Page 92 of On His Ranch

The thought made his body stiffen and his jaw tighten. He’d been wrong about her. Despite his doubts, he’d thrown caution to the wind, and she’d betrayed his trust. His heart hardened with anger and the adrenaline surging in him made his blood boil.

Still, he kept his voice cool and even as he relayed the incident to the officer.

“You think this was an accident?” the officer echoed, skepticism clear in his voice.

“Yes, sir.”

“And you don’t know what it was?”

“Well now, I didn’t exactly go investigatin’. I was worried about my grandfather. Still am, matter o’ fact.”

“Would you mind if I go have a look?”

A muscle in his jaw tightened. “No, sir. Sure don’t.”

“Think you could show me the way?”

“‘Course. Follow me.” But they hadn’t even taken two steps when there was a wail of a different sort. As he looked, an EMT vehicle pulled up and stopped beside the police car.

They did not wait in their vehicle for a spell as the officer had. Instead, both doors flew open and two EMTs hopped out, rushing toward them.

“He’s just inside.” Chase pointed to the door. “Alright, if you’ll follow me, sir, we’ll get this over with so you can be on about your day.”

* * *

The withering look Chase had given her when he’d heard the police car pulling up still had her shaken.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized miserably to Patti.

The older woman had given her a sad smile. “You just did what you thought was right. That’s nothin’ to apologize for.”

“I don’t think Chase will see it that way,” she muttered, and Patti didn’t bother to disagree with her.

Then the EMT vehicle was pulling up and though Piper apologized again, Patti was opening the door and welcoming them in so she didn’t respond. She decided to make herself scarce so they would have more room to work. But as soon as she was back in the guest room she’d been using, she knew with a final, leaden feeling in her chest that it was time to leave.

He’s never looked at me that way—not when he found me in the barn that first time, not in any of the times he’s punished me. It was different.

Things were broken between them. What they’d had was a beautiful, crystalline thing that had shattered. And it was time to go.

There was a part of her that wanted nothing more than to throw herself on the bed and have a good cry. Another part wanted to go to Chase even now, find him wherever he was, whoever he was with, and beg his forgiveness.

She pushed both of these desires away and grabbed her backpack off the floor. She moved to the closet, surveying her new clothes and began to stuff them inside. She’d be leaving with more than she came with, so she had a hard time getting the zipper to close. At the same time, she realized that the nightshirt Chase had bought her was inside his room, so she’d have to go in and get it or leave it—and the only tangible thing she had to remember him by—behind.

I’ve taken too long already. He’ll be back any minute, and I need to be gone when he is.

Piper took a deep breath and a last long look around the room. She knew she hadn’t been there a long time, but it had felt more like home than the apartment she’d rented for the last three years.

Cute knick-knacks and pretty curtains don’t make a home, she realized with a pang.Family does. And I’m not welcome here anymore.

Piper blinked back the tears that threatened—that would have to wait. With one last deep breath to steady her nerves, she opened the door. Chase was standing on the other side. He didn’t look surprised to see her. His handsome face was a stony mask, and she now for the first time understood the phraseif looks could kill.

He took everything in with one sharp, all-seeing glance. “Goin’ somewhere?” he sneered. “Without even sayin’ goodbye? What would Ma think?”

His harsh voice made her wince, but Piper held her ground. “I think it’s time I get to my aunt’s.”

“Oh, no. No, Piper. Not while we still got plenty left to settle between us.” He was smiling now, but it was not what she would call a nice smile.

She couldn’t help but tremble at the sight of it. “I d-don’t think that’s n-necessary,” she stammered. “I—” She tried to move past him, but he blocked her way.

---