I managed to get hooked up with a few things though, using what I had in savings – the mattress on the floor in the bedroom being the most important purchase. There was a somewhat ratty and threadbare couch that had come with the place. It probably belonged to the dead guy who'd lived there last. Great. I tried not to think about that.
The kitchen was fully furnished, and the place thankfully came with a built-in counter to eat at. Otherwise, the place was empty. Not even a television. Not that I watched much TV these days, but sometimes it would have been nice just for background noise. The thing that rattled me the most about being out in the middle of nowhere was the complete and utter silence. You could hear the wind rustle each individual blade out there.
I had my laptop and a shitty internet connection. I needed to find a job soon – my savings were going to run out eventually. But, I didn't want to put my name out there just yet. Besides, in a town like this, what could I even do? What jobs would there even be for me? I highly doubted anyone was in the market for a graphic designer in these parts. Freelancing was my only option, but with the shoddy internet, even that might prove to be difficult.
For the moment, I lived off the savings my parents had set up for me before they passed away. The savings that were supposed to go toward starting a family or buying a home were now my sole source of income – and they weren't going to last forever. They would, at least, help keep me alive in the short term though.
I plopped down on the dusty cream-colored couch and realized I forgot to buy some Febreze. It smelled like mildew and stale beer in the place. It wasn't exactly a terrible smell – just the odor of dust and emptiness. Nothing that a little cleaning wouldn't fix.
My eyes fluttered and my head felt heavy with exhaustion. Everything had happened so fast, and I was still reeling from it all. My first full day in my new home, and already everything felt like it was going to shit. I hadn't thought about things like going to the store or how I was going to get around, I literally just upped and moved. I hopped on a plane to Houston and hired a driver to bring me to a house I'd only looked at online before signing the lease. Now that I was there, and the reality of it all was sinking in, it felt surreal.
I was in Texas. Without a car. Without any friends or family to help me get around. With no prospects or plan for how I was going to get by. I had nothing but what I could bring on the plane with me.
I was supposed to be starting over, but no one told me that starting over would be so hard.
CHAPTER THREE
CHASE
I was out on my horse, Phoenix, heading back to the stables, when I caught sight of Abby walking by. She stopped outside my fence and waved, shooting me a sweet smile. She was such a tiny, little thing, and adorable as all hell. Just the type of woman I'd have gone for once upon a time, back when I believed in happily ever afters and shit that was too farfetched for me to even consider now.
Her blonde hair was loose today, blowing in the wind and into her face. It was so long, it fell almost to her waist, and was silky smooth. I gripped the reins on Phoenix tighter, as the desire to run my hands through her hair overcame me.
I kept on riding Phoenix, doing my level best not to look at her. I didn't want her to ask me for another ride – or worse, out on a date. Either one would be hard for me to turn down, but I really, truly did not want to date her. Not because she wasn't attractive or appealing, but because she was both of those things, which was the last thing I needed in my life.
I glanced back over at Abby as she tossed her leg over the fence – a fence that was much too high for someone like her to jump over. Her short-shorts got snagged on the wire as she was trying to climb over. She tried to pull herself free and had both of her feet well off the ground. Letting out a long breath, I hurried on over to help her before she split her damn fool head wide open.
Phoenix stopped just short of her, and I hopped down from the horse in a hurry. Abby was still yanking at the denim, cursing and muttering under her breath.
“See? Nothing good ever comes from trespassing, Abby,” I growled. “What did I tell you about that?”
I stormed over to her and pulled out my pocket knife. She sighed as she looked at me.
“I didn't think it would be trespassing if I was coming to visit you,” she said.
“Did I ask you to come over?” “I asked. “In fact, I seem to recall saying something about being better left alone.”
“Well, yeah, but –”
“Then it's trespassing,” I grumbled.
I flipped out the knife and mumbled for her to hold still. She was really stuck, and there was going to be a hole in her shorts after I managed to get her free. As soon as my hand was in place, I hesitated, realizing how close to her most intimate parts I'd be getting. Instead, I handed the knife to her, handle first.
She took it from me and cut herself free, jumping over the fence, finally landing on the other side with me. She handed the knife back to me with a smile, seemingly oblivious to the hole in her shorts. I wasn't though and saw that her underwear was pink. I probably shouldn't have known that much about her, but it was hard not to. If Abby cared that I could see her panties plain as day, it didn't show.
“Thanks for that,” she said. “It sucks being short sometimes.”
“Maybe that's a lesson to not hop fences,” I said.
“Or maybe, I just need a horse to jump with me,” she said.
Her eyes lit up, and I noticed she wasn't looking at me anymore. Her eyes were on Phoenix, the golden red stallion in front of her. Luckily for her, Phoenix was a friendly horse – friendlier than some of my other mounts. Abby walked up and stroked his mane, enamored with the creature.
“I've never seen a real live horse before,” she said. “I'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself.”
“You've never seen a horse before?”
“Not up close, no,” she said as she stroked Phoenix's muzzle. “He's beautiful. Can I ride him sometime?”
“No,” I said, grabbing Phoenix's reins.
Her face fell, and her shoulders slumped – and I instantly felt like an asshole. Cringing, I let out a long breath and shook my head, running a hand through my hair.
“He's a bit wild and big for a beginner,” I said. “You'd need a calmer horse.”
“Do you have one I could ride?” she asked, her eyes sparkling. “A calmer one?”
Dammit. I should tell her no. I should tell her that I can't help her, and she needs to get the hell off my property. Her blue eyes sparkled with so much excitement and so much child-like wonder. She was like a little girl on Christmas, begging her parents to let her open her presents. Looking down into that bright, beaming face, there was no way I wanted to be the asshole who denied her that.
“Sure, maybe one of these days,” I mumbled, smoothing out my beard with my hand.
“Really, Chase?” she asked, eyes wide.
She had obviously expected me to say no and I'd managed to surprise her. Crap. I gave myself a swift mental kick in the ass, knowing I should have said no. Now, I was obliged to keep my promise to her or else I'd really be a dick.
“Yeah, just not today,” I said. “I'm already going in for the night.”
“Oh, yeah, that's fine,” she said.
I took Phoenix and walked him back toward the stable, and Abby followed on my heel, stroking the horse's coat. I didn't have the heart to tell her to leave – even though I wanted nothing more than to be left alone – so I let her come along with me. She seemed lonely, and while I liked being alone, I knew what that was like. I knew the pain and isolation some people felt when left entirely on their own for too long. I'd gotten used to it; had actually come to like it. But, I wasn't unfamiliar with the hurt it caused.
“So, what's her name?” she asked.
“His name is Phoenix,” I said.
“Ahh, because his coat is reddish? Kind of like fire?” she asked.
I shrugged. “I didn't name him.”