Page 29 of The Fence Between Us

He focused his eyes on hers and saw the moment she realized what he wasn’t saying out loud,whyhe came down to the river when they could no longer meet under the fence; when everything in his life took a drastic turn downhill; when she had been stolen away, sequestered, like a pet in a cage.

They walked for another five minutes, dodging fallen trees covered in vines and wild rose thorns. Rabble was richly rewarded when they broke through the tree line and Skye gasped in delight at the sight before them. They stepped out onto an outcropping that hung over the river. Around them, the trees presented full, thick foliage in an incredible array of greens and browns. The river snaked by below, unhurriedly winding its way across the Earth without care, and the red sandstone and tan limestone of the overhang blended to create a seamless piece of natural art.

“When I came here, I walked out there.” Rabble pointed to the far edge of the cliff, and Skye’s eyes widened with shock, maybe a bit of fear and despair. “Back then, I didn’t care if I came home.”

Her brows slammed down, and he held up his hand, trying to stave off any of the dismayed questions she might lodge at him. The concern and sorrow in her eyes said more than enough of her thoughts about his admission; a secret he kept close to his chest his entire life, that he had spent many hours overlooking that river, wondering

“I was young. My mother was gone. You were gone, and my dad was… Well, he was what he was. There were days when Mr. Jack at the pharmacy was the only person who cared where I was. Later, Mrs. Basket joined the list. Eventually, I had a few people who cared that I came home, who expected something of me.”

She was silent for a while, staring out at the cliff’s edge. When she answered, she worded her response carefully. “I’m glad you don’t go out there now.”

“Me too.”

They stood together, away from the cliff, but still watching the lazy river wind past them. Neither spoke, lost in their own thoughts and memories, their fingers intertwined as the summer wind blew around them.

Just before they turned to head back to the cabin, Skye tugged Rabble closer, brushing a kiss against his jaw, and whispered, “Thank you.”

He swallowed hard and squeezed her hand lightly in his, careful not to put too much pressure on her dainty fingers. A current of emotion flowed through him, wreaking havoc in his chest and building pressure behind his eyes. There were a lot of words he wouldn’t say, couldn’t say to her, not here, not about what showing her this place meant. He trusted her perception though. She tended to see more than he wanted her to, always had. He loved her for that. It wasoneof the countless reasons why he loved her.

Back at the cabin, Skye dragged Rabble into the economically sized shower, claiming the water conservation was good for the environment. He seriously doubted they managed to save any water by the time they finally finished and were on their way to The Sunny Morning Trellis. According to the many missed text messages from Declan, everyone else was already waiting at the bed and breakfast and Rabble needed to “hurry his ass up.”

When Rabble started his truck, Declan sent another message. “Do I have to send the local PD around for a well-check?”

Rabble’s thumbs typed quickly, “Keep your panties on. We’re on our way.”

Three dots later, Declan shot back the middle-finger emoji. As Rabble barked with laughter and Skye smirked, he shifted the truck into reverse.

They arrived at the bed and breakfast less than fifteen minutes later. Entering through the dining room, they found their friends seated around the large wooden table. Fortunately, none of them looked any worse for wear, which Rabble was eternally grateful for. Judging by the way Skye scrutinized each of them after dispersing hugs to everyone, she had similar thoughts. Their late dinner was a fun affair, though notes of strain underlaid their attempts at upbeat conversation. Rabble and Declan entertained them with humorous anecdotes about their time in the military and since they’d opened the security firm. Dash rarely added anything to those tales, though he often smirked silently with mirth. While the others laughed and joked along, Bekah remained withdrawn and quiet. Her smiles were forced, and when Rabble wondered if he should say something to her, Skye reached over and grasped her friend’s hand reassuringly. He watched them, a warm sensation spreading through his chest.

The rest of the evening passed in companionable conversation, an unspoken agreement to not mention anything negative and just enjoy each other’s friendship.

Elyza, Kellyn, and Dash were the first to rise from their chairs, heading for their rooms upstairs. They would spend one more night at the bed and breakfast while Dash tested out the new security systems he’d installed at each of their homes, along with Bekah’s and Skye’s cottages. As long as he was satisfied with the results of his testing, they could return home the following day.

Elyza glanced back on her way up the stairs, pinning each woman with a stare. “Tomorrow ladies, 10:00 a.m. at the shop. Don’t be late!” She wiggled her fingers in farewell.

Kellyn groaned quietly as she followed behind.

Elyza must have heard that because she shouted over her shoulder, “I have champagne!”

The groan turned into an appreciative hum, and even Bekah laughed as the dinner party broke up and she left with Declan. They would spend one more night outside of Shiloh Hills, allowing Dash to run his equipment tests without interference.

With their friends gone, Rabble mulled over taking Skye back to her cottage for the night. She would likely appreciate sleeping in her own bed, but he struggled to resist the allure of returning to the cabin and spending another night with her.

She made his decision for him as she, not so subtly, mentioned the merits of the cabin settled in the woods. “After all, it is far away from civilization. And Dash’s new equipment testing…”

“Okay, I get it,” he chuckled, walking her to his truck.

After parking outside the little cabin, Rabble left Skye sitting inside the truck and locked the doors. Looking disgruntled, she rolled her eyes at him when he told her to stay put, but he wasn’t taking any chances with her safety.

As far as he was concerned, every shadow was a threat. He unholstered his sidearm and cleared the small space, checking behind furniture, under the bed, and in the bathroom. Maybe he was paranoid. He wouldn’t be surprised if he was, but he’d rather be safe than sorry. He flipped on the light, then strode back to the truck and unlocked the doors, holding the passenger door open for her. She rolled her eyes again and slipped beneath his arm, pulling him behind her and into the cabin. Rabble smiled and followed her willingly, then locked the door behind them.

Chapter 18

Skye

No matter how many hours Skye put in at The Wild Bride as a part-timer, the beauty and elegance of the wedding gowns never ceased to amaze her. The way the rhinestones caught and refracted light appealed to the little girl in her who enjoyed playing dress-up, and the exquisite fabrics slipped sensually against her fingertips. She was a pauper lost in a princess’s sparkling closet. Days when new shipments came in were her favorite. Hauling the brilliant dresses off the truck was a heavy but worthwhile job. She unzipped magenta-colored garment bags, admiring each dress’s unique beauty, before moving them to the clear ones Elyza used to display the dresses on racks throughout the shop.

With Elyza’s guidance, Skye laid out options for them to consider wearing for the parade. She admired the exquisite creations, and for the first time since high school, she could picture the face of the groom from her fantasies. It was the same face she’d imagined before, older now with life’s experiences, but still the same at the deepest levels.

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