Escaping Reality (Hart Ranch Book 1) (14 page)

~ ~ ~

S
oft knocking on Addison’s bedroom door brought her out of a restless sleep. She ignored it, pulled the covers over her head and closed her eyes again.

It was probably the house maid telling her she had a call from her lawyer or a laundry list of people who had been bugging her since she returned to LA She couldn’t escape them even while hiding out at her father’s mansion.

“Addie,” a soft voice called. “It’s Brielle. Can I come in?”

Her heart softened and she called through the covers. “Sure. I guess so.”

The door clicked and her sister’s feet made a gentle shuffling sound across the wood floor. The bed creaked and tilted slightly to the left as she sat on the edge. “I made you one of those breakfast shakes that you love.
Extra
strawberries.” Her sweet voice held an enticing lilt that won Addison over.

She uncovered her head and sighed. “Okay, you got me.” She squinted in the morning light and lifted her arms in the air with curved wrists. “The creature lives.”

Brielle let out a bubbly chuckle and scrunched her freckled nose. “I’m not so sure. You look like a zombie having an unusually good hair day.”

Addison giggled, dropped her arms and sat up in bed. “Well, thanks for the razor-tipped compliment, Brie.”

“The what?”

“Never mind.”

Brie handed her a lidded cup with a straw sticking out of it. “Here, maybe this will perk you up a little.”

Addison took a sip and her lips puckered as the sour liquid rolled over her tongue. “Wow, that’ll wake me up for sure.”

“Sorry, did I make it wrong?”

She blinked several times until the shock wore off and cleared her throat. “No, it’s good. It’s just…did you put lemon in this?”

Brie frowned. “We ran out of juice so I may have substituted with a little lemon extract.”

That explained it. Addison took another sip so her sister wouldn’t feel bad, bracing for the shocking lemon taste this time. Then she put the cup on her nightstand. “It’s a little strong, but good. Thanks, sis.”

Brie’s smile returned. “You’re welcome. I wanted to cheer you up. I’ve hardly seen you since you’ve been back. I know it must be hard with the media spreading all that gossip about you. I wish they’d get a life and leave you alone.”

Addison shrugged. “It’s my fault really. I left town and let it snowball. If I would have stayed here…exposed Jared for the snake he is and worked on damage control this would all be in the past by now.”

Brie rolled her hazel eyes. “Yeah. Then the media would have moved on to the next juicy gossip.”

“Yep.” Addison frowned and scratched her head. Did her naive little sister realize the next juicy gossip could have been about her if she hadn’t gone along with Jared’s demands?

She let her gaze fall to the colorful pink bedspread. Her dad had kept her room exactly the same as when she lived here as a child. He treasured those innocent days—always tried to protect her at any cost. Now the Lewis family had landed in the spotlight and it was all her fault.

“Can I ask you a question about your trip, Addie? I’ve never been to the mountains.”

She looked up and forced a smile. “Sure. Ask away.”

Her sister scrunched up her nose. “Did you really stay in a stinky old cabin for three weeks?”

Addison nodded and a faint smile lit up her face. “Yes, I did, but it wasn’t stinky. It was simple but comfortable. A nice change really.” She chuckled to herself. “The roof leaked the first night I was there. That was an interesting experience.”

“I bet.” Brie tucked her legs beneath her on the bed. “How did you get stranded all the way out there? Jared is trying to make it look like you did it on purpose. I know that’s not true.”

Addison nodded. “Yeah. You’re right. It was all just a crazy sequence of events. My car got stuck in the mud during a thunder storm. I would have been stranded out there in the wilderness all night. Then Logan showed up and saved me. He saved me more than once actually.” She bit her lip and her heart raced, thinking of his sky blue eyes and handsome smile.

“I know you probably don’t want to talk about it…but is Logan that cowboy you were kissing in the picture?”

Addison blushed. “Yes. That picture was Jared’s doing though. It never should have been released. He blackmailed me.”

Brie pursed her lips. “I’m sorry. You really like Logan, don’t you?”

Addison sighed and shook her head. “No.”

“No?” Her sister scoffed and crossed her arms. “Then why have you been in your PJs, eating junk food and watching those awful soaps for a week? I’ve never seen you act like this over a guy before.”

Addison’s eyes spilled over with unwanted tears as she looked up. “I don’t just like him, Brie. I
love
him…and I can never be with him.”

Brielle frowned and studied her face. “Addie, this is crazy. If you love him so much, what’s stopping you from telling him the truth?”

She sniffled and wiped her eyes. Addison couldn’t tell Brie the real reason. It would devastate her. Instead she decided to just be vague. “Jared. He knows something that could hurt our family. He has a picture to prove it.”

Brie’s eyes widened. “A picture of what?”

Addison shook her head and looked down. “Brie, I can’t bear to see you hurt. I just can’t.”

“Look at me, Addie.”

Addison obeyed, chin trembling.

Her sister’s eyes sparked with intensity. “I’m eighteen now and I can take care of myself. You don’t have to protect me anymore. Besides, if it’s some dirt he’s dug up about Dad, I’m sure his lawyers can smooth this over. You don’t have to carry this burden on your shoulders.”

Addison sighed, knowing Brie would never let this go. She had to know the truth, even if it would hurt her.

~ ~ ~

Logan sat alone in his parents’ living room and read the handwritten note Addie had left behind a week ago. He’d avoided opening it until now.

I’m sorry for any inconvenience or heartache I’ve caused you and your family. You all deserve so much better. The money is to cover any other expenses your father took care of during the past couple of weeks. Please know that my stay at the ranch has changed my life for the better. I hope one day you will find it in your heart to forgive me. ~Addie

He slipped the check out of the envelope and held his breath. Two thousand dollars—much more than she could have possibly owed them. He clenched his jaw and for a moment considered tearing the check to shreds but that was for his parents to decide. Their names were on the check. Not his.

Logan wandered into the kitchen and sat next to Belle as she sipped her coffee. “Morning, sis.”

She stared out the window toward the trees in the distance. When she finally spoke her voice sounded low and hollow. “The leaves are starting to change colors.”

He followed her gaze, noticing the difference for the first time. “Yeah, I guess they are.”

“It’s strange, isn’t it?”

“What’s that?”

Belle sighed. “How quickly the summer fades. Last week I could wear short sleeves outside but this morning I spent ten minutes scouring through my closet for a sweater to keep out the chill.”

“I thought you loved autumn.”

She shrugged and took another sip of her coffee. “I used to. Now with Colton gone it just seems like an ominous prelude to winter.”

Logan hated seeing his sister like this. After the rodeo Belle carried on with her chores as usual. She’d even taken over more responsibilities at the ranch, but her zest for life had fizzled out.

He patted her on the shoulder. “Are you okay?”

She nodded and forced a smile in his direction but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I will be. With time. What about you? I see you read the note from Addie.”

He sighed and flicked the envelope across the table. “It seems we both tend to give our hearts away too quickly, sis. Now I wonder if it would be better to never love at all.”

She nodded. “Maybe you’re right.”

Logan stared at his sister. He’d expected her to snap out of her gloom and argue with him but did she really just agree?

His father entered the kitchen, pushing his mother in her wheelchair. After she was settled at her usual spot at the table he kissed her check and poured them both cups of coffee.

When he sat down Logan studied his parents’ cheerful expressions. They seemed more loving and chipper than usual.

His father grinned from the other side of the table. “I’m glad you’re both here. There’s something we need to talk about. Your mother and I have made a decision about the future of this ranch.”

Belle’s eyes grew wide. “You have?”

“Yes,” their mom said smiling. “We need someone who will continue the legacy of this place. Not just anyone. The person must be level-headed and ready to make tough decisions for the good of the ranch.”

His sister gulped. “So what are you saying?”

Their father leaned forward. “We’re saying that we believe that person is you, Belle. We’ve been watching you around the ranch and believe you’re ready.”

Belle took a double take. “What? Can you say that again?”

A smile lit up their father’s face and he took Belle’s hand in his. “
You
will inherit Hart Ranch.”

Belle leapt from her chair and hugged their parents. “Oh, thank you! You won’t regret it. I’ll make you both proud.”

Their dad chuckled and kissed her forehead. “Of course you will. Now come outside with me. We have a lot to talk about.”

Logan sipped on his coffee and smiled, watching through the window as his dad and sister walked side by side down the path. His heart ached with a mixture of joy and sadness noticing that the rosy hue had even returned to Belle’s cheeks. Logan turned to his mother and let out a deep sigh. “It’s kind of bittersweet, you know?”

“What?”

“That Belle gave up a future with Colton but gained the ranch.”

She patted his hand. “There’s always a silver lining if you look hard enough to find it. You never know. It’s not the right timing now but maybe in the future it will be.”

“You think Colton will come back?”

She grinned like she was holding back a huge secret. “Perhaps. I wasn’t
only
talking about Colton though.”

Logan puffed air and shook his head, catching the hidden meaning behind her words. “I wish I could be as forgiving as you. Addie deceived all of us. I don’t think I could ever trust her again, even if I wanted to.”

“Give it time, Logan. You never know what God could have in store.”

He managed a weak grin. “Well, I’m glad to see you’re getting your optimistic attitude back, Mom. I’ve missed it.”

She chuckled and looked down at her feet. “That’s not the only thing I’m getting back.”

He followed his mother’s gaze and noticed her toes moving under her socks. Logan’s eyes flew back to her smiling face. “Mom, that’s great! How long?”

“About a week. I wanted to keep it a secret for a while at least until I can do something more significant than just moving my toes, but I wanted you to know.”

“Why just me?”

She put her hand on his cheek and looked him in the eye. “You’re free, Logan. As much as I hate the idea of you leaving Montana, there’s no reason for you to stay now. Go chase your dreams.”

“Oh, Mom. Thank you.” Logan gulped back his emotions and hugged her, realizing that his mother’s victory signaled his as well. Now that she was on the road to recovery he didn’t feel as guilty for wanting to leave.

Ever since saving the injured cowboy at the rodeo Logan’s desire to practice medicine had returned. He wanted to further his education and spend his life helping others.

His heart still ached from Addie’s betrayal but was his mom right? Could there be a silver lining to the whole ordeal after all?

~ ~ ~

A
ddison brushed her freshly dyed brunette hair while listening to the voicemail messages on her phone. They seemed to go on and on for hours. After listening to the last one and shutting off her phone she exhaled and sank onto her king sized bed.

It felt nice to be back in her penthouse apartment.

After a few weeks of eerie silence from Jared she mustered the courage to move back home. That was step one. However, Addison couldn’t seem to shake the fear that it was just the calm before the storm. He wouldn’t give up that easily. Regardless, she had to move on with her life.

Addison groaned and forced herself into a sitting position. Whether she liked it or not, it was time for step two—unpacking her luggage. She’d arrived home from Montana with a lot more than she came with. In fact, she had to buy a second suitcase at the airport just to fit it all. For some strange reason she kept her western clothing and boots even though they didn’t fit in with her normal wardrobe in LA.

Ten minutes later she had the contents of both suitcases piled side by side on her bed. It seemed like she’d been living two different lives and now seeing them oddly merged together created an empty feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Addison sat on the edge of the bed and rested her head in her hands.
Who am I, God? I don’t think I even recognize myself anymore.

When she opened her eyes, something caught her eye beside the piles of clothes. The Bible Gramps had given her.

It had been at least a week and a half since she’d read it. Now relief flooded through her as she ran her fingers over the leather cover. She flipped it open and read a verse Gramps had written on the inside cover.
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Addison smiled, seeing her Montana adventures in a new light. The past weeks with the Hart family helped her discover some things about herself. Like cowgirl boots felt nicer on her feet than high heels, baked trout didn’t taste half bad, and her love for interior design wasn’t just a hobby but a potential business opportunity.

However most importantly, she now understood that the clothes piled on her bed didn’t define her at all. What really mattered was the person on the inside—the person Jesus had transformed that morning by the creek.

She’d made mistakes since then—big ones but maybe with time Logan and his family would find it in their hearts to forgive her. She could only hope and pray.

In the meantime she needed to concentrate on the next steps. The future seemed daunting but with Jesus directing her life she knew nothing would be impossible. Could He help her banish the chameleon forever and find the real Addison at last?