"

It sounded great, actually. A hell of a lot better than the night I had planned, which basically consisted of curling up in bed and watching more mindless TV on my laptop until I eventually fell asleep. Hopefully that stupid bird wouldn't be a problem again .

I made quick work of whipping off my robe and throwing on a pair of sleep shorts and a matching camisole—I was sorely lacking in the casual clothing department. I ran a brush through my damp hair, working out all the tangles, and twisted it up into a bun at the top of my head before heading back into the living area just as the microwave above the stovetop started dinging.

Lennix popped it open and pulled out the plate, immediately filling the small space with the most delicious smells. My stomach immediately made its hunger known with a growl that sounded like it belonged to a wild, ferocious animal, but I was too hungry to be embarrassed. I hadn't realized I was supposed to bring my own lunch with me, so all I had to eat the entire day was half a baloney and mustard sandwich that Hal had offered me when he realized I was empty-handed. I'd never had baloney before, and I could now say with certainty that I was not a fan. But it had gotten me through the day, which I appreciated. I was set to make myself another peanut butter and jelly for dinner, and could have wept with gratitude when Lennix waved me over to one of the chairs at the kitchen table and plopped the plate down in front of me.

I barely bothered looking to see what I was eating before snatching up the fork and stuffing the first bite into my mouth. I let out a loud moan as the flavors burst on my tongue.

"Good, right?" She pulled up the chair across from me and sat down. "It was Nicky's night to cook. He's part of the grounds crew for the lodge, and he's damn good in the kitchen. He woke up early to prep the pot roast and get it going in the slow cooker."

I wanted to find this Nicky guy and give him the biggest hug. I wasn't sure if it was simply because I was starving, but this had to be one of the best meals I'd eaten in a really long time. I bit off a chunk of cornbread muffin, the texture moist and fluffy but pleasantly dense at the same time. "Does your family eat with the staff every night?" I asked mainly out of curiosity, but also because I wanted to know if I would be breaking bread with my new boss night after night.

Lennix shrugged as she uncapped two of the beer bottles, sliding one my way before taking a sip of her own. "Not always. They're all great people, and we're all close, but we understand that sometimes they need a break from the bosses for a bit."

"Well, I appreciate you bringing me this," I said with a wave at the plate that was somehow half-empty already. "I haven't had a chance to get to the store yet, so I was going to have a peanut butter sandwich. This is much better." I lifted the beer bottle to my lips and took a drink, schooling my features to keep from wincing at the bitterness, but it was unnecessary. There was no bitterness at all. In fact, it was surprisingly good. "Oh wow." I took another sip, the refreshing, icy brew going down smooth and quenching my thirst. "I really like this."

Lennix smiled like I just paid her the highest compliment. "I'm glad. I don't know if my mom told you much about our bar."

I shook my head, drinking more beer. "We only drove past it."

"Well, we're basically a brewhouse. We have every kind of beer you could imagine, plus our seasonal brews. I thought long and hard about what a girl from Los Angeles might like when I was deciding which one to bring you. Glad I picked right."

Her thoughtfulness really got to me, causing my sinuses to tingle. I couldn't remember the last time someone other than my parents had taken my likes or dislikes into consideration. I bit into the muffin again, chewing slowly to give myself time to fight back my emotions. "That was really nice of you," I said through a full mouth. "Thank you very much."

"No biggie," she said easily. "It might not seem like it right now, but we look out for each other here. You'll see that. And you'll get to know the real Zach soon enough. "

I kind of had the feeling that I already met the real him and that the problem was, the real Zach simply didn't like me. It sure as hell wouldn't be the first time someone had made a snap judgement of me, and I was doing my best not to let it bother me.

My attention caught on the bag once more, and I couldn't help but wonder about his motivation. Was Lennix right? Or was it that he didn't want his newest ranch hand out of commission before he got his money's worth.

I pushed those questions from my mind and turned back to the woman sitting in front of me, returning her smile. I really hoped she and I could be friends. "Thanks for the clothes and the boots too. I feel stupid saying this, but I was not prepared for what this was going to be like."

"It's nothing. I figured you wouldn't have the right wardrobe for this kind of work, and I'm happy to share." She waggled her eyebrows. "And I'll admit, I might have had ulterior motives."

I lifted my brows. "Oh?"

"Yeah. We might be a small town, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to do." She shrugged and took another drink. "Maybe you'll feel like returning the favor one night when we go out and let me wear something of yours. I'm thinking something small and sexy that'll turn a guy's head, if you know what I mean."

I loved the sound of all of that. Of sharing my clothes, of going out with her for a night on the town. I liked it so much I actually felt a niggling of excitement at the prospect. I smiled my first real, genuine smile for the first time in days. "That I can most definitely do."

She let out a little squeal and hopped in her seat. "Yes! I knew it was going to be great having you here."

Hearing that someone was actually happy—excited even—to have me around made me feel better than I had in a really long time. Even before the sound of police sirens led to my entire life being turned upside down. Maybe being here wouldn't be so bad after all.

Lennix hung around a little while longer, keeping me company until my yawns became more frequent and my eyes were growing visibly heavy. Having her here had been so nice I wanted to ask her to stay, but I wasn't sure we were at the sleepover level of friendship yet, and I didn't want to do anything to scare her off, so when she said it was time for her to go, I didn't argue. We said our goodbyes at the door, and I stood in the opened doorway as she climbed into an old-school truck that looked like it had been completely rebuilt. She gave me one last wave before climbing inside and starting it up. I returned the gesture and was about to head back inside, but as I turned, her headlights illuminated something resting on the arm of the Adirondack chair, catching my attention.

I reached out, picking up the small plastic baggy and holding it up to inspect what looked like a pair of foam earplugs inside. I grabbed up the folded piece of paper beneath them and opened it, reading the sharp, slanted handwriting scrawled across it.

In case the owl comes back , was all it said, and at the very bottom it was signed with a single letter: Z .

My head shot up and my eyes darted around. For the first time since I moved into this cabin, I noticed a small house not too far away, partially hidden by a grove of tall, thick trees it was tucked into. I couldn't make it out fully thanks to the trees and the fading light, but it almost looked like a bigger version of my cabin.

I only knew of one person on the ranch so far whose name started with a Z. Was that where he lived? And if he knew about the bird—apparently an owl—did that mean he'd seen the whole scene play out the night before? Including my breakdown?

Any other time, I would have been embarrassed at having someone witness me in such a weak, vulnerable moment, but instead, warmth bloomed in my chest, slowly branching outward and warding off the numbness that had filled the space for days now.

He wasn't making fun of me for my temporary loss of sanity the night before. He was helping .

I stepped back into the cabin and closed the door behind me on a single thought. Maybe Hal and Lennix were right. Maybe Zach wasn't so bad after all.

But I still wasn't ready to let my guard down completely.