EIGHT

“This is incredible, Roy,” I breathe, looking at the massive stone-like formations that we’ve been walking through and checking out for the last four hours.

“I used to love coming to visit this place when we were kids, and Ma and Pa would bring us for a holiday.”

“What’s it called again?” I ask, snapping yet another photo on my phone.

“Garden of the Gods.”

“It’s gorgeous, I’ve never seen anything like it,” I say, admiring it, still not believing something so beautiful exists.

“No, I don’t imagine you’d see much of this in the city. It’s why living out here is worth it.”

I smile at him. “You’re right about that.”

“Here, let’s take a photo in front of this one.”

I gaze up at the massive formation and stare in awe at its size. Breathtaking. Roy stops a couple walking past and asks if they can take a photo. We both stand in front of the formation and smile, and the nice young girl takes the photo and then hands us back the phone. We both thank her and I stare at the photo.

It’s cute.

We’re both smiling, the sun is shining, and we look good together.

Maybe he’s good for me.

“Are you hungry?” Roy asks.

“Starving!” I grin up at him.

“Then let’s get you fed, darlin’.”

We head out of the garden and get into his truck heading over to a restaurant in town. It’s Italian, and the smell coming out the front doors has my mouth watering.

“This place makes the best pizza in town. You like pizza?”

I nod enthusiastically. “I’ll eat anything.”

He laughs. “Then prepare to get your socks blown right off, darlin’.”

We find a booth in the restaurant, and a pretty brunette waitress comes over, flashing us a smile and pulling out a note pad. “Welcome! My name is Missy, and I’ll be serving you today. Have you eaten with us before?”

“I have, it’s Rachel’s first time,” Roy says.

“Well, you’re going to enjoy your experience, of that I’m sure. On special today is our creamy chicken, bacon, and mushroom pizza. It’s very popular.”

“Oh,” I say, my stomach grumbling. “That sounds amazing.”

“Want to give it a shot?” Roy asks me, grinning.

I nod.

“We’ll take that one,” he tells Missy. “And we’ll take two Cokes, please.”

She writes that down, flashes us a smile and disappears.

“So, tell me Rachel, what do you do for a living?” Roy asks, placing his hands on the table and leaning forward just a little so he can hear me.

He really is cute.

“I’m currently training to be a full-time legal assistant.”

“Wow, that’s a great and rewarding career. What made you want to do that?”

I shrug. “I always liked the legal side of things, but never had the determination to go the while way and become an actual lawyer.”

“Well, it sounds like you’re in a good position then.”

I nod. “What about you? What do you do?”

“I work and breed horses at a ranch just south of here.”

Wow. That’s surprisingly hot.

“Wow, that’s really awesome. Do you like it?”

He nods. “Was raised on a ranch, lived on them my whole life, and horses are my passion. It was a win-win for me, I always knew it was what I’d do.”

“That’s amazing that you’re so dedicated and know exactly what you want in life, not many people have that kind of drive anymore.”

“No, you’re right about that, they don’t. I was raised right, I can’t deny that. I always knew what I wanted to be, I always knew I wanted a family, and a good life on a ranch.”

“That’s admirable.” I smile. “So, have you not had any long-term girlfriends that have wanted the same?”

He shakes his head. “No, unfortunately, that life scares most of them away this day and age. They’re too afraid of getting their hands dirty, or ruining their hair, not many girls are willing to endure that kind of thing.”

“That’s a shame, because most girls should know there aren’t many men left around that are willing to put in the kind of commitment you want.”

He grins. “Then I guess it was your lucky day when you approached me at the bar.”

I giggle. “I didn’t approach you, technically you approached me and I was simply using my manners.”

He chuckles. “Either way, I’m glad.”

“Yeah, I’m starting to think I might be too.”

The waitress comes back with our pizza after about half an hour of easy flowing conversation. She places a pizza down in front of us, and my mouth waters. Oh, my gosh, it looks incredible. Thick crust with some sort of creamy sauce as the base, then pieces of chicken, bacon, and mushroom, coated with cheese and some sort of creamy swirl on top. It looks so good, my stomach grumbles in protest.

“This looks amazing,” I say. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“It does look incredible. Dig in,” Roy says, handing me a plate and placing a piece of pizza on it for me.

I take it, without hesitation. I was never one of those girls that nibbled food in front of a man, worried about how it might look. I love food. I’m not even close to being ashamed of that. If a man doesn’t like that I’m a woman that can eat, then he needs to walk out the door, because it isn’t about to change anytime soon.

“Good to see a girl that isn’t afraid of food.” Roy laughs when I take a bite and moan out loud.

“I love food too much to even pretend I don’t live for it,” I say after swallowing. “This is sooo good.”

“You’re right, it’s incredible.”

We eat in silence, because the food is too good to talk through. Once we’re done, and I’m so full I can hardly move, Roy pays for it and we head out. He drives me home, and we talk the entire way. It’s nice. He’s a good guy. And I’ve had a great day. I turn to him when he stops in front of my cabin.

“Thank you so much, I had a really great day.”

“Me too, thank you for letting me show you around. Maybe we can do it again?”

“Of course.”

He winks at me. “Enjoy the rest of your day, darlin’.”

I grin at him and then climb out of the truck, waving as he disappears down the road.

“A cowboy. Didn’t pick that as your type.”

I squeal and spin around at the voice behind me to see Slade standing, arms crossed, watching Roy’s truck disappear.

“What would you know about my type? You don’t even know me.”

“I know how you kissed me last night, that was enough answer.”

I gape at him. “You have some nerve, for a man who slept with another woman after kissing me. I don’t play those kinds of games. You should know by now there are plenty of other females who do, but I’ve never been one of them, and I don’t intend on starting anytime soon.”

He studies me. “Not what your kiss said. You wanted that as much as I fuckin’ did.”

The arrogant jerk.

He has some nerve.

“You know what, Slade? I was drunk. I don’t even remember it. I know one thing, though, I do not like you. Not at all. Now, if you don’t mind.”

I pivot and walk up the stairs and into my cabin.

That man.

He has to ruin all my good moods.

Gah!

~*~*~*~

I’m still so full a few hours later, so I decide to go for a walk. I haven’t really explored the woodland area around my cabin, and figure it’s time I go and have a look. Besides, I need to work off some of that pizza. It’ll be dark in just over an hour, so I’ll wander down Ryder’s path and check things out. I pull on a pair of running shoes, a pair of jeans and a jacket, and pull my hair into a ponytail.

I grab a bottle of water from my fridge and head outside. The air is crisp; it’s going to be a cool night. I glance over at Slade’s cabin and see him standing on the porch, watching me, talking on the phone. I don’t wave, I just skip down my steps and walk into the woods. It’s gorgeous in here, the area filled with shrubs, trees, logs, and rocks. It’s a new discovery wherever I turn.

A cool wind trickles through the trees, and birds sing up high. I can see why Ryder comes in here—it’s peaceful, the kind of peace you simply cannot find with people around. I walk without thought, moving deeper and deeper into the woods, running my fingers over flowers, picking up different shaped rocks, and just enjoying what’s been so beautifully presented for me.

A loud crashing noise behind me startles me, and I spin around too quickly, tripping backward over a rock. I try to stop myself from falling, but there’s no hope, I hit the ground hard, twisting my ankle. A crack fills the air. I wince, and my already tender ribs from the other night cramp up. Dammit. Only I could ruin a perfectly peaceful moment by falling over.

I go to push up, and a sharp pain stabs through my ankle. It’s so severe, I fall forward again, a sweat breaking out across my forehead. I twisted it harder than I thought. I glance down and see it swelling already. I try once again to stand, but I can’t put any weight on it. You’ve got to be kidding me! Frustration bubbles in my chest, and I let out a pained growl.

Damn this week. Dammit.

The sun is just starting to set on the horizon, which means if I don’t get out of here soon, I’m going to be left alone in the dark. I don’t know much about the wild animals that roam in these woods, but I don’t want to find out when the sun sets. I didn’t bring my phone, either, which was completely stupid of me. Who doesn’t bring their phone when going for a walk into the woods alone?

I’m an idiot.

It’ll be my own stupid fault if I get eaten by some crazy creature out here. Nobody will even know until I don’t show up for work tomorrow, and even then, it’ll be days before they find my chewed up remains. I shake my head at my own overdramatic thoughts and think. Maybe I can use a stick to hobble out? One that’ll let me take the weight off my foot. Yes, that seems like a logical idea.

I glance around for a stick big enough to hold me, but in the close vicinity, there is nothing. Not a twig, not a stick, nothing. There are a few fallen logs, but that is hardly helpful to me. I’m going to have to hop, or at least try and hop. Hopefully, there is a stick near by, and I won’t have to hop my way out of these woods. Taking a deep, shaky breath, I push up, keeping my ankle off the ground. I swallow down the pain that shoots up my leg. I did a good job. I hope I have only sprained it.

I hop once, using the trees near me to place my hand on to steady myself. I do this for a solid ten minutes, but still can’t find a stick. The sun is beginning to set even faster, and it’s getting cold. Freezing, even. I shiver as I try to catch my breath. I try not panic take over, but the fact of the matter is that I’m in the woods, and it’s about to get dark, and I’m hurt.

I don’t want to spend a night alone out here.

I fight back the tears that build up in my throat and catch my breath. I can stand here and cry about it, or I can keep going until I find something to get me out of here. I slow down my panting, and then start hopping again. My good foot is starting to ache, from the pressure being put on it to hop my entire body weight through a forest. I don’t stop, though.

As the sun lowers down on the horizon, I find myself becoming even more panicked. Once the sun is down, I won’t even be able to see. What if I go in the wrong direction? Oh, God, if that sun goes down and night falls, I’ll have to stop to avoid getting lost, if that happens, I could very easily die out here. The tears finally fall, and I don’t stop them. I also don’t stop hopping, I hop until my lungs burn and my body aches.

I came in further than I thought.

I was so lost in my own thoughts, I must have walked a whole lot further than I first thought. I suppose hopping probably makes it seem like a bigger distance, but the fact of the matter is, I can’t even see Ryder’s fort, and until I do, I know I’m not close to the edge. It could be close by, it could be another half an hour away, either way, the sun is dropping quickly and it’s getting dark.

My chest is tight with panic, and I try to suck it in to stop it over taking and slowing me down. It doesn’t take away the horrible feeling making itself known in my chest, spreading until my heart is pounding and my stomach is turning. I’ve read stories like this, the ones where someone goes missing and is never found again.

I’m being dramatic.

Calm down.

I’m not that far away from civilization—worst case scenario, I spend a night out here. I’ll be OK, I’ll freeze and likely get eaten by something, but I’m sure, I’m sure, I’ll be OK. Right? A sob escapes, and I didn’t even realize I was crying so heavily. I’m afraid. There’s no point in denying that. I’m afraid, I’m freezing and my ankle is killing me.

Every hop is getting harder and harder, all my muscles hurt, and my foot is throbbing and swollen. I find a log, and I know I have to sit down. If I don’t, I’ll never make this last stretch. The sun is dropping lower on the horizon, and with every passing minute, it gets darker and darker. I drop my head into my hands, trying to catch my breath.

My lungs feel like they’re on fire.

Another sob escapes, and my teeth start chattering together. Even all the hopping isn’t enough to keep me warm from the night time weather that’s coming in. It gets cold here at night, and I’m not wearing enough to keep me warm when that sun disappears completely. The pain in my foot is bad enough now that the very idea of standing and hopping again makes me cry harder.

Dammit, I came here to start a new life, to be better off, and all that I’m getting is constant crap from every direction.

Another sob.

Someone calling my name. My head jerks up, and I blink through my tears, trying to squint through the trees to see if I was imagining it. A flashlight swings down the path, and I cry out in happiness as my name is called again. Slade. I’d know that voice anywhere. My sobbing gets harder as relief floods my body. I’m not going to die out here. I’m not going to spend the night out here.

“Fuck.”

Slade comes into view and shines the flashlight on me. I hiccup and swipe my cheeks, so relieved. Slade takes one look at me, and lowers the flashlight, striding over until he reaches me. He tucks it into his pocket and then leans down, scooping me into his arms with one swift movement. He lifts me into the air, and with a warm breath against my ear, he says to me, “You’re OK, I’ve got you. You’re OK.”

“I just went for a walk,” I stammer. “I didn’t ... I didn’t ...”

“It’s OK, I’m here now. You’re freezing. I’m going to get you warm, honey.”

Honey.

I close my eyes and turn my face into his chest, breathing in a smell that brings me comfort.

Right now, I’m so grateful to him.

So grateful.