Page 7 of Stalwart Ridge Security: Murray
CHAPTER FOUR
Two days later
– MURRAY –
“Sit,” I snap, and keep my gaze on the road when I add, “You better not go all crazy when we get inside.”
The heavy breathing next to me draws my attention and I shoot a glance at the passenger side.The Texas Heeler dog I adopted a little over an hour ago has his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth.His fur is a marbled pattern of gray, white, and black.Hank is his name, and he has bright blue eyes.
“Why do I even talk to you when your eyes are radiating your crazy?”I snort and finally bring the truck to a stop in front of the cabin.
I get out and scan my surroundings.Ballard is hiding out here somewhere, keeping an eye on Elodie in case Nolan decides to show.She doesn’t know this little fact, and I’d like to keep it that way.Ballard is a sharpshooter, and I asked him to swing by this morning so I could head into town to get some supplies.
The soft whistle draws my attention, and I dip my chin in thanks.I give him a short whistle in return to relieve him of duty.He doesn’t return the whistle which means he’s staying put.I dip my chin, letting him know I got the message.It saves me a trip later because there have been some developments.
I open the door to grab the bags of groceries from the backseat.I would have asked Ballard to pick up a few things.Yet, the way I’ve seen Elodie distance herself from everything and everyone makes my chest tighten.Losing a horse is one thing, having it ripped from your life as brutal as she experienced?Yeah, it’ll mess with your mind.
Then the whole Burk shit happened, Nolan coming after her, and I get the feeling there’s also some deeply rooted trauma bubbling to the surface as well.The haunted look in her eyes is a familiar one.Something similar stares back at me in the mirror when I wake up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat from a bad dream...more like a vivid memory.
A lot of shit happened when I served my country.Like Elodie, I’m not one to talk, or share my thoughts and emotions.My job at Stalwart Ridge Security isn’t always safe either, but it gives me a purpose.
The door of the cabin swings open and Elodie steps out.“Need any help carrying the stuff?”
“I got us something that doesn’t need to be carried,” I tell her and open the passenger side door.
Hank jumps out and I watch Elodie’s eyes light up the second the dog’s paws hit the dirt.Elodie squats down and I know what’s going to happen before the dog launches himself at her.Rushing toward them, I release a curse when I can’t prevent the dog from colliding with Elodie.
She gets knocked back and her hands dig into his fur while Hank ferociously licks her face.I place the bags of groceries on the porch and bend down to scoop her up.I have no clue what to expect...a curse...a sob...certainly not the giggle tumbling over her lips.
“Gotta teach you some manners, boy,” I grunt and pull Elodie to her feet.“Sorry.It seemed like a good idea to get us a dog when I passed the shelter.The fucker guilt-tripped me with one look of his blue eyes.”
Elodie’s green eyes light up.Fuck.This woman’s eyes are the color of the forest, the dog’s eyes are the same as the sky, while mine are as dark as the ground beneath our feet.I have no clue why I’m linking us that way.
“You mean you got yourself a dog, right?”She conveniently keeps her eyes on Hank.
I stare at her to see her reaction when I state, “Nope, I got us a dog.We’ve been living together for the past few weeks, and I’ve always wanted a dog.With my line of work I can be gone for days, sometimes even weeks.Hence us getting a dog.If I’m gone for work, you’d be there for him.Perfect solution.”
“You can’t simply decide something huge as this without discussing it with me first,” she starts, giving me her eyes this time.
