Gracie Dutton

14

Gracie had hardly spoken to her family, often retreating to the bunkhouse to be with Ryan. It seemed that she was no longer progressing from healing from her trauma, her nightmares in full swing and she couldn't get through the day without one mental breakdown. She sat on the couch with Ryan and the other wranglers as the football game played on the tv screen. She wasn't paying attention though, her mind drifting off to the conversation she had earlier with Jamie.
"Gracie, I tried. Things have been tough on my image with dad trying to hold me back. My connections are slipping through. Let me try to work a few things out and maybe we can get you in by next semester. There's just too much going on right now."
"Jamie, please. I don't want to wait until next semester. I need it to be this semester!" She pleaded desperately.
Jamie sighed, hating to be put in situations like this. "Listen to me, I tried. My influence is waning. Dad holds all the power. If you need to get away that bad, talk to him. I've done all I can do for right now. Not to mention your father would put my head up as decoration in the bunkhouse for even entertaining the idea of helping you. I'm sorry. Listen, I gotta go. We'll talk soon."
Gracie let out a sigh as she sat in Ryan's embrace. He knew all about the conversation with Jamie and he couldn't lie and say he wasn't happy she was staying. The last thing he wanted was for her to be away at school. Ryan rubbed her back soothingly as his eyes remained on the screen. He took a swig of his beer with his free hand. "You want to stay here tonight?" Ryan asked her quietly. Gracie nodded and laid her head back against his shoulder. He placed a gentle kiss to her temple as they relaxed together. Once the game was over, the wranglers started wrapping it up for the night. Ryan and Gracie made their way over to his bunk and laid down. He laid on his side, hovering over her gently. "Get some sleep, alright? You have a nightmare, you wake me up." Gracie just looked up at him with tired eyes before nodding slowly. Ryan leaned down and placed a kiss to her forehead before settling in beside her. Gracie fell into a dreamless sleep and it remained that way all night due to Ryan's presence. As she walked out of the bunkhouse that morning to head up to the lodge to shower and eat breakfast, she came face to face with Rip, who was heading down to get his work day started. "You sleep down there?" He asked. Gracie nodded and stared up at him. Rip sighed, not liking the idea of his daughter sleeping in a bunkhouse full of men. "They treat you okay?" Once again, Gracie just nodded. "Good. Your mother is still home. She's been wanting to talk to you." Rip moved past her and headed for the barn. Gracie sighed and braced herself for the expected conversation with her mother. She walked quietly into the lodge and found her mom and grandfather at the dining room table. "Morning," she announced quietly. John gave her a disapproving look once he noticed her in the same clothes as yesterday. "The bunkhouse is no place for a young woman like you," he said gently. "Well, if I liked staying here, then I wouldn't have to go sleep in the bunkhouse." Gracie took a seat on the other side of John, across from Beth. Beth, almost amused at the similarities between her and her daughter, did not give her opinion on the matter. Gracie poured herself a cup of coffee and put some fruit on her plate. Beth took her daughter in, worry consuming her at how small Gracie seemed. The older woman sighed and took a swig from her coffee mug. "Well, I'm off to check on things. Try to have a good day you two." John gave Beth a look before standing and placing a kiss to Gracie's hair. Beth set her mug down once it was just them at the table. "I'm sorry," she said softly as she looked over at Gracie. The younger woman froze and looked up at her mother. Hearing those come out of her mother's mouth sounded almost foreign, Beth hardly ever apologizing for her actions. Gracie let out a breath before responding. "That doesn't change anything," she replied. She saw the flicker of pain appear on Beth's face. "I should have focused on you entirely instead of allowing my hatred for Jamie to get in the way. I never wanted to push you away, baby. W-when we heard you scream and they took off looking for you, I wanted to die. I was terrified of losing you and I had just gotten you back. Grace, I will do better, I swear." Gracie could see the honesty in Beth's apology and knew her mother meant well, she was just a tough woman, always used to having to keep her walls up and push those who loved her most away. Gracie took a sip of her coffee and nodded. "It's alright," she said quietly. "No, it's not," Beth insisted and rested both hands on the table. "Baby, you deserve so much out of this world. You deserve Rip and I to be the best parents we can be. Even more so since we missed out on most of it." Gracie swallowed hard as she felt the tears pooling. "Can we talk about this another time?" Gracie asked, her voice thick with emotion. Beth felt her own tears clouding her vision as she watched her daughter. "Gracie," Beth said gently and got up. She crouched down at Gracie's side. "Please, baby, let me back in. Let me be your mama." Gracie felt the tears fall. She turned and looked down at her mother. "O-okay," she hiccuped before letting Beth pull her down into her arms. They sat together on the dining room floor, clutching the other.
It was well into the afternoon hours when Gracie found herself sitting on the front porch of the lodge. She closed her eyes briefly as she relaxed in the cool fall air. She thought back to the attack in her mother's office. How the Beck brothers wanted to get Beth, but mostly Gracie, so bad just to hurt John. Gracie sighed as her mind then drifted to those days when she was kidnapped. The things the men did to her. She shuddered and opened her eyes. Her eyes roamed over to the spot she was taken from. Gracie quickly rubbed her eyes and stood up. She walked down to the barn and to her horse. "Hey, buddy," she whispered. She saddled Blue and walked him out of the stable. She mounted him and took off. The breeze that ran through her hair relaxed her and she felt her mind become peaceful. She didn't go off far, she stayed in the eyeline of the main house so if anyone was looking for her, they could see her. Rip had just gotten back to the barn after checking on the herd as Beth's car pulled up. Rip dismounted his horse as Beth got out of the car and walked over to him. "Look," he said gently and pointed over to Gracie in the distance. "She's riding?" Beth asked shocked, but a hint of admiration in her tone as well. Rip smiled proudly, "looks like it." They both stood there watching Gracie and finally felt that things were going to be alright again.

/// hey guys!! Thank you all so much for the positive feedback on this story, i greatly appreciate it! I feel a little stuck with this story and feel as if i keep going back and forth. Let me all know how you feel about this chapter and if it seems like i'm still on a good track!