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“It was awful. He was horrid. I asked what he was doing, and he said he was saving my bloody arse. He went on to say he’d done enough of that recently.”
Wren reached over and rested her hand on my arm. “I’m not defending him, but the part about saving asses? I don’t believe he was talking about yours.”
“But he said ittome.”
She sighed. “Right. Go on.”
I held up my bandaged hand. “And when he saw this, he got even angrier. I tried to explain it was nothing, and he said something about being gone less than forty-eight hours and I injured myself already. Like I was abloody child.” I blew my nose again and tried to stop crying, but it was useless. “Then, when I dismounted, he yelled at me for doing it the wrong way.”
“What she’s saying is accurate,” Kima said when Wren and Hanadarko looked at her.
“I walked away when he took the reins of my horse, and he screamed at me to stop. God, it was like I was still in nappies, the way he was treating me.”
“What happened next?” Wren asked.
“I told him I didn’t answer to him.”
“Bravo!” shouted Hanadarko, clapping. “Then what?”
“More yelling, essentially. I told him to sod off. At one point, he said he didn’t save my life so I could be so bloody reckless with it.”
Both Wren and Hanadarko gasped. “What did you say?”
“Something about my life belonging to him now. Then I asked if he planned to do the same to me as Moretti did. Or my father.”
All three women cringed.
“I know. I went too far. Anyway, we shouted more things at one another, and I told him I was leaving. When he asked where, I said I was going home. I really didn’t know where I was headed, and I had no idea what to say. Then I took off running.” I reached down and pulled off the riding boots Kima had lent me. My feet hadn’t healed all the way, and there was blood seeping into my socks.
“I tried talking to him, but it only made it worse. First, on the trail, then again when he arrived at the house. Both times, he basically told me to get out of his sight. Well, not in so many words.”
Wren sat back in her chair. “Well. I’m not sure what to say. I mean, who knew Cayman had it in him?”
“Gotta admit I thought the same thing,” Hanadarko added.
“He’s a bloody arsehole.”
The four of us were quiet for a bit, I suppose letting it all sink in. Finally, I spoke. “So now, I don’t know what to do. It’s ironic, really.”
“What do you mean?” Kima asked.
“I wanted so badly to be free. Now that I am, I don’t know where to go or what to do. It’s exactly how I felt at Nonna’s.”
“Not exactly,” said Wren. “No one is searching for you to...well, you know, sweetie. You’re safe here. And while you said you don’t know where to go, I can tell you, you aren’t leaving this property. You’re stayin’ right here with us until we can figure Cayman’s shit out.”
Hanadarko and Kima both nodded.
“But this is Cayman’s property. I can’t stay here. He thinks I’m…I’m a useless child.”
“He thinks nothing of the sort, Bex,” said Kima. “He was angry. It often comes with worry.”
“He never used to yell at me. I mean, one bloody kiss, and it’s like he owns me now. I mean, it was the best kiss I’ve ever had, but still—”
“Wait.” Hanadarko held up her hand. “Kiss?”
“Yes. Before he left. It was, um, well, I thought things changed between us. Instead of shouting at me, I expected him to race up, take me in his arms, and kiss me again.”
“Kinda hard when you’re both on horseback,” Hanadarko mumbled.
