This Love of Mine (Raine Series #1)

CHAPTER 8

Madison

The girl walking in our direction was not at all who I had been expecting to see. I didn't know for sure if this was Kayla, but my suspicions were confirmed when my grandfather pushed himself off the truck and walked towards her. She looked like she was having a hard time walking, but I paid it no mind.

She hugged my grandfather tightly and when they separated, I could see tears streaming down her face. I wasn't sure what exactly was wrong with her, or what her story was, but I really didn't want to get wrapped up in it either. She wrapped her arm around my grandfather’s shoulders, and that's when I could clearly tell she was limping.

Hmm, weird.

For the most part, I had kept my head down and looked at the situation from under my lashes. When they approached me, I remembered my grandfather's warning to be nice.

I glanced up and stopped. I could tell that despite all the bruises, she was a beautiful girl. Her electric blue eyes sought out mine and we were instantly locked in place. Something inside of me came to life and it was scaring the shit out of me. Her hair was a pretty chestnut brown and it grazed the top of her waistband, even though it was all unruly and matted by...blood? What the hell has this girl been going through? Before I could continue my survey of her, my grandfather cleared his throat, and then I saw his death glare.

"Kayla honey, this is my grandson Madison. Madison this is Kayla. Can you help her into the cab of the truck, son?"

"Yes, sir."

My eyes never broke contact with hers until she closed them tight as we switched her from my grandfather's shoulders to mine. I could hear her labored breathing and could only assume she was in pain, so I made the decision to scoop her up in my arms and place her in the truck. I heard her take a sharp intake of breath and I silently cursed myself for even doing it. What a stupid idea.

"I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" I knew she could see concern etched on my face, because she closed her eyes and never responded. Maybe she was embarrassed, who knows.

Once I got her situated in the middle of the bench seat, I hopped up next to her. I made sure not to touch her, but for whatever reason she seemed almost disgusted with me. As the truck hit the main road and we were headed back to the farm, I swear I heard her whisper something to me, but I couldn't make it out. I wasn't going to ask her what she said, but then I heard it again.

"What's that?" I whispered near her ear.

"I said, thank you."

"You're welcome." I grinned at her, but once again I got no reaction. Whatever, two days, that's all.

The rest of the ride home was mundane and I almost wanted to walk home due to the uncomfortable nature of it. When we made it to the gates to the James' farm, I was all but relieved I wasn't going to have to endure a minute more. When we came up the drive, Mr. James was already waiting for us to arrive. I offered to help Kayla out of the truck, but her grandfather said he had it.

His tone of voice implied much more, but I just brushed it off. He slowly set her on her feet and she stumbled back. I reached out and caught her just before she hit the gravel, and for the first time since I saw her, she actually smiled. It was genuine, but it didn't reach her eyes and I wondered where the light in them had gone.

I set her back on her feet and without another word, we all parted ways.

I wanted to ask what had happened to her, but my grandfather had basically told me it was none of my business. I may not remember Kayla from when we were little, but if a man was behind this, I would kill him. She was too beautiful of a girl to be treated so poorly.

"Sir, wh-?"

"I told you not to ask son. It ain't nobody's business what happened to that poor girl, besides her family. Now don't go tryin' to get to know that girl, or even tryin' to get into what happened to her. You're leavin' in two days and I'm pretty sure she's gonna need someone who is gonna stick around, to be friends with. Are you understandin' what I'm tellin' ya boy?"

I rolled my eyes at the mere accusation that I would even try to get all up in her business, when I didn't even know her. "Yes, sir. I understand completely."

"Alright then. Let's head in and eat some supper and then you can shower and hit the hay. We have a busy day tomorrow."

"Yes, sir." I mumbled as I made my way inside.

Grams' homemade chicken potpies caught my immediate attention when I opened the front door. I was famished and I could never say no to Gram's chicken potpies. "Grams, I'm gonna head up and shower real quick, I'll be back down in time to say grace."

"Ok dear. No rush, I just barely took 'em out."

I took the stairs two at time and showered in record time. I wanted to hurry up and eat, so I could head out to the open plot of land that connected with the James'. I wasn't expecting to see her. Hell, I'm sure she could barely walk by herself, let alone make it up a small hill, but I was secretly hopin' to get a small glimpse.

We all sat down, Grandpa said grace and I ate like I had just been released from prison. I would have gotten away with my odd behavior, but my grandfather had to chime in on the Kayla situation.

"Looks as if Kayla has been having a rough time, dear. If you could possibly bake up some sort of pie, I'm sure Marie would love to see you."

"Oh that's a perfect idea Harold. I'll bake something up tonight, so I can take it over first thing in the morning. That poor girl, I do hope she will be okay."

I was just about to say something, when I caught the stern look my grandfather was giving me out of the corner of his eye. Instead, I simply asked to be excused and then threw my hat on as I made my way into the night.

As I got closer to the open area, I could smell smoke and I ran the rest of the way to make sure my dumb ass hadn't left a cigarette burning earlier. I almost tripped over myself when I saw the dark figure crouched on the ground. She was here. Wait, she was here? How was that even possible?

I slowly closed the distance between us, when I saw the cherry on the cigarette turn an even brighter red. "So, not so much a good girl, huh?"

I must've startled her because she flinched and went to stand up.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know anybody would be out here so late. I can leave."

Her words were muffled, almost as if she was clenching her teeth, but I wasn't close enough to tell. "It's okay, you can stay. I just have never seen you out here before, and technically you are on my land."

"I'm pretty sure it's your grandfather's land, but yes, yes I am. Although, if I scoot back just two feet, I would technically be on my family's property."

I thought I caught a glimpse of a smile, but my mind must've been playing tricks on me, because that stoic look she had in the truck was back.

"I'll just head back down. I only come up her to smoke so my grandparents don't get pissed at me. They don't like it much." I toed the dirt with my work boots, debating whether or not to turn around and leave her be.

"That's why I'm up here, but you can stay. I was just heading back." I watched her every move as she struggled to stand herself up. I wanted to help her, I really did, but my grandfather's voice was nagging at the back of my mind. When she was finally in a standing position, I took out my pack of smokes and lit one up.

"Guess I'll be seeing you around then?" I shouted as I blew out my smoke.

"Guess so." And then she disappeared into the thick black night.