Chapter Twenty-Four

Justin's P.O.V.



As I watch Ariya ride away, I feel a weird tug in my chest. I have this unfamiliar sense of needing to protect her, even though I know she's quite capable of doing that herself. Life has dealt her a rough hand and I'm certain I haven't even heard the half of it. I'm presuming her father had something to do with the scars on her body, but she really doesn't want to talk about that.

Imagine having to kill your own father. That's just awful. Even though she says he wasn't a nice person, that doesn't make it any easier to live with. To top off that feeling of guilt, her mom told everyone that Ariya beat her up. She probably blamed the miscarriage on her as well. That's pretty sick. That alone is enough to make a person enraged, but I have a feeling there's more to Ariya's anger issues. The problem is, now she's had time to think about the consequences of talking to me, I think she'll clam up again. I have to find a way to keep the line of communication open. That's going to be easier said than done.

I head back for breakfast and I find Todd rubbing his chin. This time, I hope she hurt him.

“Todd, if you don't learn to keep your mouth shut, I'm going to stop dragging her off you. You're treading a fine line with that one. She'll rip you apart if you keep going. How dare you insinuate something sinister was going on. Have I not shown you anything about how a gentleman should act? You think that little of me? That I would abuse my authority and do something like that? Because if you do, then I suggest we find you somewhere else to serve out your last few months. I expect that kind of behavior from Miss Flynn, but not from you. I have given you no reason to question my integrity. And the way I deal with Ariya has nothing to do with you. She doesn't hit you because I can't control her. She hits you because you can't control your own mouth. Accept responsibility for your own actions at least. Keep your mouth shut and she'll leave you alone. We're heading out in 10 minutes. Pack up.”

I go and get Star saddled up. I can fully understand why Ariya wants to hurt him sometimes. I don't agree with her giving in to the urge, but I can see how she gets angry at him. What I don't understand, is why those kind of comments get her so riled up. She's got a rather filthy sense of humor, and she's always quick to throw an innuendo out there. Although, she's never done that to or with Todd. From the first time she met him, Ariya didn't like him. She's good at reading people, so she saw something in him that she didn't like before he ever opened his mouth. He hasn't failed in giving her reasons to dislike him though.

I know Ariya wants some space, but I don't want her out of my sight for too long. I don't know if that's because I think she's going to run or because I want to make sure she's ok. Last night must have been tough on her and she was definitely not acting like herself this morning. It was almost like she was in a daze or something. I help pack up everything and jump on Star. I don't wait for everyone to follow, I know they won't be far behind.

I don't see Ariya for a long time. She must have taken off at quite a speed to make this many miles between us. It's getting dark when we reach the outskirts of the herd, but I don't see Ariya. I can see Splash grazing, but I can't see the rider. My heart does a flutter when I think she might have fallen off or got hurt, but I do another scan of the herd and I see a calf on the floor, crying. I jog Star over to assess the situation and I find Ariya kneeling over the calf.

“Hey, what's wrong?”

“It has quite a bad cut on its leg. There's a lot of blood, Justin.”

I get off Star and look at the calf. Ariya has taken off her shirt and has tied it around the cut, trying to stem the flow of blood.

“Good thinking, Ariya. Let me take a look.”

When she removes the shirt, I can see how bad the gash actually is. The calf's mom is standing close, watching us carefully. Thankfully she isn't trying to kill us for being near her baby.

“Apply pressure to that wound. The mom just let you come over here and touch him?”

“Yeah. When I got here she was nudging him and calling. He's in a bad way.”

“I've got a first aid kit. I can stitch it and hope it holds.”

I grab the first aid kit and try to clean the wound with my bottle of water. As soon as the water hits the cut, the calf cries and mom walks closer to me.

“Mom isn't liking this very much...”

“Nope. I'll do it. She likes me. Huh, she's gotta be the only one.”

I let that derogative remark slide for now. I've never disliked Ariya, but I am starting to like her a little bit more as the days pass. Ariya takes the needle and thread out of my hands and before I can even blink, she's sewn up the cut. She's done a good job of it and at such a speed, it makes me think she's practiced at it. She's got blood all over her tank top and pants, but Ariya doesn't seem fazed or grossed out by it. She's even got blood across her forehead, like she's tried to move her hair out of her face with bloody hands.

“Do you have a bandage in there? If I wrap it up, then he's less likely to bite the stitches and it'll keep the site clean.”

I hand her the bandage and ask, “You studied medicine?”

She scoffs, “Hardly.”

“Dated a doctor?”

She chuckles, “Not a chance.”

“What's wrong with doctors?”

“You really think I hang around in those circles?”

“I don't know, do I? So, that's a no for the dating then?”

She eyes me suspiciously, “Why are you so concerned with my dating life?”

“Just trying to figure out how you're so good at this? You didn't even flinch at the blood and the sewing job is excellent.”

She doesn't answer, just checks the bandage again before standing up.

“I should go to the river and wash up. I don't want to freak the others out.”

“Yeah.”

I let her go for now. I'll explain the situation to Mike and then get cleaned up as well. This young lady seems to surprise me more and more every day. When I get to the river, I see Ariya scrubbing at her hands and tank top. It'll be ruined. It was white, so there's no chance she'll get it back to the original color.

“Hey, I grabbed you a shirt. It's one of mine so it'll be big, but it's better than a blood stained top.”

I hear her mutter, “I've had plenty of those in my time.”

As I wash my hands and arms, I try to make conversation, “So, you're definitely not squeamish then?”

She shoots me a look, as if to say, “Seriously?”

“Geez, I didn't mean it like that. I wasn't even referring to what you told me last night.”

I see the tenseness in her shoulders soften a little as she responds, “I've been in a lot of fights. I'm not squeamish anymore...”

“You were? At one point?”

She shrugs, noncommittally.

“I won't think any less of you if you were. In fact, I'd probably think more of you for admitting it. That's the body's natural reaction to something so traumatic.”

She scoffs, “Really? I mustn't be normal then.”

“You didn't find it traumatic?”

“Thanks for the shirt.”

Well, that conversation ended abruptly. She hides behind some trees to change her shirt and I find myself staring, trying to get a glimpse of her. I'm not sure if that's because I want to see the scars again, or if it's because I am seeing her in a different light. I know I shouldn't abuse my authority, but what Todd said, sort of brought Ariya to my attention. I know that must make no sense, but before he said anything and before Ariya and I had our little chat, I only thought of her as a criminal that I was trying to help and change. Now, I'm seeing her very differently and I don't know what to do about that. In some respects I do think I'm taking advantage of my position, but I can't help what I'm starting to feel.



Ariya walks back to Splash and takes his saddle off. She gives him a quick scratch before leading him to the other horses so he can graze. I watch the pair closely and I am surprised by the connection those two have. I would never have guessed Ariya would make a bond with a horse. I have to admit, I never thought I'd get any form of normal conversation out of this young lady either. I certainly didn't think she'd have such a messed up history. I have a feeling Ariya is behaving like this to distance herself from me and the fact that she told me about her father. I think she feels like she's betrayed herself by revealing that piece of information. That is not the case. She's unravelling and she'll do something dangerous if she doesn't release some of that pent up anger. Obviously fighting is no longer enough, otherwise she'd be able to hold it together a bit better. If she doesn't talk this out with someone, she'll end up killing again and at this rate, it'll most likely be Todd. I can't allow things to get that out of hand, so I'm going to have to push Ariya to keep talking.