Page 100 of Stables

“Um, five months now. But they were only lumped in as part of the farm.” I should have known better. If I had detailed them all out, none of this would have happened.

Shit. If I never hooked up with Matt, things really might be drastically different.

Dixon’s large hand flattens on my thigh and he gives me a gentle squeeze.

Blue tilts his hat back and crosses his arms over his arms over his lean chest. “Sounds like they belong to you, then.” His eyes are the color of the sky and it feels like he’s looking straight through me.

Shifting my feet, I prop them on the bottom rung of Dixon’s chair so I can find comfort in my knees pressing against his leg.

It helps to keep them from shaking so badly.

“Then we can get him for horse theft, breaking and entering, trespassing, assault…” Dixon focuses on Wade and gestures at him to start writing.

“I, um, all that is going to make him mad.” I try to clench my jaw to keep my chin from quivering. There’s a heavy weight in my stomach making me feel nauseous.

I just know Matt is going to do something. It’s not an “if”, it’s a “when”.

Wade chuckles. “Well, I don’t know too many criminals that went to jail that didn’t get angry.” He jots down a few lines then stops. “So, are you ready to press charges?” His dark brown eyes peer at me through a tousled lock of copper colored hair.

I think I’m going to be sick.

How can I do this, knowing that at any moment, Matt could show up?

Next time, I might not just be me that gets injured.

He could hurt Paisley.

Bile rises in my throat.

“Excuse me.” Rushing from the room, I narrowly make it to the bathroom in time to lose my breakfast into the toilet.

Guilt floods me when I flush the wasted food.

Damn it. I’m so lost.

I can’t let Matt keep dictating my choices.

But trying to fight back means that he will keep doing everything he can to make my life miserable.

“Here.” Dixon’s soothing deep voice cuts through the turmoil as he hands me a cool damp washcloth.

Paisley is perched on his arm, her sapphire eyes wide watching me.

The brisk touch of the rag doesn’t calm the fear racing through my body.

“Give me your hand.” He holds out his palm.

He’s rock solid when he pulls me to my feet, guiding me towards the bed. Sitting on the edge, he tugs me between his legs, cradling Paisley between us.

“Char, you need to tell me what’s holding you back. I can’t solve a problem I don’t know about.”

My mouth feels gross when I run my tongue over my teeth. “It’s just, well, I’m scared.” I know it’s the truth, but it doesn’t fully encompass the cavernous void that my mind is plunged into, bombarded by every worst possible outcome if I try to stand up to Matt.

Paisley wiggles from his arm and sprawls herself across the comforter.

Dixon takes the opportunity to pull me closer. “I know you are. It’s okay to be. But I know you’ve stood up to him before.”

Tears threaten to well in my eyes.

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