SWNOVELS Downpour: Chapter 10
The distant spray of the shower was the only thing that kept the house from being completely silent. I knew it was a job, but being with Ray didn’t really feel like work.
He was completely capable and took care of himself. I was sure a lot of it came from the sheer stubbornness of not wanting to ask for help, but he had figured it all out on his own.
I plucked another piece of candy from the bag he had left on my nightstand—a blue one this time—and let it melt on my tongue.
I hadn’t allowed myself to dwell on why there had been a bag of my favorite candies—in only the colors I liked—waiting for me when I moved in.
It was so simple, but it was the sweetest thing anyone had done for me in a long time.
It had to have been Ray. He let Cassandra help him sometimes, but she didn’t seem like the type to sit and sort candy colors.
He was cranky and grouchy. But honestly, I would be too if people refused to listen to me all day.
There was an acute sadness in his eyes. A light that had been dimmed. But there was something behind it, too. Like lava simmering beneath black rock. Heat flashed in his irises every time he looked at me.
But maybe I was just imagining things.
The water shut off and I heard him rummaging around. It sounded like his shower had a sliding door.
My heart skipped, and I sat up. Did he need help getting out? Even accessible showers were slick. I had helped plenty of clients in and out of the shower. It wouldn’t have even fazed me.
But would it bother him? Ray had given me strict orders to ignore him.
I waited and listened. It was silent.
Okay, that was probably good. He was being careful.
My heart thudded in my chest, and I held my breath.
A loud slam that sounded like a body falling echoed through the walls.
I bolted off the bed and ran into his room. “Ray!”
“Go away!” he roared.
I froze in my tracks. His wheelchair was in the bedroom, but he wasn’t. The bathroom door was open and steam floated out.
“Oh my god,” I whispered. I had to be hallucinating.
Ray was—he was standing.
Black boxers painted his ass, but that was the extent of his clothing. Tattoos covered his arms and chest. The inked designs flexed like waves as he held onto the bathroom vanity to support his weight.
“Go,” he gritted out.
“You’re standing,” I whispered. “Am I dreaming?”
“Get the hell out of my room,” he barked.
I snapped out of my haze and reached for his hand. “Can I help you?”
“Don’t fucking touch me, Brooke.”
I took a step back. That must’ve been good enough for Ray. I watched in amazement as he took small step after small step, crossing the three-foot space between the bathroom door and his bed. He used the vanity, the wall, and the nightstand for support, but he was doing it.
I cupped my hands over my mouth. “Ray, that’s incredible.”
Hair, dripping with water, hung in his eyes as he kept his head down, watching each small lift and slide of his feet. When he reached the edge of the nightstand and reached for the bed, his knees gave out. Ray fell toward the bed but caught the edge and managed to pull himself up on top of the mattress.
His sculpted chest heaved as he sucked in deep breaths. It must have been exhausting.
“You keep your mouth shut,” he growled, then pointed a finger at me. “You hear me? If you say a fucking word about this, I’ll fire you. Have I made myself clear?”
I couldn’t even speak. He was furious at me, but I didn’t care. “Ray, this is amazing. We should celebrate! What do you need? Do you need anything? What can I do to help?”
The heat I usually saw in his eyes had been replaced by something far more sinister. His head hung low. “Get the fuck out.”
My heart dropped. “Ray—“
“I don’t care what you do,” he shouted. “Just get out.”
Tears flooded my eyes at the hatred in his voice. I thought we had been making progress. I really thought we had started connecting.
I choked on the lump in my throat. “Are you okay?”
His laugh was maleficent. “Do I look okay? Don’t be so fucking naïve.”
“I won’t say a word,” I whispered. “Just let me be here for you.”
And, like a switch had been flipped, all that heat, hatred, and fire in his eyes turned to ash.
“No. Leave.”
I stumbled to the guest room and found my sneakers. I needed to move. I was going to go stir-crazy if I kept sitting here, knowing he was behind that door and wouldn’t even let me near him.
I left a note on the kitchen counter so he wouldn’t worry—not that I expected him to— and made sure the front door was unlocked before jogging down the ramp.
I found myself walking the dirt path that led back to the developed part of the ranch. Even though it was the middle of the day, it seemed deserted. I didn’t know much about the cattle ranching operation—Ray never talked about it—but I guessed that everyone was out with the cows. Wherever that was.
I passed a cluster of sheds, but they seemed lifeless. I passed the office. Through the postcard window, I could see Cassandra typing away on a computer.
She scared me, so I kept walking.
A barn with neat landscaping and a fresh coat of paint called to me. I loved animals. Maybe a walkthrough wouldn’t hurt. I wouldn’t be bothering anyone. I just needed to get out of the house for a little bit.
The shade of the stables was a welcome reprieve from the midday Texas sun. The concrete floors looked freshly swept, and the rubber mats had been hosed off. It smelled like animals, but I didn’t mind. The warmth of hay and feed was comforting.
“Oh, hello,” I said to a beautiful chestnut horse when it stuck its head over the lip of the stall. I smoothed my hand up and down his nose. “You’re a handsome fella.”
“Beautiful,” a man said.
I whipped around and clasped my hands behind my back like a kid who got caught making a move for the cookie jar.
The silhouette moved closer from the other end of the barn. “She is a pretty girl.”
“I—I’m sorry. I was just—”
“What are you doing in my barn?” Cowboy boots thudded against the concrete as the man stepped into a beam of sunlight. “This is private property, sweetheart.”
He shared similar features to Ray and Christian, but his hair and eyes were much lighter.
“I’m sorry. I was just taking a walk and I got curious.”
He looked me up and down and made a snap judgment. “You’re the girl Ray hasn’t fired yet.”
I laughed. “Well, that’s one way to put it.” I stuck my hand out. “Brooke Stacey.”
He held up his dirt-covered palms. “Trust me, you don’t want to shake my hand.”
I laughed. “That’s fair. Thank you. Are you one of Ray’s brothers? You look like one of them.”
He tipped his chin. “Yes, ma’am. Carson Griffith. Most folks around here just call me CJ.”
“Nice to meet you, CJ.” I looked around, still feeling like I was going to get scolded. “Sorry for crashing your barn. I just needed to get some fresh air.”
He laughed. “It’s no bother. You must be something special if Ray hasn’t made you run for the hills yet.”
The horse I had been petting nibbled at my hair. I giggled and tossed my ponytail out of the way.
“You like animals?”
“Love them,” I said as I offered my open palm to let the horse get a sense of me. “I didn’t have any growing up, so having a cow hanging out on Ray’s deck is a little like living in a zoo.”
CJ chuckled. “I bet.” He stepped closer, reached in his pocket, and pulled out a peppermint. “This is Independence, but we call her Indy. She’s Ray’s horse.”
I took the peppermint he offered and gave it to Indy. She gently nibbled at it. “Does everyone have their own horse?”
CJ nodded. “Most of them are out right now.” He pointed to another horse a few stalls down. “That’s Dottie. She’s Bree’s horse, but Cassandra rides her too. Christian rides Liberty, but they’re in the fields today.” He pointed to a black horse in the fenced area outside the barn. “That one’s mine. The rest of them are fine with people approaching, but don’t go near Anny.”
“Anny… Short for—”
“Anarchy,” he said.
And for some reason, that fit him.
“Is it okay if I hang out here for a little bit? I promise I won’t mess with anything.”
Concern marred his face. It wasn’t fatherly like Christian’s, but it lacked the heat of Ray’s gaze. “Everything going alright at the house?”
“With Ray? Of course! Everything’s great! Why wouldn’t it be?”
Ugh. I was a terrible liar. Ray knew exactly where to shoot to kill, and I felt like I was bleeding out after he yelled at me.
CJ laughed. “I don’t believe you, but okay.”
I grimaced. “I’m trying really hard to not get fired, and I think we both need a little space.”
Indy nuzzled my shoulder, and I returned her love with gentle strokes.
“I know you’ve got a job to do, but if you ever need a hand, there’s always someone around. Okay?” He turned and motioned for me to follow. “See that house in the distance?”
I followed his finger as we stood at the threshold of the stables. “Yeah.”
“That’s the bunkhouse. The ranch hands and I live there. You probably pass the main house and Christian’s house on the way in. Momma’s always at her place, unless she’s getting my nieces from school. Cass is usually in the office, but she and I go riding most afternoons. Nate and Becks travel a lot for her job, so it’s a fifty-fifty shot whether someone’s there or not.”
“I never realized how many people live here.”
“It’s getting bigger by the day. Construction’s going on for the restaurant and lodge.” He looked around, surveying the property. “The peace and quiet won’t last for long.”
“Ray hasn’t said much about that, but I’ve seen the construction crews coming and going.”
“It’s what Cassandra was brought in for. We had a rough few years, and the ranch almost went under. When we got back on our feet, my dad decided we needed to diversify. Cass secured some investors to put a significant amount of money into building a hotel and a restaurant.”
CJ was trying his best to sound neutral about it all, but I could sense the disdain.
“Well…” I hesitated. “I’ll try my best not to get in anyone’s way.”
His eyes softened. “We’re just glad someone’s sticking around for Ray. Holler if you need anything, alright?”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
CJ walked toward the paddock where Anarchy was, then paused. “Brooke?”
“Yeah?”
“If you can get Ray to come to the family dinner tonight, I’ll take you on a trail ride.”
“Family dinner?”
CJ tipped his head toward the front of the property. “Momma cooks for everyone twice a week. Ray hasn’t sat at the table since his accident. He always refuses.”
I let out a caustic laugh by accident. “And you think I can convince him to go?”
He shrugged. “You’ve made it this long without getting fired. He must think you’re something special.”