Country Secrets

by Caz May

  (38) Savannah

  Telling Hunter about my past is a weight lifted off my shoulders, as cliched as it that is.

  He'd shown genuine care about me in his responses and it had made me fall harder for him.

  There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m falling in love with him. I was actually already in love with him really, before everything that happened with Dante and how Hunter had reacted to me telling him about it made me fall deeper, if that was even possible.

  I’d felt a little giddy, despite the fact that my whole body was in pain, when Hunter had kissed me on the couch. The way he'd kissed every inch of my scar had sent shivers all through my body.

  If it wasn't for the pain and the image of what Dante did still so fresh in my mind I'd have given myself to Hunter completely.

  Hunter has a sweet way of knowing what I’m really feeling though. Even though his kisses and his touch were warming my body I could feel his desire pressing into me, even more so when we moved to his bedroom. He didn't take things any further and I was glad for that self control.

  I need to heal more in body to take that step.

  Letting him know my real name was definitely letting myself in deep, but I know it’s the right time to tell him. It’s clear Hunter’s in love with me and I want him to know the real me, not just the facade of Savannah. I want to be Savannah more than anything now.

  Trinity doesn't exist anymore because the way Hunter says 'Savannah' makes my heart soften and it sounds right, just like being with him is.

  ~ ~

  Hunter has gone out droving again, taking Blitz with him and the house feels a little lonely without him around.

  It really has come to feel like home though; as I’d really enjoyed pottering around and giving the inside of the farmhouse a womanly touch.

  I’m more comfortable going into Hunter's room now too; it isn't painful to remember the first night I’d been in there anymore, because going in there now reminds me of the nights I'd spent lying in Hunter's arms and his sweet loving kisses that take my breath away.

  Wanting to tidy the bedrooms to make if fresh for his return I’m sweeping under the spare bed, completely shocked when I find that not only dirt comes out from underneath, but attached to the broom is also my phone and car keys. They slide out slamming against the wall and the phone screen cracks a little.

  Dropping the broom, I pick up my phone, brushing the dust off of it.

  I’d honestly forgotten even bringing it in from the car the night I’d stumbled into Hunter’s house.

  With the ambulance coming in it must have gotten kicked under the bed and I’d not even given it a second thought.

  Racing out to the kitchen I rummage in the drawers to find a charger. I'd seen Hunter with the same phone as mine so I know a charger has to be around somewhere. I touch first a photo and a tear leaves my eyes looking at it. It’s a picture of Hunter holding the obstetrician in his arms spinning her around, looking at her whilst she’s looking at the camera.

  It looks like he really loved her and it doesn't seem like that long ago, either. I hold it between my fingers, about to rip it in half, the thought coming to mind that maybe he does still love her.

  I'd seen the looks she gave him at the hospital and she'd warned me to stay away from him.

  Hastily, I throw the photo back in the drawer continuing my search for the charger.

  Eventually I strike ‘gold' finding one and plug it in to fire up my phone.

  I’m scared for it to turn on; scared to read the messages that will no doubt be on it.

  The thought had crossed my mind of getting a new one before I left but I didn't have the time nor the money to do so.

  As soon as the phone switches on and thankfully finds signal the message tone sounds a number of times. My heart lurches in my chest as I press the screen.

  I know who the messages will be from.

  No one, other than him, usually sent me text messages these days.

  The first one gets to me the most.

  If I'd only found my phone earlier, I could have prevented everything that happened to me. It reads:

  Dante: Trinity how dare you run from me? I am coming to get you and

  you'll never run again. If you reply I'll play nice.

  My heart is aching. It was sent a day before the fundraiser. I’m kicking myself for not thinking of finding my phone earlier but stupidly I’d thought I was free of Dante when I ran. I was letting myself get too involved in Hunter's world and the simple mistake had led me to a world of hurt.

  It isn't a mistake though, being with Hunter is far from a mistake. He'd made me feel more alive, more free and more loved than I could have ever imagined.

  The first message was painful enough, the second causes my heart to pound even harder.

  Dante: How the fuck are you still alive?

  It was sent only a day ago. I have no idea how Dante knows I’m alive but the fact he does know truly scares me and I know I have to do something to get him out of my life forever.

  Many thoughts crossed my mind, many ways to rid my life of Dante, some of them highly illegal and so wrong I could never do them.

  No doubt Hunter probably would have a gun around somewhere but shooting Dante isn't the answer.

  I know there is only one thing to do and I hope it will be the right choice, to make Dante go to hell just like he'd said to me.

  Not literal hell, but hell on earth is the only place he deserves to be.

  He'd made my life living hell and now I want his to be the same.

  He doesn't deserve happiness.

  He doesn't deserve to live but it isn't up to me to take his life away.

  He thought he had the power to end my life, but life had other plans and now I have to stop my heart from pounding in my chest to execute a plan to rid my life of him. Thinking of the word execute makes me shiver as he'd essentially tried to execute me.

  I've always thought it was such a horrible word; it always sent shivers through me when it was mentioned on the news.

  Dante deserved to suffer for the rest of his life, not be executed and for his miserable life to be over.

  So my plan has to be one that will ensure he suffers and thinks about all the pain he put me through everyday for the rest of his god damn life.

  My finger is resting on the 'reply' to message on my phone.

  I have to do this, but I’m terrified about what is going to happen.

  The decision to go to Dante could be stupid, and he'd follow through with the earlier threat of slitting my throat to end my life, but I can only hope that maybe if I go to him voluntarily he'll be different.

  Slowly I type a message.

  Trinity:Yes I'm alive. Your plan to kill me failed.

  I send it and then immediately try to delete it.

  Why did I just do that?

  Deleting it is futile as his message of reply is on my screen before I even have a chance to press yes to deletion.

  Dante: I asked how the fuck are you alive?

  What the hell am I supposed to say to that?

  It seems blindly obvious to me how I’m still alive. I can't understand how he could be so stupid.

  Trinity: The car didn't burn like you planned.

  His reply again is instant and it shocks me.

  It only says, 'Fuck'

  There’s obviously something I don't know about the car, as there seems to be a reason he wanted it gone as well as me.

  Trinity: What's that mean?

  Dante: Meet me @ the motel the town over from Ridgehope tonight @ 7pm. Don't you dare tell anyone

  I hesitate, not sure if I should even reply. What he’s asking means he’s already back and was going to come and find me again regardless of my next move.

  I know what I have to do and I know it’s also going to be the hardest thing since running in the first place.

  I quickly tap a reply.

  Trinity:I will be there baby

  He doesn't respond this tim
e so I grab a pen from the counter top, frantically searching for paper to no avail.

  My mind flashes back to the sickening photo of Hunter with the obstetrician that I'd wanted to rip to shreds. I pluck it back out from the drawer, trying not to focus on the image and the knot it causes in my stomach. Flipping it over I write Hunter a note:

  'Hunter, I have gone to find Dante. It's for the best. He'll get what's coming to him. If this is goodbye then thank you for being you. You're amazing! Savannah.'

  Dropping the pen next to the note, I yank my phone from the charger, tug on my shoes from by the door, noticing the keys to Hunter's Ute hanging on the hallway stand.

  Thank God he’s taken the quad bike out this time, as I hadn't even thought about how I was going to get to town.

  Racing out to the Ute I jump in, annoyed and frustrated remembering it’s a manual.

  How the fuck do I do this again? Think Savannah think. Clutch, brake, gear.

  I turn the key in the ignition, with my feet on the pedals, hand on the gear knob just willing my brain to kick into gear and instinctively know what to do. The engine roars to life and I slowly let out the clutch to ease the Ute to the gate.

  Thankfully Hunter had left the gate open, so I lurch the car forward crunching the gears as my feet fumble to cooperate with the pedals.

  Once out of the gate I slowly start to get the hang of it again, and crunch the gears into second and third as I speed up.

  The clock on the dash says it’s 4:30 and I know I’ll have to exceed the speed limit if I’m going to catch Quentin at the station before five pm.

  He’s the only one I trust to help me as he knows how much I care about his older brother and he'd saved my life once so I’m hoping he’ll do the same again if it comes to that.

  Focusing on my driving, I think back over the last couple of months since I'd stumbled into Hunter's farmhouse.

  I'd never believed in crazy things like love at first sight but the moment I'd opened my eyes when Hunter walked into my hospital room I honestly think I'd fallen in love with him. There was something about him from that very first moment i’d looked at him, and it wasn't just his insane physical attractiveness but the confidence he exhibited and his devilish charm and humour.

  He'd never expected anything from me, but opened up his whole world to me before I'd even said one word to him.

  He'd told me secrets from his past and let me in so deep into his world and heart, that I don't ever want to leave Ridgehope.

  Part of me knows this is where I’m supposed to be and that Hunter is who I’m supposed to be with.

  I'd just had to go through hell and back to get to him.

  Realising I've arrived in town, I brake suddenly, crunching the gears to come to a grinding halt outside the police station.

  It’s 4:50. I'd made it , but that was only half of the plan.

  ~ ~

  "Hello Constable Mywer. Is Constable Mackenney still here?"

  "Your Ms Galison, yes? Hunter's girl?"

  My heart skips at her words, hearing that I’m known as ‘Hunter's girl.’

  Those simple words make my heart smile.

  “Yes, I am but please can I speak to Constable Mackenney? It's urgent."

  "No problem, Ms Galison. I'll buzz him."

  She calls through to Quentin, announcing that I’m here to see him. I sit down in the foyer, tapping my feet in a rhythm on the floor to try and calm myself.

  I have to keep telling myself I’m doing the right thing and more importantly tell myself that this isn't the second time I’m facing the possibility of never seeing Hunter again.

  Breaking my thoughts Quentin appears from inside the station.

  “Savannah, what brings you in?"

  I take in a deep breath, exhaling it as I let out the words I know Quentin needs to hear.

  “I know where he is. And I'm going to help you arrest him."

  His mouth gapes in shock. I’m not sure if he’s shocked about knowing where Dante is or that I’m going to assist somehow in his arrest.

  "Who? Dante?"

  “Yes, I found my phone and he'd texted me."

  Quentin nods.It’s comforting to know he’s listening.

  “And I replied and he told me to meet him at the motel in the next town over at seven pm."

  "Ok so we'll get the guys out there right away then."

  He turns to head back into the station but I grab his arm to pull him back a minute.

  "No, he told me not to tell anyone. I need to go on my own first."

  “Savannah, that's not wise. We can go straight in and arrest him. We have the warrants."

  I shake my head, needing Quentin to understand that I have to go alone if they are ever going to be able to arrest Dante.

  He'd make a quick getaway if the cops turn up as he'd evaded them in the past, when they turned up on our doorstep after I'd called triple zero one night when he was blind drunk and he'd taken his rage out on me.

  He knew what to say then, making the cops step down and this time he wasn't going to get the chance to do any such things.

  I’m setting him up to fall.

  "I'm going to go first and play along."

  "I don't understand Savannah."

  "I'm going to trick him. Make him think I'm going back to him."

  “Ok, I get you. Could you text me the room number when you arrive?"

  "Yes."

  "Ok, please be careful Savannah."

  He once again turns to walk away and I hesitate for a moment before I say, "Quentin please come as quick as you can. I don't know what he's going to do to me."

  He smiles at me, without saying a word but his smile is sincere and it gives me comfort.

  I’m ready to face Dante to complete the first step in ridding my life of him, forever.

  (39) Hunter

  Returning from droving, the moment I walk in the door with Blitz at my heels, something feels off.

  It’s eerily quiet in the farmhouse and my heart sinks, knowing the silence means that Savannah isn't there.

  Blitz had raced down the hallway, sniffing the floor to try and find her, but comes back looking forlorn. He loves her just as much as I do.

  Sitting down at the table I notice the photo on the edge of the kitchen counter.

  I don't remember leaving it there, nor my charger plugged into the wall.

  Jumping up I grab the photo and see it’s of Addison and I taken right before I proposed. Right before she rejected me, ripping my heart out.

  Flipping the photo over I find a scrawly handwritten note from Savannah and it to rips my heart out.

  She’s saying goodbye, after all we've shared in the last couple of months she’s going back to him.

  It appears from the casual tone in her note that I meant nothing to her, as calling me amazing doesn't tell me how she really feels. Anyone could have said that to me, anyone.

  I’d thought from the way she opened up to me, the way she responded to my kisses that she was falling in love with me, just like I am with her.

  Actually I’m not falling in love with her; I am in love with her, desperately and hopelessly in love with her.

  I have been for weeks, practically since I first time I’d laid eyes on her.

  I'd never believed in love at first sight but it almost seems like this is a case of that.

  I'd wanted her in my life from the moment I found her in my farmhouse, despite not knowing anything about her and the beautiful person she is inside as well as out.

  Scrunching the photo in my fist, I feel anger rise in my chest. I’m not going to let her get away. She doesn't deserve the pain he forces upon her. She deserves to be loved and I know I need to find her and tell her I love her before it’s too late.

  ~ ~

  My keys are not on the hallway stand where I'd left them so it’s clear she'd taken the Ute to wherever she was going.

  I’m a little angry at her for thinking she could take the Ute without asking me but it was a pr
etty smart plan on her part and I laugh at her perceptive behaviour.

  Maybe she thought I wasn't going to come home before she came back.

  It doesn't make any sense at all.

  Her note was clearly a goodbye to me, but I’m not going to say goodbye and there is only one person who can help me find her.

  Running out of the house I jump back on the Quad bike, making sure to shut the gate behind me or Blitz will be out like a shot behind me.

  My anger at her leaving only fuels my haste and I’m glad that the Quad bike can really get going when you give it a few revs.

  It isn't the best vehicle to be driving on the open road with however, especially without a helmet, but it’s all I have and I need to book it into town if I’m even going to make it before the police station closes.

  The speedo dial shakes violently when I reach eighty kilometres an hour but as long as I make it into town I don't care less if the Quad bike breaks down, never to be ridden again.

  Straddling the bike as I gun it into town I think about the last kiss I’d shared with Savannah, with her lying in my arms and confessing her real name.

  Her body cringing in my arms when I said her real name really tore at my heart. She wants to be Savannah with me.

  I think Savannah suits her better anyway because she belongs with me, out on the farm amidst her namesake of the never-ending Savannah of the land.

  The last kiss we shared still occupies my thoughts and arriving into town my heart lurches in my chest hoping it wasn't the last kiss we would share.

  Stopping the Quad bike abruptly outside the police station I run in, glad to find the doors not locked and Gail Mywer sitting at the desk.

  She isn't really who I want to deal with after my last encounter with her, but I need to speak to Quentin to report Savannah missing.

  "Hi Gail. Is Quentin in?"

  "I'm afraid not Hunter. He's gone out."