The Staying Kind (5 page)

Chapter 4

Damn, I’m going to cry
.

She hadn’t cried in so long and she didn’t want to start now. Rio willed the tears not to fall.

“I promise I’ll think about it.”

In fact, she spent half the night thinking about it. The last time she recalled watching the clock on the table next to the bed, it was nearly two in the morning. She’d been mulling over the pros and cons of remaining at Cobble Creek for the entire winter. The con list was much longer, and made a lot more sense, no matter how appealing the pro list appeared.

Even with so little rest, Rio woke up more refreshed than she’d been in days. Four hours of sleep, the best four hours in years.

Gray morning light started to bleed through the curtains. Instinct told her to snuggle under the covers for a while longer, but she things to do. She’d try to sneak down to the cabin and gather her things at lunch, then think of another place to crash. She didn’t know how long she could sleep in the tack room. Not only was it uncomfortable, the weather had begun to turn colder. Maybe she’d have to rent a room somewhere in town.

First things first. She needed her stuff. She didn’t like the idea of breaking into the cabin again, but what choice did she have? She didn’t own much, and what she did have was crammed in a backpack she’d shoved under the bed.

Her clothes were folded neatly on the dresser in front of the mirror. Before she picked them up, she gave herself a long examination in the mirror. She wasn’t sure what she’d find in her reflection, some indication of her character, what others saw in her.

Her clear, pale green eyes hid her past well, and certainly couldn’t mask the deep sadness dwelling there. Her full lips were set in a straight line. She could smile when happiness found her. Most of the time she was far too serious.

When she’d been younger, her mother’s long parade of loser boyfriends had called her pretty, which made her want to be anything but, so she never fixed herself up to be noticed. No makeup, no fancy clothes.

Quickly Rio spun away from the mirror and grabbed the clothes. She knew enough about herself. She didn’t have time to gawk and dig. She had work to do out in the barn.

Jessa didn’t have one word for Travis from their conversation the evening before, until she climbed on the bus for school the next morning. She ate the breakfast he’d fixed for her, took the lunch he’d packed, and shuffled off to the bottom of the driveway ten minutes earlier than she had to.

Travis wondered how long it would be before she spoke to him again. She stood alone at the end of the driveway scuffing her toe in the dirt piled along the shoulder, dejected. She’d pulled her dyed black hair into two stubby pigtails. How long until she regretted such a drastic move?

She had a long road ahead of her and, whether she wanted it or not, he’d be there for her. She’d have to figure it out along the way, and he’d have to figure out how to be a father to a teenage girl.

For now, he had to stop worrying about her. Today he started his new job, and it would make a lousy impression if he were late. As he headed out the door he grabbed his holster and new badge.

Before being sent to war, Travis had been on the New Forest police force, which only consisted of four fulltime officers, including himself. Now he’d be the one in charge.

His first day on the job didn’t offer anything more interesting than a few traffic stops and a call from a downtown storekeeper, complaining about some local teens playing hooky and loitering on the sidewalks. A typical day in the life of a small town police chief.

His mind remained fully on Jessa, so it was a good thing the day didn’t offer any crises. Worrying about her wasn’t new. He’d worried every day, from the moment he’d left her with his sister nearly two years ago. Now they were together again, a little family unit, and he had to be responsible for her wellbeing, both mental and physical.

He’d told her he’d pick her up after school and bring her over to his Aunt Sadie’s for her first day of work. She’d be there for three hours and then home for dinner and homework. He hoped it would direct her mind in a better direction. Sadie would be a wonderful influence. She always brought out the best in people, no matter what the circumstances.

At the school he parked the police SUV in line with all the other parents waiting to pick up their teens. As soon as school let out, a stream of kids came out the door. Jessa wasn’t amongst the first wave and nearly ten minutes passed before she trudged out of the school, head down, by herself. The lonely figure broke Travis’s heart. He wanted to gather her up in a hug, but the gesture wouldn’t be welcomed at the moment.

When she finally glanced up and saw him her face fell even further, her brows furrowed in a frown. Her step slowed and she looked around as if searching for an escape route.

Finding none, she finished the trek to the vehicle and pulled the door open, crawled inside, and slumped in the seat. “You had to bring this thing?”

“I’m on a break from work,” he replied. “Buckle up.”

Jessa complied and stared out the window as Travis pulled away from the curb. She didn’t speak until they’d left the school zone and heading toward their house.

“Have a good day?” Travis wanted to reach her, bring her out of this funk.

“Mmm.”

“Lots of homework?”

“Did most of it in study.” She barely mumbled the words, kept staring out the window.

“Okay. Aunt Sadie is waiting for you.”

Jessa snorted. “Do I have to go? I don’t want to hang out with a bunch of horses.”

“You do have to go. I’m not out of work for another three hours. This will keep you occupied. Besides, you’re earning some money and that’ll come in handy.”

“I’d rather apply for a job over at the coffee place. At least there I’d see some of my friends.”

Which is why you’re not working there.

“And you’re not old enough to work there. Talk to me next year. Besides, you used to love visiting your aunt. I couldn’t tear you away from those horses. And you followed Aunt Sadie around like her shadow. Remember that pony? I forget her name. Aunt Sadie taught you how to ride on her. I think you were five.”

Jessa replied with a muttered sound he couldn’t understand and continued to stare out the window.

“Whatever you think, honey, this is not a punishment.”

“Yeah, I know. You’re doing it with my best interests in mind,” Jessa replied sarcastically.

“I am. I want you to get excited in something again.” Travis realized he might not be expressing himself correctly. Desperation grabbed hold of his end of the conversation. The last thing he wanted was for his daughter to resent everything he did.

“Like shoveling out stalls. Thanks, Dad.”

“Then what do you want to do? You tell me what interests you and I’ll make sure you’re involved with it. Dancing? Any school sports? Please, talk to me.”

He glanced away from the road to Jessa. Her face revealed nothing. She said nothing.

“Jessa, please don’t cut me out.”

She remained silent, and Travis didn’t push her any further.

When they arrived at Cobble Creek, Jessa climbed from the SUV and stalked off. By the time he entered the barn, Jessa had disappeared. Rio stood at the cross ties with Dante, working on the horse’s coat with a brush.

She glanced at him, warily, as if he were some predator coming for the attack. Why did she look like he’d caught her doing something she shouldn’t be doing? His thoughts returned to the cabin and the squatter. He hadn’t been down there to see if anyone had broken in again. He’d have to check it out later.

“Is Sadie around?” he finally asked.

“She’s in the riding ring with Fleur,” Rio replied, then returned her attention to the horse. Travis could see the tightness in her jaw. Tension hung heavy in the air. Being suspicious was part of his job description. He planned to find out more about this Rio before he’d be comfortable with having her here at Cobble Creek.

“My aunt tells me you’re thinking of moving on.”

Rio paused in brushing for a second. He studied the subtle changes on her face. She bit her lip, and her brows lowered. Someone who didn’t pay as much attention might have missed the expression.

“I generally go down south for the winter,” she acknowledged, her voice low and husky. In another kind of encounter, he might think it sexy. In fact, in a different situation he would’ve shown more appreciation for this woman.

Yesterday she’d covered her body with a bulky, unattractive sweatshirt. Because of today’s warmer temperatures, she wore jeans and a form fitting t-shirt. Though not tall, her body was lean and well curved. Even with the short hair, there was nothing boyish about her.

“What?” she asked impatiently after he’d stared for a long time. “I like it down south. And in the spring I come back north.”

“Where are you from originally?”

“Pennsylvania,” she replied quickly. She tossed the brush into the grooming box and turned on him fully. “Listen, I’m not doing anything illegal, am I? Traveling around? I won’t leave your aunt in the lurch. I’ve given her notice and I’ll stay until she finds someone to replace me fulltime. I do have the right to leave if I want, you know.”

Although she spoke with confidence and a bit of impatience, he still believed she was hiding something. He worried about her being at Cobble Creek. Not that he figured her to be some sociopath, but what kind of influence would she be on Jessa? And did she even care at all about Sadie? If Rio could break into his cabin, she certainly could steal from his aunt as well.

Unfortunately, he had no solid proof of her wrongdoing. Only a whole lot of suspicion.

“No, of course there’s nothing wrong with how you live your life,” he retorted firmly. “Plenty of people make the same choices. I don’t want
my
people hurt because of your decisions.”

An angry pink blush rose in her cheeks and her green eyes darkened. She stepped away from Dante, her fists clutched at her side as she took a stride toward him.

She’s a fighter.
Brave enough to step right up to him while he wore his uniform and look directly at him.

“There’s nothing in my lifestyle that has hurt anyone, your aunt included. You don’t know me, you don’t know my circumstances. I’m not some hoodlum or criminal and I’m not a coldhearted bitch.”

The vehemence in her voice surprised Travis. He’d struck a nerve. A sore one. If she thought he’d back down, she had another think coming. Her fervor only served to stoke his curiosity. He’d learn her story, what had started her on this road. And then ponder where to go from there.

“Take it easy.” He spoke low, his gaze locked on hers. “I’m not suggesting you’re a criminal. Sadie can sniff out a bad character. You wouldn’t be here if she didn’t trust you. There have been times, however, when she’s overlooked certain issues, things beyond your control that can come and hurt people around you.”

Some of the fire died in her eyes. She still kept her gaze on him. “I have to get back to work.” Before she could take more than two steps, Travis gripped her shoulder. She swung around to face him, flicking a glance at his hand resting on her shoulder, before locking those wide green eyes on his.

“If there is anything you have to say to me I’d recommend you say it now,” he advised. Much better for her to admit something on her own than for him to have to dig up any dirt on her.

She stared at him for a silent moment as if she were weighing him up. Then she lifted her chin. “I have nothing to say to you.”

Travis let his hand slide off her shoulder as she spun away.
So be it.
There were other ways to find out what the story was behind Rio Presley.

For now, he needed to start Jessa with her own work. She stood, elbows propped on the railing, next to the large riding ring behind the barn. Her attention seemed focused on the horse moving at a steady trot in a large circle in the center of the ring.

Aunt Sadie held the lunge line in one hand and in the other a long, slim black whip, its tip trailing in the dirt. Her concentration was one hundred percent on the horse. Travis admired the tranquility on her face. Life was simple for her, that’s how she’d always lived it. She didn’t allow herself to become entangled in unnecessary drama. She soothed troubles instead of creating them.

Travis leaned next to Jessa and waited until Sadie slowed the horse down. She glanced their way as she gathered the lunge line, bringing the horse to her.

“Is it time already? Jessa, why don’t you come here and bring Fleur to the barn for me. Hook her up to the cross ties and brush her down. If you need help, ask Rio.”

Jessa obeyed silently. Sadie came to the fence and together she and Travis watched Jessa with the horse.

“She’s not speaking to me,” Travis mumbled, as Jessa disappeared into the barn.

“I can see that. Must be the hair.”

“The hair is only the tip of the iceberg.”

Sadie chuckled. “She’s angry at the world. Get used to it, my dear. I remember how you and your sister were. You had moments like this.”

“Neither of us cut our hair or dyed it black,” Travis noted grimly.

“Bah, hair will grow back. We need to worry about what’s happening on the inside.”

“She hates me.”

Sadie rested her hand on Travis’s shoulder and squeezed. “She does not hate you. She’s mad at you, yes, but she doesn’t hate. Your girl isn’t capable of it. She’s gone through so much. Laura ran out on both of you. Then you left.” When Travis opened his mouth to interrupt, Sadie held her hand up to stop him. “Now before you protest, I know the way you left versus Laura’s antics were totally different things. You did what you had to do and one day Jessa will realize it and appreciate it. What Laura did, however, was totally reprehensible. It killed you. Think what it did to your daughter.”