Chapter 16
JEWELS
Tyson guides me back to his motorbike, his body keeping me warm from the cool night’s air. In the distance I can hear the sounds of crickets with the light sounds of tires pushing against the asphalt.
“I have a room at the motel,” he says softly, smiling down at me. I know instantly which one as we only have the one. “How about I pick you up in the morning to go back into the city?”
A light breeze allows his scent to wrap around me, allowing my feelings to simmer. I’m screwed; I’ve got it bad. I know my feelings will only grow more intense. No point in fighting it any longer.
I have always delicately stepped around the people in my life to make them happy. Somehow, Tyson has inspired me to do more than that. I will get our ranch back to what it was before our dad passed. I am going to tell Luke straight up that I quit school and want to help take over the ranch. What I should have done instead of running away.
He gives me a little nudge, reminding me that he asked a question.
“I might need a day to get some things organized before I head back.”
“I can work with that.” He kisses me hard, causing my breath to hitch, and I feel almost dizzy by the time he stops. Smoothly he lifts me up, placing me on the back of his bike, securing my helmet like he always does.
I try to focus my thoughts on Luke instead of how close I am wrapped around Tyson’s body.
*
I can’t help but watch Tyson ride off into the distance, dust billowing around him. I take in a deep breath and try to calm my nerves. It’s now or never.
Walking up our front porch, there are no flowers like we used to have growing up. It is solemn and bare.
Opening the door, I find it unlocked, nothing out of the normal there. The only reason it registered is that in the city I always double-check everything’s locked. “Luke!” I call into the dark house, hoping he’s home to talk before my confidence disappears. Heading to the right of the entrance, I flip the switch for the light and our entrance glows bright before the bulb crackles and goes dark. Heading deeper into the house, I go toward the next light switch before I trip on my own two feet. “Shit!” I muster to myself as I rub my knees that sting from the fall.
This light goes on but I notice that the three-bulb light only has one bulb in it, giving me just enough light to navigate through my house.
“Luke, you home?” I call out once again.
A tight grasp on my shoulders causes me to yell out and jump almost one hundred and eighty degrees.
“Shit, Luke, you scared me.” He gives me an odd look while looking around.
“Why are you in the dark?” His breath hits me as he says his words almost perfectly.
“Have you been drinking?” I ask as he steps around me to turn on another light.
“Where were you?” He has a way of making me feel guilty, like I’ve been doing something wrong. I can tell he knows I was with Trevor earlier. I’m not surprised. The town is probably rolling with rumors about our status.
“I need to talk to you about the ranch.”
“I have it under control.”
“I quit school and want to start to revitalize the ranch.” My words come out so fast I worry they clustered too much for him to understand.
“No. You need school.” He shakes his head like I’m a toddler.
“I dropped out.”
“You better not have, I haven’t risked this place just so you could play in make-believe land, young lady.” I hate when he tries to take the father role.
He takes a deliberate step toward me, his eyes full of anger. “You better not have made a deal with the devil, Ruby.”
The devil he’s referring to is Trevor.
“It can’t be much better than your devil.” His face comes within an inch of mine and I’m scared. I’ve never seen Luke this mad at me.
“You ran away, like the spoiled princess you always have been. I have always cleaned up your messes.”
I bite my lip. I hate that it’s true. He would always stick up for me, bully whoever bullied me, and stick up for me against our parents. I’ve always stayed behind him, letting him shield me from anything.
“Not anymore. Trevor is offering me a good deal.” I don’t let my voice shake like the rest of my body. I’m no good at standing up for myself; I crumble way too easily.
“You take anything from Trevor and you are no longer welcome in this house,” he shouts at me. “I didn’t lift my rifle at that boy just so you could run back to him. I forbid it!”
“You need to hear me out! I have a plan, I’ve been crunching the numbers for a while now.”
“You need to get out if you are going to keep speaking to me about this. Or stay and keep the fuck out of my business, my ranch!”
The tears are pooling in my eyes and I fight to keep them at bay. “You need to listen to me!” I beg; my knees drop slightly, pleading with him.
“Out!” He points toward the door. Fighting with him right now is useless and I can already tell.
I stalk toward the door, stopping in the doorway, hoping he will start to feel guilty for how he is treating me. But his eyes glow with more hatred. This is what my family has become. Our once loving tightknit group has been diminished to everyone for themselves.
I really haven’t thought walking out through. My head was so fuzzy from Tyson I forgot I left my car at Van’s. It’s not fully dark out but this far out in the country seems way darker than it is. The train whistle can be heard in the distance, reminding me just how far away the town is. I can feel my eyes grow wide as I make my way toward the setting sun. Hearing the crunch of gravel in the distance solidifies my idea of sticking my thumb out.
I haven’t hitchhiked since the city welcomed me into its vastness and let me disappear into its walls.