The Cowboy From Nowhere!

Chapter 1 - McCabe Ranch

CHAPTER 1

Abella's POV

The rain was beating down on me, my coat was soaking wet and I was shivering uncontrollably. I had been walking for an hour now in the pouring rain. It wasn't raining when I started. My car had decided to call it quits on a back road that looked like it was never used. Since a single car hadn't made it's was down this road I believed I was correct on that count.

I blamed Rick for this, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be out here in the first place! I wouldn't be risking hypothermia out here on a random abandoned road in the middle of nowhere.

I met Rick Jacobs two years ago. He started out charming and sweet, he started getting possessive, and he wouldn't let me talk to guys. After we moved in together he got worse. He would yell and scream at me if I wanted to go out.

The first time he hit me was because I overcooked his eggs. After that I was beaten on a regular bases. I wasn't allowed to leave the house. After the third beating I packed a bag when he was at work and got ready to leave. He came home early and found me with my bags packed I lost consciousness and he raped me.

Three months ago I managed to escape with the help of my best friend Alison she lent me two thousand dollars and that's all I left with. Nothing else except the clothes on my back. Each place I had settled in Rick had managed to find me in. That's when I decided to go some place far away that he would never find me. So far I had moved cities this time I decided on a town in the middle of nowhere. That is actually what the town is called, "Nowhere".

I knew a service station had to be around here somewhere; well at least that is what I was hoping. When I started walking it hadn't been raining. I knew I was going to catch a cold now if I didn't get in doors soon than I'd freeze to death. I knew it was time to make a decision keep walking forwards or head back to the car to get shelter.

I sighed and turned around heading back in the direction I had left my car. Just then I saw a pick up truck heading in my direction. I froze, fear creeping up my spine. Could it be Rick? Had he found me again? I remained frozen as the truck pulled to a stop besides me. The driver's side door opened and through the rain I saw a woman around the age of fifty her hair covered by a cowboy hat.

"Oh Honey you need to get out of the rain, that your car stopped back down this road?" she asked.

I nodded, but didn't say a word.

"Come on honey, I'll give you a lift into town!" she came around the side of the truck and opened the passenger door for me.

"Um thankyou" I said as I climbed into the truck. She smiled and made her way around and hoped in the truck.

She turned the key in the ignition. The truck started and some country song was playing on the radio. The window wipers made a swishing sound as they cleared the rain from the window.

"My name is Maria McCabe I own a ranch with my husband not far from here" she said as the truck pulled back onto the road. I nodded but didn't know how to respond. "You're a shy little bird aren't you? What's your name, Honey?"

"Abella" I said. Then froze because I utter my real name something I hadn't done in months.

"That's a nice name, where you staying, honey?" she asked nicely.

"Um not sure yet can you just drop me off at the nearest hotel" I asked. She laughed then stopped herself.

"Honey the nearest hotel to Nowhere is about five hours away," she said. "Nowhere isn't really a tourist destination"

"Oh"

Now what the hell was I supposed to do? I had no car and I couldn't ask a person to drive me to somewhere five hours away.