The Unwanted Runaway

The Call

Brooke’s POV

"Sure, I can take care of all these orders for you. It shouldn't take more than a week for everything to be ready. I informed one of my clients, a resident at the assisted living facility, who enjoys our herbal teas for their patients."

As I ended the call, I made a mental note to check my inventory and make sure everything was in order. My team and I had just finished planting fresh herbs, with the help of Anna and Mia, to replace the ones we had harvested earlier that morning. It had been a nonstop day for me, and today was supposed to be my day off from the clinic.

As I walked through the rows of plants, I meticulously checked each one to ensure they were well-watered and in good condition. Satisfied with everything, I stepped out of the greenhouse and closed the door behind me. Suddenly, the sound of a car speeding down the dirt road caught my attention. To my surprise, it was Sarah. She got out of her car, slamming the door and calling out my name.

"Hey Brooke, I need to talk to you. It's important!" Sarah yelled in a hurry.

I squinted at her, confused. "Sarah, what are you doing here? You know you're not allowed on this property after what your son did to EJ. You're lucky Evan and Mia aren't suing you."

Sarah chuckled and said, "They can try. But I'm not here for that. I need to tell you about Anna."

"Is she here?" I asked, still wary of Sarah's presence.

"Yes, and listen, you need to warn Denton. My ex-husband, Sam, found out that Anna is in Heston and he's with some guy named Joey Freeman. Apparently, Anna stole something from him and he wants it back. I don't have all the details, but Denton needs to know that he's with a criminal. He thought he could do better than me, and now look where it's got him." Sarah sarcastically laughed.

I glared at her. "First of all, you need to leave. You're trespassing. And secondly, whatever trouble Anna is in is none of your business. You know she's innocent. Now go."

But Sarah refused to budge. "Fine, I was just trying to warn Denton, but I'll just tell Sam that Anna is here. She is a trouble magnet, after all. And I'll get Denton back. I know he's with her. It's the talk of the town."

I could feel my patience wearing thin. Sarah had always been one to push my buttons, but this was too much. I grabbed her hand and pushed her away, warning her not to mess with me. "I am a master in jujitsu. I can protect myself. And I'm sure Denton, Evan, and Carter can too. Now leave."I say angrily towards Sarah.

Sarah huffed and threatened, "Well, when the cartel comes after you all, don't say I didn't warn you."

I flipped her off as she drove away, but my relief was short-lived as I heard an elderly woman's voice behind me. "You need to get out of here now. You're not welcome here anymore. Do you hear me?"

I turned to see Aunt Rose, the matriarch of the ranch, hurrying towards where Sarah and I had been. She motioned for Sarah to leave and told her not to come back.

As Sarah drove off, Aunt Rose turned to me and asked, "What was that all about, Brooke?"

I let out a heavy sigh and began to explain the situation to my aunt Rose. "Aunt Rose, I need to talk to you about something. It's about Sarah," I said, my voice filled with frustration and concern.

Aunt Rose, a no-nonsense woman, raised an eyebrow and leaned in closer. "What's going on, dear?"

I took a deep breath before diving into the complicated mess that was Sarah and Denton's relationship. "Sarah found out that Denton has moved on and is now with Anna. But she's not happy about it. She claims that Anna is in trouble and that her ex-boyfriend is in town, looking for her."

Aunt Rose shook her head, her lips pursed in disapproval. "That girl has always been trouble. I remember when she used to follow Evan around in high school. She was always trying to get his attention and even Carter's when he was at the house."

I couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. "I never understood what Denton saw in her besides her looks."

Aunt Rose's expression turned serious. "It's not just her looks, dear. She's always been after our money. You could see it in the way she acts. At least that’s my own suspicions anyway which I know are right.

She even used to come over to the ranch with her father, who used to be our go-to vet, just to follow and bug Evan around. She didn’t even bother Denton then because of course Dentons eight years younger than she is it wasn’t until she divorced her husband Sam thorn, and turned her attention to Denton since Evan was happily married.

I rolled my eyes, thinking about Sarah's past antics. "This whole situation gives me the heebie-jeebies. I don't want to get involved in all this drama. Jason and I just want to finish our house and move out of this trailer soon."

Aunt Rose nodded understandingly. Oh, and Anna is here helping me watch baby Izzy and Lily. She's in the house."

I'll let you get back to cooking dinner aunt Rose.

Thanks dear I’ll let Anna know you were looking for her. Aunt Rose replied as she turned and started walking towards the front porch of her house.

I thanked her and I made my way back to the cramped trailer. As Jason and I eagerly awaited the completion of our new house, it was moments like these that made us realize how cramped and uncomfortable our current living situation was. But for now, it was home.

I took a deep breath and tried to push aside my worries about Sarah and her drama. I just wanted to focus on building a better future with Jason.

As I stepped into our modest trailer, my eyes immediately landed on Jason, who was sitting at our makeshift dining table, poring over some paperwork. We had recently acquired some Colts that we were planning to train and sell, and Jason was diligently going through their details.

As I approached him, he looked up and rose from his seat, offering me a kiss on the lips. I eagerly accepted his affection, feeling a warmth spread through my body. "How was your day, my little sexy queen?" Jason asked, his voice filled with adoration.

I blushed at his words, feeling a flutter in my chest. "Oh, you stop now," I replied playfully, though his compliment had definitely made my cheeks flush.

"Well, I genuinely want to know how your day went," Jason said sweetly, taking my hand in his. "And as for calling you my queen, well, you are the ruler of this tiny castle and soon, our larger one."

I smiled at his words, feeling grateful for his love and support. "Well, I had a bit of a run-in with Sarah," I confessed, my expression turning serious.

"What the hell is that crazy psycho doing here?" Jason exclaimed, his protective instincts kicking in.

I sighed, knowing that Jason's reaction was understandable. "She found out about Denton and Anna, and she's not happy. She's also saying that Anna's ex is looking for her with Sam Thorne."

"f**k, seriously?" Jason muttered, his brow furrowing. "I wonder if this has anything to do with the letter you gave Carter a few days ago."

"I'm pretty sure it does," I replied, worry creeping into my voice. "But hopefully, everything will just blow over, and things will go back to normal. And at least Anna is safe here on the ranch. Oh, and Sarah was definitely up to something. I could tell by the way she was acting."

"That crazy b***h," Jason spat, his jaw clenched in anger.

I nodded in agreement, feeling grateful for Jason's support and understanding. "Anyway, my cousin wants to meet up at Duke's Bar & Grill tonight. What do you say? Do you want to go with me , Ellie and Travis?" I asked, hoping to distract us from the stressful events of the day.

Jason put aside his paperwork and folder, looking at me with a mischievous glint in his eye. "I'm hungry, and I could definitely use a drink," he replied, grabbing his keys. "But I'm driving the Jeep."

As we arrived at Duke's Bar and Grill, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. It wasn't just because of Sarah's warning, but also because of the tension all together, but I didn't want to pry.

Travis and my cousin, Ellie,, were already there, sitting at a booth in the corner. As we approached, they waved us over and we joined them. The atmosphere was lively, with music playing and people chatting and laughing.

Travis greeted us with a smile and a handshake, while Ellie hugged me tightly. "It's been too long, Brooke!" she exclaimed.

What like five days I jokingly replied

With raised eye eye and arms crossed.

I then smiled and hugged her back, grateful for the distraction from my thoughts. As we settled into our seats, Travis ordered us all a round of drinks.

"So, what's the occasion?" I asked, trying to make small talk.

Ellie, grinned mischievously. "I have a surprise for you guys. I was going to wait until after dinner, but I can't contain my excitement any longer!"

Travis chuckled and said, "Well, don't keep us in suspense, Ellie,. What's the surprise?"

Ellie took a deep breath and said, "I got us tickets to the Green River Festival next weekend! It's going to be so much fun!"

I couldn't believe it. The Green River Festival was an annual event that brought in people from all over the state. It was known for its live music, food, and art vendors. I had always wanted to go, but never got the chance. This was the perfect opportunity.

"Wow, thank you so much, Ellie! That's so generous of you!" I exclaimed, grateful for the distraction and the chance to have some fun.

Travis and Jason both thanked Ellie, as well and we spent the rest of the night planning our trip to the festival. It was a welcome break from the chaos of the ranch and the drama with Sarah and Anna.

The sound of my phone buzzing in my purse interrupts our conversation. Without hesitation, Jason reaches for it and hands it to me, knowing it must be important. As I read the text, my heart drops and my stomach churns. Jason and I exchange worried glances before informing, Ellie and Travis, that we have to leave immediately. The ranch is on fire and we have already lost some horses.

Travis looks at me in shock and asks, "How did this happen?"

Jason responds, "It seems like Anna was in the barn and accidentally fell asleep with a lit cigarette."

But that can't be right, I quickly interject. "Anna doesn't even smoke. She told me she tried it once and hated it. She even threw the cigarette away before she got here."

Jason shakes his head and says, "Well, they found a pack of burnt cigarettes next to her while she was unconscious."

"That's strange," I mutter.

"We better get going," Jason says firmly.

I quickly say goodbye to Travis and hug my cousin Ellie before Jason and I rush out of the door. As we hop into the jeep, I can't shake off the worry and fear that Anna may be seriously injured. I need to make sure she's okay.

I turn to Jason and ask, "Did they say anything about Anna's condition?"

Jason's face falls as he replies, "I'm not sure. Denton was terrified when he found her unconscious. He gave her CPR and took her to her room before rushing back to the fire."

"That's what Mia told me too," I say, my heart racing.

"We'll know more once we get to the ranch," Jason says, starting the car. "You check on Anna while I take care of everything else."

I nod, grateful for his quick thinking and plan. We'll figure out the rest once we get there.

As we drive closer to the ranch, we are met with a terrifying sight. Smoke billows from every direction and flames dance wildly in the distance. Jason and I exchange a look of dread.

"s**t," I mutter, urging Jason to park the car quickly. He jumps out and I follow suit, my heart pounding with fear. We make our way to Denton's house first before checking on Anna.

As soon as we reach Denton, I can see the panic etched on his face and the stains of ash on his clothes. My eyes follow his gaze to two dead horses off to the side. Without missing a beat, he turns to me, his eyes stern and serious.

"I need you to pack Anna's things and get her out of here as soon as she's conscious," he informs me.

I look at Denton in disbelief. There's no way Anna could have caused this, I know it. I speak up, firmly defending her.

"You know she wouldn't do something like this, Denton. I believe in her," I say.

Uncle Luke appears from the barn, joining our conversation. He nods in agreement with Denton's decision, but adds his own thoughts.

"You're making the right choice for now, son. I know you love that girl, but she may not cause trouble, but she certainly is trouble. Look at everything she's brought since she's been here. You certainly know how to pick 'em, son," he says with a knowing look.

Yeah, that’s enough Dad “

Denton says with anger and his voice and eyes looking towards his dad.

My anger flares up at Uncle Luke's words. Anna may come with some baggage, but she is not the cause of all the chaos that has ensued since she arrived. I think back to the altercation I had with Sarah earlier in the day and a suspicion forms in my mind.

Just then,Mia arrives and I know I need to talk to her about my interaction with Sarah and her threat towards the family. This has Sarah's name written all over it.

Because if I know anything if I talk to her, she talks to Evan, Evan and get through to Denton. Besides that Aunt Rose, hopefully she would back me up on all this.

As I approach Mia, my heart heavy with the weight of what I have to say, I embrace her tightly. She returns the hug, sensing the gravity of the situation.

"Mia," I begin, my voice serious and urgent. "I need to talk to you. I know, without a doubt, that Anna did not start the fire."

Mia's face falls, her eyes filled with doubt. "But Brooke, the evidence is stacked against her. She was the only one in that barn."

My frustration boils over as I respond, "But Mia, it's all a setup. It's like Sarah left a giant neon sign with Anna's name on it."metaphorically speaking.”

Determined to help me, Mia offers, "Let me help you pack Anna's bags. We can talk in my kitchen after you drop her off at Ellie's house. Denton just needs to cool down."

I scoff, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. "No, Mia. Denton needs to get his head on straight. He needs to realize that Anna was framed." I gesture to where Denton is standing, giving me a disapproving look. "He's the one who needs to pack his bags and get out of here."

With that, I stride towards Aunt Rose's house, my hips swaying with determination. I know what I have to do, and I won't let anyone stand in my way. It's time to pack Anna's bags and get to the bottom of this twisted plot.