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No. That wasn’t it. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d told any guy that she loved them.
Sarah charged from the barn, but instead of turning toward the house to clean up for dinner, she went in the opposite direction, opting for a walk to clear her head instead. She’d grown more familiar with the trails around the property, loving the peace they seemed to offer. They were one thing that she knew she’d miss when she ended up leaving.
Unless she didn’t.
That wasn’t going to happen, and she knew it. Deep down, she knew she’d been raised to do right by her family. She’d leave Slate Rock Ranch and Copper Creek behind. Along with the landscape, animals, and overall beauty of the countryside, she’d be leaving the people she’d grown to care for.
A sharp twinge rocked through her. She couldn’t imagine what life would be like without the surrogate family she’d found while living here. Not only would she leave Dax, but she’d leave Brielle, her sisters, Zeke, and the sheriff, all of whom felt more like family than the people who raised her.
Maybe she could convince her parents that there was a future for her out here. Would that be so bad? It wasn’t just the money she’d be losing. While she had felt judged and put down by her parents all these years, she still loved them and knew they loved her in their own ways. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing everything that she’d come from.
Sarah charged down a trail that took her toward a grove of trees. The smell of pine and lavender was stronger over here, and it was more soothing than the smell of the barn. With each step she took, she grew more agitated.
Why did Dax have to go and make everything so much more real?
She slowed her steps, realization hitting her like a slap to the face. She was agitated because she already knew the decision she’d be making. Deep down, there wasn’t another option. Not a logical one, anyway. She knew from the moment she’d kissed him.
Sarah wasn’t a quitter. She’d speak to her parents and hope that they understood where she was coming from. She’d lose all her inheritance, but maybe they’d still support her. Then she could find happiness with the people of Copper Creek. It would be the perfect fresh start.
The more she thought about it, the better she felt. The old Sarah might have just returned home for the easy life that had been carefully planned and curated for her. But not anymore. She had grown, and she knew what she wanted.
Someone stepped out of the tree line when she made another turn along the trail.
Sarah clapped her hand over her mouth, stifling a scream that would surely draw attention from those at the ranch—something that could ruin everything she had created while living here.
Kenneth stood before her, a smug, sinister smile on his face. His gaze swept over her as if he were seeing her for the first time, but she knew better. Hehadbeen at the country club that night. She should have known better than to think it wasn’t him. More than that, she should have told the sheriff immediately.
Sarah swallowed at the lump that had formed in her throat. He’d convinced her to be the getaway driver for what had been their final night as a Bonnie and Clyde duo. Only it wasn’t just the two of them. He’d brought along a friend who had a gun, and they had wanted to do more than just graffiti, flatten tires, or tip over some cows.
She couldn’t prove it because she hadn’t been there, but she suspected the dead cattle that had been reported was their doing as well. Her stomach seemed to twist in inhuman ways at the thought of those poor creatures. Up until she’d worked on the ranch, she hadn’t cared much about what happened to a herd, but now it was different.
Her head swiveled around, almost expecting another person to pop out of the bushes with him. Kenneth never did things without backup.
Her eyes narrowed and she folded her arms as she edged backward. “What are you doing here, Kenneth?”
He took a step toward her. “Now, is that any way to treat your boyfriend?”
“You stopped being my boyfriend the moment you threatened me with that gun.”
Kenneth rolled his eyes. “Come on, Sarah. It was a joke.”
“Sure didn’t seem like a joke.” She hated the way her voice trembled as the memories of that night came flooding back with a vengeance. “Didn’t seem like a joke to that sheriff you shot.”
“He didn’t die, though, did he?” Kenneth sneered. “Seems like you have gotten pretty cozy with folks around here, haven’t you?”
“What do you want?” she ground out through gritted teeth. Kennethprobablydidn’t have a weapon, but that didn’t mean she would hand over the trust he’d stolen from her before. No one knew they’d been dating, not even the sheriff. It was one more secret she had told her lawyer not to divulge. And since neither one of them went to trial, it was never brought up.
He stepped forward again, like a predator cornering his prey. “You ruined everything, Sarah. We could have kept this whole thing going if you hadn’t swerved into the other lane right in front of that cop.”
She shook her head. “I wanted out, and you know it. I swerved because you were swinging that gun around like it was a toy.”
Kenneth sighed. “Get over it already. You didn’t even have to serve time.”
“Because I didn’t assault a police officer!”
His demeanor shifted and he glowered at her, causing her heart to stutter. She clamped her mouth shut. There was no telling what he was willing to do to her at this point. She’d basically handed him over to the authorities on a silver platter.
Kenneth’s voice lowered, resembling a growl. “Money.”
