Page 3 of High Water

“Did you fall?”

“Does it matter what happened?”

“I just… It looks so painful. And you’re so…”

“So what?” he asks when I stop speaking.

“So strong.”

He grunts at the assessment as I dab another piece of gauze and work to free the dried blood from under his lip.

“Don’t tell Levi about this. Don’t tell anyone. I mean it, Aspen.”

“Some of these cuts are deep. And your ribs…” My eyes move down over his chest to the spot where the purple blooms bright. “You should see a doctor. They might be broken.”

“A doctor isn’t gonna do anything for any of this. I’ll be fine. I just need to rest.”

“How long were you out in the homestead?”

“A day or two,” he mutters under his breath.

“A day or two?” I echo in shock. “What did you eat? Drink?”

“I drank some water out of the tap.” He nods to the sink. “I’m good. I told you, I keep telling you, I’m fine. I just want to be left alone.”

“Let me get you some food and something to drink at least.” I try to meet his eyes again, but he avoids mine, staring over my shoulder.

“I don’t need any fucking handouts, Aspen. I can take care of myself.”

“Now who’s being stubborn?”

He closes his eyes and shakes his head almost imperceptibly.

“Fine. Do what you have to. I need a shower. You gonna try to help me with that too, or you think I can get some privacy?”

I blush at the thought of a naked Bishop.

“You can have your privacy. I’ll go to the house and get some things. I’ll be back to check on you.”

“Fine.” He turns his back, and I clean up the mess I’ve made on the counter, hurrying to leave the bathroom and give him time alone.

I’ve made quick work of gathering some water and food from the pantry. Things I think will keep without a fridge and things I think he might like, like the three brownies and a slice of pie I’ve pulled from the pie safe and tucked into wax paper. I grab two bags of ice out of the freezer, too, hoping they might give him some relief, right along with the small bottle of painkillers I snatch from the bathroom. I’m in the process of tucking it all into a bag when I hear my name.

“Aspen,” my father calls from the doorway. “What are you doing? I thought you were back from the homestead. Jack said you brought Sassy back.”

My father allowed me the freedom to roam around the thousands of acres on the ranch as long as I told someone where I was going and didn’t stay out too late, and crucially, as long as I wasn’t disappearing out there with boys. Macy and her boyfriend were just caught in the back of his truck two weeks ago, and it’d put my parents on high alert. If he finds out I was at the homestead alone with Bishop, I’ll be put through a full interrogation.

“I’m back.”

“Then what are you packing for?”

“I just thought I’d have it ready for next time.” I turn around and push the bag behind me in the process, hoping he can’t see the contents.

“With ice inside?”

“I… It’s, um, for an experiment thing I’m working on for science class.”

“For science class?”