I got back to the barn and grabbed Jameson. “We’re going for a little ride, buddy.”
Bradley was already waiting for me near his house. It was late, nearing dinner time, but I had something I wanted to do before I turned in for the night. I was exhausted and dirty. Sweat clung to my clothes and body like a second skin, but I couldn’t go to sleep without taking care of talking to Franklin.
I wasn’t stupid, though. I didn’t want to be bashed in the head again. While Bradley didn’t think it was Franklin, I knew he’d support me anyway. We were always like that. Two stooges, rushing into shit together, no matter how stupid one of us might think it was. And he really thought what I was doing was stupid.
I pulled Jameson up beside him and nodded. “Thanks for coming with me.”
He shook his head at me and then grinned. “I can’t wait to rub it in Jagger’s face that you invited me and not him on this little excursion. Why did you invite me instead of him, by the way? Not that I mind. As dumb as I think it is, I hate Franklin, too. I’m excited to see whatever you’ve got planned.”
I rode towards the clubhouse and frowned. “Jagger’s leaving. Family business.”
Bradley’s sigh could be heard over the sound of the horses and the wind rushing past us. “Shit. I’m sorry, Lace.”
I shook my head. “Nothing to be sorry for.”
We rode the rest of the way in silence, thankfully. When we got closer to the clubhouse, Bradley hung back slightly. He was going to let me do my thing and just act as reinforcement, in case anyone tried to smack me again.
I didn’t bother climbing down from Jameson. I just shouted at the front of the clubhouse. “Franklin! Get out here!”
Barely half a minute passed before he opened the front door and came out, a smug smile on his face. “Well, look what the cat dragged up.”
“Just wanted to let you know that I’m breaking your lease, Franklin. Holt Ranch won’t be doing business with you anymore.”
His face turned red and he stepped off the porch and towards me. “That’s not what your daddy says, little Lacey. And we both know what Daddy says goes.”
“For now. Dad’s so stressed with everything that’s happening, though. He’s going to get out of town. I’m taking over. You can pack your bags.”
His face turned cruel. “I heard someone stripped you naked and left you on the front porch like some sorority slut after a fun frat party.”
I nodded. “They did. It’s a shame they have to knock a girl out to see one naked. I wonder what kind of pathetic, low down, no good, piece of shit would do something like that. Do you know anyone like that, Franklin?”
He bared his teeth at me and came closer. “Did you feel whoever it was touching you when you were out? When they undressed you and touched your body, did you know it? Were you crying in your mind, praying that it would stop?”
I bared my teeth back at him, fury urging me on. “I’m sure you’ve heard this line a time or two before, but I felt nothing.”
“You shouldn’t be playing with dangerous men like the ones messing with your ranch. You could really get hurt.”
I smiled at him, sweetly, regaining my control. “Well, don’t you worry your little head, Frank. You won’t be around to see it. Pack it up. You have tomorrow to clear out and then I’ll be back with the sheriff. We’ve already got a new tenant looking at the place.”
I turned and rode back towards Bradley, my heart pounding. He fell into a trot beside me and looked over at me with a bewildered expression. “I couldn’t hear anything, but I could see his facial expressions, Lacey. I believe you. That man has some serious issues.”
I nodded. “Did you get Dad’s phone?”
He slipped it from his pocket and handed it to me. “Here it is. I did the other thing, too. Felt like a real asshole.”
“I’m sorry, Bradley. Thank you for doing it. I’ll owe you one.”
“You’ll owe me more than that. I fucking drugged your father. Now I have to have a conversation with Anna about why she has those kinds of drugs.”
“They’re just sleeping pills, Bradley.”
He shook his head. “Bullshit. Barely halfway through eating and your dad was drooling from one side of his mouth. I had to carry him to bed and convince your mom that he’d just had a long day. Thank God Jagger wasn’t there.”
I wanted to ask about him, but I didn’t. “It’ll be worth it. If I can just keep Dad out of the way tonight and tomorrow, I can maybe get rid of Franklin. Then, maybe all of this will be over.”
“It’s not a great plan. And Dan is going to be spitting mad at you when he wakes up.”
“Yep. Hopefully, by then, it’ll be too late.”
“I hope you’re right. I’m heading home. You okay getting back?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Oh, hey. I saw some four-wheeler tracks around the south side of the ranch today. Do you know if Kenneth or Jamie have been over there?”
Bradley shook his head and then shrugged. “I guess it could’ve been them, or Dan. Can’t ask him, though, can you?”
“You’re especially sassy tonight.”
He grinned. “The things I do for you.”
“I appreciate them all. Tell Anna I said thanks. I owe her one, too.”
He rolled his eyes at me and then rode away.
Being alone in the dusk suddenly felt oppressing. I looked around and rubbed my arms as a chill worked its way down my back. It pissed me off that I couldn’t be alone on the ranch without worrying. I wanted whatever games Franklin was playing to be over. I was ready to have my ranch back. Obviously, at whatever cost.
I rode home and put Jameson away before quietly entering the house and locking the door behind me. I tried to turn the alarm on and it started blaring at me. I looked up in the direction of where Dad would’ve been sleeping and winced. If he woke up and somehow got in touch with Franklin, my simple plan would fall apart.
I punched at it again and then a big hand appeared beside my face. I yelped and jumped back, running into a strong wall of chest.
“It’s me. I changed the code, hoping that would help some. My guy came by today and looked at the system. It’s perfect and running just the way it should be. Someone would have to know the code and a good chunk of the system to be able to do what they’ve been doing. So, for tonight, only I know the code.”
I nodded and scooted away from him. I opened the fridge and found a leftover sandwich resting on a plate. I grabbed it and a bottle of water before going to the pantry for some chips. My appetite was back. Telling Franklin to get the hell out of the clubhouse wasn’t even dampened by him trying to freak me out.
“My brain is so tired right now. I can’t think straight, let alone about the codes and who could’ve gotten them. I have to run upstairs really quick.”
Jagger looked at my food and then back to my face. “You coming back down?”
I backed away. “Probably. Maybe. See you later.”
I hurried up the stairs and pushed my door shut behind me. I locked it and then moved to the wall farthest away from the door, just in case he started knocking later. I didn’t want to deal with him. I slipped my phone from my pocket and then plugged in a set of headphones from my side table. Turning some music on and up loud, I sat on the floor and started in on my sandwich. Things were going to be okay. I would take care of the Franklin problem and then I would deal with the Jagger problem. For the moment, though, I was going to hide from it.
I inhaled my food and then stripped the bedding from my bed. Part of hiding from my Jagger problem was not breathing in his scent all night. I took a shower and then brushed my teeth before crawling into bed with a throw blanket pulled over me. I curled my elbow under my head to act as a pillow and then let the exhaustion take me.
I woke up once a little later to a knock on the door, but I ignored it and it didn’t come again.
By the time morning came, I was in so much denial about Jagger that I was nearly chipper at the idea of solving the Franklin problem. I’d gotten plenty of sleep and I felt better than I had in days. I felt like a new woman as I made my way downstairs.
Mom was sitting at the kitchen table, her head in her hands.
“What’s wrong, Mom?”
She looked up at me and smiled. “Nothing much, honey. Your dad is sleeping in this morning. He was supposed to take me to a meeting at the church.”
Like a sign, Bradley walked in. I grabbed him and steered him in Mom’s direction. “Mom was just saying that she needs a ride to the church for her meeting. Could you take her, Bradley?”
He gave me a look and then smiled at Mom. “Of course. Are you ready to go now?”
She nodded. “I made breakfast burritos earlier. You can grab one and eat it on the way. I also have those little bottles of juice you like.”
Satisfied, Bradley grabbed one of each and headed out with my mom. I waved to them and then grabbed food for myself. I had a morning of chores before I walked the fence on the south end again. I hadn’t made it all the way to the barn and I wanted to check and see if there were more tracks that far out.
With Jagger nowhere in sight but obviously up with the deactivated alarm system, I headed out to get to work. I wanted to use my good mood and headache-free morning while I could. I knew eventually the denial would fade and I’d have to deal with being sad over Jagger. I wouldn’t rush towards that, though.
The morning passed quickly and before I knew it, lunch was there. I went in and checked on Dad before grabbing another sandwich and then heading back out to finish up a few things with Bradley before going out.
Bradley was even in a good mood as we worked. “I think Anna’s the one.”
I gasped and then threw my arms around him for a hug. “I’m so happy for you!”
He rolled his eyes. “I don’t know if she’ll think the same about me, but I love her. Things have been kind of serious. She’s practically living with me.”
A twinge of pain hit me but I ignored it. I reminded myself that I wasn’t dealing with the Jagger stuff yet. “Of course she’ll feel the same. You’re great. And paired with someone who isn’t me, you’re even better.”
He laughed and nodded his head behind me. “Your lover boy seems just as down as you were last night. He’s been a cranky asshole every time I’ve seen him this morning.”
I put down the shovel I’d been using and popped my neck. “I’m actually not dealing with that yet. I’m going to go on out to the fence line. I’ve got my gun on me. I’ll call if I need anything.”
He tucked his hands under his armpits and wagged them up and down while squawking at me like a chicken. “Someone’s scared to deal with their shit.”
I flipped him off and then climbed on Jameson to head out.