you're my fresh air

chapter one

ashlynn

jasons knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel harder.

"you always do this!" he yelled, "how many times do i have to tell you, you do what i say! not whatever you want to do ashlynn!"

i almost laughed in his face when he said that. i can't believe a man could ever have the audacity to say such a thing. hell, he's not even a man. he's a boy.

"stop the car." i said in response, nearly whispering.

jason slammed his foot on the brakes and pulled onto the shoulder of the road. luckily we're on a quiet road, or he would've just caused an accident. i unbuckled my seatbelt and started gathering my things.

"get the fuck out of my car, slut. you wait until your parents hear about this." he spat. usually, those words were enough for me to obey him, but i was just so over being told what to do all the time by people who don't even care for me.

i opened the back door and grabbed my bag.
"fuck you jason! i hope you know, i was faking it every time." he looked at me with shock, and i slammed the door before he could respond.

his stupid range rover sped off, flicking rocks back at me.

well, what a relief to be rid of that monster. but what do i do now?

i was stuck, miles from a town, with no reception, in the middle of rural new south wales.

good one, ashlynn, you really thought this through.

-

it's been around an hour since i got out of jasons car.

he hasn't come back, thank god, but i was starting to worry about what i would do for tonight. there's only a few hours of daylight left, and no cars had even passed me yet.

i've been walking for so long, with my overnight bag thrown over my shoulder. i saw a sign about 15 minutes ago that said 7 kilometres to the next mcdonalds. i can walk 7 kilometres more, even in my air force ones and tracksuit, right? hopefully.

god, it was cold. i can't believe i stood up for myself to jason like that! i was so proud. but i definitely should've waited until we were in town to do it.

the road here was covered in potholes, and all that was beside it was barbed wire fences and huge paddocks. i was not at all used to this.

back home, it was pavement and tall buildings.  i won't lie it was quite refreshing to be able to look into the distance and see mountains and trees. instead of houses and the city.

i stopped for a moment, digging around in my bag to find my waterbottle.

just as i pulled it out, i heard a car approaching. thank god! this is my chance to get a lift into town.

im so glad jason's not the only one who drives on the backroads through the state.

i looked up, and around the bend in the road came a white, beaten up holden rodeo. 

i stood, waiting for the car to get closer. the driver pulled up, right next to me, and i immediately regretted letting him see me.

the man was probably around 25, so roughly my age. but he was covered in tattoo's, and not in a nice way. he had a bushy beard, and his passenger seat was littered in beer cans.

after scanning the rest of the cab, i looked up at him.

"hey sweetheart, need a lift?" he asked, his voice croaky. he smiled at me, and he was missing quite a few teeth. the remaining ones were yellow and brown.

now hear me out, i'm not usually one to judge a book by its cover. this man could've been very sweet and kind. but there was something about him that gave me a weird feeling in the bottom of my stomach.

"um... i-" i began, when i heard a snuff behind me. the man looked over my shoulder and his expression quickly changed.

i turned, to see tall black stallion standing just two metres away. i didn't notice him when i was digging around in my bag. the horse edged towards me, and soon he was standing across the front of me, and shaking his head around at the man.

"oh fuck off! stupid beckings' horses always ruining things!" the man growled, smashing his hand into the steering wheel.

"just get in, i'll take you somewhere safe", he winked at me. as he finished his sentence, another ute pulled off the road beside him.

the horse began stomping its feet, and huffing and puffing at the rodeo driver. i took a few steps back, sensing something was up with him.

i looked over to the car that had pulled in behind the man. it was a 75 series landcruiser. my dream car. the drivers door opened and a tall man stepped out. he walked towards the holden.

"best be on your way andrews. it seems you're not welcome." he said, his voice deep and firm.

"yeah whatever, becking. control your stupid horse" the man replied, before quickly speeding off down the road again.

i just stood there, shocked. what. the hell. is going on. i subconsciously reached my hand up and began to pat the horse. the new man looked at me.

"you shouldn't touch another mans horse. it's dangerous" he said, a little harshly, and i removed my hand. he walked toward the stallion, ushering him back into the paddock and securing the gate.

"oh, um sorry" i muttered. he dismissed my words.

"and what are you doing walking on this road?" he looked me up and down and scoffed, "you're obviously not from around here, are you?"

"your mother obviously never taught you manners, did she?" i snapped. "you find me, walking alone on a road in the middle of bum fuck nowhere in the winter, talking to a strange man, and all you've done is ridicule me since you got here. if all the men in this world are like the few i've had encounters with in the last two hours, then i'm a lesbian!" i shouted at him. he stepped back, obviously shocked at my words.

"get in the car. it's getting late, you can stay at my house and i'll take you to the train station in the morning and send you on your way." he said, as more of a demand than a suggestion.

"and why should i trust you?" i said, folding my arms across my chest.

"my horse just saved your life. i also don't think you exactly know how to survive out here. my mother taught me manners, and never to leave a woman stranded. so get in the car. now." he said, starting the car.

he grabbed my bag off the ground, and put it in the tray of his ute. soon, i climbed into the passenger seat, and we drove off with out another word.

now, this probably wasn't very smart, considering i have no idea who this man is. but he had a point. i don't know how to survive out here alone, and it was getting dark. if he tries to murder me, it would probably be better than dying of starvation in the middle of the bush.