Tackling Tobias (Big Sky Universe)

So she heard us. Or maybe she heard the slamming doors. Feeling more ashamed, I pull away and ignore her concerned expression. “I’ll be back soon.” She nods and goes into the living room. I walk to the hall closet for my things. I slip on my winter coat and boots with his Bears beanie and head outside. It’s chilly, but it isn’t freezing so I lower my zipper because I need air.

At first, I just sit on the porch for a minute, but I have a terrible feeling and I’m still worried for Tobias. Not only from our fight. Something is nagging at me and I can’t get that feeling to go away.

I take a seat on our swing, slowly rocking it with my feet planted on the porch. Sitting on our swing does me no good because I think of us sitting here while he steals kisses from me. They always seem innocent and impulsive, but they end up dirty and purposeful.

“Ugh, I need to apologize for pulling away like that. Lara’s right. Some things are silly to fight over. I get up and stretch. “Maybe a walk to the barn will help,” I sigh, taking the stairs carefully. I doubt there’s any ice, but I have a tendency to land on my ass if there is any.

I’m startled when I see David, one of Tobias’s ranch hands that I don’t know very well jogging up to meet me with a giant smile on his face. He takes off his winter hat and says, “Good morning, Mrs. Reynolds.”

“Good morning, David.” He’s one of the smaller, leaner-framed ranch hands that work for Tobias. He’s got to be in his early twenties and overly sweet and not in a good way. I find him a bit creepy.

“Are you headed out to the barn?” he asks, smiling softly. Lara told me that he had a crush on her, so I wonder if he still does. That would be terrible because it wouldn’t end well. Landon’s not the kind of guy willing to tolerate another man’s interest in his wife in the least. They’ll be using his body for fertilizer by the time he’s done with David.

“Well, I was just going for a walk in the cool air, and I thought I’d see the horses.” Although it’s a cattle and sheep ranch, Tobias has a small stable of half a dozen horses next to the barn which they use for both work and play. I haven’t been on a horse in a long time. I wonder if Tobias will teach me how to ride when the weather warms up.

“I’ll lead the way, ma’am.” He tips his head as a sign of gentlemanly respect, but knowing Tobias as I do, he doesn’t want any man walking anywhere with me unless they’re a sworn bodyguard. Even then, he’s kept those guys at the gates only. He likes anything with testicles a fair distance away from me at all times.

“I don’t think Tobias will take kindly to that. He’s a bit territorial where I’m concerned,” I inform him, so he doesn’t get himself into trouble with the boss. Tobias already isn’t in the mood today.

“He’s got no reason to be jealous of me. Now come along. I can’t let you get hurt or the boss will lose his shit even more than me being around you.” Does everyone know I can’t keep myself on two feet in the snow?

“I suppose you have a point there.” I follow for a few minutes, trying to make conversation, but he’s giving me one syllable responses. It’s when I take a look at David that I sense the tension rolling off him in waves. I freeze in my spot about fifteen feet away from the barn. The stables are a little further, but I’m not sure I want to go to them with my escort. In fact, I want to go to the house, but it’s already too late. Standing next to a vehicle I’ve never seen before is a woman pointing a gun at me. I try to let out a scream when David’s hand comes over my mouth.

“Shut up, you stupid bitch.” I’ve heard that voice before. She’s the woman that called and threatened me—Tobias’s stalker in the flesh. I know her, but I’m not sure from where. I haven’t gone out much over the time that I’ve been here.

Tears fill my eyes, thinking about what they’re going to do. I’m a goner. I relax to the point that David removes his hand from my mouth. “Scream, and we’ll shoot you.”

“Why are you doing this? I haven’t done anything to you,” I sob out.

“Why? You stole my man, you dumb bitch. I hate you. You took him from me. You must have put a spell on him.”

“What if I promise to leave him?” I ask her, hoping there’s a way out of this mess. I know she probably won’t believe me.