Page 11 of King of the Weld
We finish breakfast in silence. I can tell I've put up a wall, pushed her away with my abruptness, but it's better this way. Better for both of us if she doesn't get too comfortable, doesn't start thinking of me as anything more than temporary shelter from her storm.
After breakfast, I give her one of my flannel shirts to wear over Ethan's too-large t-shirt. It swallows her despite her height, butthe layers will help disguise her figure somewhat, make her less immediately recognizable.
"What about shoes?" she asks, looking at her bandaged feet.
"I've got an old pair of boots that might work with enough socks. Not comfortable, but better than nothing until we can get you proper ones."
The boots are comically large on her, but with three pairs of thick wool socks, they'll stay on her feet. She winces when she stands, testing her weight.
"Still hurts?"
"I'll manage," she says, lifting her chin with stubborn determination.
I grab my wallet and keys, then pause at the gun safe tucked in the corner of my bedroom. After a moment's consideration, I unlock it and remove my Glock, checking it before securing it in the holster at the small of my back. Better to have it and not need it.
Sophia's eyes widen when she sees the weapon as I shrug on my jacket. "Is that necessary?" she asks.
"Probably not," I admit. "But I don't like being unprepared."
She nods, accepting this without further question. Another surprise—most civilians get nervous around firearms, ask too many questions, want reassurances I'm not willing to give. Sophia just accepts it as part of the reality we're navigating.
We head out to my truck, an older model Ford that's seen better days but runs reliably enough. I help her climb in, pretending not to notice her wince of pain as she settles into the passenger seat.
The drive to Pine Haven takes about twenty minutes, the road winding through dense forest before opening up to farmland on the outskirts of town. Sophia is quiet beside me, her eyes taking in everything: an escape route, perhaps, or just the novelty of scenery that isn't manicured Valentine property.
"Pine Haven is kind of small," I tell her as we approach the town limits. "About ten thousand people. One main street with shops, a couple of restaurants, the usual small-town businesses. The rodeo grounds are on the north side."
"Have you lived here long?" she asks.
"I grew up here."
"You never thought about leaving? It seems so..." She trails off, searching for the right word.
"Isolated?" I supply.
"I was going to say peaceful," she corrects. "But isolated works too, I suppose."
I shrug, eyes on the road. "Needed somewhere quiet. Somewhere I could just be."
She doesn't press further, just nods as if she understands completely. Maybe she does.
Pine Haven appears around the bend, a small collection of buildings nestled in a valley. It's not much to look at. Nowhere near as grand as the cities I'm sure Sophia is used to, but it has its own kind of charm.
"First stop is the rodeo grounds," I say, turning north at the main intersection. "I need to assess the job, give them a quote. Then we'll get you what you need."
"Will your brother be there?" she asks, a note of anxiety in her voice.
"Probably. Is that a problem?"
She hesitates. "What if he recognizes me? The Valentines are well-known, and my picture was in all the society pages for the engagement announcement."
It's a valid concern. I hadn't considered that Jack might connect the dots, might have seen those society pages with their splashy headlines about the Valentine-Blackwood merger. That's what these high-society marriages really are, business arrangements dressed up with flowers and cake.
"Jack's not the most observant," I say, though I'm less confident than I sound. "And you look different now. Hair unstyled, different clothes. Just keep your head down, let me do the talking."
She nods, tugging the borrowed flannel shirt closer around her like armor.
The rodeo grounds appear ahead. A sprawling complex with a large arena, stables, and various outbuildings. Several trucks are parked near the main entrance, including Jack's truck.
