AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No!” Shelby snapped angrily.
“But you know I’ll be sweating and shaking – I can already feel it, and the panic is…”
“Lena, go home. I will be there as quickly as I can. If you are in pain, call 911…”
“Just hurry, Shelby…please.”
“I will, I promise,” Lena said simply because the idea of getting up, trying to drive herself somewhere, or anything else seemed unimaginable. She didn’t even know where her car was right now. No, her life was an utter mess and she needed a means of escape quickly, before she lost herself in the quicksand she was sinking in already.
* * *
The next few days were humiliating and degrading, only furthering her need to run away from it all.
Lena felt like Shelby was watching her every second, afraid she would pop some other pill, combined with the sweats, the body ached, the nausea, and the understanding that this last binge had been exceedingly bad; she didn’t trust anyone in town and was afraid to show her face.
There was only one grocery store here, and they’d fired her for missing her shift or coming in late. There was one church, and everyone knew of ‘poor Lena Bow’. She couldn’t date anyone because the guys in town thought she was sleeping with Davy and Mike – but they were mad at her because shewouldn’tcross that line. She had zero friends her age who weren’t taking something to have a little fun in the small town.
No, she just wanted to escape and hide.
If I were a bird, I would fly away from here,Lena thought morosely only to see her sister rush into the house and look around. “What’s wrong?”
“We have company coming for dinner.”
“We do? Who?”
“A friend of mine and his son.”
“A… friend? Is he cute? What’s he like?” Lena asked curiously and was startled to see her sister look at her like she’d grown a third head.
“No. Whatever you are thinking – just no. I love you, and you are my sister, but you do not need to be thinking of a relationship or Deacon in that way at all. Back off because…” Shelby’s voice trailed off as she looked at her, stunned and shocked at the possessive quality of her sister’s voice. Her sister obviously liked this man and considered her a threat. Lena would never cross a line or hurt her – but seeing this side of her, this unexpected defensiveness in her for someone else, was shocking.
“He’s… different,” Shelby finished, trying to play off the words.
“I know I’m a mess,” Lena said quietly, swallowing and looking away. “I’m trying, Shelby.”
“I know you are,” she began, instantly contrite. “I’m sorry. I really like Deacon a lot, and while it’s not the time in my life? I can’t help myself. He’s really nice and special to me. I like him, and it’s going to be messy.”
“I’m happy for you.”
Her voice sounded so weak, so lonely, even though she was trying to be supportive. How could she not be? Her sister had always looked after everyone else – it was good to see something stir a little fire within her own self for once.
She wished she had something or someone of her own to defend.
Shelby gathered her in her arms, hugging her like a wounded child in that moment, and she felt it. Lena felt decades younger than Shelby right now instead of the mere two years.
“Listen,” Shelby began softly. “I had a friend tell me about something, and I wasn’t sure how to bring it up, but maybe there is no time like the present.”
“What is it?”
“Her friend has a ranch in Wyoming and…”
“You are sending me away?”
Lena gulped, stunned, wondering if this was one of those rehab facilities where you had to pass certain tests before they would let you out. Was she finally sick of helping her, shipping her off, and locking her away?
“No. I wanted to offer you an adventure. Hear me out – and if you don’t want to go, you don’t have to,” Shelby began again. “This ranch is on fifty acres, and you would have your own cabin, be around a few people who will be there to help if you need something, and you can stay as long as you like. In fact, because it’s a working ranch? You’ll be helping gather eggs, dealing with the horses, and there’s so much wide-open space. It would be a fresh start, a chance to get away and heal while finding yourself.”
“You want me to go – don’t you?”
