Page 99 of Redemption

I was inspecting her work when Tate came in.

“Morning Katarina,” he said, his deep voice echoing around the stables. Gertie stiffened and a small smile split her face before she slowly turned to face him.

He did a double take, his forehead puckering. “Gertrude.”

“Hey Tatey,” she waved at him.

I watched as his eyes roved her face, taking in her injuries and his mouth pulled into a tight line. He stomped over to her and gripped her chin, raising her face to the light and inspecting her wounds, a low growl emanating from him.

My eyes widened in shock at Tate’s movements. His face twisted into a mask of anger, unlike anythingI’d seen from him before.

“Was it him?” he uttered, his voice dangerously low. Gertie gave the slightest shake of her head.

“Then who did this?” he demanded. I was ready to step in and save her from being abused by yet another man, when a small smile unfurled from her lips as she stared at him.

“No one, sugar,” Gertie replied.

He stroked his thumb over her chin before releasing her, his hand fisting and knuckles blanching. “Are you…well?” His voice was strained and harsh, but his face had slipped back to its usual calm, blank expression.

Gertie dipped her head. “I am, are you?”

Like whatever spell he was under was broken, he glanced around, seeing me standing there, gazing at him in shock. “Excuse me,” he said in lieu of answering her and stalked from the stables.

“What the hell was that?” I said, looking at Gertie who was staring after him. “He’s never acted like that before!”

“He always was a little strange. He was just concerned, Kitty Kat. Is he still living in the same house?”

I nodded. “Yep, he’s still there. So if you had moved back into your mom’s place, you’d have been neighbors again.”

Gertie sighed. “Great.”

Tate never reappeared but it wasn’t an issue, he was only checking up on one of the horses. If I saw the medication wasn’t working, I could call him.

Other than briefly introducing himself to Gertie, I didn’t see Jack for the rest of the day and I was like a junkie needing a fix. I was twitchy and nervous just wanting to be around him.

I sulked through the afternoon and when it was dinnertime, Gertie insisted on helping me cook butquickly got frustrated.

“Kitty Kat, you are no use to me if you’re pining like that.”

“Hmm?” I lifted my head from where I was peeling potatoes but all I’d done was peel so much it was just all potato shavings and no potato.

Gertie nudged me with her rounded hip and flicked a dish towel at me. “Go and talk to him.”

I shook my head. “I can’t.”

“No, youwon’t. There’s a difference.”

I met her disapproving stare, my stomach twisting when I locked onto the bruising again, horrified at what Shithead Gary had done to my best friend.

“You know, I don’t remember you being this much of a chicken,” Gertie goaded.

I gave her a withering stare. “I’m not fifteen anymore, that won’t work on me.”

She smirked. “Sorry, all I heard wasbawk bawk bawk…”

I chucked a handful of potato peelings at her. “You’re unbearable.”

She ducked and laughed. “That’s why you love me. Nowgo.” She chased me out of the kitchen and then the next thing I knew, I was on the small porch of the cabin, smoothing my hands over my jeans and fluffing my hair.

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