Page 19 of Montana Freedom

He laughed softly and glanced at the fluids and medication still connected to my arm. “That sounds about right. Would you like to see more of the ranch?”

When Dr. Gold had been here, she’d put in a little port in my arm, so it was easier for the people here to refresh the bags that hung beside my bed. So I could go outside, if they let me. “Really?”

Concern passed over Daniel’s face. “Of course. You’re not a prisoner here. I hope you know that.”

“Yeah.” I did know it, but after having been a prisoner, and given their level of protectiveness, it was sometimes hard to remember. “Of course.”

Kate had brought me some clothes that didn’t belong to some anonymous member of Simon’s organization and fit me a hell of a lot better. Which was good. If I was still wearing my original clothes, I’d probably smell awful by now. “And yes, I’d like that.”

He smiled again. “All right, I’ll meet you on the porch.”

He had no need to provide me privacy—I was only putting on my shoes—but I still appreciated it. If he thought I felt like a prisoner, then he was attempting to give me space, and it was sweet.

The wilder part of my mind wished he weren’t giving me space in the distinctively sexy way, but I pushed the thought aside. At the moment, it didn’t seem like he was even aware I was a woman. He was kind and attentive and everything I’d imagined, but I was a rescue case. Someone he’d saved and was looking after—like an injured puppy.

Daniel was older than I was. I didn’t care about that, but I wondered if he’d see me as someone he could like that way, and I played out those situations in my dreams.

I gently disconnected the lines from my arm and met him on the porch. The tank top I wore was thin, which was good because it was hot, even in the early afternoon.

“I’ve seen this bit.” I gestured to the area in front of the cabin. “I mean, I was delirious when I saw it, but I remember enough.”

A car sat next to the cabin, and I startled. It wasmycar. The one I’d stolen from Simon. I hadn’t realized they’d brought it back, but I didn’t have a reason to know since I hadn’t been outside since I’d run the first time.

“We’ll go the other way, then,” Daniel said, leading me around the car and away from the gates. I saw some buildings in the near distance, but honestly, the openness of this place was refreshing. Even with the high walls around the perimeter, I didn’t feel at all like I was being hemmed in or trapped.

“We have horses, dogs, alpacas, and Noah and Kate have a pair of adorable kittens who are both growing way too fast. I expect them to start terrorizing the horses soon.”

“That’s an interesting combination of animals.”

“It is,” he acknowledged. “But there’s a good reason. Resting Warrior is a therapeutic ranch. People who suffer from trauma and PTSD come here to recover and heal. We work with a therapist who can help with the psychological aspect, and we have animals well known to help with empathy and healing.”

I stopped in my tracks. That’s what this place was? No wonder everyone was so kind and worried about me. I wasn’t merely a charity case or a stray. This was what they did. Helping me….

A wave of relief crashed over my head. I hadn’t realized until that second how much I’d been walking on eggshells, wondering why they were helping me and if there was some extra motive to their efforts. Guilt, too, had been part of it. But if that was what they did…why had they shown up at the house where Simon was headquartered? It didn’t seem like the thing for a bunch of ranchers to do. Especially ones who did trauma therapy work for a living.

“Are you all right?”

Daniel turned, observing how I’d stopped completely. With the way he looked at me, all concern but no pity, I realized I couldn’t keep up the ruse. Every thought I had was screaming at me to trust this man, and if I didn’t, I would never have any chance at getting closer to him. It already might be impossible, but I still wanted to try.

“I’m good,” I said. “Just not what I expected.”

We kept walking, reaching a large, barn-like structure, pale walls and a dark roof with wide doors that opened into a shaded interior. Before we even entered, I heard the soft movement of animals and the whickering of horses.

I found something comforting about the semi-darkness. Not nearly as bright as the midday sun, and less exposed.

“This is Cinnamon,” he said, leading me to one of the stalls. “One of our therapy horses.”

The animal hung its head over the stall, and Daniel stroked down its nose. I did the same, not realizing until our hands were so close, fingers brushing together. I glanced at him, and Daniel was already looking at me.

I needed to tell him, and I needed to do it now. “I have to tell you something.”

His eyebrows rose in surprise and curiosity, but he didn’t speak, waiting for me to continue.

Swallowing, I forced myself to continue, ignoring the risk still screaming in my mind. “I lied. I know who you are, and I do remember you from that night.”

I saw the shock roll through his body, hand freezing where it was still petting Cinnamon’s nose.

“I’ve wanted to know who you were for months. And…” I hesitated, not sure if this was too much, but I was already taking the risk. Might as well go all the way. “I’ve been dreaming about you. That night and…other things. When I woke up and saw you by the bed, I thought I was hallucinating. I had the same thought when you caught me.”

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