Fractured Sky (Tattered & Torn #5)(19)

“No.” It was all I could say. One word that showed there was no room for negotiation or capitulation. I had to stand strong. “I need to do this. And I think it might be good to take a little time off from working here.”

The truth was, with as little overhead as I had, I’d saved up years of living expenses, even though my dad rarely utilized my help around the ranch. It was a pity job. And it was time for me to stop taking from them.

“That’s ridiculous, Shiloh,” my mom clipped.

“He spent years in prison,” Hayes gritted out.

“For something he didn’t do.”

“I know that, but it still changes a person. It hardens them,” Hayes pushed. “He’s got a short temper. I’ve had to take him in for a fight or two.”

My dad held up a hand. “Ramsey might be hardened, but I don’t think he’d ever actually hurt anyone. My dealings with him have always been civil.”

“You’re buying horses from the man,” Hayes snapped. “I’m the one who had to pull him off someone at a bar.”

“Probably someone who deserved it,” I muttered under my breath. I’d seen Ramsey’s patience with his horses. There was no way he’d resort to physical violence unless it was the last option.

Hayes’ eyes narrowed. “What did you say?”

I lifted my gaze to his. “He’s my friend.”

I’d told Ramsey last night that I didn’t have any friends. It was pretty much the truth. He was the closest I came to one. However, it wasn’t the kind of friendship that most people would understand. Our communication had been a silent one for years. Yet, somehow, he made me feel less alone.

Hayes threw his hands into the air. “The guy doesn’t have friends, Shy. He’s bad news—a loner. Bites anyone’s head off who even tries to say hello. God forbid they show up at his ranch. And you want to go live on his property in the middle of nowhere?”

“I’ve been going there every week for the last nine years.”

The world went deadly still around me.

“What?” my dad croaked.

“I wanted to learn about what he does.”

Panic filled my mother’s expression. “You’ve been alone with him? Shiloh, did he take advantage of you? He’s so much older than you—”

“STOP!” I yelled so loudly a few of the horses in the barn let out sounds of distress. “I’m not weak. I’m not stupid. No one took advantage of me. I know right from wrong. I know better than any of you when someone has evil in them—because I’ve seen it up close.”

Tears glistened in my mother’s eyes, but I didn’t let it stop me. I had to get this out. “Ramsey is a good man. He’s helping me because of that good in him. He knew I needed a place to go where I felt safe. I feel safe there.”

“Then that’s where you’re going,” Hadley said, stepping up to our group.

There was ferocity in my little sister’s eyes. She had always had that warrior spirit that I wished I could bottle for myself. Well, maybe today I had.

“You’ve both lost your damn minds,” Hayes said.

“Hayes, don’t,” Hadley clipped. Then she looked at my mom. “I know this scares you, but you have to let her go.”

My mom opened her mouth to say something and then snapped it closed. She spun on her heel and stalked back to the ranch house. Dad looked at me and then to where Mom had gone. “I’d better go make sure she’s okay.”

Pain danced along my sternum as he walked away without another word. I’d hurt them. Again. But this time, I was pushing through. I wouldn’t let the guilt lock me in place.

“Shy—”

“Please, don’t. I can’t take any more today. You can yell at me some more tomorrow.”

Hayes’ jaw hardened. Hadley clapped him on the shoulder and then gave him a little push towards the house. “Go make Mom some tea. She’d like that.”

He started walking as if on autopilot. It wasn’t until he’d disappeared inside the house that I turned to Hadley. “Am I a horrible person?”

“No.”

There was such certainty in her voice that it made my throat burn.

“You’re as far from a horrible person as you can get. But it’s still going to hurt a little.”

“What is?”

Hadley looked towards the house and then back at me. “Whenever things got to be too much, you walked away. But you did it silently. You took a few days, went riding or camping, but you never had a conversation about what you were doing.” She paused. “It’s a hell of a lot harder when you have to stand up for yourself against someone pushing back.”

A smile stretched across her face as she leaned towards me. She didn’t touch me, but she was so close, I felt her warmth. “I’m so damn happy for you. It’s time. You’re ready for this.”

My eyes stung with a viciousness that had me swallowing hard. “No one else seems to think so.”

Hadley’s gaze wandered to the house again. “I was younger when it happened. The rest of them…they were supposed to look out for you. I think, to them, you’re frozen at ten. It’s going to take some time to make them realize that you aren’t that terrified little girl anymore.”