tough Ranger, but I’m weak when it comes to Kelli. I had to leave that cave. If I didn’t, I would have taken her in my arms again and begged, pleaded, whatever it took to make her realize she’s mine.
Chapter 8
Kelli
Watching Mitch take off into the darkness, I sink to my knees on the rocky floor. Tears flow from my face and I can’t seem to stop them. I don’t want to hurt him. The look on his face said I did. But he needs to understand how hurt I was and still am. I’m not sure if I can believe him when he says that there was nothing between him and Penny. I saw them, saw the way they were, when I came out of those woods , bruised and bloodied. What the hell is he talking about? Letters? After I left with Jeff, I never heard from anyone back on that ranch except my mother. Every time I even asked about Mitch, she would sigh and change the subject. I didn’t even return for her wedding. She ended up marrying Buck, the ranch foreman. I only get to see her once a year when she comes to visit me, and now I know what dad must have felt like, being away from me all the time but not wanting to go back. Shaking my head, I stand, steeling my back bone, determined to not let Mitch get to me. Turning, I look around and try to figure out what to do with myself while I’m waiting for him to return. I don’t want to be considered worthless.
As I bend over the pack, I begin pulling on the sleeping bag he had grabbed and the blanket I had, spreading them out across the floor. Setting one of my Glock’s on the ground next to me, I refuse to let it out of sight. My father drilled that into me at a young age. We’re both going to need some rest if we want to get out of here in a hurry in the morning, so hopefully he will be back soon. Thankfully, we won’t be resting together, I think to myself, moving my blanket a little farther away from him. With the fire going to ward off animals, we have to worry about other predators seeing it and finding us. Hopefully the Gessatti’s aren’t that smart, seeing as how they came into the woods in dress clothes. My stomach starts feeling queasy. I know it’s not upset, but something doesn’t feel right. Standing, I turn my head to the side, trying to listen. I hear rocks moving, falling, as if someone is trying to walk quietly on them. The small pebbles on these ledges make that impossible. Slowly, I slide my hand down towards my blanket, trying to reach for my gun.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you Ma’am. Put those arms in the air now and turn towards me.” That voice, I know it, but can’t quite place who it is. The low rumble sounds like a grown man, yet has a slight lisp, as if someone didn’t learn how to correctly pronunciate things.
“Well well well. Looks like I get a two for one tonight! You and my brother,” Cameron says. My eyes fly wide open and my heart races, pounding in my ears. Instinctively I take a step backwards. He looks like he weighs about a hundred pounds more than he did the last time I saw him, ten years ago. His hair that used to look so much like Mitch’s is now greased and slicked back, just like the Italians we ran into earlier.
“Don’t move Kel, I’d hate to have to shoot ya before I get to play with ya.”
“Still sound like an uneducated hillbilly, huh Cam?” I say, unable to bite back my sarcasm. His face flushes red. I’m not that weak little girl I was last time I encountered this monster.
“Yea, well Mr. Gessatti doesn’t care how I talk. I get the job done. Better than those screw up kids of his too. I mean, really, how they can mess up when it’s just you, your shot up dad and a tied up Fenton. It was pure luck that my brother, the hero, ended up being one of the Rangers sent out here huh? You two have a nice little game of catch up? I hope so, cuz it’s my turn now.” He leers at me, as if expecting an answer, but I keep my face stony, glaring at him. I hope he can feel all the hate I have welled up
Chapter 8
Kelli
Watching Mitch take off into the darkness, I sink to my knees on the rocky floor. Tears flow from my face and I can’t seem to stop them. I don’t want to hurt him. The look on his face said I did. But he needs to understand how hurt I was and still am. I’m not sure if I can believe him when he says that there was nothing between him and Penny. I saw them, saw the way they were, when I came out of those woods , bruised and bloodied. What the hell is he talking about? Letters? After I left with Jeff, I never heard from anyone back on that ranch except my mother. Every time I even asked about Mitch, she would sigh and change the subject. I didn’t even return for her wedding. She ended up marrying Buck, the ranch foreman. I only get to see her once a year when she comes to visit me, and now I know what dad must have felt like, being away from me all the time but not wanting to go back. Shaking my head, I stand, steeling my back bone, determined to not let Mitch get to me. Turning, I look around and try to figure out what to do with myself while I’m waiting for him to return. I don’t want to be considered worthless.
As I bend over the pack, I begin pulling on the sleeping bag he had grabbed and the blanket I had, spreading them out across the floor. Setting one of my Glock’s on the ground next to me, I refuse to let it out of sight. My father drilled that into me at a young age. We’re both going to need some rest if we want to get out of here in a hurry in the morning, so hopefully he will be back soon. Thankfully, we won’t be resting together, I think to myself, moving my blanket a little farther away from him. With the fire going to ward off animals, we have to worry about other predators seeing it and finding us. Hopefully the Gessatti’s aren’t that smart, seeing as how they came into the woods in dress clothes. My stomach starts feeling queasy. I know it’s not upset, but something doesn’t feel right. Standing, I turn my head to the side, trying to listen. I hear rocks moving, falling, as if someone is trying to walk quietly on them. The small pebbles on these ledges make that impossible. Slowly, I slide my hand down towards my blanket, trying to reach for my gun.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you Ma’am. Put those arms in the air now and turn towards me.” That voice, I know it, but can’t quite place who it is. The low rumble sounds like a grown man, yet has a slight lisp, as if someone didn’t learn how to correctly pronunciate things.
“Well well well. Looks like I get a two for one tonight! You and my brother,” Cameron says. My eyes fly wide open and my heart races, pounding in my ears. Instinctively I take a step backwards. He looks like he weighs about a hundred pounds more than he did the last time I saw him, ten years ago. His hair that used to look so much like Mitch’s is now greased and slicked back, just like the Italians we ran into earlier.
“Don’t move Kel, I’d hate to have to shoot ya before I get to play with ya.”
“Still sound like an uneducated hillbilly, huh Cam?” I say, unable to bite back my sarcasm. His face flushes red. I’m not that weak little girl I was last time I encountered this monster.
“Yea, well Mr. Gessatti doesn’t care how I talk. I get the job done. Better than those screw up kids of his too. I mean, really, how they can mess up when it’s just you, your shot up dad and a tied up Fenton. It was pure luck that my brother, the hero, ended up being one of the Rangers sent out here huh? You two have a nice little game of catch up? I hope so, cuz it’s my turn now.” He leers at me, as if expecting an answer, but I keep my face stony, glaring at him. I hope he can feel all the hate I have welled up
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