Midnight Roots (Silver Creek Ranch)

Chapter Twenty-Four

Heston

I stand at the window, looking out onto the front. I see Dillon make her way toward the equipment shed and try to peek in. I pull a pair of shorts on as she presses her ear against the door.

I need to keep her safe.

I need to protect her from the demons of the world.

I can't just show her what's happening, though. I need to ease her into it. I go downstairs and grab a beer for myself before I go outside.

"Want to see the pigs?" I ask. "They're through the kitchen out back. There's a light there."

"Sure, I like pigs." She gets up and follows me, holding her beer.

I wonder if she feels intoxicated; I don't know how she handles her liquor. I've only ever seen her drink one beer.

I lead her out back to where the pigs are all sleeping.

"Aw, they're adorable. What about your horses? Can I see those?"

"Sure, it's back the way we came." I take her free hand and lead her back through the kitchen, out the door and to the stable. I open the door and walk in. The lights are on inside, and I take her to where Charlie is eating some hay. "This is Charlie. He's my horse."

"Hi, Charlie," she says, rubbing his nose affectionately.

"So, which one is my horse?" she asks, and I beam at her .

"You can ride Big Bertha." I lead her over to a stall with a sturdy-looking mare. "She's feisty, though."

"I can ride. I can handle a mare." She grabs some carrots from the sack and holds them out to Bertha, who doesn't need to be told twice. She comes forward and eats the carrots out of Dillon's hand.

She rubs Bertha's nose and coos at her affectionately.

"And where's your cattle?"

"They out grazing. We leave them out in the pastures. It's calving season, though, so I can take you to them in the next few days, and you can see all the little calves with their mothers." I sip my beer. "It's the best time of year. Getting the new calves, weighing them, tagging them, and getting them settled. "

"It sounds like you know what you're doing. I approve." She sips her own beer and looks around.

"So this is the stable, and that's a barn."

"That's just where we store all the hay," I say. "And then there's the pastures, and that's pretty much the ranch."

"What's in that little building next to the house?" she asks, and I can tell she's very curious.

"Oh, it has some special things in it," I say with a smile. "Why don't we go see? I've got the key."

"Sure," she lights up. "I'd love to see."

I've had this set up for so long I can barely contain my excitement. I lead her over to the equipment shed and unlock the door. I stand aside. "Take a look. "

She peeks inside, but I can see she's straining to see in the dark. "Is that a bed?"

"Yup, there's a bed, a toilet, and a sink. And a few other bits and bobs."

"Oh, okay..." she pauses. "What was that noise?"

"There's a light switch on the wall. You can flick it on." She walks in with her hands held up ahead of her and feels along the wall. The light comes on, and for a moment, I can see the brightness dazes her. Then she looks at the ground and sees the shackles, the bloody stone, and Tessa's tortured body.

She screams and then looks at me. "What is this Heston? Is she from the diner?"

"I'll move her tomorrow once you're settled. Don't worry, I'll bring you breakfast in the morning. Sleep tight. "

I shut the door and padlock it. Instantly, she slams her body weight against it, but I slide the deadbolt into place and lock that up, too.

She screams through the door, but there's no point, really. There isn’t a neighbor for miles. I have already called her landlord. I know him from around town and told him she was moving out and I'd be by to pick up her things in the morning. I think this is going to work out really nicely.

We're going to be happy here on the ranch. Well, once I move Tessa. I wasn't expecting to have to protect Dillon so soon, or I would have buried Tessa earlier. But she'll get over it. Dillon is resilient and strong, even if she doesn't think so.

I go back toward the house and start cleaning the grill. I’m whistling a small tune to myself. I realize it's the tune that Dillon was humming earlier. I can't quite place the song. I'll have to ask her in the morning when I bring her breakfast.

I take everything inside and pack it away. I can still hear her screaming through the door and the bangs as her body hits the wood. She'll probably try to break the window, but that's reinforced and will not be easily broken. I couldn't even break it, and I tried.

I had to make sure she was completely safe, even from herself.

I finish my beer and toss the empty in the trash. I turn off the lights and head upstairs. I strip to my boxers and climb under the blanket. I feel like tonight is going to be a good night and that I'm not going to wake up at midnight in a cold sweat from my demons. I have found the one, and she is perfect in every possible way. She's safe, and I can protect her.

I sleep right through to morning. I was not disturbed once. When I wake up, I notice that Dillon isn't screaming anymore. Good, she's getting settled.

I go downstairs and start rustling up some breakfast. I won't be going to the diner today. I don't think I'll be going for a while, but Cece will understand why.

She knows how important Dillon is to me.