Page 130 of Somebody to Love

“You don’t want to listen to that woman, Leonard. Nothing she has to say makes a lick of sense,” Mr. Goldhirsh said calmly.

“Will you have dinner with me tonight, Bailey? So I can understand about this life you have chosen over the one you led with me?”

She nodded, because it was a start that at least he was acknowledging her wishes. “I will, but I have to get back to the stables now. I’m starting work soon.”

“You really are working in the stables?”

“It’s honest, hard work that I enjoy, Grandfather.”

“All right. We shall discuss this more tonight then. Frederick and I are about to play chess.”

Frederick?

Bailey wasn’t sure what to make of that, but she didn’t have time to think about it now.

“Run along now, Bailey.”

That was more like her grandfather, Bailey thought, watching as he waved his long fingers to dismiss her.

Lifting a hand, she waved, and then left. She drove to Maggie’s, and parked her car. Walking to the stables would give her time to think.

She thought about Joe, and the fact that he would always be a man who liked control. Could she live with such a man?

Yes, because she never wanted to live without him again.

Bailey moved off the road as a car approached, but it slowed.

“Hello, Bailey.”

“Hi, Angie.”

“I’m heading to the ranch, do you want a lift?”

“Sure, thanks.” She got in because Angie was being nice, and if Bailey was going to live in Ryker Falls, she wanted them to be friends. She closed the door.

“And now we’re going for a drive.”

She turned at Angie’s words, and saw the gun she held. It was pointed straight at her.

“Angie, what are you doing?”

“I’ve just told you, Bailey, pay attention. We’re going for a drive.”

“What’s going on? Put down the gun.” She reached for the door, but Angie put her foot down on the gas, and the car shot forward.

“I’ve locked the doors, so there’s no way you can escape.”

“Why are you doing this?” Bailey looked at the woman.

“Because Joe was mine until you came along and stole him from me. I’m removing you so things will go back to the way they should be.”

“B-but it was never serious between you.”

“It would have been! I was taking it slow not wanting to scare him off. Joe’s nervous about committing, one of his old girl-friends told me that, so I was easing him into the idea of a relationship with me. I wanted to marry him and live at the ranch. I wanted that bar and the money he could give me. I wanted the lifestyle I would have as Mrs. Trainer. You took that from me!”

“But you slept with Ted from the lodge.” Bailey looked at the gun, hoping Angie wouldn’t shoot her while she was driving.

“Sleeping with the boss made my life easier, but it was always Joe I wanted. Everything was going well until you came back to Ryker.” She shot Bailey a hate-fueled look. “You managed to get under his guard, and then he no longer wanted me. It was always Joe I wanted. Everything was going well until you came back to Ryker.” She shot Bailey a hate-fueled look. “You managed to get under his guard, and then he no longer wanted me.”

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