Texas Hot by Regina Carlysle

longed to see it all. Unlike Mitch who’d grown up here, Gina didn’t know every nook and cranny or every blade of grass but she loved it as if she were a native to the land. All around her crickets chirped and in the distance a lone coyote howled. Once upon on a time sounds like this would have sent her running but not now.
    Mitch hadn’t said he loved her but she knew that stopping here and answering that random ad in the newspaper had changed her life. She’d grown. She’d gained confidence and a sense of acceptance in the choices she’d made. Marrying Anthony had been a major mistake. Staying with him was even worse but in the end, the entire experience had forced her to reach deep. By hitting rock bottom, she’d learned to fight, to survive. Now, though it felt lame to think it, she flourished.
    It was all because of Texas.
    And it was all because of Mitch, a man who knew how to treat a woman.
    Gina found herself at the corral for the second time that day. Leaning against the railing she looked out across the land and came to a realization. No matter what happened in the future, she was glad she’d come here and she accepted the fact that this place and the people here had changed her life and perspective. Even if it turned out that her relationship with Mitch was only meant to be a short-term love affair, she wouldn’t regret. Her being here and falling so effectively into bed with him was only a small part of her growth.
    She’d been born here in a sense. She’d grown here. She’d learned to bury the bad and accept life again.
    Suddenly, with the peaceful night all around her, Gina knew what she would do. It was clear to her and the profound relief made her close her eyes as she dragged a steady, deep breath into her lungs.
    Tomorrow she would tell Mitch that she planned to return to Brooklyn. If he loved her and wanted her to stay here with him, he would tell her so. He was honest that way. Should things go down that way, she would go back east, see her family and then pack the remainder of her belongings. On the other hand, if Mitch wished her well and gave her a sad goodbye with no words of love, then she would have her answer. She would simply leave. She’d be heartbroken and filled with regret but at least she’d know. And she was stronger now, stronger than she’d ever been before.
    She had survived a lot and would survive this.
    Clarity easing her mind, Gina walked to the barn to give Brooklyn another look. Maybe she was born to be around horses because they called to her in a way that was different from other creatures. Seeing the foal again appealed to her tonight. She pushed the door open and stepped inside instantly reaching for the switch on the wall. When the dim light flickered to life, a horse snuffled near the back of the barn and, with a smile, Gina moved down the row of stalls but then stilled when she heard a sound behind her.
    Mitch.
    She turned but then her blood ran cold. A chill swept her.
    “Alone at last, you fucking bitch.”
    “Anthony,” she breathed, as she looked into the handsome yet contorted and half-crazed face of her tormenter. Suddenly all the habits of the past rose up to freeze her on the spot. She couldn’t move, couldn’t blink. Gina could only stare at him as he stood there wearing an evil grin. Every blow, every cruel word he’d thrown at her bloomed to violent life in her brain.
    “Did you really think you could go anywhere that I couldn’t find you? I’ve been watching you for days just waiting while you played the slut for that hick cowboy.”
    Oh no!
    Oh hell no!
    She wouldn’t be helpless again. Fears evaporated as if they’d never been.
    Rage rose up along with the need for self-preservation as she opened her mouth to scream but Anthony was ready for that. He ran up and clapped a hand across her mouth while simultaneously grabbing a fistful of her hair to give it a hard pull. Half-dragging and half- carrying her, he brought her near the entrance