Page 47 of Rusty

With that, they moved on to the next horse, Janice’s mind buzzing with new knowledge.

When evening fell, Janice reluctantly retreated to her new permanent home: a small, bare cabin at the edge of the ranch. Closing the door behind her, she sighed, looking around at the sparse furnishings.

She ran her fingers across Little Miss Giggles and Little Miss Hug, the soft fabric of her stuffies offering meager comfort in the face of her loneliness. As the shadows lengthened outside her window, she whispered to herself, "I can do this. I'm not worthless."

Despite her words, doubt gnawed at her confidence, threatening to consume her in the darkness. She wrapped a thick woolen shawl around her shoulders, feeling its warmth against her skin but unable to shake the chill that seemed to emanate from deep within her bones.

"Maybe I should call Dad," she murmured to herself, seeking comfort in the thought of hearing a familiar voice.

Since arriving at the ranch, Janice hadn’t gotten in touch with her father at all. For all he knew, she was dead. Even though she hated him, she knew that sooner or later she'd have to at least tell him not to worry about her. No matter how badly he'd treated her, he deserved that at least.

Maybe he had missed her.

Maybe he would apologize.

Janice snorted a wry laugh. "No chance of an apology," she voiced, quietly.

Still, maybe, at least, he would be glad that she was alive.

Picking up her cell phone, she hesitated for a moment before finally switching it on and pressing the call button.

“Here goes nothing,” she muttered, after a deep sigh.

“Janice, where the hell are you?” her father boomed down the phone.

“I'm alive, just thought you should know. I'm safe,” Janice spoke softly, the timidness in her voice a stark contrast to her father’s booming tone. "So, now you know, I'll be g—"

“I know what you've been up to. Rusty called me,” her dad butted in, his voice clipped,and cold. “Twice this week.”

“Rusty called you?” she asked, confused. “Twice?”

“Is it true what he says? Are you out there causing trouble? Doing all that disgusting Little stuff that will bring shame on our family name?”

“Rusty told you I was causing trouble?”

“He didn’t need to,” said Angus. “I can read between the lines. He says you and he were thinking of getting back together. I know what that entails. He’s a dominant daddy, which means you must be. . . . Anyway, he called me again and told me you’renotengaging in a relationship, after all. Practically begged me not to punish you. Told me about a million times there was nothing going on between the two of you.”

Janice’s mind spun. Rusty had called begging her father not to harm her? That was rather chivalrous, wasn’t it? Obviously, Rusty shouldn’t have contacted her father without asking, but the fact that he’d done it for such noble reasons was kind of sweet. Stupid, yes, but sweet.

Even if he had broken up with her, at least it showed how much he still cared.

“Well, there isn’t anything going on between me and Rusty,” said Janice.

“Good. I hope that’s the end of it,” replied Angus. “I hope you’ll see sense and return to me soon. Pick up where we left off. Move to Scotland. Where are you, by the way? I’ve had a lot of men out looking for you. It’s cost me a lot of money, you know.”

Janice felt a surge of anger rise within her, pushing back against the years of submission and self-blame. “No, Dad. I’m not coming home. I’m happy where I am.”

“I hope you’re far away from that idiot Maguire now. He keeps trying to ruin your life, Janice.”

Janice shook he head. “Rusty isn’t trying to ruin anything. He’s just been trying to clean up the mess that you made. I can’t believe you told him to break up with me ten years ago. You do know you ruined my life, Dad?”

Her father scoffed. “Clean up my mess? By dragging you into some ridiculous lifestyle that will only bring shame and disgrace upon us? You know what I think of that Little nonsense, Janice. And it's not just me. The whole damn world feels that way. It’s time to grow up and stop playing childish games.”

Tears welled up in Janice’s eyes, but she refused to let them fall as she steadied her voice to reply. "I'm not playing games. This is who I am, and I won't apologize for it anymore. I refuse. I don't want to be a Laird, and I don't want your Scottish estate." She took a deep breath. “I just want to be me. Because I’m worth something on my own terms. And I don't need you, or anyone else to confirm that for me.”

There was a tense silence on the line, the crackling static filling the void between their words. Janice took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest with newfound determination. “And you know what? You can tell the world what you think of me, but I won't hide anymore. I'm tired of pretending to be someone I'm not just to fit your expectations," Janice declared, the weightof years of emotional manipulation lifting off her shoulders with each word.

Angus Jameson's voice turned icy cold. "You will regret this, Janice. Mark my words. I’ll strip you of your money, your honor, your title. You are throwing away everything for a foolish fantasy."

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