Page 59 of Reins

I almost kind of like it when he just tells me. I don’t have to guess and worry about what I’m supposed to be doing.

Going from never having a choice to too many is overwhelming. At the ranch, I knew exactly what I needed to do and when.

After he lays the blanket over my lap, he pauses the movie. “See that pile of presents under their tree?” His finger gestures to the grainy image frozen on the screen. “We’re gonna make one of those.”

Confusion knits my brows. “I don’t understand. We’re going to wrap them up for your family?”

“Nope.” He picks up the computer and pulls it onto his thighs as he settles next to me. “We’re gonna go shopping.”

With a few flicks, he opens up an online store, then turns it to show me. “I want you to get what you need, Ros,” he says hoarsely. “We’re going to get you all decked out.”

Panic crawls out of my chest and grips me by the back of the throat.

This is what John does. He buys me things and then uses them to control me.

“I don’t need anything.” I fidget with the flannel hem. “I don’t have any money.”

“Ros, these are gifts. You don’t have to pay me back for them.” His forehead wrinkles to match mine. Then he squints. “Do you think you owe me? Hell, next week we’ll get you a new ID and if you want to leave and never see me again, it’s still all gonna be your stuff, okay? That’s how gifts work. No strings attached.”

Leave? That thought instills even more fear.

“I don’t have anywhere to go.” My voice squeaks out while the edge of the blanket starts to ball in my fist. “I can’t go back home. I can’t drive. I don’t know what to do.” With every word my pitch climbs.

He reaches down and squeezes my frantic fingers, calming them. “We’ll make a plan, okay? Tell me more of your favorite things. What would you want to do if you could do anything?”

All I can do is stare at his rough knuckles.

I know I’m supposed to say something with horses but the fun left that for me years ago.

One of the few memories I have that’s happy pops into my head. “I’d love to work in an ice cream shop. Nobody is sad when they’re in one.”

The whites of his teeth show with a grin. “That sounds like a wonderful plan. I used to know a lady that worked at Frozen Bones. Maria was her name.”

That stirs a flash of excitement from me. “I remember her too! Her daughter Elena let me color in her book when I was there.” It really is a warm fuzzy place.

His smile falters. “That’s right. Elena was her kid.” He blinks and refocuses on the screen while shaking his head. “Crazy how small the world is.”

Shit. It really is.

“Maybe I wouldn’t want to work there. One of my brothers might see me.” I need to make a new plan.

“Hmm,” he grumbles. “There’s a spot not far from my place in Texas that has gelato. It’s pretty good.” His lips purse as his fingers fly on the keyboard.

Is that his way of asking if I want to go south?

“So you’d really take me with you?” I pick at the nail of my thumb so I don’t have to meet his eyes.

“If you want to go? You always have a choice.” He doesn’t look at me until he points at the screen to show me an array of red hued shirts. “Any of these strike your fancy?”

They’re all much more lavish than anything I’ve had. The only nice clothes I’ve ever owned were the show uniforms when I was riding.

And my brother made sure that I knew I owed him for them.

Cade studies my face, his gaze flicking to the screen as I look.

“I’m gonna add this one.” He clicks the link of a soft pink cardigan.

It’s one of the most expensive ones.