I read that you should check their mouth to make sure that the air way is open and that they didn't swallow their tongue. I climbed off the floor and was standing next to the bed, scared to touch her, but I knew it could mean the difference between saving her life or letting her die.
"Dorian, can you hear me? I'm going..."
A knock came from the door and someone was turning the handle. I didn't know what to do. The knock came again but this time with it I heard Kale's dad call my name. I rushed over, unlocked the door and swung it open screaming, "Help them!"
Four men came in the room after Kale's dad.
"What did they take, Arianna?"
"I'm not sure. Kale had me pick something up from Derrick. I think it might be heroin!"
"Lucas, Matt, get the girl out of here. Jeremy take care of Arianna."
I was glad Kale's dad was going to get Dorian help, but what about Kale?
"Is Kale okay?"
His father walked over to his side of the bed and slapped him hard in the side of the head. Kale's hands went up in the air before he said slowly, "Why did you hit me?"
"You sorry piece of shit. How dare you invite all these people into my home and steal from me!"
All of the sudden my arm was being pulled, dragging me out the door and into a different bedroom before the man closed the door behind him.
"Sit."
I sat down on the bed not understanding what was going on at all.
"What's going to happen? Can I go to the hospital with her? Is Kale going to be all right?"
I tried to stand up when he walked over and pushed me back down.
"You brought those drugs here?"
I didn't understand. What did that have to do with anything? "I didn't know what was in the bag. I thought it was cocaine."
"So you still thought it was okay to bring cocaine?"
"Well, no, but..."
"You did this, you know. If she dies it's your fault."
"No it's not! I didn't even know anything about this. I just came upstairs to find Kale and he was shooting her up!"
"She administered her own dose. Kale didn't do anything but find her just like you did. Don't try to blame this on him. All of this falls on you."
"No it doesn't! Now let me out of here so I can see Dorian and Kale."
I tried to push past him but this time he threw me on the bed. I began to scream at the top of my lungs as he held me down and tried to cover my mouth. When his hand turned just slightly it was enough for me to bite it and I did as hard as I could.
"You little bitch," came before he back handed me straight across the face.
The door flew open, slamming against the wall and in walked Michael Thompson.
"Get off of her."
"That little bitch bit me!"
"I don't care. Her screaming can be heard down the hall."
The man climbed off me and went to stand next to Kale's dad.
"Arianna, are you aware of what you've done here tonight? Do you know how much trouble you could be in?"
"But, sir, I had no idea what they took. I just found them like that. Is Kale okay? Can I see him?"
"It's best that you don't. Here's the deal, honey, you're going to go to jail for a very long time. I don't think Dorian is going to make it and you supplied her the means to overdose."
"No I didn't. I just picked up a package from Derrick because Kale wanted me to and then..."
"That's enough! You won't say another word, do you hear me! What you think happened is wrong. You did this and you are going to jail possibly for murder unless you listen to me very carefully."
I didn't understand why he kept saying things like that and it scared me beyond belief.
"You're going to move tomorrow. You're going to go far away from here and you will never speak of this night again. I will take care of the charges you would be facing but you need to sign something promising me to keep this quiet. Do you understand?"
"What? No! I don't want to leave. Where would I go? I have no money, I'm not even eighteen..."
"It's already taken care of. John no longer has a job and won't get one either...
I began to cry when he patted my leg.
"Don’t feel bad, he was so deep in debt from his gambling they were about to put a price on his head anyway. What idiot gets two hundred grand in the hole anyway? You're actually saving the son-of-a-bitch."
"Please don't make me leave. I won't say a word, I promise. Just let me stay with Kale."
"You don't get that choice. You're going to get as far away from me and my son as possible or you're going to jail for the murder of Dorian Baker."
"I won't do it! I'll tell the police what happened and they will..."
He put his finger in my face scaring me even more when he said, "You listen to me, little girl, I will make your life end before you get a chance to live it or you will sign these papers. The only reason I'm even giving you a choice is because for some reason my son asked me to. Otherwise you would already be taken care of."
"Let me see Kale! I don't believe you! He wouldn't have told you to do this. KALE! KALE!"
Two seconds later, Kale walked in the room with one of his dad's men holding his arm.
"Did you do this? Please tell me you didn't. You know what you did, Kale! Don't let them do this to me! Please, Kale!"
He looked down at the ground and said nothing. "You have a choice, Arianna, and you need to make it."
"This isn't right! You're making me do something and acting like I'm getting a choice when you know damn well I'm not. Why?"
John walked in the room followed by two more men. "John. As you can see we have a situation..."
I was up and off the bed running for him screaming, "John, help me! They're making us leave! Tell them they can't do that. Tell them…"
Just as I grabbed on to his arm he knocked me to the floor when Kale's dad started to speak.
"You no longer have a job, John. I've ensured you won't get another one either. You're going to take the money I am offering your family to relocate and pay off your debt or you can deal with the hole you're in with the Masser family. Ha! You didn't think I knew about that? Well, you're an idiot, because I know everything. So what's it going to be?"
"John, don't listen to them! We don't have to do this..."
I crawled up his leg begging and he simply kicked me off as if I was nothing.
"How much money are we talking?"
I looked over at Kale and begged him with my eyes to do something but he went back to staring at the ground and I knew I was done. The second John asked that question was the day my life stopped.
The next morning movers were in our home packing everything up by five a.m.
We were in the car on our way here by five that night.
I wasn't allowed to say goodbye to anyone. One day I had everything and within twenty-four hours it was destroyed.
Canyon never once interrupted me to ask a question or even made a noise. Instead, he held my hand and let me tell my story until it was over.
"So they coerced you into signing a confession to hold over your head?"
"That's exactly what they did and I signed it."
"What ever happened to Dorian?"
"That's the worst part, I don't know. I tried to look up obituaries but I never saw one for her. Maybe they covered that up too."
"I want to kill each and every son-of-a-bitch attached to that night."
"You can't say anything, Canyon. If any of this comes out, do you know what they would do? Michael Thompson is possibly going to be the President of the United States. He would have no problem killing you or me if we thought about standing in his way of that."
"What are you supposed to do? Stay hidden forever? If that’s the case, why was Kale here?"
"He wanted us to run away, to go to college and if we were together maybe his dad would let it all go."
"How stupid is he? That would only piss his dad off more. How could you even consider
going?"
"If it meant keeping you away from the threat and possibly having John drop the case it was worth it."
"I don't agree at all with that. Tell me the truth. What changed your mind?"
"I kind of fell in love." He smiled but this wasn't really one of those feel good moments where a smile or a kiss made everything okay. "I need you to tell me what you think of me now."
"What do you mean what I think of you?"
"You have to have an opinion of what I did. I brought those drugs there. I killed Dorian."
I wiped the tears falling from my eyes as I waited for him to tell me. He let go of my hand making me think, "Here it comes,” but instead he wrapped me in his arms. I broke down and bawled like a baby as he pet my hair with one hand and rubbed my back with the other.
"You made a mistake that you will have to live with for the rest of your life, Ari, but that doesn't define who you are. The fact you have kept this secret for as long as you have, holding all of this in, is unbearable to believe. You're not alone anymore, darlin’." He kissed the top of my head and let me cry more before he continued. "I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. This doesn't make me love you less. Don't worry, baby, you're gonna get through this. We are gonna get through this together."
I can't tell you how much I needed to hear those words. It was the biggest weight off my back and for the first time in months, I believed I was going to be okay.
I looked up into his eyes and said, "Thank you, Canyon. I never knew how much I needed you until right now."
"Really? Because I figured that out a long time ago."
"You know what I mean."
"Yes, I do, and as screwed up as this night has been, what I think we both need is some sleep. We can think more about what to do tomorrow."
"There isn't anything left to do."
"Tomorrow, Ari, I'm exhausted. It's three o'clock and I need to get up in a little over an hour."
"Oh my God, I completely forgot. I will do the chores and you can just sleep in this time."
"Yeah right. Just come to bed with me."
He pulled my arm until I followed him up to his room.
"Where is Shelby sleeping?"
He looked down the hall at his parent’s room.
"I put her in there."
"Canyon, you didn't have to do that."
"Just please come to bed with me."
I followed without a word until I was wrapped in his arms listening to him sleep. Only then did I say, "I hope I can someday deserve the love you give me."
Chapter 26
The following morning I did wake up before Canyon, only it was more like seven-thirty, versus the five it needed to be. He looked so adorable that I wanted to snuggle up and kiss him but I had another plan that required him to stay asleep.
Sneaking downstairs, I found Shelby was already up and watching TV quietly.
"Are you hungry, honey?"
"I already ate a bowl of cereal. Is that okay?"
"Yeah, I'm sure Canyon won't mind. Did you happen to see my bags anywhere?"
"He put them on the porch out back."
"Thanks. Did you want to help me out in the barn? I need to start taking care of the animals."
"Can I really?"
"Of course but I wouldn't be so excited yet. It's hard work."
"I can do it."
"I know you can. Now turn off the TV so we don't wake Canyon up and let's go get started."
An hour later I had cleaned all the crap out of the stalls while Shelby cleared the sawdust. It felt like years had gone by since the first day I worked there. Somehow I completely fell head over heels in love with not only the man who owned all of it but every animal that came along with him.
In just thpse couple months, the foals had grown so much they could be considered small horses. The puppies were no longer innocent babies but holy terrors, spooking the horses non-stop. The kittens were getting more and more curious of the world around them too and began venturing off away from the barn, out into the corral and even up to the house. Who knew a city girl like me could find true happiness out in the country?
I had just finished putting water into every trough and was heading back into the barn when I heard Canyon's voice for the first time. I quickened my step until I rounded the corner and saw him crouched down petting one of the pups with Shelby.
"Good morning, handsome."
He stood and flipped his hat backwards.
"Good morning to you too, darlin'. What have you done?"
"Everything you taught me to and more. I even shoveled out the poop." I was so proud of myself I couldn't help but brag.
"You did? Seriously?"
He started looking in each stall.
"I did the pee part! It was gross."
We both laughed. I remembered feeling the same way on day one.
"I can't believe you both did all this for me."
I walked to him saying, "I have to earn my keep if I'm going to be staying here now, don't I?"
He waited until I was close enough that he could grab me and pull me in before he said, "You don't have to lift a finger here to be welcome, but I sure do appreciate it."
"Anything for you."
He kissed me and patted my butt before pulling back.
"Well if that's all done what do you girls say about going for a ride?"
Shelby jumped up from the floor and ran straight at Canyon.
"Really? Seriously? I can go on a ride with you guys?"
"If your sister here says it okay, then absolutely."
Shelby looked up at me with more hope in her eyes than I can remember.
"Heck yeah! Let’s get them ready. Shelby you’re gonna learn what it takes to be a true cowgirl."
"I don't want to be a cowgirl."
We had started to walk towards the tack room when both Canyon and I stopped dead in our tracks.
"What do you mean you don't want to be a cowgirl?"
"I just want to be a princess with a unicorn, remember?"
Canyon laughed and I just shook my head before I said, "Oh, that's right, a unicorn. Well, even unicorns need to be taken care of and this is part of it. Grab some of this stuff and take it out back."
She gladly took the blankets I handed her and walked away while Canyon and I grabbed the saddles.
"She's one of my favorite things."
I stopped and looked at him thinking the same thing about him for loving her like he did.
"What?"
"You're just too good to be true."
"Oh don't start that."
"Start what?"
"Doubting me again. I am what I am, girl, believe me, I'm not good enough to have you but instead of wondering why, I just thank God for it. Get what I'm saying?"
"Yeah. Actually, I do."
"What else do we need?"
Shelby was already back and ready for more.
"Here." I handed her the bridles.
"Now be careful when you walk that you don't trip over the reins."
She put her hands on her hips and with sass I have never seen her sport, she said, "Canyon! I'm not an idiot" and then walked away holding them above her head.
He looked at me and we both laughed.
"See what I mean?"
Twenty-five minutes later we had Winston and Percy saddled up and ready to go. Canyon insisted Shelby ride with him even though I felt Winston would be better at having two people on him at the same time.
"You think the horse matters? You've never had someone ride with you and I would prefer that someone to not be Shelby the first time that happens."
I almost told him to make sure she was safe but then I remembered who I would be talking to.
"Good point. Are you ready?"
He turned around and grabbed Shelby, lifting her up onto Percy before he climbed up behind her.
"Yep, what are you waiting for?"
"Nice one."
I swung my leg over Winston and was ready to go. "After you."
He kicked Percy but then looked back at me. "Keep up, okay?"
"Don't you go too fast with her on there."
"Oh stop nagging and let's have some fun."
He took off, leaving me to catch up. I laughed as I was forced to push Winston further than I ever would have, considering he wasn't Magnus. Once I caught up, the two horses ran side-by-side through the open range.
Every once in a while I would glance over at Shelby and watch her face as she took in the countryside for the first time like this and I remembered feeling the same way, she was in awe. It was nature at its best.
Eventually, we slowed at the creek Canyon had talked about learning to swim in as a kid. It wasn't really a creek but more of a slow moving river with as big as it was.
"You want to go?"
My head snapped in his direction. "Go what? Swimming?"
"Yeah, why not?"
"I don't know, maybe because we don't have suits on?"
"Who cares? It will be fun."
Shelby looked at me with a smile so big I could practically see all her teeth. "Please, Arianna?"
"Are you both crazy?"
Canyon got down and grabbed Shelby, pulling her from the horse. "Just live a little, Ari. Come on, it will be fun."
I stayed on Winston not paying them any mind. "What do you plan to do with the horses?"
"They'll just graze around. Don't worry, they won't run off. Come on!"
I hesitated but when Canyon led Shelby down to the water leaving me, I decided to hell with it. I climbed off Winston and he instantly went over to eat the grass with Percy, leaving me with no excuse. I walked toward the tree line and could hear the two of them laughing. Once I was over the bend and could see down the embankment every part of my hesitation went out the door. Canyon and Shelby were already in the water swimming around having a blast.
"You guys didn't want to wait for me?"
"You took too long. Come on, get in. The water feels great."
Shelby ignored the fact I was even there and continued to enjoy swimming.
I looked over next to me and saw a rope swing was secured to a post giving me an idea. I have never been one to slowly walk into water. Well, not unless it was warmer in it than the temperature out of it. It was either I jump in or it’s not going to happen.
Let It Be Me Page 23
