by Kat Catesby
That night I’m restless. Deep sleep evades me. I’m nervous and tense, despite being curled up safely in the warmth of Ash and the monumental fuck-fest he put me through. Honestly, that alone should’ve knocked me out for a week but all I can seem to do is snatch small amounts of disturbed slumber between bouts of anxiety and nightmares. At one point I sit bolt upright, the hairs on the back of my neck on end and adrenaline coursing through me putting my whole body on high alert.
Someone’s here.
“Katie?” comes Ash’s groggy voice.
“I feel like someone’s watching me,” I choke out.
Needing nothing more than my panicked worlds to fully wake him, the lights flash on and he’s on his feet and reaching under the bed to grab a baseball bat.
That wasn’t under there before.
How’d I miss him storing that thing underneath our bed?
“Stay behind me,” he growls out before I can ask.
I follow him from room to room while he checks every window and door and closet to confirm that we are indeed alone and I’m just being all kinds of crazy. He assures me that he’s not pissed and that it’s understandable, but I still feel stupid.
“Why didn’t you tell me there was a baseball bat under our bed?” I finally ask as he climbs back into bed and folds his arms around me, one hand lightly stroking the curve of my hip in that gentle yet possessive way of his.
He takes a deep breath and audibly exhales an awkward sigh. “I didn’t want you to know. Not because I didn’t want to worry you, but because I didn’t want you using it.”
“I don’t get it. Why wouldn’t you want me to defend myself if it came down to it?”
“Firstly, I’m always in bed with you so you shouldn’t need to defend yourself and not to sound big-headed, but there are few men out there who can take me in a fight, even with the element of surprise. I’ve always won the fights I’ve had and I can promise you that compared to how hard I’d be fighting to save you, I was barely tryin’ in those other fights.
“And secondly – please don’t be mad – you’re tiny, Sunshine. I’m all for feminism and equality, but in a fistfight with a guy twice the size of you, you’re not going to come out on top. You’re going to get hurt. Bad. You try to defend yourself with a baseball bat and you’ll be overpowered and then they’ll have the bat. You’ll have handed them a weapon to beat you with. And their muscles will have the capacity to swing it harder.”
I huff at his remarks and he has the good grace to look uncomfortable and apologetic but I can’t deny his reasoning. I’m not a strong, powerful woman in stature. I’m petite and sure, given my past, I’d be damn determined to be scrappy in a fight but that wouldn’t be enough to overcome a man who meant to cause me harm. I hate to admit that he’s right; if I had to defend myself with that bat, it would be ripped out of my grasp and the tables turned.
I sigh and admit defeat. The feminist in me is chagrined but the bigger part of me that wants to live acknowledges Ash’s infallible logic.
He continues tracing his calloused hand from the underside of my breast, down the curve of my waist, to my hip and back again while his other hand fingers strands of my hair, lulling me into a fitful sleep.
I don’t wake rested, but I do wake up next to the world’s sexiest man; my cowboy. Thinking of him as mine sure doesn’t get old. The rough and rugged, melt-your-pants, swoon-worthy specimen with a heart of gold, lets out an adorable little snore and I find myself watching him sleep, unwilling to leave the bed and break our little bubble of momentary bliss. I only say momentary because as soon as I get up, I’ll be confronted by the knowledge that David still hasn’t been apprehended and the thought sits like lead in my gut.
I want to be done with the cloud of my past looming overhead like a churning thunderstorm, rolling through my veins until I’m thick with its poison. I have a bright future with the man lying next to me and I want to grasp it with both hands and no backward glances.
Just then, Ash’s phone vibrates on the nightstand.
Ugh. Why can’t the world leave us alone for a little longer?
Why isn’t the damn thing on silent?
I suppose until David is apprehended, it’s probably a good idea to make sure we’re always contactable, in case we need to be notified of anything.
Knowing what I know about my cowboy, that’s probably the reason he set his phone to vibrate and why I now have to listen to it buzzing like the world’s angriest mosquito. Incessant, annoying buzzing.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Ash’s huge mitt of a hand grabs at it, fumbling as he comes to.
Bleary-eyed and barely coherent, this man is still the sexiest thing on two legs I’ve ever seen.
“Yeah?” he grumbles, gravelly husky voice sending shivers through me.
A male voice mumbles in response, but as the phone isn’t on speaker, I can’t hear what’s being said, only what Ash says. He looks at me then with frustrated eyes and an exasperated set to his lips.
“Seriously?” he growls. “Fine. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” He hangs up with an angry stab of his thumb before dialing another number.
Anxiety starts to bloom in my chest, gnawing at my nerves.
What’s happening to make him so angry?
“Bill? Sorry to be callin’ you on your Sunday but I need a favor. The contractor called and there’s some kinda complication they need me to come and look at. Can you come by the house and keep Katie safe for me? No, they still haven’t caught him. Yeah, don’t want to leave her alone. Thanks, Bill. See you shortly.”
I feel my hackles rising and I try not to be petulant, I really do, but I don’t like being talked about like I’m not sitting right here. Ash didn’t even take the time to talk to me and tell me what’s happening before calling Bill to come and babysit me.
I’m frustrated.
Frustrated that for the second day in a row, I won’t get any real-time with Ash.
Frustrated that someone else has to have their Sunday ruined in order to ‘protect’ me.
Frustrated that I’m a burden on the people around me.
Frustrated that David is yet again fucking with my life.
There’s probably a healthy dose of exhaustion in there somewhere thanks to my nocturnal paranoia. All in all, I’m now in a bad mood.
And as usual, Ash can read me like a book.
“I’m sorry, Sunshine, I’ve got to head over to the lodge. There’s some issue the contractor needs me to oversee. Bill will be here shortly though, so you won’t be alone.” He gets out of bed and walks to the closet, pulling out clothes in an aggravated fashion. Short, jerky movements making his displeasure obvious. I should take comfort from knowing that it pisses him off to leave, but it makes me no more amenable to the situation.
“On a Sunday?”
“We’re payin’ them to work on a Sunday, so, yeah.”
“And now poor Bill has to ruin his weekend plans? Moira won’t be happy. We could’ve called Maddie you know; if you’d bothered to talk to me before calling Bill and talking about me like a child who needs to be babysat. And since when does the entire ranch know about my ex?”
“Firstly, it would take too long for Maddie to get here plus she was working last night and the club is open late, she’s probably still asleep. Secondly, your ex is a psycho wanted for murder, of course, everyone got told. It’s not just a matter of your safety, Katie, it’s theirs too. We’re half-hour from town and if David came out here to find you, there are a number of other people who live here who could get caught in the crossfire. They had a right to know.”
Great. Now I feel fucking wonderful knowing that I may be the cause of someone else getting hurt.
“Not sure it’s wise to call Bill then. Wouldn’t want him or Moira to be caught in the crossfire.”
He shoots me a dark look as he pulls a shirt over his rippling muscles. I’d be mesmerized if I wasn’t so pissed off.
“Bill and Moira will be just fine
as long as they know you’re safe. Stop being a petulant brat and be grateful that there are people who care enough to want to protect you.”
“Excuse me? Who the fuck do you think you are? You don’t get to control my emotions or dictate what I feel. Yes, I’m angry, but I’m angry at the circumstances. I’m well aware that everyone is in danger until David is caught and I’m the reason for it. As you so rightly pointed out, people are at risk because of me and on top of that, I’m a burden that they have to babysit. I don’t want to be a burden on people. I don’t want to be a petulant brat they’re obligated to protect. All I wanted was to spend a lazy Sunday with my boyfriend.” I stomp past him and slam the bathroom door behind me just as he finishes buttoning up his jeans.
He looks damn fine and all I want to do is curl up in bed with him. Instead, I’m tired, anxious and hungry…all of which is a bad combination if you’re me.
“Baby,” he sighs from the other side of the bathroom door. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad about any of this. I want to spend my day with you too, but I can’t so I’m not going to leave you here on your own. I won’t apologize for that. I gotta go, I love you.”
With his big strides, he’s out of the bedroom before I’ve even opened the bathroom door. He’s gone and that pisses me off even more. A few angry tears spill down my cheeks as I hear him greet Bill downstairs and then the front door closes.
This morning needs a do-over.
* * *
The day drags.
I try not to sulk and mostly pull it off but when Ash is late for lunch, which is then followed with a phone call to Bill explaining that he’s needed at the lodge for the rest of the day, I regress.
Bill is polite enough not to comment on my mood but he definitely notices. I miss Ash and I feel like shit after the way things were left this morning. Not to mention last nights’ lingering paranoia still has me on edge. I can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right.
Moira joins us for a couple of hours after lunch and that helps my mood, marginally, but I’ll take it. Anything to help shake the cloying feeling of hurtling towards something bad and unavoidable.
With nothing else to do, I fall asleep on the sofa and have a nap. I sleep for longer than intended, thanks to the shitty nights’ sleep last night, and when I wake, Moira has gone again.
I feel bad for not making more of an effort considering they’ve been stuck with me all day thanks to Ash’s contractors. And at the expense of any plans they might’ve had.
Bill and Moira are the quintessential farming-type couple. Both in their fifties with greying hair, weather-beaten skin with fine wrinkles but the warmest eyes and kindest natures of anyone. They have a surrogate parent quality about them and I can see why they are so important to Ash. Maybe one day, they’ll be that important to me and be people that I can turn to for support and guidance. Today though? Today, I feel like an awkward imposition.
Wandering back into the kitchen, I spot Bill sat at the island counter with cartons of take-out food.
“How long was I out for?” If it’s late enough for dinner then I slept way longer than I should have.
“Hours sweetheart. I’d have woken you but you were deep asleep and I figured you needed the rest. Stress can really take it out of a person and the way I see it, you must be stressed to hell and back.” I simply nod. He’s not wrong. “Amazed you don’t have a crick in your neck though – sleeping that long on a sofa? I was sure you’d wake up feelin’ it, even if you are the tiniest person on this ranch.”
I quirk a brow at his teasing tone. “Who bought food?”
“Jack came back from town with it. Said Ash asked him to pick it up.”
“Ah, guilty conscience food. Guessing he’s no closer to coming home and spending any time with me today.”
Bill shifts awkwardly but is saved from responding to my snarky comment by the shrill ringtone of my phone, amplified due to being connected to the Echo speaker in the kitchen.
Glancing at the caller ID, I see it’s Detective Jones and my stomach plummets through my body to the floor. Just like the lurch of a rollercoaster as it takes you over the edge into a terrifying freefall.
The call connects and the beat of silence before he speaks twists a tight knot in my gut.
“Katie, I have news,” his grave voice finally booms over the speaker. “David was spotted at a gas station on the outskirts of town. The local sheriff is on route and he’s sending someone to check on Maddie. I want you to keep yourself securely locked inside and with someone at all times until this is resolved. Do you understand?”
“Y-yes,” I stammer through the shock. “How did he find us?”
“I’m looking into that Katie but the priority now is catching him and keeping you and Maddie safe. Is there anyone with you currently?”
Bill speaks up at this, “Yes, Sir. Bill Shaw, ranch manager here at Diamond Peak.”
“Good. Bill, make sure all the windows are secure and the doors are locked. Don’t let Katie leave the premises, even escorted. Understood?”
“Absolutely.”
“I’ll keep you updated with any developments. Keep yourselves safe.”
“Sure,” I whisper, shell shocked and with that, the call disconnects and Bill jumps into action.
“Call Ash, I’ll check the windows and back door. You check the front.”
Holy. Fuck.
He found me. How the fuck did he find me?
I stumble towards the front door in a haze of terror, thoughts racing through me a million miles an hour.
How?
Over and over again I ask myself this.
How did he find us? How did I miss his true nature? How did he hide his true self for so long?
The ‘how’s’ don’t matter, only that the front door is as dead-bolted as Fort Knox. He’s not getting in this way.
I walk my way back to the kitchen, feeling a little calmer knowing that the house is secure, and call out to Alexa to phone Ash. I feel equal parts idiot and awe when I ask an electronic device to do something for me. I also feel old – this shit was science fiction when I was a kid. The rate of technological progress is astounding and probably outpaces my ability to keep up.
As the dial tone rings through the speaker I hear a disturbing thud from near the back porch. It sounds heavy and that sets me on edge.
“Bill?” I call out, trying to keep the edge of panic from my voice.
The house is secure. Of course, it’s him. He just bumped into something.
My mind plays these thoughts like a mantra, trying in vain to keep my heart rate down but my gut must know something my head doesn’t and refuses to co-operate with the keeping-calm program.
Bill doesn’t answer and that makes my stomach cartwheel into my chest, leaving less space for my lungs and their oxygen requirement.
The silence stretches on and feels eternal but in reality, it can’t have been more than a few seconds; somehow my brain has registered only two rings through the Echo speaker.
Ash will pick up. Bill will answer. Everything is okay.
Everything. Is. Not. Okay.
I know it the second I spot the eerie shadow that precedes the looming figure about to round the corner into the kitchen.
I’d know this shadow anywhere and it’s not Bill’s.
It’s David’s.
He’s in the house.
Terror grips me, keeping my body frozen and locked with shock while my mind falls over itself.
How did he get in? How long has he been inside?
My gut clenches and my stomach lurches, causing me to question my grip on its contents. Maybe I wasn’t being paranoid last night? What if he really was there, in our room, watching up sleep?
Three rings…
A violent shiver shakes me to my core at the thought.
David rounds the corner and for the first time in a year, I lay eyes on the man who nearly ended my life…and left me fucked up about it ever since.
The specter of him has been replaced by the real thing and my knees nearly buckle at his proximity, the calculated yet deranged look in his eyes and the menacing way he stalks closer.
Four rings…
Oh god. My brain is a jumble of thoughts; how to escape, is Bill okay because the thump was obviously him falling to the floor, will Ash ever pick up the damn phone?
“There you are, princess. I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” David’s tone is silky yet deadly. A slow, sinister prelude to whatever he has in store for me. Right now, he is the epitome of a true psychopath; superficial charm with an undercurrent of ominous intent. Callous and manipulative and not caring enough to stop. There’s not a shred of remorse or empathy in the depths of his dark eyes. He’s the predator…and I am very much the prey.
Several things happen at once. Ash picks up on the fifth ring, just before his phone switches to voicemail, and David lunges towards me.
Despite my shakiness and nausea roiling through me, I’m able to dodge away from his grasp.
“Katie?” Ash’s voice booms through the speakers.
“HE’S HERE,” I shriek at the top of my lungs as I flee from the kitchen. I don’t stop to grab a knife as Ash’s words about handing a weapon to your attacker flash in my mind. I just sprint as fast as I can towards a downstairs bedroom on the opposite side of the house. Heavy footfalls tell me David isn’t far behind so I don’t think he paused to pick up a knife either.
Not that he needs a weapon to do damage; the man looks bigger than he used to. Not Ash big, but big enough and certainly bigger than me.
Vaguely, I register Ash’s voice shouting through the speaker that he’s coming, but as I’m running flat out away from the kitchen his voice disappears all too quickly. I don’t run for the front door, knowing that it’s locked up tight and that I’d be caught by David by the time I’d unlocked it. Instead, I lock myself in the first guest bedroom I come across.
Mercifully, this buys me a few seconds to plan my next move. Adrenaline burns through my veins, replacing my nausea with a jittery determination to survive.
