Chapter 24: Gwen - Hunter or Hunted

Sebastian and I took turns driving and napping. We stopped for gas and fast food, eating while we drove. In our team effort, we made it back to Montana by 1 P.M., and the airport closest to Black Pines by 3:30.

I did my best to hide Samson in my hoodie while he returned the rental. He hadn’t made any permanent messes in the car, but the smell could affect Sebastian’s damage deposit.

From there, we headed to Sebastian’s office. He tended to Samson’s eye with some ointment, cleaned his dirty ears, shaved off the matted fur, then followed up with an oatmeal bath to ease that pink, inflamed skin.

It was after 5 by then, right around the time we would’ve made it home if we’d flown. No one needed to know we’d driven instead of flown, so we decided not to mention it.

Lizzie had stayed with Rhiannon while we were gone, so we grabbed Sebastian’s car from airport parking and drove to the ranch. When we got to my cabin, he kissed me goodbye. It was a long kiss, a slow one. I ached for more, but we were back in reality. Back to responsibility.

Once I got inside, I set up Samson’s bed on the floor beside the couch, his litter box in the bathroom, but I let him get cozy in my bed. Better to control his and Honey’s meeting carefully.

I shot Simone a text.

Hey, I’m home. Are you? Can I come get Honey?

Her response was instant.

Simone

I’ll come to you. Kinda need to debrief anyway.

What? Why?

What’d happened in the two days I was gone? Was Honey alright? Debrief? About what?

Simone

I’ll explain when I get there.

Ten minutes later, she walked through the door with my fluff ball. Honey barreled toward me at lightning speed, jumping more than her height from the hardwoods. I dropped to the floor beside her, roughing up her scruff, kissing her all over, checking for damage. Simone hadn’t implied that something had happened to my girl, but still. Had to be sure.

Excited and rambunctious, of course, but in perfect health. The only surprise was her rapidly wiggling nose against my hoodie. Then the cat bed, followed by her trot to the bedroom door. She sniffed the seam of the door, nub of a tail vibrating with excitement.

“She was good.” Simone rubbed her eyes, tone distant. “Junie probably gave her too much table food though, so don’t be surprised if her poop’s weird.”

“Noted.” I chuckled and headed for the fridge. “Thanks for watching her either way. Do you want a drink?”

“You got any wine?”

I almost said it was a little early, time distorted from the twenty-four-hour drive, but the clock on the oven read 6:13. “Yeah, sure. Red or white?”

“I’ll take rubbing alcohol at this point.” Raking her hands through her messy curls, she grabbed two fistfuls at the back. “Mouthwash. Whatever you’ve got, give it to me.”

“Also noted,” I said under my breath, grabbing the cheap bottle from the back of the fridge. “What’s going on?”

“Ask me once I’m a glass down.” She wiggled her fingertips in my direction. “I don’t need a glass. Just hand it over.”

With a slow, steady hand, I extended the bottle.

She took it, spun off the lid, and tossed her head back. The chug-chug-chug of it sliding into her belly sounded. Makeup smeared the corners of her eyes, her skin was a sickly shade of white, and only seven of her always perfect acrylic nails remained.

I sat on the sofa and gestured to the seat beside me. “What’s going on, Simone? Where’s Junie?”

“At the daycare.” She pawed some slobber from the edge of her lip. A big belch followed. “They’re bedazzling a ball to drop tomorrow night. She’s fine.”

Honey jumped up beside me, still sniffing Samson’s scent that tainted every inch of my clothes. “Then what’s the matter?”

“That crazy bitch,” she murmured, gripping either side of the counter behind her. Teeth gritted, her eyes flicked over the floor. “She was here. In the ranch.”

“Angela?” Jaw hanging open, I held Honey closer. “How’d she find your apartment? What’d she do? What⁠—”

“She didn’t.” Simone set the bottle on the counter and went back to rubbing her eyes. “Farrah, she lives in one of the cabins. You know her, I think. She has the big husky?” I didn’t know Farrah. I just knew her dog went berserk every time he spotted Honey. But I was following. “She helped us piece it together. Angela showed at her door, asking if Farrah knew where I lived. She didn’t, but she pointed her to Rhiannon. She thought she was one of us.”

“She confronted Rhiannon?”

“More like ambushed.” Simone rubbed a hand over her mouth. “I don’t know exactly what was said. Axel ushered her out, Rhiannon told her not to come back around, but she...” Simone’s face screwed up in some combination of fury and fear. “She was here, Gwen. She wants my daughter. She wants to take her from me. It’s gonna get worse. I know it will, I just⁠—”

“Hey, hey.” I stood and took hold of her shoulders. Her watery eyes met mine, lips quivering. “We won’t let that happen. She’s not getting anywhere near Junie.”

“You don’t understand,” she whispered. “She’s crazy, Gwen. I know people say that all the time, and it’s just meant to be an insult, but that’s not what I mean. She thinks I killed her son, and she’s gonna get revenge. She’ll stop at nothing to get revenge.”

“I’m not afraid of her.” Angela was Charlotte in another font. A broken woman whose life revolved around shitty men. “You don’t need to be either. She can’t hurt you, and we both know she doesn’t have the legal standing to take Junie.”

“I’m not talking about the law.” Simone shook free of my grasp and picked up the bottle. “Angela will take her. If she gets the chance, she’ll just take her. I didn’t even want to leave her at the daycare. And I’m gonna have to cancel on Edwards because I can’t just go out right now. I can’t leave her here for some stupid date.”

“It’s not some college rager, Simone,” I said. “Sebastian said it’s someone he and Edwards went to high school with. She’s married with kids, who are also gonna be there. I’m pretty sure Sebastian’s bringing Lizzie. You could bring Junie.”

“Bringing a kid on a date isn’t appropriate.” As if chugging from the wine bottle was. “No, I can’t. I’m not in the headspace for a relationship right now. I’m gonna cancel.”

She slid her phone from her pocket, and I snatched it from her hands. “You said it wasn’t really a date. And it isn’t. It’s a holiday gathering of adult friends. But if you’re really worried about it, be my date. Edwards can be Sebastian’s.”

She almost smiled. Almost. “Are they even friends?”

“They were.” I shrugged. “And Edwards understands your situation, Simone. He knows everything about Angela that we do. He’ll understand that you don’t wanna leave Junie right now. But you said it yourself. You really like him. Don’t self-sabotage. David’s dead. He doesn’t get to keep ruining your plans.”

“Sure feels like he does.” She gestured vaguely behind me. “I don’t even like this. Her being down there by herself.”

I frowned. “She’s safe here. You know that.”

“Yeah, and you know how?” She lifted the bottle and chugged some more. “Rhiannon put everything on lockdown. We’re not even allowed to hold the door open for another girl getting in or out of any of the buildings. We all have to use our keycards for entry and exit everywhere we go. So even if she tells me everything’s okay, I know it’s not.” Tears spilling over, hardly able to speak, she shook her head. “It’s not okay, Gwen. Nothing’s okay.”

“Right now, it is.” I checked the clock again. “When are they gonna be done bedazzling the ball? I’ll go get Junie. We’ll make dinner, and we’ll get the pullout bed set up, and you guys can stay with me tonight.”

“Alice is gonna text me when they’re finished up.” Sniffling, she rubbed at her nose. “But I should go back to the apartment. There’s keycards, and security measures, and—and⁠—”

“But no crazy bitches like me.” I gave a teasing smile. “Let that woman show here and try to hurt you or Junie. I dare her.”

Simone let out something that almost resembled a laugh.

My smile grew more genuine. I reached out and thumbed Simone’s tears away. “As soon as the court’s open after the holiday, we’re getting you that restraining order. But for tonight? You’ve got me.”

Nostrils flared, a smile tugging up the corner of her lips, Simone nodded.

* * *

Once Simone settled down a bit, a “Mrreow!” sounded in my bedroom. Honey ran to the door, tail wagging, and Simone cocked her head at me.

I told her Sebastian and I found the cat wandering the streets in Delilah’s hometown. He wouldn’t leave my side, so I took him.

She believed it. Hopefully everyone else would too.

With the air lighter, I figured now was as good a time as ever to make the introductions. I clipped on Honey’s leash and opened the bedroom door.

Samson stood on the floor, a few feet away. The moment he saw Honey, the hair on his back stood. When Honey took a step forward, Samson snarled like a rabid raccoon. Hissing, he bolted under the bed.

Honey’s tail still wagged as she inched forward. When she lowered her head, peering under the mattress, a paw snaked out with claws ready to rip.

I pulled Honey back. Simone took hold of her leash. I got on my belly, saying, “Here, kitty kitty,” with fingers extended.

Samson came closer, rubbing his head against my hand. I thought if I held him, if I made him feel safe, he’d be less inclined to attack my dog.

I thought wrong.

Even with him in my arms, held closely to my chest, he hissed and snarled and growled at Honey on the ground. His back legs trembled, reminding me he was afraid.

Of course he was. God only knew what he’d gone through in Evan’s custody.

Simone, a proud cat lady, took Samson into her lap. She held him and petted him while Honey watched from the ground, eyes so sweet, short tail still bouncing back and forth with excitement.

But when I invited her onto the couch as well, Samson’s claws came back out. He hissed and growled and flopped around like a fish out of water.

He jumped onto the windowsill behind us, climbed the curtains monkey-style, hopped onto the shelf, then off the shelf, and ran back to the bedroom in a blur.

My heart ached as I carried his food bowl and litter box back there. No one could convince me bringing him here hurt him more than living with Evan had, but I’d hoped he’d love Honey. Maybe he would one day, but that wasn’t going to be today.

Hopefully, he just needed time to adjust.

Simone’s phone rang as I was coming back into the room. They’d finished bedazzling the ball, and Simone was still a bit tipsy.

I took Honey with me to pick Junie up. A few of the girls at the daycare asked me how the funeral went. With all the little ears nearby, I told them we could talk more about it at group.

From there, Junie and I drove back to my cabin. As we unloaded from the car, a familiar Jeep rolled to a stop in the gravel road. Rhiannon stepped out.

“Go ahead in, kiddo,” I told Junie, lengthening Honey’s lead so she could scope out the yard. “I’ll be in soon.”

“Can I say hi to Samson?” She bounced on the tips of her toes. “I’ll close the door so he can’t get Honey. Pretty, pretty pleeeease.”

I laughed. “Yeah, of course. As long as that’s okay with your mom.”

She grinned ear to ear as she skipped up the stairs.

“Samson?” Rhiannon asked, stowing her hands in her pockets as she approached.

“Yeah, I was gonna talk to you about that actually.” My breath clouded before my face, hopefully disguising the lie I’d planned on keeping. “Me and Sebastian found this cat when we were in Missouri. He was helpless, hungry, matted up, and, well, I couldn’t leave him like that.”

“So you got a cat?” Rhiannon leaned against the rear door of my car. “How’s Honey feel about it?”

“She adores him,” I said. “She loves all cats, really. Cats don’t usually feel the same way.”

Chuckling, she shrugged. “Just make sure he’s up to date on his vaccines and everything. I’m sure Sebastian’s already handling that.”

“Yeah, he checked him out this afternoon.” I tightened Honey’s leash as a car rolled by. “If I need to put down another pet deposit or anything⁠—”

“I know you take care of your animals.” She waved me off. “No. I just saw Sebastian a little while ago when he picked up Lizzie. Thought I’d swing by and ask how the funeral went.”

“It went.” I chewed on my bottom lip. “It was sad. Frustrating. I met all the reasons she came here, and I get it. I get how she wound up where she was.”

“Yeah. Same story most of us have. Generations and generations of pain.” Rhiannon’s gaze wandered into the trees. She reached into her pocket and came out with a pack of cigarettes. Without so much as looking my way, she sparked it and said, “I know, I know. They’ll kill me.”

No matter my surprise, I said, “I’m not judging.”

“Thirty damn years off these things, and one bad week.” She took in a long drag and shut her eyes. On the exhale, she opened them. “I’m not buying another pack, but god damn, I’ve missed nicotine.”

I chuckled. “Luckily, never was a vice of mine. All those pictures of tar-filled lungs in school turned me off.”

“Yeah, I need to take a look at those again.” She flicked the ash to the packed snow below our feet. “I’m assuming Simone told you already.”

“She did, yeah,” I said. “She’s freaked out. They’re staying with me tonight.”

“Don’t tell her this.” Rhiannon kept her voice low, glancing past the curtains. “But I’m freaked out too.”

Snowflakes danced through the air. I lifted my hood to keep some warmth inside, but I’d only tossed on a jacket light enough to run in and out of the car. If I’d known I was gonna be chit-chatting, I would’ve worn a coat to protect my tightening tendons from this icy wind. “You think she’ll get in again?”

“There are too many gaps in the fence to confidently say she won’t,” Rhiannon said. “Honestly, I don’t want either of them going anywhere alone. I want Simone to get a gun too.”

I laughed.

Rhiannon didn’t. Her eyes came to mine. “That bitch’s gonna be a problem. She’s gonna do some real damage. If Simone hadn’t already opened the salon, if she weren’t so adamant about staying here, I’d transfer her to another facility.”

My heart jumped into my throat. “You think Angela’s that bad?”

“I don’t know.” Rhiannon took another drag. “I’m not worried about her theories. For all I care, her son’s rotting in a shallow grave somewhere, and the world’s a better place for it.” She waved the smoke away. “But she’s relentless. The shit she said, the implication... She’s out to hurt Simone. By any and all means necessary.”

A touch of relief fell through my body at that first bit. At least we were on the same page about David. “She’s willing to get a restraining order now, though.”

“Yeah, and we all know how much those count for,” Rhiannon said. She pressed her lips together and shook her head. “Anyway. We’re under light lockdown.”

“Simone explained,” I said. “It was a good call.”

She nodded, distant gaze falling on me again. “Good. And you look good, by the way. Lighter.”

“Really?” Snorting, I brushed some hair behind my ear. “I’ve barely slept.”

“Really.” She surveyed me a moment longer. “You think the funeral was good for you? Gave you some closure?”

“Some, yeah.” Deciding to kill Evan gave me more. “I do feel better. I don’t know if it was saying goodbye, or if it was getting out of town, or if it was because I talked to her little sister.” I considered telling her about the situation between Ava and Evan but decided it was better suited for our next session. “I think I got through to her. I think after we talked, she saw that there was more to life than what her small town told her there was.”

“That’s what I like to hear.” Rhiannon managed a smile. “I was thinking about something. And feel free to tell me to shut up.”

“I would never.” Although, icicles were practically dangling off my nostrils. Even my forehead burned with each whoosh of the cold wind. If I didn’t wanna risk frostbite, I may need to do just that soon.

“I think you’re like me,” she said. “You like helping others. Sometimes to your detriment, but still. It’s how you heal. Helping Delilah, that was helping you, wasn’t it? Before all this?”

I couldn’t argue, so I nodded. “I guess, yeah.”

“Our outreach department could use more hands, if you’ve got time,” she said. “You’d get paid, of course, and I’d make sure it didn’t interfere with your hours at Maple & Thyme.”

Squinting, I cocked my head to the side. “Like, what Simone was doing when I got here? Traveling, talking to women. Helping them get out?”

“Or just getting back to emails if you don’t wanna travel.” She shrugged. “But yeah, same thing Simone was doing before she got too busy with the salon.”

“Wow,” I murmured.

So many women, all across the country, all escaping shitty men.

But what if they didn’t have to escape? What if I eliminated their enemy, and their life could go on? What if they didn’t have to run to the ranch because I killed what they were running from?

“I’m definitely interested,” I said. “Do I fill out an application, or⁠—”

“Come down an hour early before your next session.” She squeezed the cherry off her cigarette and stowed the rest in her pocket. “We’ll work out the details. But I gotta get back down to town. Let me know if you need anything.” She nodded toward the cabin. “Or if they do.”

“Sure,” I said, starting for the house. “Thanks for the offer.”

Just a smile in response.

I was halfway up the steps when she said, “You know what’s funny, kid?”

“What’s that?” I looked at her over my shoulder.

That smile spoke a thousand words now. “Delilah had a cat named Samson.”

“Huh,” I said, returning the smirk. “That is funny.”