Ride It

Chapter 3

"Home?" I echo in confusion as he starts the trek back to wherever it is he came from.

"That's right. I can't just let a young lady throw herself off my cliff. That's one sin I won't take to the grave with me."

"My fiancé is Jason Beauregard." I point out, wondering if he heard me right a few minutes ago.

"I hear ya," he chuckles and asks. "But do you know who I am?"

"Am I supposed to?" I trail off. I have no idea who this man is. I don't even know what he looks like. Although we're close right now, all I see are his deep blue eyes and his sharp jawline. The darkness shadows everything else.

"The name is Bentley. Bentley Langston," he says as we head down a steep hillside. How he carries me so effortlessly on a trek like this is beyond me.

I pause as my mind instantly makes the connection.

The Langston family.

The farmers that live on that large ranch on the edge of town. I've never seen them before, but I've heard of them. It's impossible not to. They're the ones we depend on to produce food. They're the cash cows of the town. They sell their crops to all the supermarkets and dominate the food market here.

There's a saying that goes around town.

It's better to offend the devil than to offend a Langston.

They make the Beauregard family look like angels based on the many rumors that surround them. They have a history of missing people in their family. Some people speculate and say that they make deals with the devil to provide us with fruitful crops, and they sell the souls of their firstborns as payment. That's why the firstborn of their family always goes missing.

Their family has been around for as long as the Beauregard has. One of the founders of this town.

"You're a Langston?" I can't help but exclaim.

So then that would mean...

I look up ahead to see the large house in the distance surrounded by well-maintained lands with animals milling around.

It's only now that I realize that we're walking towards that house, and the many other buildings surrounding it.

"Sure am, sweetheart. You just walked onto my land. Don't think I'll let you walk off of it for free."

Dirt crunches under his feet as we walk closer and closer to the estate.

Is this?

My heart grows a little hopeful as I picture asking the Langstons for help. He seems to be a nicer man than Jason. Is it possible that he can shield me?

I hesitate before mustering up the courage to ask. "What will you do to me? Will you hide me away from Jason?"

Due to our position, I can't see his expression as he responds. "Do you want me to? I can let you go if you want, but then you'll have to go back to that life you hate so much. If I keep you... you'll have to work for me. I don't do charity."

That makes sense. I can't just live in someone's home and not work. I've heard about the people who work at the Langston estate. Despite the bad rumors about the family, their employees are well taken care of and receive a lot of good benefits that keep them loyal. Many people want to work for the Langston family, yet few get that opportunity since the roles are limited.

If I can find solace here and save up money to leave this town, can I rid myself of Jason's obsession? Will it work?

"I can perform whatever tasks you need me to," I say with a conviction to do my best. I'll do whatever I need to do to free myself from Jason's torment.