Page 24 of Possessive Trucker

“That’s what I want to hear,” I growl into her ear.

“You’re mine Sophie, and I won’t let you go no matter what.”

Chapter Nineteen

Sophie

In a way I’m relieved. I know that at least somehow, dad knows. He knows I’m safe. At least, I hope that’s the impression he has so far.

He’ll also know I meant it when I said I wasn’t going back to the farm. It’ll be hard for him to accept but I have to live my own life at some point.

It’s so like him to play detective, tracking me down somehow. I can just imagine him tossing everything aside and probably driving his pick up all night to come find out what happened to me.

It’s because he loves me, I know that much. He lost mom and he doesn’t want to lose me as well.

If I could just make him see he won’t be losing me. Letting me live my own life means I’ll be happy and want to see him more often.

I do worry about who’ll help dad on the farm though, but I can’t be the same thing for everyone forever.

Except Thorn, with Thorn I know where I stand and I want to be by his side now, no matter what.

“Apparently he went out to the mill this morning, mad as hell, wanting to know where you were, none too happy you’d taken off with some trucker,” Thorn says, almost sounding pleased with himself.

“You’re not just some trucker,” I remind him and he smiles wide.

“How far’s the mill?” I ask him, cocking my ear.

“About a half hour…” Thorn starts to say but we both hear it coming up his gravel drive, even over the sound of the rain and the odd peal of thunder from outside.

“Now Thorn,” I say, trying to sound calm as I rush out of bed to get my clothes back on. But Thorn doesn’t look bothered, much.

He watches me dress, making a longing face and biting his lip a couple of times before I’m finally ready.

Ready for what?

He puffs some air out of his cheeks, and sliding out of bed he draws on his jeans, boots and picks a fresh shirt from his closet as we both become aware of the pounding on the front door.

I want to go down, to open the door but I figure it’s Thorn’s house. He has a say in what really happens next.

“Just… Just don’t hurt him,” I say, wincing, not really knowing what’s going to happen and only made more fearful by the sudden flashes of lightning and huge bangs of thunder right over the house.

“Sophie,” Thorn says, looking offended I’d even say that. “Just tell me you really will stay? I’ll let you have all the time you need to talk to your dad about stuff, but I need to know your place is here with me now.”

I rush to be in his arms. “Of course! I said I’m yours Thorn and I mean it… dad’s just upset is all, worried about me… who’ll help him on the farm.”

“Hmm. Needs a farmhand, eh?” Thorn muses, moving ahead of me in long strides as he makes his way to the front door, which he slowly unlocks and draws back, looking down at my dad who looks up, gulping.

My dad’s not a big guy. Sweet and loyal, hardworking and very protective of his daughter, but he’s no Thorn.

Nobody is, I’m fast beginning to realize.

He really is one exceptionally made man.

But my dad’s not a coward either, and seeing Thorn’s size, and me behind him, his face softens before he sets his eyes on Thorn’s again.

“Now. I don’t want any trouble, just my daughter,” he says in a low, cool voice, rolling his sleeves up though and steadying himself on his feet.

I’ve seen dad bring down a six hundred pound steer on his own, and I can tell Thorn sees he knows how to handle himself too, despite his size.

But Thorn isn’t interested in fighting him.

“I’m Thorn,” he says, thrusting his hand out, and I can almost see his winning smile reflecting off dad’s face. “C’mon in out of the weather.”

Dad’s face falls, and he cranes his neck to see me behind Thorn again, his eyes filled with a thousand questions.

Thorn steps to one side, and I open my arms to hug my dad, who rushes to grab a hold of me.

“I was so worried, Sophie. After I couldn’t call you, then the bus depot called about your bag you’d left on it… just vanished, I’d thought… I thought I’d… lost you…”

He catches himself before he gets too emotional, and Thorn’s huge arm is stretched out, ushering us all into the living room.

Thorn leaves us alone just long enough for me to smooth things over with my dad a little, assuring him no great harm has come to me and I really do have a job with Thorn’s mill.

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