Page 27 of Long Hard Ride
“Steve paid a visit.” Shane’s eyes flash with concern. There’s a seriousness about him that tells me whatever happened isn’t a joke. My stomach feels queasy. “Look, I don’t want you to worry.” Shane’s deep, consoling voice works like a salve. “I promise I’ll explain everything when you feel better.”
“Steve?” I think back to last night, vaguely recalling seeing him pull up the driveway, but that’s all I can remember.
“Yeah. He was here.”
“And I took drugs with him?”
“He gave you something, darlin’. Probably lied to you—is my guess, anyway.”
My heart pounds with fear. “I don’t—”
“Sweetheart, please don’t think about anything other than resting. You’re safe now. I promise.”
I see the worry in his gentle blue eyes, and I’m having a hard time thinking of anything other than the pain bashing my head. There is one thing I am sure of. As long as Shane is by my side, I’m safe.
***
IT TAKES A FULL DAYto get over the effects of the Rohypnol Steve gave me. And I know for a fact he did, because he just called me from jail and asked me to bail him out.
After I prodded and begged for the truth, he finally admitted to mixing it into my whiskey. The drug is still in my system, but at least I can think straight now. I’m so disappointed in myself.
I slowly climb out of bed and drag myself to the bathroom. I brush my teeth for the first time in two days. My heart feels as abused as my body. It’s hard for me to wrap my head around what happened. Everyone, including Gramps, told me Steve was bad news, but I didn’t believe it.
Maybe I was foolish, but I honestly never thought he would do anything to hurt me. I splash water on my face, holding back the tears.
How could I have been so wrong about him?
I know now I was just seeing what I wanted to see. I made Steve out to be so much more than he really was, and I hung on to the fantasy that he was misunderstood by everyone but me. How could I have been so naïve?
Chapter Eleven
It’s eight, which makesme four hours late for work. I have another full day of checking fences, and two of my heifers are about to give birth any minute. But for the first time in a long time, I have someone I can depend on for help.
You’d think a man who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth wouldn’t care much for mucking around in cow dung, but Blade Parker’s a godsend, one who knows his stuff.
I refill my coffee and head back to the living room. I’ve been working on my laptop for the last two hours, revising my business plan.
