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I needed to take notes. Asking her if she wanted to eat could secure a negative answer. He worded it in such a way that she still had to accept the choice to eat.
“I’m not hungry.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“You need to eat in order to heal your foot and recover, Emma.” Luke folded his arms, standing with his legs shoulder width apart. “I’m making pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Does that sound good to you?”
“Once I’m out of bed, you’ll make me leave.” Her lower lip trembled.
“No one said anything about you leaving, sweetheart,” I assured her. “The winters in Wyoming are harsh. You shouldn't be alone in the cold.”
Tears filled her eyes, and she opened her arms. Her vulnerability struck something deep inside of me. Pulling her out of her blanket fort, I brought her onto my lap.
“I-I do-don’t want you or Luke to be in danger!”
“We can’t help you if we don’t know what’s going on.” Lucas rubbed the top of her head. “Come on, darling. Tell us.”
“It’s been three months, two weeks, no three weeks. Wait. No! No!” She sobbed like all the turmoil she’d been storing up in her head, and her heart released all at once.
Clinging to me like I was the only thing keeping her on this earth, I let her work through the emotions. Luke joined us on the bed, cradling her shoulders while she cried. I don’t know how long we sat, but finally Emma let out a long, shuddering breath.
“You’re safe here. I will not let anything happen to you,” I promised. We were complete strangers, and I had no business getting involved in whatever horrific situation dropped her into our pond, but I scarcely cared. Emma had been beaten up enough in her life, and that was something I could relate to.
“My ex-boyfriend hurt me one night.”
“Excuse me.” Luke retreated from the bed, his ears red, his face contorted. “I need some air.”
Emma pulled back from me, her mouth agape. Luke stormed out of the room, his fists clenched, heavy footfalls sounding against the floor as he left.
“He cares about me. Somehow, both of you care. Why?”
“Sometimes people are brought together in unexpected ways, sweetheart. He’ll work through it. Likely take every horse in the barn out for a ride. Don’t worry about Luke. He’s the most levelheaded man I’ve ever met.”
“I believe you, but I hate how upset I got him.” She took a few breaths and let them out slowly. “My ex-boyfriend Shawn was strung out on drugs. He moved me away from my family and my friends. He wouldn’t let me work outside of the house anymore. I got fired and finally let go of my career because it was easier than trying to fight. I left the night he put his hands on me.”
“I have nothing nice to say, except he better hope we never meet. Do you have a cell phone or some other type of traceable device?”
“No, but he said if I ever left him, he would hunt me down.”
“You’re in the middle of nowhere. We won’t let him get anywhere near you.” I had no business making promises on behalf of my boyfriend, but it was true. We would protect her no matter what. “Stay here with us, Emma. We’ll figure it out.”
“And I have to follow rules?”
“Yes, but they would be discussed and agreed upon.”
“What happens if I break them?”
I treaded carefully. She had been in an abusive situation, and I never wanted her to view Luke or me as anything but loving and firm. “Well, it depends on what you did and why you did it.”
“Wo-would you spank me?”
“Now or–”
“Elias!”
“I’m just checking, sweetheart.”
“No, not right now.” She giggled despite the heavy conversation topic. “If I broke a rule, would you spank me?”
“It depends on what we’ve agreed upon. Sometimes you would get punished with a spanking, but there are lots of other ways to help you be mindful of the rules.”
