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“Earlier that night, I’d been with the horses when Royce rolled in.”
“Let me guess… he did his usual and tried to get into your panties? That boy needs to take a hint already.”
She had no idea. I nodded. “When I shut him down, he got all butt-hurt over it and banned me from the property. Told me his dad was ill, so he was running everything. He wanted to kick me out of my trailer, but I spun him some bullshit about having a lease and he couldn’t just throw me out because he wanted to. I still don’t know what’s going on with John and Kate. I haven’t seen them, and Royce won’t let me into the house or answer my questions other than to say they’re ill.”
“That’s some bullshit. We need to get the cops around there to do a welfare check, or we could get some of the club to do it.”
That brought a smile to my lips. I could just imagine how Royce would handle a bunch of the Charon MC on his doorstep.
“Not sure, Silk. I was going to do that, but after I called Boone for some advice about the horses, he rocked up in his capacity as an inspector with the SPCA. Royce lost his shit, blaming me for ratting on him. Then he threatened to shoot the horses or send them to the slaughterhouse to solve the issue. That was today’s drama.”
Silk pulled me for another hug. “Oh, honey. No wonder you’re so upset! I’m reading between the lines, but guessing once he banned you, no one looked after the horses?”
I left my head on her shoulder. “Uh huh.”
“And that’s what you were going to tell me when I didn’t remember who Whiskey was. I do know who she is, you just haven’t spoken to me about her for so long, it wasn’t in the forefront of my mind.”
I sat back up. “It’s all right, Silk. I’ve been strung pretty tight lately and jumping on everyone.” Which reminded me of my fight with Mom earlier. More tears leaked, and I mopped them up with another tissue, clearing my throat. “It’d been nearly a month since I was home for more than a few minutes. Whiskey was at the back fence when I did finally get there. She looked terrible. She was hurt too. She’d cut her chest breaking out of the barn.”
“That why you called Boone? Because Whiskey was hurt.”
I shook my head as I tossed the latest tissue into the trash. “Nah, I knew how to care for the wound.” I huffed out a breath. “I guess, really, I used it as an excuse to call him because I missed him.”
“What happened to make you break it off with him?”
“Him overstepping with the horses wasn’t the first time he pulled that stunt. The day Dad had the embolism, Boone had dragged me away from the hospital and—”
Silk cut me off with a groan. “Please tell me you didn’t blame him for you not being there when your dad took a turn?”
I shrugged a shoulder and looked at the opposite wall, focusing on the artwork Silk and I had done back when we’d first opened this place.
“Gabs, you have to realize it wasn’t his fault. Or yours for not being there. Shit happens. I’m just grateful he was in the hospital when it did, so it got handled quickly.”
I drank the rest of my water before I spoke again. “Maybe if I’d been there, I could have—”
“Stop right there, Gabs. At a guess, Boone saw you working yourself ragged and took you away for a day of relaxation and recharging. Yeah, the timing sucked with what happened with your dad, but he did it because he fucking cares! Not like he lured you away then went and smothered the man in his sleep. You need to forgive both you and him for that day. It wasn’t anyone’s fault.”
Huffing out a breath, I glared at Silk for a minute. “Fine. It was no one’s fault.”
“Why don’t you call him again, see if he can go out with you tomorrow night?”
I rolled my eyes. “Because I have to do the nightly chores at the barn then come in here to work.”
She nudged my shoulder with hers. “I’m giving you the week off, paid leave. But I expect daily phone calls from you to check in, and if you need more time, you ask for it. Your name might not be on the damn sign, but you’ve worked as hard as I have to get this business up and running. Including never taking a damn vacation. You’ve earned some paid time off, although I wish it was because you were going somewhere nice.”
I smiled over at my friend, grateful I hadn’t lost her after all. “Okay, I’ll give him a call.”
Silk stood and headed to the door. “Head on home and call him. He can always help you with the horses, yeah? See if he can spend the day with you tomorrow after you’ve dealt with your folks.”
Thankfully, she’d turned away from me and missed how I winced. We’d covered a lot tonight, but I hadn’t told her about my fight with my mom or about the stunts I suspected Royce had pulled with my trailer. Maybe next time we chatted I’d fill her in on the rest.
Gabs
I waited until I got home before turning my phone back on. Before any messages could come through, I dialed Boone’s number. When it went through to voice mail, I resisted the urge to hang up. Nerves had me pacing the length of my trailer as I waited for when I could leave my message.
“Hey, Bo. Silk’s given me some time off work, so I’ve got some free time this week. I’d love to see you. Call me.”
I hung up and pocketed my phone. Ignoring the incoming pings of messages. I still wasn’t ready to talk to Mom, or anyone in my family. Stopping by the kitchen window, I stared out toward where I knew the barn lay just out of view. I could go take Whiskey for a ride. It’d been so long since I’d gone for a relaxing ride. It would help settle my mind.
