Chapter 94 Part 94
Asher
The thunder woke him in the morning, a loud cracking sound. It was close to 4 a.m., but he stayed in bed. The ranch hands would see to the chores, and there wasn’t much they could do. They only had to feed and water the horses, check their stalls, and muck them one at a time with the horse tethered to a post in the barn.
He was still tired, and he pushed his hands beneath his head, and closed his eyes. The occasional flash of lightning illuminated his room, and he could somehow sense it.
“Asher?”
He opened his eyes and sat up straight. “What’s wrong?”
“The lights aren’t working,” she said. Another flash of light showed her standing in the doorway, her eyes filled with fear.
“Colt or Dylan will switch on the back-up generator when it gets light.” He couldn’t see her in the darkness but it was like he could feel her fear. He got up from the bed, and when another flash illuminated them both, she gasped when he stood right in front of her.
“I have rechargeable lights downstairs. Would you feel better if you had one?” She was probably nodding her head. “I can’t see you in the dark.”
“Sorry. Yes. A light will work,” she said.
“Okay. You can wait here while I get it.” He stepped past her and headed downstairs. In the foyer closet, he got three lights from the shelf, and headed back upstairs.
He put one on and left it in her bathroom. He placed the other one on the bedside table, and switched it on. It cast a dim light over the bed but she’d be able to see.
“I put the lights in your room,” Asher said, when he reached his bedroom, and put the third light on his dresser.
“Thanks. I’m sorry if I woke you,” she said.
“You don’t ever have to apologize for waking me if you need something, besides, I was already awake.”
Her hand touched the skin on his back, and he stiffened, but she didn’t remove her hand. He led her down the hallway and she visibly relaxed when they reached her bedroom, and she saw the lights.
They stood facing each other, and she lifted her hand. Her fingers traced one of the stab wounds gently. She traced another one, and then another one. Her hand stopped at the bullet wound near his hip and her fingers grazed it softly.
“What happened to you?” she whispered.
“Everything,” he replied.
“I’m sorry about last night. I shouldn’t be so sensitive.”
“It’s fine, I shouldn’t be so insensitive. What counts the most is that you left. You did the right thing.”
“Please don’t make me leave,” she said, sounding close to tears.
Asher cupped her jaw, and lifted her head. “I won’t. I won’t ever tell you to leave.”
Emerson stepped closer to him, and his hand moved to the back of her head. He felt lost as he stared at her, and she seemed to be sharing something with him. It was evident in her eyes.
“You should get some rest,” Asher said, and pulled away from her.
She nodded her head, and stepped away from him. He headed back to his room, and clenched his fists. She’d wanted to kiss him. He knew that’s what she was planning to do, but it felt wrong to let her do it when she was afraid and vulnerable.
He took the third light and switched it on in his bathroom. On his way back to his bed, he noticed it. He walked to his doorway and smiled. “You took Morbid?”
She laughed. “Yeah, it’s my turn with him!”
Asher shook his head, and got back into bed. He lay awake for a long time before he fell asleep again. He was back in that cell, the rank odor of death surrounded them.
The man’s knife glinted in the stark lighting of the room, and Asher clenched his teeth. When the man came for him, he struck out, knocking the knife out of his hands, and wrapping his own hand around the man’s throat.
Asher frowned, the man’s neck was much softer than it looked. Clenched fists hit out at him. His mouth opened but only garbled sounds emerged. A hand slapped his chest, nails dragging down the skin.
His eyes snapped open, and horror filled them. He was straddling Emerson on the bed, his hand around her throat. He let go immediately, and she gasped for breath, her hand going to where his had just been.
“I’m sorry. Emerson, I’m so sorry,” he said.
She coughed and looked at him, the same fear he’d seen that first night now filled her eyes. He stepped back until he felt the wall behind him, and he sank down to the floor. He lowered his head to his arms, and the sob shook through him. He lifted his head, tears freely rolling down his cheeks.
“I…I was dreaming. I didn’t know it was you. I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he said.
Emerson knelt in front of him, and she placed her hands on his arms, tentatively. “Look at me.”
“Emerson–”
“Please, don’t cry. I’m not emotionally equipped to deal with a fully grown man crying,” she said.
Asher couldn’t help it, and the chuckle escaped anyway. “I was caught in the dream. I would never hurt you. I know that sounds like bullshit right now, but I wouldn’t. I’m sorry.”
“You scared the crap out of me. What did I do wrong?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” he said, and wrapped his arms around her. She didn’t hesitate and wrapped her arms around him, as well. They sat like that for almost 40 minutes. Asher’s heart rate went back to normal and Emerson remained on her knees, letting him hold her.
“Will you tell me about your dream?”
Asher slowly removed his arms from her, and leaned back against the wall. “On one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“If you tell me about yours,” he said.