Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
“A year?” Raine said, pouncing on the very real threat. “In your mailbox?”
“Three came through the mail. That was right in the beginning.”
“You kept the letters and envelopes they came in?” It was a statement in the form of a question.
Harlow sighed. “Yeah. They’re filed away. With the senator being my father, I learned a long time ago to keep evidence of any threats.”
“What’s really going on, Harlow? You can tell me. You know I would never say anything to anyone. Why is Rainier really at your house every single day with a full medical staff? Why does he have guards patrolling around your home and snipers sitting up on your rooftop?”
Harlow’s head swung around to stare in shock at Raine. “What? Is that true? I had no idea he’d done all that.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “He’s going to be royally angry at me for taking the day off, isn’t he?”
“He takes threats against his family very seriously. If he knew everything you told me, he might very well have all of that security as well as a personal bodyguard. Since he doesn’t know, his men are there for another reason. The fact that you didn’t know how far he’s gone to protect everyone means it has to do with one of his men.”
Harlow ignored the assessment, but it suddenly occurred to her that Rainier would blame Raine for the two of them running off for an early morning photo shoot and climb. Raine was the youngest of the friends, but always the one most responsible. He would hold her accountable for Harlow’s escape. She was always expected to be the one to keep everyone on the right path.
“Rainier’s going to be furious. I didn’t do this to get you in trouble, Raine. Maybe we should give him a heads-up.”
“You aren’t worried about yourself, Harlow,” Raine pointed out.
“Why should I be? He can get all grouchy with me, but he doesn’t have the right to tell me what to do. I’m not in your line of work.”
Raine sent her a small smile. “He isn’t my boss. I get very tired of all the people who think I should always act a certain way. I’m never allowed fun, to cut loose, to have too much to drink. I’m always supposed to keep myself and everyone around me under control. I get very tired of it. Mostly, after this happened to my leg, I realized I was wasting my life working all the time. If I don’t do the things I want to do now, I’ll never do them.”
Harlow nodded her understanding. Raine always did the right thing. Truthfully, she couldn’t imagine Raine straying too far from what everyone considered right.
“You did go your own way on your solitary backpacking trips,” Harlow pointed out cautiously. Raine had traveled the world, mostly on her own.
“Believe me, they tracked me everywhere I went. The General spent a great deal of time trying to get me to answer him when I made it very clear I was on vacation. You would have thought the world was coming to an end because I actually took time for myself.”
“You’ve always let them get away with pulling you in after you’ve said no to them,” Harlow speculated. “They got used to never taking no for an answer.”
“I did that to myself,” Raine said. “I made mistakes when I was very young, and it cost my father his life. I made up my mind I wouldn’t be so selfish ever again.”
“Raine, it isn’t selfish to take time for yourself when you work as much as you do. Sometimes one needs to just breathe in fresh air and be with friends or alone in order to recoup. Self-care is important for mental health.” Harlow tried not to sound like a nurse. What she said was very true, and if anyone needed a respite now and then, it was Raine. She was in a high-stress job and subject to seeing all kinds of reports with photographs that would give most people permanent nightmares.
“When I nearly lost this leg”—Raine dropped one hand to her thigh and rubbed as if the leg ached—“I realized time was very precious, and I had to make changes in my life. I guess I’m still sorting out how to do that. And even figuring out what I want to do.”
Harlow fell silent, clutching the door of the Jeep as they bumped along the old dirt track. They had taken the road to the hot springs, and a good seven miles past that was an unmarked trail leading to the property. The road was very flat, and with all the wildflowers and high grass, they could have turned onto a meadow. It was no longer marked, but Harlow had been out to the property several times.