Freedom Ranch

Chapter 2

She piled the boxes in the truck feeling the heaviness in her heart ease with each one. She was finally going to find her own happiness. Whatever that is. She wasn't sure yet. Just as she grabbed the last box, she heard the gravel in the driveway crunch with car tires. Colin was home. She quickly shoved the box against the screen door and threw it in the backseat with the others.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" he roared behind her.

"Leaving," said Dakota simply as she turned to her husband.

Colin's shoulders were upright like a bear with so much fury. She looked up at him with a stone cold face. His intimidation techniques always ticked her off as much as him. She knew he hated how he couldn't control her with fear.

"You're not going anywhere," he seethed.

"I am. Right now. I'm tired of all of this. I've been too tolerant and I can't deal with your antics anymore."

"Mine? What about yours? You sit around the house all day collecting a check for your "disabilities"," roared Colin, sarcastically playing with the last word.

"So you going out all hours of the night doing what your heart pleases is perfectly fine?"

"I can't have fun with you. I might as well look elsewhere."

Dakota ignored the sting of those words. It was a rare occurrence something penetrated her thick skin but that did. He would never understand the guilt she feels every day. She pushed those feelings to the side and concentrated on the argument on hand.

"If you felt that way, you should have manned up and broke it off with me a long time ago."

"It's not that easy. You should know better than that."

"Really? What makes it not so easy?"

She watched Colin open his mouth a few times and close it, looking like a fish out of water. She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest as she watched him struggle with a complete sentence.

"Well, you know. With your money and our bills."

"Are you trying to say my money is the reason why you wouldn't break it off with me? You complain about me not working and collecting a check. But, that's the reason why you wouldn't tell me you want a divorce?"

"You make more than I do by just sitting on your ass. I work to support both of us. That should be reason enough for you to appreciate me and not leave. You can't live without me anyway."

Dakota's mouth fell open letting a small laugh escape her lips.

"You really think I can't live without you? And, that I should appreciate you for everything you have done for me? A husband who is faithful and caring is appreciated. Not a self centered asshole who thinks the world should revolve around him. That check that you can't live without is something I earned. Not you. You are a f*****g prick thinking that I enjoy my time doing nothing or that I really want that check. Hell, I'll trade it anytime for a magic pill to fix me. A real husband would know this about me. You don't know shit."

Dakota turned to walk away when Colin grabbed her around the wrist. She looked down at his large hand around her wrist and growled, "Let. Go. Of. Me."

"Not unless you take your ass inside where it belongs. You aren't going anywhere."

Dakota looked up at Colin's fiery eyes. The grip around her wrist continued to grow tighter. She cursed herself for never leaving sooner. She had a feeling this day would come. His uncontrollable temper and flying mood changes have continued to grow over the past few months. That charming man she met almost two years ago was gone. Now she was faced with a raging bull.

"Colin, I'm warning you. Let go of me right now," snarled Dakota.

"Or what? You are going to have one of your little freak out episodes from your time in the military? You don't fool me. I know you are full of s**t and just a lazy little b***h who — "

Dakota slammed her shoulder in his throat before he could say another word. She was sick of his mind games. She twisted out of his grip and ran to the other side of the truck. Just as she whipped her arm out to pull open the door, she was thrown to the ground. She groaned as she pushed herself up to face Colin. Before she could, he gripped her hair and shoved her against the truck.

"You f*****g p***y! You have to grab a girl by her hair!" roared Dakota.

She watched his face contort in anger and throw back his fist. She pushed against his hand that was holding her by the hair to avoid the first punch. She attempted to throw a knee into him but missed. Stars flooded her eyes as he cold c****d her square on the cheekbone. Dakota shook her head and continued to fight against him.

The seconds that ticked by felt like minutes. The minutes felt like hours. Even though Colin may have never served in the military, all those years of football really did even the playing field. Not to mention his larger size. Dakota had a brief moment of panic, wondering how this brawl was going to end. She was growing tired and she was a bit rusty.

Flashing blue and red lights made both of them stop what they were doing. She looked at Colin's face glowing red and blue from the police car that was moving closer to them. He looked worse for wear. His lip was bleeding, there was some swelling, and blood was tricking down to his eye from his brow. She was glad she didn't take off her wedding ring seeing the nasty gouge it left on his face.

Dakota was no fool though. She knew she must look just as bad, if not worse. The high of the adrenaline would deceive her into thinking she was invincible. But, the taste of blood in her mouth reminded her otherwise. The policeman who stepped out of the car must have thought the same how often he glanced at her.

"I want both of you to put your hands up and take a step back from one another," said the Officer as he approached.

Dakota did as she was told. Colin continued to stare at her, breathing heavily in fury.

"Sir, get your hands up and take a step back."

Colin slowly followed the Officer's orders. Dakota glanced at the Police Officer to see he was glaring at Colin. His eyes were clearly saying "try me, Buddy". Another police car pulled up and the Officer quickly stepped out of the vehicle to join the one that was standing in front of them.

"We are going to do a quick pat down to check for weapons then take your statements on what happened tonight," said the first Officer.

The last Officer took a step back to observe both of them while the first Officer went to Colin to pat him down. Dakota could hear Colin grumbling under his breath. She rolled her eyes barely able to stand his whining. He always did that when he didn't get his way. A pet peeve that didn't surface until after they were married and worsened over time. The Officer finished searching him and turned to Dakota. He patted her down softly and swiftly, faster than he did with Colin.

"Okay, I will take your statement and my partner will now take the gentleman's behind me," said the Officer as he nodded to the other one.

Dakota snorted at his comment. The Officer gave her a perplexed look in return.

"Sorry, I just couldn't help but find the word "gentleman" funny at the moment."

She cleared her throat and saw that Colin was staring at her. He looked ready to combust.

"Let's stand over here," said the Officer as he motioned to the front porch a few feet away.

Dakota nodded and led the Officer to the porch.

"You can take a seat if you want. You don't feel dizzy or anything, do you?"

Dakota shook her head and sat down on the hard wood step as the Officer watched her carefully. She couldn't read his expression but he seemed like he was concentrating on her every movement. The porch light shone brightly above them revealing details that Dakota had missed in the darkness. She could see his gold name tag read "Officer Ramirez". His large thumbs were tucked in his belt as he stood in front of her and bronze skin glowed under the light.

"Why don't we start from the beginning. What happened tonight?"

Dakota took a deep breath and reiterated what had happened. She glanced at his shadowed eyes every so often wondering what color they really were. His strong jaw tightened a few times during her story. She wondered if she was taking too long to retell it, irritating him.

"Are you still feeling okay? Do I need to call medical to check you out?" he asked when she was finished.

"No, I'll be fine," she said quietly.

"Wait here for a moment."

Dakota watched him turn on his heel and leave. He met up with his partner a few yards away. She couldn't hear anything that were saying to one another. She looked down at her hands and grimaced. They were red and swollen, not to mention bloody in some places. Her ring was covered on one side with blood confirming her suspicions it did gauge Colin's face.

"Don't move any closer," boomed Officer Ramirez.

Dakota looked up to see Colin was marching up to her. She stood up, ready to defend herself when Officer Ramirez ran up to block Colin.

"I said to stay put," he roared.

Officer Ramirez braced himself, his muscles rippled under the black uniform and down his arms. The other Officer came over and didn't hesitate to pull Colin on the ground before his outstretched arm could reach Officer Ramirez. Colin struggled as he was handcuffed and read his rights. He looked up from the ground until his eyes met Dakota's.

"You better be home when I come back or you will pay. You hear me?" howled Colin.

Colin's words didn't phase her. She watched both Officers escorted him to the police car, slamming the door closed behind him. Officer Ramirez returned with an unreadable expression again.

"We are going to file Domestic Violence charges against your husband. We can put you in contact with some programs to assist you in the meantime until the court date."

"Thank you but I don't want to press any charges."

Officer Ramirez's dark eyebrow shot up in surprise. It was the first time any form of emotion showed on his face.

"I don't want to go to any court dates," explained Dakota.

"Ma'am, both me and my partner agree he needs to be charged with Domestic Violence. He could be put away for awhile if you testify. Our priority is your safety."

"I can handle my own. You can charge him if you like but I will not be testifying. Not because I don't want to. But, I don't want to go to court. I don't get out much because of crowds and my own personal issues. Court would be too much for me to handle."

"There are some programs that offer advocates to assist you and support you during the court hearings."

"I'm not a victim. I refuse to be one. Besides, some stranger offering to hold my hand isn't going to help with my problems. I'll be gone before he gets out of that cop car anyway and he won't be able to find me. No one will."

Officer Ramirez huffed and seemed a bit flustered by her response. He sighed in defeat and pulled out a business card from his wallet.

"Call me if you ever need anything. Even if you are out of the jurisdiction."

"Thanks," said Dakota as she stuffed the card in her back pocket.

"Are you sure you don't want me to call medical for you?"

"I must look that beat up, huh? I feel fine and this is nothing compared to what I've been through. Thank you for your time, Officer Ramirez."

He nodded and gave her one last shadowed sideways glance before walking back to his patrol car. She watched the police cars leave and glanced at the neighbors house. She could see the window drape pulled back and a shadowed figure standing watch. She waved her thanks knowing that little old lady must have called the police for her. Thank God she heard the commotion. Dakota picked up her hat that had fallen off earlier in the fight and climbed in the truck, glancing at the rear view mirror.

"Ugh," she moaned as she looked at her face.

Her hair was sticking up in random places and her scalp burned from her hair being pulled. The left side of her face was swelling and dried blood was smeared across her cheek, hiding the small freckles on her flushed cheeks. She continued to assess the damage and sighed knowing she would be feeling the worse of it in the morning. She turned the key, letting the roar of the engine ignite excitement in her. She could taste freedom as she turned on the highway and headed west.