“I’m teasing. You take all the time you need.”
“Oh God, Cash, I can’t get involved with you or anyone else right now. I don’t even know how long I’ll be here. It’s not right. Not now.”
“Why do you keep saying that? What’s the rush to leave here? Don’t you like it around here?”
“I do, but I looked at coming here as temporary. I needed to clear my head and figure out what was next in my life. I just don’t think it’s a good idea to start something I can’t finish. I can’t stay here long.”
“Why not?” he pushed.
“I just can’t. Don’t ask me so many questions. It’s none of your business. I don’t want to have to do this. I don’t want to have to pretend that everything is going to be just fine.”
She pulled away from him and headed toward the front door. He wondered what that meant. It sounded as if she was fearful of something, and it wasn’t about change.
He stopped her as she got to the door.
“Are you running from something?”
She swung around, appearing shocked, and his gut clenched. Bingo. She was running.
“Get out, Cash. Don’t come back. Don’t read into this. Nothing like this will happen again.” She opened the door, and he stood there.
“This isn’t over. It makes me have more questions. Don’t be scared of my team and me. We won’t hurt you.”
“Ha!” she exclaimed, and even that led him to have more questions. Someone had hurt her. Had it been a soldier, someone in the military?
“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you running from a man?”
She raised her voice again. “Get out, Cash.”
He reached out. She stiffened beneath his touch, but he kept his palm against her cheek.
He stared down into her eyes.
“This is not over, baby. Not by a long shot.”
She looked away, causing his hand to fall, and he walked out of the cottage.
He heard the door slam behind him as he glanced over his shoulder.
Just then he saw Memphis coming toward the cottage on a horse. Across the way, Red was standing there watching, making his way off the steps.
“Where’s Cassidy?”
“Inside. But don’t go knocking on her door right now.”
“What happened?” Memphis asked, stopping the horse closer to Cash. Cash reached for the horse and petted it.
“We need to talk. All of us.”
Red made his way over.
“What’s going on? I thought I heard some yelling.”
“You tell me, Dad. What is Cassidy running from?”
His father’s eyes widened.
“What happened? Is Cass okay?” he asked.