Caught in Time

Chapter 23. Adore You

-Cara-

Cara ran, barefoot, with tears streaming down her cheeks. Every time her feet hit the dirt road, small stones and twigs pricked and slashed the undersides of her feet.

She was so shook by what had just happened at the tavern that her hands were shaking violently. She clenched them as hard as she could in an attempt to stop it. Her nails painfully dug into her palms when images of what had happened flashed in her mind.

She slowed her pace, closed her eyes and tried not to think about it. But the images came anyway, they flashed in front of her like frozen moments in time; how the creep had pinned her to the door, Keegan bolting through the room and punching the guy in a fit of pure rage. The merciless expression in his eyes as his fist came flying through the air. How he knocked the sense out of the creep he had called by the name Lochlan. The emerald green eyes had exuded an uncontrollable fury.

Cara shuddered from the memory but could not help to feel grateful for how the night had ended. It could have ended a lot worse... Although, she was still not too happy about Keegan ignoring her, or that Georg left her all alone. Or Miss Goldy Locks. She was not happy about her at all.

However, after having spent all night pretending she was not there, Keegan had finally come to her aid...

Cara stopped walking for a moment and took a deep breath. She needed to calm down. Her heart was still racing and she could feel her pulse throbbing in her ears. On top of it all, her thoughts were a complete mess.

Cara leaned her head back and stared up into the dark night sky. The clouds were dark but looked so soft that she wanted to just lay down right here so she could look at them whilst drifting off to sleep.

This summer 's night was cool and the wind was almost a bit chilly. An upcoming rainfall was hanging thickly in the air. It was just a matter of minutes before it would come pouring down on her. Cara turned her eyes towards the fields on her right and left side. Their grass swayed soothingly in the wind and it felt like it had all been just a nightmare. That something so unpleasant couldn't actually have taken place so close to this peaceful place.

Once again she felt the urge to just lay down and fall asleep, but this time in the softness of the fields.

Cara waited for a minute until her pulse had gone down and the sound of the grass swaying in the wind had temporarily eased her mind. Then she started walking back to the house again.

Despite the fact that Keegan is hammered, he threw a really good punch back there. But why? Why not help me from the start? Why not... Argh!! Why not admit that he had seen me and just admit that he either did not want me there or... that he just doesn't care.

He hadn't punched that guys face in if he hadn't cared, he had just let whatever was going to happen, happen. A voice in Cara's head concluded.

"Great... Now I am arguing with myself." She groaned to herself. "Peachy."

She continued down the dirt road, now she almost dragged her feet from feeling so exhausted after this night. A part of her couldn't wait to be under the protection of Miriam again. It almost felt like that woman would take on a bear for her sake if it would happen.

Unless Keegan beat her to it... The other part of her snickered.

Cara shook the thought right out of her mind, but it triggered more confusing thoughts about him. Soon she was spiraling in her own mind and she was back where she did not want to be; confused and worked up over a guy she couldn't have anymore.