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Out of words, I heaved a loud sigh. The waitress brought our food. Conversation had reached an impasse, and we all stared at our full plates with disinterest.
Finally, I spoke the question that had been lingering, all night. "So, am I still getting punished?" I took a bite of my enchilada and waited.
My pussy clenched and my butt tingled at their response, spoken in unison. "Oh, you better believe it, baby girl."
Inwardly, I heaved a sigh of relief, knowing, finally, that the night's events were not hinged on the answer to their question. I didn't have an answer. Not yet. I knew that whatever the answer ended up being, the events that transpired this evening would play a big part in that.
I also knew that they knew that.
* * *
Blake
Well, that had almost turned into a shit storm of epic proportions. And this was only half of what we had planned for the evening. Hopefully, with all the cards now on the table, the rest of the plans would be better orchestrated.
Slade caught my eye across the table, and I knew we were both thinking the same thing. What if she decided not to stay? What if making working with us an ultimatum had been a mistake? I knew in my heart that it wasn't. The point of the ranch providing equine therapy wasn't just for the horses or the foster kids in our community and neighboring ones. It was about us, too. Everybody involved got something out of it, horses and humans, alike.
Working with the kids had changed me in ways that growing up at the ranch hadn't. It had taken Nan's lessons and cemented them with practical life application. It had worked for Nan, herself, for Slade, for me, and it would work for Merry, too, if she just gave it a chance.
Slade gave a slight shake of his head, and I knew he was telling me not to get in mine. It would always be my downfall. Merry and I were a lot alike in that way.
I turned my attention to my dinner. The small restaurant was new and casual, but the food was cheap, filling and authentic. I would have killed for a margarita or even a beer, but there was too much hinging on how tonight went to risk it, in any way.
We all ate in silence, cleaning our plates and draining our glasses. Despite the earlier confusion, coming out tonight had been a godsend. For all of us. We needed the break before the storm of people descended on the ranch. Merry, especially.
When every bite of food and drink was gone, I paid the check, and Slade took Merry out to the truck, with me close behind.
When the door closed behind me, I buckled and turned to Merry. I didn't want to tell her our plans. I still needed that modicum of control. I didn't want any more scenes like the one that had transpired in the restaurant.
"We aren't going home, tonight, baby girl. And that's all you need to know."
I watched her face change as she processed the information. I saw the questions looming on the tip of her tongue. She didn't ask them. She knew better.
Wordlessly, I put the truck in drive and pulled out of the lot, turning towards the city. We had an hour drive before we reached the hotel.
