Abuse To Love

Chapter 6 Jaxon

It was just starting to get dark out as I walked down towards the barn. “What the hell did I just do?” I ask myself. “What were you thinking about kissing her? You hardly know her, but damn that was an amazing kiss.” I think to myself. Her lips were so soft and it felt right. She was beautiful, I could get lost in those beautiful brown eyes. Her lips were so soft and so was her face. She had this glow about her even with everything she has gone through. She has not told me everything yet. I hope that someday she will trust me enough like she did Dani to tell me her story. I knew that's what they were talking about when I interrupted them earlier. That could be the only reason that both Dani and Kelsey were crying.

I knew this would be a safe place for her, Dani and Stan took great care of me as a kid after my parents passed. They were like my second parents, I knew she would be well protected here. I look out into the field and I can see Stan riding back from the North pasture with his ranch hands not far behind. “Supper must be ready if they are coming back in.” Stan was a very hard worker, he spends most of his days doing things around the ranch. I helped him a lot when I was younger. I have been living with Stan and Dani since I was ten years old.

I walk into the barn to help untack the horses and get them put in their stalls.

“Well look who it is.” Says Stan as he walks his horse into the barn. “Have not seen you in a while stranger.” He says as he pulls me in for a hug.

“Work has been crazy, but I will be around more now. I will be putting in my two weeks when I go back tomorrow morning. Jared is talking with a buddy to get me set up at the local family doctor here in Lakeview.”

“Well that would be great having you back here in Lakeview. Did you bring the girl with you?” He asks, and when he does I see one of the ranch hands' eyes light up.

“Don't even think about it Sam, she isn't one to mess around with.”

Sam is one of Stans ranch hands who has been with him for a few years. He doesn't always seem to have the best luck with girls from what I have heard from Stan. I try to hide my laugh but it slips out.

“What are you laughing at?” Sam scuffs at me.

“Nothing just seems like you are having some womanly issues.” I reply, trying to poke fun at the bear.

“Now quit it you two," says Randy the head ranch hand. He is second in command under Stan, he has been helping him run this place since I went to medical school. Between the three of them they do a good job running this place. They have a few extra people who come through out the summer to help out like highschool kids looking for a summer job. He has not had anyone stick around from those groups. So between Stan, Randy, and Sam they do the best they can.

There were a few times throughout my career I thought about coming back here and following in Stan’s footsteps, and I just might still do that if things fall through with the local doctors office. I do miss the outdoors quite a bit.

“Well lets get these horses brushed down and put in their stalls.” Says Stan pulling me from my thoughts.

I help them get all three horses untacked and put in their stalls. Stan rides Buck who is a 14 hand gray, white, black, and brown Appaloosa. Buck is about ten years old, Stan has had him since he was seven.

Sam rides Paint who is a 15 hand black All American Quarter horse, he is a retired cutting horse that Stan bought a few years back. He has a bit of an attitude problem just like Sam so Stan thought it would be funny to pair the two up.

Randy rides the newest member to the barn Dakota, an all brown Mustang with a black main and tale. He is the big boss of the group. Stan rescued him from a local rescue a few towns over. He also brought Dakota’s twin brother who is still being trained. From what I have heard they have not decided on a name yet.

We get all the horses brushed down and their tack put up. “Well we better get up to the house or Dani will be screaming down at us here soon.” Stan says as we walk out of the barn and up towards the house.

I felt this butterfly feeling in my stomach as we got close and closer to the house. “What the heck is wrong with me?” I ask myself. “I have never been like this before over anyone.”

We walk in the front door to find Dani and Kelsey setting the table. I was absolutely mesmerized by her. Her beautiful brown hair falling just past her shoulders with a purple top that made her brown eyes pop, and blue jeans that hugged her legs showing off her figure.

“How could someone treat such a beautiful woman like Tommy treated her?” I can’t imagine the things she went through. As I go to sit across from Kelsey I am abruptly stopped by Dani.

“Why don't you go sit on that side of the table next to Kelsey?” She says with a devious look in her eyes.

“Uh okay, yeah I will go sit by her.” I say knowing exactly what Dani was up to, she likes to play matchmaker sometimes. Which in a way bugged me but also did not because it gave me an excuse to sit next to Kelsey.

As I sat down next to Kelsey she shifted nervously in her chair. “Do I scare her?” I thought to myself? “How could she be afraid of me? I am the one who is helping her out of this awful situation. Calm down Jaxon, you don't know what she went through. You don't even have the slightest clue.” I pulled myself from my thoughts and started to dish up my plate.