Page 54 of Untamed Heart
‘Don’t be ridiculous, Elizabeth,’ Dad scoffed. ‘That was between me and Lottie.’
‘As if,’ Lil said, shaking her head. ‘You made it real personal, real fast. And even if you hadn’t, you don’t get to speak to her that way. Now get off this ranch before I fetch my shotgun and have to persuade you that way.’
‘What a disgrace,’ he hissed.
I tried to turn then, rage boiling up and over again, trying to fight against Cole to get back outside and defend her.
‘It’s okay, honey, Lil’s got it. She’s seen worse off this ranch.’ Cole’s voice rumbled through his chest as he guided me back to my room.
‘Fucking bastard.’ I shuddered, desperately trying not to cry. ‘How could he . . . how dare he . . .’
Finally, through the door to my bedroom, he closed it behind us, leaning on it and pulling me into him as I gave in and cried. His hand stroked my hair, his other arm firmly around my back. At several points I felt his lips on my head, pressing down, trying to soothe away what felt like a lifetime of jagged edges.
As the sobs slowed, he moved us over to the bed, setting me down and taking off my boots to lay me down, peeling the cover back and then pulling it up over me.
‘I’m going to get some water, okay?’ he said, his voice almost unbearably gentle compared to the abuse I’d just taken – and thrown back.
In the quiet that followed, more tears flowed, as I imagined with embarrassment how Cole and Lil had likely heard everything. Shame scorched through me at having anything to do with someone who thought like that, and at having gone along with his bullshit for so long and never having fought back before now.
The door opened, but this time it was Lil that stepped inside, her face pale but determined.
‘He’s gone now, honey,’ she said, coming over to the bed and leaning down.
‘I’m so sorry, Lil,’ I croaked. ‘I can’t believe he said those things about you and your mum.’
She hugged me tight.
‘It’s water off my back, darlin’, don’t worry about that. Your daddy’s not much different to mine, in a lot of ways. I’ve already been through this shit once before, remember?’
I nodded, looking up as Cole came back in, a glass of water in his hand.
He and Lil shared a look.
‘Get some rest, okay? It’ll feel better in the morning.’
Kissing my forehead and squeezing Cole’s arm, she left, closing the door behind her.
He placed the water on my side table, switching on my lamp and turning off the main light before perching on the side of the bed.
The weight of the words that had been spoken outside settled across both of us.
‘I appreciate everything you said out there,’ he said, hands placed on his legs as though he couldn’t risk them being elsewhere.
‘I’m so sorry you had to hear that,’ I whispered. ‘He’s . . . I hate him for saying such awful shit.’
Cole nodded.
‘It’s people like him I feel sorry for. They’ll never know what it’s like to be happy, you know? But I can’t believe he spoke to you like that.’ He shook his head. ‘I know he’s your dad, but I swear . . . I might not be able to hold back next time if he ever treats you like that again in front of me. Breaks my damn heart watching you cry.’
I stared up at him, watching as he stared back, searching my face. This wasn’t how I’d pictured the best date of my life ending, and I felt anger mixed with sadness at how our happy evening had been ruined.
‘You need to get some rest, I’ll—’ he began, as though warding off the inevitable.
‘Don’t go,’ I blurted, reaching out and holding his arm before he could get up. ‘I mean, you don’t have to go, unless you want to.’
The smallest smile flickered as he looked down.
‘I’m not sure . . .’
