Page 116 of Sold to Her Enemy

“No. You get out of here as soon as you can!”

I had never heard her voice so harsh before, but I had to tell her about Adrian because photos of us attending Ava’s event were everywhere online.

“He was in town, so I went on a date with him.”

My mother pressed her hands to her temples. “I don’t know why you can’t let it go, but now’s your chance. Take this money and get away from here. Leave me.”

Biting back tears, I escaped into my bedroom, closed the door, and sobbed.

Then my phone chimed with a message from Grace, saying, “Hello stranger!”

It turns out that someone from my old life was happy to see me. While my family’s fortunes had been turned upside down, Grace was finalizing a divorce she kept quiet about and living in Oregon. She had inherited this sprawling equine facility. I sobbed, reading her messages, and asked her to call me. Two minutes later, I heard her voice and couldn’t stop crying.

“Mckenna, I’m so sorry I didn’t reach out sooner. Or is it Dr. Moran?”

“No. I haven’t sat the exam yet.”

“Want to come here? I have a cottage that you can have if you want it.”

She didn’t have to ask me twice.

That was the perfect arrangement.

I packed my bags, hugged my mother, and was on the next plane to Oregon.

Grace’s vet, Dr. Alice Hearthstone, took me under her wing and offered me a job if I wanted it. But I didn’t.

I was happy mucking stalls, grooming the sweetest horses–besides Penelope and teaching.

For the first time in my life, I was choosing exactly what I was doing with my time without looking after one of my parents.

The cottage Grace had free comes with a comfy kitchen, a washroom, and a porch where I can watch the herd while sitting on a swing while the sunset darkens the sky.

“Ms. Ellison!”, the office manager, comes running into the stall.

“Clark, I’ve told you lots of times not to run into the barn! What’s going on?” Grace crosses her arms in front of her chest.

“There’s cars and a TV reporter outside asking if they can speak to the owner.”

“I’ll come by tonight to check on Melody. I’ve given her pain relief, and she’s not going to like being kept in the stall, but keeping her comfortable for now is what we’re going to do. I think it’s time for me to get out,” Alice says.

“Lucky you,” Grace mutters.

“Tell them the owner isn’t available.”

Grace and I exchange a look, knowing what it’s like to have the media chase us. It could be because of Grace’s ex-husband. In the time that I’ve been here, the press has come twice after Brett has won a big case. They’re divorced but civil to each other.

“They insisted! Said they want to know what it’s like harboring a fugitive.”

My face pales. “Grace, I’m so sorry, I …”

She puts a palm up to stall my words. “That’s what they’re going to say to get you to show your face. One, you’re my friend. Two, you’re not a fugitive, and neither are your parents. Nobody has been charged with anything. I’ll call Brett if I have to, but he’s in court on Tuesdays.”

“Want me to drive my truck through them?” Alice smirks but her tone suggests she’d do it.

Grace’s expression mirrors mine. We come from a world where lawyers deal with the media pests, not taking it into our own hands.

We break out into laughter.

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