Take Me Instead

No Good Horses pt. 1

A/N: Graphic scenes to follow that include sexual assault and allusion to suicide. Please be warned and aware of your triggers if you choose to proceed.

Chapter 7: No Good Horses pt. 1

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I swirled the bitter coffee around with my tongue as I stared at the back door of the main house. Perched in the window since dawn, I impatiently waited with my arms folded over my chest, leaning against the wall. The black SUV that dropped someone off there late last night hadn't returned to pick up the mystery guest, and I was determined to see if my theory was correct.

Of all days, I thought as I took another sip. Of all the fucking days.

Excitement flared in my chest as I saw a figure stride across the gravel. To my disappointment, it was just Beth. Though, I remained curious as she headed for the railing by the grass, carrying something in her hand.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I asked myself, an eyebrow raised in confusion as she neared a water trough. It was then that I noticed she dawned a bathrobe and carried an extension cord in her hand. She tossed it into the trough with a splash before turning tail back to the house, entering through the side door.

She emerged with two green bottles in her hand and a cigarette in her mouth. Jamie scampered behind her, chasing after her just like he did Daddy.

"Don't waste your breath, Jamie," I spoke to the glass as if he could hear me. "She'll be doing us all a favor." Though, if she were kinder, she might have done it years ago and saved us all the torment.

But to my disappointment, she dropped her robe and hopped into the makeshift tub without anything happening and lifted the bottle of champagne in with her. Jamie stood over, dumbfounded, as they bantered back and forth.

"Jesus Christ, Beth," I rolled my eyes and finally stepped away from my post. "Of course you'd make today all about you."

I placed my mug in the sink for later. If there was one thing I missed from the main house, it was that Gator took care of all the dishes. But I made myself do them every night, savoring the independence. Even though Gator was sure to leave a couple of bags of groceries on my porch, it was baby steps.

When I returned to the window, Jamie was gone, but the moment I had been waiting for all morning finally arrived. Out the front door walked the Governor, dressed in a simple black dress, her jacket and bag draped in her arm. She froze when she saw Beth in the trough before daring to step closer.

"I wouldn't do that, lady," I mumbled and folded my arms over my chest. "You don't know it, but that rattle of hers is wagging."

My sister worked her magic, miraculously fending off the intruder without even needing to speak a word. The Governor backed away as if she heard a rattlesnake and met the Black SUV that had parked once again at the back door.

With a sigh, I turned away from the window, conflicted. On one hand, I understood the craving to have someone in bed to distract you from everything else in the world. But on the other, I couldn't help but feel that Daddy betrayed us.

I became uninterested in Beth's little cry for attention as I heard my phone buzz on the counter. She wasn't the only one who lost Mom, but she sure as fuck acted as if she was.

I picked up the device, my eyebrows furrowing as I read the message.

[9:27] so you wanna tell me what that was all about?