Glancing up at him, I could see the knowledge in his eyes. He knew what was happening to me, but chose not to say anything. I was grateful for that. Grabbing the phone from his hand, I put it up to my ear. “Hello?”
“Hey, Tamara. It’s Ebony. I just wanted to see how your flight went.”
A sigh of relief escaped, and I could feel my body relax. “Fine. Good. It was good. Great, actually.”
“Is Brandon taking care of you? I know he looks big and scary, but he’s been with Clint for years. Since way before our paths crossed. Trust me, Tamara. You’re safe with them.”
My eyes tracked to the large man putting my bags in the trunk. “How’d you know I needed this call?” Not that I couldn’t handle what was happening, but I was also a woman alone in a strange place. It felt good to hear the voice of someone I trusted.
“Because this isn’t my first time at the rodeo.” Ebony laughed, and I knew what was coming next. “Get it? My first rodeo? See what I did there?”
A smile came over my face, but and I appreciated her attempt at normalcy. “Does your husband know you tell corny jokes?”
“Yep, and he loves me anyway.”
I paused for a moment. “Thanks, Ebony. I was ready to bolt and run.”
“You’re safe in Denver. Clint rarely takes on this type of role or provides a safe house for others. Trust me, Tamara. If anyone can protect you, it would be him. If I needed help and I wasn’t married to Cole, the first call I’d make would be to Clint Sullivan. Now, get in the car. Enjoy the drive. Take a nap if you can. Oh, and I hope you brought your cowgirl boots. Bye!”
When Ebony hung up on me, I laughed, probably louder than I thought because of the number of people who turned around to look at me.
I turned towards the big guy standing off to the side. “Wait! I didn’t realize I’d actually need boots.” I shook my head at Ebony’s antics and knew she did this on purpose. I was not a damn cowgirl. They’d better not have me in the barn chucking hay. “Brandon, right?” He nodded. “Tell me she was joking. I don’t really need boots, do I?”
A grin came over his face. “Oh, you’re in for a treat. Don’t worry too much. He’ll give you a few days to get used to things.” Brandon motioned to the open door again. “Come on. Time to hit the road.”
Taking a deep breath, I climbed into the car. I needed this. Colorado was the safest place for me. Away from Virginia and Derek. Things would be just fine. 30 days for the plant to come full circle. I could do this. If I wanted a new life, this was my chance.