"Camping?" Anna laughed, "is that how he's suckered you into going on round up?" Lucas and Andy were laughing into their coffee when the four friends met at Linda's for lunch. "I think that's the same stunt Ned pulled on him when he was fifteen."
Maisey was confused, "so there's no camping?"
Lucas grinned, "Sure there is: surrounded by cows, taking turns making sure they don't disappear, checking for brands and riding for 8-10 hours a day."
Maisey frowned, "That doesn't sound right," she chewed her lip, "He hasn't taught me to ride yet and he's got no property near Waterton."
"Waterton?" now her friends were confused.
"Yes, we were talking and I've never been so he said we'd drive up, hike around and camp up there this weekend."
"That doesn't sound right," Andy frowned, "Brett has never missed round up since he was fifteen."
"They left yesterday for round up," Maisey told them, "he said they'd be back Thursday or Friday. I came into town for Linda's bacon and eggs and to pick up pizza, I hate cooking for one." she shrugged, "you guys scared me thinking that meant he'd come back and there'd be more round up. Seriously, they can't be that hard to find: they're cows not rabbits." She dipped her toast into her egg and took a satisfied bite. "But I still need to know if you guys can help me with camping gear?"
"You won't need any," Andy took a bite of his own sausage and talked around the mouthful, "Brett's got enough gear to outfit a small army. It's in a closet in the tack room unless it's been moved recently."
"Great," Maisey grinned, "I'll dig through later, it's been years since I went camping."
Andy was impressed by the changes in both his best friend and in Maisey. Brett had never really shown serious interest in a woman before but since Maisey had come along that had changed: he was protective but more than that he was growing. First his changes to the ranch, and lately his activities outside the ranch. Aside from roundup Andy couldn't think of a single camping trip Brett had gone on since high school. He had shopped with her, done interior design and built furniture, rescued a deer and even on poker nights he was checking his phone to be sure she was alright. Despite his pride, he worried that his friend was going to wind up hurt if Maisey couldn't get over her trauma: he had rarely heard of cases like Maisey's where the victim could have a normal life after, he'd been researching it since he realized there was something more going on than friendship.
Anna and Maisey were talking about plans for shopping the next weekend.
"This might be me being nosey," Andy interrupted, "but how are you paying your bills? I know you're not working and lawyer fees aren't cheap, but you never seem worried about money," a part of him worried she was spending Brett's money hand over first.
Maisey leaned on her arms and raised an eyebrow, "Worried I'm a gold digger?" she saw a flush in Andy's cheeks and felt Anna kick him under there table. "Seriously, it's a fair question." She smiled reassuringly, "Before I married Luke, I worked and was smart enough to invest money but even in those early years before he locked me in I knew enough from watching other bad marriages to have an emergency bank account. Over the years with Luke I did a few odd jobs online: proof reading resumes, and school assignments. Small things, but all that money went into that bank account. After Luke, the bank turned over all Luke's money at court order too. I left $5000 for him in case they ever do let him out and took the rest. Cashed out somewhere in the range of half a million in investments and moved them into my own investments which pay out a dividend. Plus, a publishing house bought my book and I get royalties from its sales now too."
"That's pretty smart," Lucas nodded, "Publishing a book must have been exciting."
Maisey shrugged, "it was anti-climatic. it happened right in the middle of everything with Jesse; and Brett and I were not in a good place so it really wasn't very special feeling. I almost didn't agree to it. "
"What made you decide to?" Anna asked.
Maisey pushed the food around on her plate: "remembering Bandit's mom and sister." she admitted, "I wanted other women to be able to read it and know they are not alone and that they can get help. I didn't know that and neither did Bandit's family. I convinced the publisher to publish the book under two names, with 2 titles: one more self help/ biography like they wanted to and one that looks like a romance novel." Andy's brows furrowed, not understanding. "Books were one thing Luke let me have for entertainment," Maisey explained, "but he'd have burned it and beat me senseless if I had a book titled: Are you in danger: there's hope for escape; where he wouldn't bat an eye at a book called: "The Temper and the Tempest" with a woman standing in a city surrounded by a huge storm as there cover art."
"That's really smart," Anna told her and realization crossed Andy's face.
Andy's phone rang and he excused himself. With a glance and an urgent wave to Anna, the twins left abruptly. "I suppose one day I'll get used to that," Lucas took a drink of his coffee.
"As long as you know she's safe," Maisey nodded.
Lucas shrugged, "I never do," he admitted. "I used to think of her as Andy's sister until we were in high school but even then there was so much going on I didn't really think much beyond caring for her. watching you and Brett, seeing what you've gone through," he hesitated for a long moment and Maisey wondered if he'd continue, "I can't ever imagine someone doing to a woman what happened to you and Bandit's family and I only know the smallest parts: it scares me that something like that could happen to her."
She touched his hand, forcing him to look up from his coffee, "She's stronger than I was," she told him, "and she's not alone."
"But look at what Jesse did at the hotel," his fingers were clenched.
Maisey steeled herself for flashbacks and sighed at her friend, "you will never be 100% sure," she admitted, "but you've got to trust your gut. Andy looks out for her regardless of the trauma they're dealing with, and she rarely leaves this little town, you don't normally see the same things they do in the city."
Lucas was careful to agree but to keep the rest of his opinions to himself. He made excuses, paid the bill and slipped away. Maisey watched him go but worried about his reaction: she didn't know him very well yet, but that seemed like the kind of reaction a person would give if they were scared to move forward. She'd have to watch him. she potatos her own bill and headed back to the ranch to find the gear Andy had directed her to: she was excited for camping.