Sweet Southern Haven

Aren’t You Angry

{Noelle’s POV}

[This Chapter contains themes of domestic abuse, reader discretion is advised.]

“Noelle.. it isn’t right.. he did something that awful to you.. and you so easily tell me to stand down. Aren’t you angry? Aren’t you dying for him to get what’s coming to him?” He asked, looking down at me, his eyes staying locked with mine.

I felt a tear slide down my cheek, before his rough calloused hand gently caressed it, his thumb rubbing the tear away. “I am angry.. but you don’t understand.. I’m no longer angry at Parker.. I’m angry at myself, for staying.. for allowing him to break me apart this way.. he made me into nothing.. and that’s all I fear I’ll ever be..”

“Noelle..” he began, when a soft knock came to the door.

“Hello there, are you finally awake?” The woman asked, walking into the room. She wore dark blue scrubs, and a doctor’s coat, with a stethoscope around her neck. She had blonde hair that was tied up into a neat and tidy bun, and bright blue eyes. Her skin was tanned, and she stood at about 5’8, she looked like she could be a model, not a doctor. “I’m Doctor Anders, but you can call me Missy, how are you feeling hun? Do you remember the accident, or have any trouble remembering anything before?” She asked, as she walked to my bedside.

I shook my head. “I remember everything.. and I feel fine.. just a headache..” I smiled softly up at her.

“Alright, well, Silas was telling me that you’re a new hire on their ranch and there was an accident with his brother’s horse Smokey, that you saved little Emmaline, is that right?” She asked.

I nodded, looking down at Emmaline. “Yes, that’s correct..”

“Alright then, I’ll have you fill out some paperwork and we’ll get you ready to go, if you begin to have any issues come back of course, but you’re free to go as soon as you sign the paperwork, you had to have stitches, so I’ll send you with a packet of care instructions, and you have a concussion which is normal for this type of injury. You’re very lucky that it wasn’t worse.” She smiled, handing me a stack of papers and leaving the room.

I looked down at the papers, panic beginning to fill me. I quickly pulled out my wallet with the fake Id that Agent Nickles had given me. The name on the id, and the insurance card was Reina Mills. I quickly jotted the name down and sighed. “I hate this..” I muttered, mostly to myself.

“Hate what?” Silas asked, moving so that he could look over my shoulder. “Reina Mills?” He asked, looking down. “Who is that?”

“It’s the fake identity that Agent Nickles had given me..” I said softly, putting the id back up. “A girl from California.. moving to the country to learn the ways of Ranching..”

“Is that where you came from?” He asked, sitting back down in his chair.

I shook my head. “I lived in New York all my life.. my mother and I.. at least.. that’s all I remember..” I said softly.

“New York.. I’ve heard that place is noisy, and bright.” He said, leaning back in his chair.

I nodded. “It’s terribly noisy, and the lights in the city are always on, and always bright. If I’m honest, I don’t miss it though. I hated the city.. it’s so much nicer here. Fresh air, pretty views, almost always clear skies.. even the nighttime here is so peaceful.. so quiet. Mama would have loved it here.. she would have loved the quiet nights on the front porch swing..” I sighed.

I filled out the rest of the paperwork and soon a nurse came in and discharged me. We left, with Silas packing Emmaline in his arms, she was still sleeping soundly. He buckled her into her car seat, and helped me into his truck. Soon we began our trip back to the Ranch. “So.. is there anything else you’d like to talk about?” He asked, keeping his eyes on the road.

“What are you fishing for Silas?” I asked, leaning my head back to rest it against the seat, but turning it in his direction so I could look at him. I had to admit, he was handsome. His dark brown shaggy hair, his well trimmed beard.. and his big brown eyes, I could look at him all day. Not to mention how tall, toned, and muscular he is..

“The scars..” he said, pulling me from my wandering thoughts. “What happened.. did Parker do that to you?” He asked.

I sighed. “I told you I don’t want to talk about this.. but.. I’ll tell you about it later.. this isn’t a conversation to have in front of a child, sleeping or not.”

He nodded. “We don’t have to talk about it.. I had just wondered since I saw them.. they look like cigar burns.” He said.

I sighed. “Some of them are..” I muttered.

“Some of them? You have more?” He asked, turning to look at me.

I sat up quickly, pointing back to the road. “Watch the road Silas!” I snapped, swatting his arm.

He turned his attention back to the road, and sighed. “Okay.. I want to make a deal with you..” he said, his voice sounding sad, even defeated. “We take one day out of the week, we’ll have dinner, and a drink together, and talk about some of our past trauma’s and problems. I know you can’t talk to anyone else, but maybe you can talk to me, and if you can open up to me, then I’ll open up to you.” He said, both hands once wheel firmly. “I have some trauma’s and some issues that I haven’t talked about with anyone.. maybe both of us opening up will help both of us out.”

I thought about it for a moment. “Alright, but we don’t tell anyone about what we talk about.. it all stays just between us! Deal?” I asked, leaning my head back against the seat again.

“Deal!” He said, smiling softly at me, before turning his attention back to the road. “We’ll start tonight, of course we can’t drink yet because of the pain meds you’re on, but I’ll come make you dinner and we’ll talk.” He finished, as we pulled in past the large gate that says Bennett Ranch.

I nodded in agreement. “Alright.. tonight it is.” I said, smiling down at Emmaline who was still out cold in her car seat. “I’ll see you tomorrow Emmaline.” I said softly, before getting out of the truck and closing the door as quietly as possible. “I’ll see you tonight Silas.” I nodded to him. “And thank you.. for everything.”

“Thank you Noelle, for saving my little girl.” He smiled, before backing up, and pulling out of the driveway heading up to their ranch.