Saving Grace Point

Chapter 2

"Well, it looks like the rain is letting up. Let's head on to the ranch," he said to me. I guess he was right, the rain did look like it wasn't coming down hard. I think most everyone was leaving now anyhow. I grabbed my purse and followed him outside to his truck. I was about to open the door when he came around and opened it for me. I was shocked because back home no man had done that. Brett never did that for me. I climbed into the truck and buckled my seat belt. Now if I could just stay close to the door, everything would be okay. Oh, how I was wrong....so wrong. As soon as Luke got in the truck, his cologne filled the cab. It was a mix of woodsy and bourbon. It smelled so good but also made me sick.

As soon we started down the road, the rain picked up. I laid my head against the window, trying not to puke. "So what brings you to Ridge Wood? We don't get many newcomers," he said as we drove down the road.

"I was just wanting a different...*Barf*. Great he is going to think I need to see a doctor or something. I cannot let him know that I am pregnant and running from an abusive ex. I am so sorry, Luke. I didn't know I was going to get sick. It just came out of nowhere," I told him. He looked at me like he knew I was hiding something. Well, I could tell him the truth, but I really don't want him to think I need help. I am a strong woman after all I had the courage to leave Brett tonight. Luke pulled over on the side of the road. Here put this on. He handed me one of his shirts and boy did it smell like him. UGH! I don't think I can.

I take his shirt and just looked at him. "Um, thanks, but I have nowhere to change. I don't want you looking at me, Luke," I said. "Well, you can't wear that, and I have to get the truck cleaned up. We still have a short ways to go. So here I'll turn my head and won't look," he told me. Well, what do I have to lose? I mean he does have a point, since we still have a short ways to go. I don't want to smell like puke or smell puke anymore. Plus, he hasn't said anything about the bruises on my face. I've covered them up pretty well. The ones on my arms and back have almost healed, so I don't think I have too much to worry.

"Okay Luke, turn your head and don't look. I mean it!," I told him. He turns around so I change shirts. This is going to be a difficult ride smelling like him. I think I could do it just long enough to get to the ranch and wash my shirt. "Okay Luke, I'm doing changing you can turn your head back around," I said. "Now let's get what we can up with this napkins." he said as he looked at me. We got as much as we could up. I was focused on the road and the coolness of the window, waiting on Luke to get back on the road. "Hey Annabeth, look at me....I know your trying to cover something up. I need you to be completely honest with me. Are you getting away from someone?" he asked. Great he was really trying to get me to tell him the real reason. Why should I tell a complete stranger? It's not like I have tried before because I have. When I told people I didn't know, they completely ignored me and said I was just making it up. So why should I tell him? "Look Annabeth, I know I shouldn't have but I seen your back and your arms. I see the bruises even though they are starting to heal. I can see you have to much makeup on so your covering them on your face.

So please tell me whats going on. I might be able to help you. All you gotta do is tell me." he said.

I closed my eyes like I was asleep. There is no way I wanted to tell him, some stranger why I was here and why I needed a place to sleep. He must have bought it or wanted to drop the subject because I felt the truck pull back on the road. I must have dosed off because next thing I know we was pulling up to the most beautiful farmhouse I have ever seen. It was so big on the outside, it had a wraparound porch and it was 2 stories. The house was painted white and had a black roof and black shutters. "Well hey there, you fell asleep and I didn't want to wake you. I guess the bumpy road to the house woke you up. Sorry about that, but welcome. Let's go in so I can show you your room," he said.

As we were walking up the walkway and onto the porch, I could see that there were rockers (rocking chairs) and 2 porch swings. Oh what I wouldn't give to have a house like this! *I didn't see a sign on what ranch this was and Luke didn't tell me, so I'm assuming here that this ranch is a normal ranch.*

The inside of the house was just as beautiful as the outside. As I walked in I noticed a kitchen to my left, a living room to the right and a set of stairs ahead. It was all so beautiful that I had a hard time thinking he was single. He must have someone because this place was so nice and clean, not something that a single man would be living here alone. Great just what in the world am I thinking. Just as I was thinking that a woman about my age walked out of the kitchen. See, I knew it, it was all too good to be true. "Hey Luke...I just finished supper dishes. That is all I have left. I'm going to head to bed," the woman said. Then down the stairs comes another woman in her Pjs. "Hey Luke. Jasmine said she had found me a house and that I would be good to leave," the other woman said. Okay, this is so weird what is going on here. Does he have more than one wife or is something else going on?

"Ladies I want you to meet Annabeth. As I was at the diner, Mary motioned me over and introduced me to Annabeth, he told everyone. "Hey Annabeth, I'm Rachel and this is Lauren," she said. "Hi Rachel....Hi Lauren," I said back. "Ladies if you will excuse us, I'm going to show Annabeth the house and then to her room," Luke told them. Okay, this is way too weird for me. Why would he have two women staying with him?!

We walked to the kitchen and he showed me around. The kitchen was so big and beautiful with hardwood floors, granite counter top and stainless steel appliances. I was in amazement and I figured he could tell by the look on his face. Then he showed me the living room and let me tell you its just as beautiful as the kitchen. It had a huge fireplace with four leather couches! Why would you need that many? The floors were hardwood and there was a rug in front of the fireplace. I bet that would be a great place to set and read a book. Then we walked up the stairs and I noticed there was only four rooms. As we walked past the rooms, he told me whose room was whose. The first room was Rachel's. She was the one in that came from the kitchen. The second room was Lauren's, but her room would soon be empty because she was leaving. The third room was Jasmine, the lady that I have not met yet. The fourth room was his, but since Lauren is leaving tomorrow, I could stay in his room. Okay, maybe he didn't have multiple wives. He said I could move into Lauren's room tomorrow once she left and the room was cleaned. But for tonight he thought it would be good for me to sleep on a bed. So he said that I could have his room for tonight, which I was really grateful for.

He left me alone at the door of his room. I walked in and noticed all the winnings from the rodeos, and then I noticed a newspaper article hanging on the wall. The title read: "Our Very Own Lawson Twins Open Ranch to Abused Women." What! No.. No... No, I cannot be here. This place would be a place that Brett would first. I have to leave and find someplace else, but I really need a rest. One night here may not hurt, then in the morning I will leave. I laid down on the bed and put my hand on my stomach. Right now I knew we were safe. I knew that I could finally sleep without worrying if he would hurt me. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep holding my stomach.