CHAPTER TWELVE
Jake strolled into the barn where Kane worked with Peanut. This time, the horse had the blanket on its back but nothing else. He brushed the horse’s neck and withers, showering it with attention and praise for wearing the blanket and not jumping to knock it off.
“Hey, man, Peanut looks good. He seems pretty happy with the blanket. Can you give him an extra treat and come out so we can chat?”
Kane arched his brow. “Sure. Let me get the blanket put away.” He stowed it in the tack room and handed Peanut an apple. Turning, he searched for his boss.
Jake sat on a hay bale off to the side. Kane hopped up on the other bale. “You wanted to talk?”
Jake nodded. “How long have you been here?”
The young man looked up at the barn’s ceiling as he did the math. “About four weeks.”
“All the work you’ve done has been stellar. The troughs are clean; the barn stalls have been spotless and kept clean with fresh hay. The feedback I’ve gotten from Graham’s parents has been wonderful as well. And just look at Peanut. He’s flourishing.”
His face warmed. He was doing his job, nothing more. Anyone else would do the same. “Thanks. I appreciate you saying so, but I’m thinking this isn’t about me doing my job. Am I right?”
“This reporter came around today. He had a story to tell about you and your time playing football….”
“And?” Kyle’s voice held a hint of anger. “Didn’t I do all this good work? Why the issue with my past?”
Jake held up his hands, trying to defuse the situation. “I’m trying to get your side of the story.”
Kane stood, his body shaking, the need to come clean churning in his gut, but he’d promised the Feds to keep quiet until they’d arrested the coaches. “How is this my story? It’s my past. I can’t and won’t talk about it anymore…with you or with the press. I have been ignoring the media on purpose, and they continue to stalk me and target the people I hang out with. I left Ohio to escape their hounding.” He’d begun to pace as he spoke in a fierce tone.
“Fine, you can avoid the issue, but The Heartsong Ranch can’t. We are paid by people, families like Graham’s parents who want and deserve the best therapist to care for their child. They don’t enjoy hearing about a therapist who had been charged by the government over some lies and tampering. The parents worry about how well this type of employee might care for their own child.”
Kyle kicked the hay bale. His hands in fists, he longed to do more than kick. He wanted to fight with the media for bringing this whole event to his doorstep. “Look, you don’t know the details, and I can’t tell you more.” He’d already gone against the Feds’ warning, coming clean with Charley. He couldn’t risk telling anyone else. “You have to trust me”
“It’s why I’m trying to talk to you. I value your work…but I can’t let your reputation bring down the ranch.” He patted Kane on the shoulder. “Give me something, a reason, an excuse. I want to believe you. I want to help.”
Kane yanked his hat off his head and took a deep breath. “I can’t. I can’t tell you what you want to hear, and I can’t ruin the reputation of such a wonderful place. I’m giving my notice. I’ll be gone in the morning.” He held out his hand. “Thank you, Jake, for taking a chance on a no-good bum like me.”
Jake’s bigger hand dwarfed his smaller one, but Kane had noticed how similar they were. Both had calluses from hard work, sun-kissed skin from the many hours outside, and the short fingernails cut daily to keep from accidently hurting an animal.
“Thanks again, Jake.” Kane turned and proceeded to the bunkhouse to pack.
But, first, he had a date to keep.
***
Charley practically danced around the café for the rest of the afternoon. She couldn’t keep Kane off her mind or out of her heart. Unfortunately, everyone got to hear the song in the restaurant as well. After closing, she locked the front door, grabbed her purse, and headed out the back. After securing the cafe, she strolled down the street to her apartment above the flower shop. Charley wanted to look gorgeous tonight, or at least more like a girl, rather than the tomboy she was. Taking a little extra time, she curled her hair, letting the waves fall and frame her face. While she didn’t like or wear makeup as a general rule, she applied some mascara and plum-shaded lipstick before using pressed powder on her face. She plucked out a pink satin panty and bra set from her drawer and slipped them on.
Standing in front of the mirror, she examined herself. The young woman before her looked so different than the one she usually saw. The bra accentuated her breasts, pushing them up and in, creating cleavage. She turned and studied her backside. The panties were boyshorts with a swatch of lace along the waist, which dipped low on her hips and hugged her butt cheeks. Charley pulled on an A-line jean skirt with flounces ending just above her knees and her white Western-style shirt. Lastly, she slipped into her ankle boots with the two-inch heel.
She spun again, trying to catch a glimpse of the full effect of her outfit. Satisfied, she’d never looked prettier, at last, Charley grabbed her purse and keys, before leaving her apartment.
She slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine. Her heart pounded. Was she really planning to see Kane in the bunkhouse tonight? She’d never been with anyone before. Not having a normal upbringing stank at the strangest times. By her age, she’d have had boyfriends who might have pressured her into petting or oral sex. She’d have had girlfriends who giggled about the fumbling touches of the boys in class. She’d been curious yet relied on romance novels to explain about sex and passion. But being a twenty-one-year-old virgin with no girlfriends to talk to? Nothing could be worse. She couldn’t ask Angela about making out, the aching for someone else, let alone the mechanics of sex. Before meeting him tonight, she had googled information on blowjobs and how to satisfy a man. However, when, tonight, she would rely with her instincts like she’d been doing since she ran away from home. They hadn’t led her astray so far.
The drive to the ranch was peaceful. The sun had set, and the beautiful soft hues of dusk had given way to a light-purplish sky. The soft sounds of croaking frogs and the glow of the lightning bugs kept her company along the way. Lucky for her, the bunkhouse had a separate drive in the back for deliveries, so she could sneak in to see him without the whole ranch finding out.
She cut the engine and hopped out of the truck. She pulled a basket filled with grapes, cheeses, crackers, and salami from the backseat. Not a big wine fan, she’d thrown in some beers and sodas to wash it all down. She knocked on the door to his room. Standing there holding the basket, she couldn’t keep still. Her feet tapped the ground while she clutched the basket handles hard enough to leave a dent in her palms. Both excited and nervous, she couldn’t decide if she should break into song or start crying. These jumbled-up feelings had become her “new normal”—at least when it concerned Kane.
The door opened. Kane stood silhouetted in the light from inside the room. Worn jeans rode low on his hips, the hems brushing the tops of his bare feet. His Western shirt lay open, revealing tantalizing glimpses of his tight abs. “Hello Charley. Come in.” He stepped back.
She entered his room and closed the door behind her. “I brought some snacks. I wasn’t sure if you’d be hungry.” She placed the basket on the counter and removed the items, showing each to him. “Want one?” She held out a bottle of beer.
“Sure. Thanks.” He took the beer then wandered to the couch, sat down, and patted the seat next to him. “But we need to talk.”
She opened a beer for herself then dropped down next to him. “Those words are never good news. What do we need to talk about?” She took a swallow of beer.
“No. I can tell you are already mad.” He grabbed the bottle from her hands and set it on the table. He pulled her into his lap. She leaned on his chest and laid her head on his shoulder. “This is better.”
“Spill the beans. I know it’s bad news. Let’s talk is always bad news.”
He brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “Fine. But you have to promise to hear me out.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip then nodded.
“I have to leave.”
She stiffened in surprise. She’d expected him to say, we can’t do this, not I’m leaving.
“You said you’d listen. I don’t want the ranch to get bad publicity because of my scandal. They do such amazing things for children and, since the paparazzi have found me, they are going to swarm all over town and this ranch, making accusations about me and ruining the ranch’s chances of ever being recognized for the good they do.”
She blew a lock of hair off her face. “Then tell them the truth.”
“I can’t, yet. Once the Feds have the proof and the coaches are in custody, then I can share my side. Until then, I have to play along, acting like I rigged the game and bet against my teammates and friends.”
Tears fell down her cheeks as she sat silent and still.
“Come on, baby. You are the only person I’ve told the truth to. You can’t let anyone know what I’m doing, or all the hard work will be gone… Poof.” Kane leaned in and kissed the trails of wetness on her cheeks. “I’ll be back. I won’t be gone forever.”