Chapter 4

The next morning Shay stepped onto the porch holding a cup of hot coffee in her hands. She wore a pair of running shorts with a t-shirt and had her long dark hair pulled off her face into a ponytail. She closed her eyes and listened to the birds chirping and took in the earthy smells. It was only 9am, and the sun was already out in full force. She made a mental note, to start her runs a bit early to stave off the coming summer heat. She could feel the heat instantly on her skin.

Since she had gotten a jump start on the cleaning last night and with most of the unpacking done, she had decided to sleep in a bit and then have a morning run to shake off the stiffness from the long drive. She decided to take her morning jog down by the river and then later in the afternoon after she had cleaned up, she would head into town and grab some supplies.

Aside from the little bit of cleaning and unpacking left, she planned on spending most of her time relaxing. Relaxing and exploring the surrounding trails. She didn’t really have much else to do for the entire summer until she started her part-time job at the hospital. She didn’t really even need the job, but she took it to keep her sanity. When her parents died two years ago, she was left a large insurance policy that allowed her the luxury to live without a job. After not working for the last year, she had decided that working would be the best thing for her. Specifically for her sanity.

“Good Morning,” a little voice called out from the cabin to the right. “You must be my new neighbor.”

Shay turned her head to see a small framed woman with unruly white long hair sitting on the porch swing next to her smiling. She looked to be in her mid-sixties and was wearing a pair of jean knicker pants and a white t-shirt. She was holding a newspaper in her hands.

“Good Morning,” Shay said.

“I’m Sue. Susan Adkins.”

“Shay Dawson.” She said walking to the right of her porch to get a better look at the woman.

“Well, it’s very nice to meet you, honey. It’ll be nice to have another woman around to talk to.” She smiled.

“It’s really nice to meet you too Susan.”

“Call me Sue honey. Everyone does. When did you get in?”

“Yesterday, just after supper. I spent most of the night unpacking.” Shay said.

“Oh, I must have missed you. Out at the nightly bingo.” Susan laughed. “It’s going to be a hot one today I think.”

“Yes, I think so.” Shay agreed looking around the wooded area in front of her cabin. She finished her coffee and started walking to the door. “Well, it was nice to meet you. I have to get in my morning run before it gets too hot.”

Susan waved and said, “You too dear. Enjoy your day.”

Shay went inside the house and put her coffee cup in the sink. She slipped on a pair of ankle socks, sneakers and took off out the front door.

When she explored the town with Dee two months prior, Dee had shown her a few trails that led from the dirt road down by the river. The scenery was stunning, and the trails were in great shape and not too rough.

She took the dirt road which headed for the river and took a small path that trailed the riverside. She had run for at least two miles before she slowed down and rested her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. Her chest was burning, and the sweat had already soaked through her t-shirt. She stood up taking in the sights when she heard a horse neighing in the distance. At first, she thought she heard things. But, she stood perfectly still and calmed her breathing. She listened hard, and after a heartbeat or two, she heard it again. Shay noticed another small path that was slightly overgrown and started to follow the sound.

Five minutes later the path opened up to a large flat, grassy area of land with a pretty farm house in the distance. A palomino horse barn was just off to the left of it. She walked a little further and found herself in a field with another dirt road up ahead that led closer to the house. She had just started to turn back the way she had come when she heard the sound of galloping hooves behind her. Spinning around, she saw two black horses hurtling toward her at full speed. She panicked at the sight of several hundred pounds of horses bearing down on either side of her, and she tried to jump out of the way. But, her feet twisted making her fall to the ground hard, cutting her knee on a rock that was buried in the grass.

Shit!

The horses barreled past her, paying her no mind. Shay shook her head in frustration and looked down at her knee to inspect the damage. It was bleeding quite a bit, and a small piece of skin was torn off the knee. She was about to wipe the blood with the bottom of her shirt when she noticed a shadow and looked up. Whoever it was, was standing in the shadow of the sun and she couldn’t make out any features. Only that whoever it was, was huge. She held her arm up in front of her face to shield the sun and then said, “Are those your horses? You should have them tied up. They could kill someone.”

“Get off my property!” He yelled.

Shay was taken aback by the stranger’s abruptness, but she kept her arm in a position so she could take a better look at him. His black shoulder length hair was a wavy mess of curls around his face. He looked annoyed, and his icy green emerald eyes almost cut right through her. He was wearing a pair of blue board shorts and nothing else. His chest was sprinkled with dark hair, and his abs were defined like a hard washboard. Jesus, he was gorgeous. But, still a dick.

“Are you always an asshole? Or just one with women?” Shay asked as she tried to get up off the ground. But, she lost her footing and fell unceremoniously back down in the dirt.

He only grunted and held out his hand to help her up. She thought about slapping it away but didn’t want to be a jerk too. She took it and stared at the threaded muscles in his arm as he pulled her to her feet. She noticed one solitary tattoo on the inside of his left bicep. It was a name; it said, ‘Jillian.’

“Thank you.” She said brushing the dirt and grass off her ass.

“Don’t fucking thank me. Just get off my property and stay off.” He growled and without another word started walking in the direction the horses had run.

Shay stood there in shock at his blatant rudeness and finally yelled back, “You're a fucking asshole!”

It had felt good to call him out, but she immediately regretted her actions when he whipped around and walked back to where she was standing. He purposely stepped close, invading her space. He towered over her. Shay’s heart skipped a beat and as her gaze travelled up his bare chest, past his thick corded neck to a pair of deliciously full lips. She hadn’t noticed them before in the parking lot of the diner because he had been kneeling down and his moustache and beard had covered them. But, now from her vantage point below, she could see them better through his untamed moustache and beard.

She had no idea what he was about to do when he said in a low deep voice, “This is my fucking land. Asshole or not. Get the fuck off and don’t come back.”

She stood there watching his chest rise and fall with every breath for a few seconds. Then, like the first time, he turned without another word and took off after the horses.

“You're still an asshole!” She muttered under her breath. “But a gorgeous one.” She turned around and started limping back down the trail she had come.