Unforgiven

Chapter 10

I rushed through the hospital doors and let my eyes scan the waiting room.  There were multiple empty seats and I started to wonder if I had told the driver the wrong place until a soft voice called my name from the corner. I turned my head and my eyes found Tate sitting alone curled into a ball. I strolled over and let him climb into my lap.

"What happened buddy?" I cooed softly stroking his hair.

"Mommy had an accident and daddy won't let me go in and see her" He cried softly into my shirt. I wonder what happened to Monica? Kayce had given me as few details as possible and now he was no where to be found.

"It's ok baby we'll just wait for Kayce to come back out. It will be soon i'm sure" I shushed him and let him take a short nap in my arms. Just as I was dozing off a hand rubbed my shoulder. I slowly opened my eyes and saw that Tate was still sleeping so I looked up and Kayce had a sad smile on his face and his eyes were bloodshot.

"Hey how is Monica" I whispered sitting up a little trying to wake up Tate. Kayce sighed and took the seat next to me.

"She has a concussion and has lost feeling in one of her legs. She can barely remember what you tell her and oh yeah she doesn't want to see me anymore" Kayce buries his head into his hands. I rub my hand on his back to try and comfort him but what can you really say to someone who's wife wants nothing to do with them anymore?

"Have you told her about her brother?" I mumbled regretting it almost immediately. He stood up and shook his head.

"I don't know why the fuck you care all of a sudden. I don't even know why I called you in the first place" He scoffed grabbing Tate off me. Tate screamed and kicked in his arms wanting me back but I turned and stormed away. I just dropped a damn business meeting to come to his side but that's what I get. Fuck that. I knew this wasn't going to work out.

The ride back to the ranch was quiet and lonely. The trees passing by in the moonlight were sad and somber almost like they were reflecting my mood. Weirdly there was nobody else on the road. I pulled up into the ranch driveway and up ahead there was a dark figure standing in the middle of the road. Stopping my vehicle I got out and called out to the shadow.

"Jessie you know what happens when you don't follow the rules" Rip stepped out of the dark into the glow of the headlights. What the hell was going on.

"Rip what?" I sighed not ready to deal with his bullshit.

"You're branded Jessie. You follow the bosses orders not go off to God knows where and leave an important meeting!!" Rip yells in my face small droplets of spit flying out "You know what I have to do now".

"Rip you're my brother please. You have to understand Kayce he needed-" I was interrupted by a blow to my jaw. I flew onto the ground and seering pain shot through my face.

"You're really just fighting everyone today Rip" I spit onto the ground blood mixing with saliva. I was able to block Rips next punch and roll onto my knees delivering a kick into his ribs. He doubled over onto his side breathing heavily. I had known that spit was already bruised from his morning with Kayce so I rolled with it. I stood up and rapidly punched his side until he was lying on the ground.

"You broke Johns trust Jessie. This shouldn't be my punishment" Rip gasped holding his ribs. I walked backwards trying to get into my truck before Rip could catch his breathe but I stepped into someone's chest.

"I'm sorry princess" A raspy voice whispered in my ear as a knife sliced down my back. I screamed out in pain as my shoulder blade burned sending a shock through my whole body. The mystery man lifted me into his arms and I felt a mustache against my forehead.

"What the fuck Lloyd" I cried out my vision going blurry.

"You're branded princess you don't just get to break the bosses rules without repercussions" He sighed continuing to walk towards the barn.

"Jesus that's a big word for you" I hissed in pain as he pretended to drop me opening the cut more. I could feel the blood pooling in my shirt and my head felt heavy. I was gonna die from blood lost I was sure of it.

"Was your knife dirty" I mumbled out loud.

"It was my gutting knife so I guess yeah" Lloyd responded nonchalantly. Jesus.

"I'm gonna die from infection. Fucking A" I sighed.

"You're not gonna die Jesus" He snorted thinking nothing of his unclean knife.

"Lloyd you just sliced my back with a knife you use to gut deer are you fucking stupid. Plus I think i'm bleeding out back there" I gasped as red hot pain flashed up my spine as Lloyd turned me. He swore under his breath.

"I'll call John and get you a ride to the hospital" Je whipped out his phone. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath willing myself not to fall asleep.

"Alright he's got a truck started up the driveway i'll get you there" He started to run up the hill. I sobbed into his shirt everything going numb from the pain.

"Fuck Lloyd what happened" John cringed at the sight of me. I glared in his direction. I understood why he was mad but Kayce needed someone to watch Tate what else was I supposed to do.

"You asked to teach a lesson. I guess a lesson was taught" He chuckled nervously.

"I'm leaking here" I reminded the old men and Lloyd laid me down in the back of the truck.

The ride to the hospital was filled with awkward silence. I wanted to apologize but I didn't know how.

"Why did you leave Jessie. I needed you there" I was glad he was talking so I could force myself awake.

"Kayce needed someone to watch Tate. Monica is in the hospital" I answered simply. John didn't answer for a minute. I knew what he was thinking.

"He could have asked me..I didn't even know she had an accident" He mumbled to himself.

What...Kayce didn't even tell his own father.

"I wouldn't have gone if I knew he didn't tell you sir. I thought you were busy and he was trouble and truthfully I wasn't thinking" I rambled not sure what was really truth.

"Love does that to a person" John sighed.

"What do you mean sir" What did he mean love.

"I know there's still something between you two. Even a blind rat could see it. But you know he's married Jessie. You cant be at his every beck and call anymore" I knew he was right. But something in me pulled me back to him everytime no matter what. I wanted him still after all these years.

"There's nothing between us John I won't let there be" I slurred it starting to be hard to speak.

"I need to see it before I believe it Jessie. Now you know I love you like my own but I can't afford to lose this ranch because of your unresolved feelings for my kid" He lectured. He was right as always but did everyone see me as just some ranchhand who loved her bosses daughter and would do anything for him? That had to change. That couldn't be how anyone sees me. I wouldn't let it be.

"Alright i'm gonna help you out but you have to work with me here" John spoke shifting his car into park. He opened the back door and slung his arm around my lower back supporting me. He slowly inched me out but I got impatient.

"I'm just gonna get this over with" I grunted pushing myself up and swinging my feet off the side of the truck. I could feel my wound splitting open more and I screamed into the cool night air.

"Jesus that's one way to do it" John scoffed holding up half my body as I limped into the hospital.

"Second time here today yippee" I mumbled to myself eyeing around the waiting room secretly hoping to see a little pair of hazel eyes.

"Nurse I need help" John hollered into the hall. Two nurses came running out one with a stretcher and one with a clipboard. The one with the clipboard starting drilling off questions for me to answer but I couldn't speak or even think about anything she was asking. Everything around me started to go black. The last thing I heard was a voice call out my name.

I knew that voice.