Saving Grace Point

Chapter 3

I woke the next morning with a dreaded feeling, plus I really needed a shower. If I was going to get out of here before Brett could get me, then I needed to skip the shower. I got out of bed and saw some clothes folded up with a piece of paper. I didn't get your shirt washed last night, so here is a new outfit. I hope you like it and it should be your size. I picked up the outfit, and it was a pair of black leggings and a button-up shirt. I quickly got changed and headed downstairs. Maybe I could convince someone to take me to the bus station. As I walked down the stairs I could smell bacon, eggs, toast and coffee. I walked into the kitchen when everyone turned to look at me. Just breathe and everything will be okay. I took the only empty extra seat at the table. "Good morning Annabeth. I hope you slept well. You have met Rachel and Lauren. This *pointing to a very pretty black-haired lady* is Jasmine. Jasmine is my twin sister," Luke said. "Good morning everyone," I said to them.

Plates had already been made and everyone dug in. I was hungry, but then I felt like I was going to throw up. I looked at Luke and was about to ask him where the bathroom was when he said down the hall on the right. I got up and ran to the bathroom just in time. After I was done, I went back to the kitchen but only Luke and Jasmine were at the table. Well, great, I guess this was the time they were going to start asking questions.

'Hi Annabeth. Like my twin brother said, my name is Jasmine. I work here on the ranch as well as having my own business." she said. Luke looked at me and said, "I know I asked you last night why you were here. You were going to say something, then got sick. I also said I wouldn't look when you changed shirts, but I saw the bruises on your back and arms." "Whenever you're ready to talk, we will be here." They both said. Well, I could go ahead and tell them, but if I did, would Brett be able to track me then? Who am I kidding? He was probably already on his way. I took a deep breath because I felt safe here. I knew I had to go ahead and tell them....for me and for the baby. Maybe this time someone will listen and help me.

"Okay. I will tell you why I am here. But before I start, I saw the newspaper article on your wall. I didn't know the bus was stopping here. I didn't even know there was a ranch like this." I waited a minute. "I am running from my abusive boyfriend. Well, he is my ex-boyfriend now. After what I found out yesterday, I knew I had to get away." I looked at them to see if they were going to judge me. "When he left, I took a pregnancy test, and it came back positive that I was pregnant. I knew then I had to run so me or my baby wouldn't die," I told them.

They both looked at me like they wanted to hug me and tell me everything was going to be okay. "I thought something like that was the case. Not many women know about the ranch because we are in such a small town. God knew that you needed to be here," Jasmine spoke. Luke just kept looking at me, and I was afraid that he would say I couldn't stay because I was pregnant. Which I don't think he would see that the ranch was for abused women. But I had no idea how he felt for women that was pregnant. He looked at me then got up from the table and left.

"You just have to ignore Luke sometimes. It was actually my idea on starting a ranch for abused women. Luke was all about the rodeo's. It wasn't until I mentioned that it would help us that he actually wanted to be a part of it. But I'm not in it to help us. I want to help the women to get their life back." Jasmine said. "Will he still let me stay here even though I am pregnant?" I asked her. "Annabeth you don't have to worry. You are safe here and my brother will still let you stay. After all this is the ranch for abused women." she told me.

*Luke's View*

I was heading to the diner to order some food. As soon as I walked in Mary spotted me and waved me over. I could tell by the way she looked that whatever she was about to say/do, this person needed me. I walked over and saw a very beautiful lady sitting at a booth. I could tell something was wrong with her and she really did need my help. I knew Lauren was leaving in the morning, so I would have room for her at the ranch. Even if she had to use my room and I slept on the couch, I knew she was coming to the ranch. Since not many knew about us and had low funding, I could only afford to have two women at a time. Whatever money that had been saved from rodeo winnings is what we were using.

If this lady needed my help, then I would do what I could to help her. Annabeth was very curvy and had shoulder-length red hair. She wore a T-shirt and black leggings that hugged her body. I noticed the only shoes she had were a pair of flip-flops and I didn't see any luggage with her, just a purse. So she must be running from someone. I also couldn't help but take in her beauty. I noticed that she looked at me but tried to hide the fact she was probably checking me out. We finally made it to the truck after the rain slacked off and we were on our way to the ranch when she puked in the truck. I knew we couldn't continue with the smell of puke in the truck. I offered her my shirt and said I wouldn't look.

I knew better, but I wanted to see if my gut was right. I wished I hadn't because I saw the bruises on her even though they were healing. After she changed shirts, we cleaned what we could up out of the floor. I tried asking her again why she was here, but she had fallen asleep. We had finally made it to the ranch, and she had woken up. The look on her face when seeing the house melted my heart. (What can I say I'm a sensitive guy.) I showed her around and introduced her to the other women at the ranch. I never mentioned the name of the ranch because I didn't want her to leave. We can help her here as long as she stays. But I could tell that it might be hard to get her to stay because her face fell when she saw Rachel and Lauren.

After I showed her the upstairs, I told her she could stay in my room for the night and then move to Laurens room. I left her at the door of my room and headed down stairs. I headed to the living room to get the couch ready for me to sleep on. All I could think about was hoping that she would stay and let us help her. I wasn't trying to hit on her because if she was running then she was trying to get her life back. Trying my best to get a few hours of sleep I closed my eyes.

"Hey! Luke! why are you on the couch?," Jasmine my twin yelled at me. "Well I went to the diner last night to order some food. Before you say anything yes I know you cooked supper but I really was wanting some diner food. Mary waved me over to a booth where a woman was sitting. The women was looking for a place to stay. So I offered her a place to stay and believe me she really needs us. But she won't tell the truth on why she is here. She might be sick because she puked in the truck on the way here," I told her. "Wait...You went to the diner leaving Rachel and Lauren here by their self? Not only that but why didn't you let her bunk with Rachel or Lauren?," she said to me. Well I couldn't tell her that I felt something for Annabeth. She would give me the third degree because if she was a running survivor (what we call a women leaving an abusive relationship) she was looking to redo her life and not looking for a man. Before I could answer her Rachel and Lauren came from the kitchen and said breakfast was ready. They asked about Annabeth but I told them she would come down whenever she woke up.

We just got to the table, seated and fixed plates, when she walked in. I saw that she seen the clothes that I laid out for her. I figured she liked leggings and the only shirt I could find was a button up. It looked really good on her..she looked so beautiful. I really hope she tells us and stays so we can help her.

She seemed nervous but yet she knew she was safe. Maybe she would tell us everything today. I prayed that she would open and tell us. She set down then looked at me like she was going to say something. That is when I seen in her eyes she was going to get sick. I pointed and told her where the bathroom was. When she left the room, that is when I told Rachel and Lauren to go ahead and take their food upstairs. I knew she wouldn't talk in front of them.

When she came back, I could tell that she was ready, but I didn't want to pressure her, but I had to know. So I told her that I seen the bruises and I shouldn't have looked. But she opened up to me and Jasmine and told us that she was running from her ex after finding out she was pregnant. When she said she was pregnant I had to get up and leave. It wasn't that I didn't want her to stay, I did want her to stay. It was because some low life man...no boy really would be a better fit, would want to hurt a woman and their unborn child.