Sophie's Choice
Chapter Two "The Date?"
A/N: Thank you to Opal for reviewing!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my characters that I made up!
May 21st, Seven PM, Sophie POV(Unless otherwise stated, it will be her POV always)
I smiled at my cellphone as I saw an unknown Nevada number calling. It had to be Kit. Of course he might not be happy cause I was working Saturday. "Hello?"
"Hello Sophie." My stomach tightened at the familiar voice on the phone. It wasn't Kit. It was Steve. I hung up immediately. I looked around and checked the locks. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. My phone rang again and I didn't answer. I let it ring and ring. I grabbed the house phone and called Brad, trying not to panic.
"Hello?" Brad was groggy. He had probably been sleeping after his early morning shift today.
"He called me."
"When?" Brad was instantly alert. He didn't even ask who 'he' was, he knew who I was talking about.
"About a minute ago. I hung up immediately like you said. My phone rang again and I didn't answer when it rang. How did he get my cellphone number? I changed it after he went to jail." I ran my hand through my hair.
"Calm down Sophie. I'll be there in ten minutes tops. Make sure your doors are locked and your alarm is set. You have your gun on you?" As Brad said it, I wanted to kick myself.
"No it's in my car." I whispered. Shit! How could I forget that in my car?!
"Lock yourself in your room. There's a bat in your closet. Get in there until I get there. If anything happens before I do, call nine one one." Brad hung up and I, shaking and unstable, went to my room, locking the door and getting in my closet. I sat down, trying to stop shaking. No, no, no. This couldn't be happening.
My phone rang again and I saw it was a different number. "Hello?"
"Hey, Sophie, it's Kit." I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hey Kit, how are you?" I asked, trying to keep the tremble out of my voice.
"Good...I was just seeing if we could do that date Saturday." Kit almost sounded nervous.
I bit my lip. "I'm actually working Saturday. Would Friday night or Sunday night work for you?"
"We could do Friday night if it works for you." I could hear the happiness in his voice. "Say, six?"
"That'd be good. Should I meet you somewhere?"
I heard him snort. "We're going on a date. Text me your address and I'll pick you up. I'm a gentleman." I heard someone talking to him in the background. "Well I gotta go. I'll talk to you later."
"Okay, bye." Kit hung up and I closed my eyes. The conversation had calmed my nerves some and I could think a little bit clearly. I jumped when I heard the door open and my alarm went off. It was quickly shut off and I heard a knock at my door.
"Sophie? It's Brad." I bolted out of the closet and into Brad's arms. "You're okay...you're okay. There's no one outside. No sign of anything. I got your gun out of the truck, you really gotta learn to lock that thing." I just nodded, trying to keep the tears at bay. I didn't want to go through this again. I couldn't handle it, my life was just getting back to normal. "A deputy is on his way to come talk to you. I've left a message for Steve's PO and hopefully they'll get back to me by the morning."
Brad led me out to the kitchen and sat me at the table. After a minute, he handed me a glass of tea and I sipped it slowly.
"Right off the bat, he starts. Why?" I whispered, setting my glass down.
"He hasn't forgotten about you. I looked into his incarceration files. He talked about you frequently to his therapist for a year or two. He talked to other inmates about you. I'm still confused as to why exactly they let him out. I mean 'good behavior', yet he kept talking about the victim."
I flinched at the word victim. "Sorry, Sophster. I know you don't like to be called that." I shrugged.
"It's what I was." I looked up at the knock on the door. I could see the two sheriff's deputies standing at the door. Brad let them in.
"Hey guys, she's right here." He pointed to the table. I recognized Jeff as one of the guys I knew from the station and the other one I didn't recognize. He must be new. He had bronze skin, long black hair that he kept tied at the back of his neck and brown eyes. "Sophie, you know Jeff and this here is our newest Deputy, Jake Ely."
Ely? "Are you related to Kit or Maxine Ely?" I asked.
Deputy Ely gave me a smile. "Kit's my brother and Maxine is my mom."
"Oh I just met them both. They seem nice." I said, distracted.
They all sat down at my table and talked to me about what happened. "Do you want to pursue a no-contact order or restraining order?" Deputy Ely asked.
"It's just a piece of paper." I pointed out.
"Yes but he can get shipped right back to jail if he breaks it." He replied.
"I'll have to see him in court if I do." I hesitated. I was torn.
"It's up to you Sophie." Brad put his hand over mine.
"What do you think?" I asked him. He would be honest.
"I think you should pursue one." Brad was completely serious.
I nodded. "Then I will. First thing in the morning before I go to work."
Brad squeezed my hand and Jeff patted my shoulder. "I'll go with you tomorrow." Jeff told me. "I don't go into til tomorrow night."
"Thanks." I smiled at him as they prepared to leave. Brad walked them out and after a few minutes he came back in.
"Do you want me to stay the night?" Brad asked. I hesitated but eventually nodded.
"I don't want to be alone." I whispered. Brad gave me a sad smile.
"I'm gonna go get my bag out of the car. If you don't want me to, tough, I'm staying anyways." I couldn't help but smile at that. My protective brother, he always there when I needed him. Brad came back in with his bag and I set up the couch for him. After checking the locks and the alarm, making sure Brad was set, I went into my bedroom and got under the covers. I was still a little jittery from what had happened tonight and I had my phone turned off so I couldn't receive any more calls or anything from Steve til I could get his number blocked. Elise knew of what happened and knew to call my house phone if she needed me. I had Brad let her know what happened and make sure she kept her and Harlan safe. I had been over earlier and who knows if Steve was full out following me or anything yet.
The last thing I wanted was for something to happen to her or Harlan. I know Steve didn't know about Harlan but he knew Elise. It worried me. Brad could handle himself quite well...Elise could too but I still worried. I knew my mind wouldn't shut down for awhile so I played my iPod on it's dock next to my bed. I played my sleeping play-list to try to calm my mind. It wasn't working.
I sighed. I got up and dragged out something I knew I shouldn't but did. The bottle of wine. I poured myself a glass of wine and went to my bedroom. I turned on my TV and watched some recordings on my DVR til I fell asleep.
Brad woke me up in the morning when Jeff arrived to take me to the courthouse. We talked over what I needed to fill out and say relating to the restraining order. When we got to the courthouse I filled out the needed papers and waited for the judge to call my name.
When he did, I wasn't happy nor was Jeff. "I can't grant this one. There is no solid proof. I have to have proof that you're in danger now." I stared in disbelief at the judge. I faintly heard Jeff thanking the judge and he pulled me out of the courtroom before I could say a word.
"How could he not grant that?!" I seethed. "Oh there's no proof...hmm except a whole damn trial of proof!" We were in the car now and Jeff put a hand on my arm.
"I know how angry you are and believe me I am too. But you just have to be very good about gathering evidence and come back again. He will grant it if you come up with evidence that he is now stalking you again." Jeff started the car and started back to Darton. I was just so angry.
When we got back, I showered and got ready for work. I only worked til six today and I was so glad. I wouldn't be able to handle much today after the courthouse. I arrived fifteen minutes early and greeted Randy. We were really the only two employees that Mr and Mrs Roberts had at the store. We had thought about hiring more but we just never did.
I walked to the office and knocked on the door before walking in. "How are you Jim?" I asked as I hugged the old man who had been my boss for years.
"Oh I'm okay Sophie. Miss Linda isn't feeling too good so I'm just trying to get some work done so I can go home to her." He replied with sad smile. I knew his wife, Linda, had really bad arthritis and she had been feeling under the weather lately. She had a doctors appointment set up for a checkup coming up in a few weeks.
"Well go home. I've got all this, you know I can handle the paperwork. You should of called me earlier, I would of came in." I told him then remembered I should tell him what's going on. "Actually Jim there's something I need to talk to you about..." I told him everything. He and Linda knew most of what had gone on with Steve but they didn't know he was out or anything.
"Oh Sophie..." Jim frowned at me. "That's terrible. Sometimes the justice system isn't right. We'll make sure to keep you safe here. If you'd like we could hire a security guard. Or hire someone else to keep you off of nights."
"No, we don't need to do that. I'll be fine. I just wanted to let you know what's going on." I looked down. "He doesn't know where I work as far as I know so there should be no problems."
"Well be careful. And no opening or closing by yourself anymore. I want you to be careful." Jim said. He kept looking at me with concern.
"Okay, okay. Now go home to Linda. I'll take care of all of this work." I gestured towards the paperwork that was on the desk. After warning me to be safe again, he left. I started working immediately working on the paperwork which got my mind off anything else. I didn't realize how long I had been in the office until Randy called me on the phone.
I put him on speaker. "What's up Randy?"
"There's a guy asking for you out here." My hair prickled on the back of my neck.
"What-What's his name?" I asked, breathless. I heard talking on the other end of the line. Randy was asking.
"Kit Ely?" Randy replied to me. I sighed in relief.
"Tell him I'll be right out." I got up and looked at myself in the mirror before going out. My short blonde hair came almost to my shoulders and I could see the dark circles under my green eyes through my crappy application of makeup from this morning. Oh well, I couldn't do much about it now. I walked out of the office and towards the front of the store.
Kit stood there talking easily to Randy and I saw in his hands he held flowers in his hand. Wildflowers, all different colors. I was stunned. Flowers? After just meeting me a day ago? He was sweet.
"Hello Kit." I smiled at him as I got closer. Kit stopped talking to Randy and walked over to me.
"These are for you beautiful." Kit handed me the flowers. I took a whiff. They smelled amazing. I motioned for him to follow me. We went into the back of the store and I put the flowers in water. I tried to think of the last time I received flowers. It had been awhile.
"Thank you for the flowers." I told him. Kit smiled at me.
"Well I was taught well by my parents on how to treat a lady." Kit followed me out of the back of the store. "So I was wondering, have you ever rode a horse?"
I stopped. "Um, no. Maybe a pony when I was younger but I think that's it. Why?"
He smiled. "Just thinking about stuff to do on our date." I laughed. He wanted to take me horse back riding on our first date? It was original. I liked that. And his smile...I wanted to sigh dreamily. I briefly wondered where he got his tanned skin and dark hair from considering his mother, while she had some tan skin to her, was an average blonde.
"Horseback riding?" I asked.
"Well I grew up with horses and on a ranch. I figure it'd be something different." Kit watched as I stopped to straighten a few things on a shelf. "Do you always do that?"
I chuckled. "Yes, I do. I want to make sure everything looks organized. I even do it at other stores. I'm a little bit OCD."
Kit chuckled with me. "Well there's nothing wrong with organization." I was about to answer when I saw Steve farther down the aisle we were in. My heart sank and my stomach was immediately in knots. Steve smiled at me innocently. "Sophie?"
I shook my head. "Yeah?" Kit frowned at the change in me.
"Is something wrong?" Kit asked as Steve continued to smile at me from where he was. This couldn't be happening. How did he know where I worked? Did he follow me to work? Entirely possible...but if he followed me to work, then did he know where I lived? Maybe not because I had to stop for gas on the way to work and I hadn't seen anyone following me from the house.
"No, everything is fine, sorry." I was pulled out of my thoughts as Randy paged me over the loudspeaker. Steve's grin widened down the aisle. "I have to go handle that."
"That's fine. I actually wanted to look at your crossbows so I'll let you handle that while I check out the nice inventory you guys have." Kit looked so excited at the thought that I couldn't help but laugh a little at him.
"Now that's what I wanted to hear. Your beautiful laugh." Kit said as we started in different directions. I felt the blush on my face.
"Let me know if you need me to unlock the case." I told him as I hurried to the front. Randy looked happy to see me.
"Can I run to the bathroom Sophie?" I nodded and Randy took off towards the back. Must be all that sweet tea he's drinking getting to him. As I waited for him to come back, I put some items back on the shelves that were behind the counter. There were only four of us in the store. Randy, Me, Kit and Steve.
It hit me that I should definitely document this because this proved he was following me. Of course this was a public place, a popular local place...but it was a little out of the way from where Steve lived. Still, I would document it and make a copy of the video. Jeff had told me to keep a notebook of all the encounters. The times, dates, what was said or where I saw him. So I would have proof to show the judge.
Randy came back with a glass full of sweet tea and I laughed. "You know, this is why you have to pee so much." I teased him. Randy chuckled.
"Well stop making such good sweet tea and I wouldn't have to drink it all the time." Randy teased back. I shook my head.
"Well I have a gentleman to help look at the crossbows then we can figure out what we're going to do for the rest of the night." Randy grinned when I said that.
"Yeah, you better go help him...ya know since he brought you flowers and all." Randy winked at me. I left laughing and wasn't paying attention to where I was going. As soon as I walked into the aisle, I ran into someone. My smile dropped when I realized it was Steve.
"Hey Sophie." His voice created goosebumps all over my skin. Not the good kind either. "I didn't know you worked here."
His voice made my skin crawl but I held it together. "Hello Sir, may I help with you something?"
Steve latched onto my arm. "Sophie, why don't you cut the nonsense and come back? You know it's been a long couple of years without you."
I tried to jerk my arm out of his grasp but he kept a tight grip on me. "Let me go. You're not even supposed to be around me."
"Of course not...but of course my papers don't say that I have to stay away from you..just that if I hurt you or threaten you, I go back to jail." Steve was smirking. He knew he wouldn't get in trouble and was smug about it.
"I-" I started to say something back but I was cut off by Kit.
"Something wrong here?" Kit's face looked friendly enough but I heard the threat underneath his friendly voice. Steve let go of me and glared at Kit.
"No, just talking to Sophie here. Can I help you?" Steve sounded irritated.
"Yeah, I needed Sophie to unlock the crossbow case. I'm gonna buy one." Kit pulled me to his side. "Plus I think we need to discuss our date details." With that, Kit pulled me towards the crossbows.
"Who the hell is he?" Kit turned around to shoot a look towards Steve. Kit still had a hold of me.
"He's my ex-boyfriend." I said quietly. My hands shook and I knew I had to calm down. "He's a little crazy."
"I'd say." Kit looked over my arm. "Did he hurt you?"
I shook my head. "No, he's just an asshole." Kit smiled a bit.
"Do you want me to get rid of him?" I could feel Steve glaring at us both from where he stood, fuming probably.
"I'll ask Randy. I really don't need a fight on my hands at this moment." I walked towards the front where Randy was now talking to Steve. Steve was buying a rope. My stomach tied in knots. "Okay, he's leaving so I'll leave it alone but I might have to talk to my bosses about a no trespass order on him."
We watched until Steve left and then Kit sighed. "Did you really need a crossbow?" I asked turning to face him.
Kit chuckled. "No, not yet. I'm thinking about it though. You guys have some really nice inventory."
"We do. The Roberts have good taste." Kit grabbed his keys from his pocket and I knew he was getting ready to go. "Oh, I wanted to tell you, I changed my phone number. Steve was harassing me so let me shoot you a text real quick so you know what it is."
I sent him a text and he saved the number to his phone. "Sophie, please don't hesitate to let me know if that guy keeps bothering you. My brother is a deputy at-"
"I know, I met him last night." I smiled at him. "My brother is a deputy in Darton too."
Kit smiled. "So you met Jake?" I nodded. "Yeah my parents are real proud of him. I'd always figured he'd go into law enforcement."
"He seems very nice." I commented as I walked with him outside. I gave Randy a sign that I'd be back in five minutes. Randy just grinned at me.
"So Friday night, right? At six?" Kit confirmed our date. I smiled. "I can't wait."
"Me either, it should be fun." Kit said. "Make sure you wear boots and something comfortable."
"I will." I looked towards the store. "I should get back in there. I have paperwork to finish and work to do."
"Yeah, I don't want you to get in trouble." Kit paused to gentle stroke my face. "Text me later."
"I will." I said, half breathless as he walked towards his truck. I made my way back in to do the rest of the paperwork. This would be a long night.
…...
Later that night, I groaned as I kicked off my boots and fell down on my couch. We had a rush after Kit had left and I was working the register alongside Randy. Then had to stay late to count drawers and because I was feeling guilty that Randy had to stay with me due to crazy Steve, I had made a few mistakes that cost time.
Finally we were out of there. I had watched for any headlights following me to the house but there were none and I had my gun back on my hip. After checking the alarm again, I reheated the food that Randy's girlfriend had bought us to eat.
I turned an old show, Friends, that I loved to watch when there was nothing else on. Kit and I were texting back and forth now. I had also been texting Brad about the event with Steve today. He was pretty furious.
My phone vibrated. It was a message from Kit, telling me he had to head to bed. Something about getting up early tomorrow to deal with cows and a crazy in training horse. I smiled and put my phone on the coffee table.
I must of dozed off because I woke up and the TV was on some other late night show. I got up and went to put my dishes in the kitchen sink when the hair on the back of my neck stood up. On my door there was a piece of paper taped to the outside. My door had a big glass window on it so I could see outside. But my outside light was off.
I wouldn't touch it now. Wouldn't take the chance of opening the door to possibly give Steve—or anyone else—the chance to ambush me with a move like this. I checked the doors, the windows, the alarm and the house again before going in my bedroom. I locked the bedroom door and sat a chair in front of the door.
I changed out of my work clothes and sat down on the bed, pulling my knees up to my chest my gun on my night stand. This was going to be a long night.
…...
May 22nd 7am Kit POV
I stood and watched as my brother Jake looked over the four year old palomino overo paint mare, named Butterscotch,that I had bought a few weeks ago. "She's a beauty for sure."
I nodded. "Yes she is but she is the most stubborn, hard headed mare I've ever met."
Jake chuckled. "Mares can be like that. Look at Witch."
I grunted thinking of Jake's stubborn Quarter horse mare. "That's exactly what I did not want. I wanted a good cow sense horse..and I thought that's what I was paying for. But when I'm riding her, if I get to, she doesn't want to listen and she's not even worried about the cows."
"Maybe she just needs to settle in more." Jake offered. I sighed.
"Maybe, she's only been here a few weeks." I patted her neck and she turned to look at me with sweet eyes. "Oh yeah, you give me that look when I'm not trying to ride you." Jake chuckled at me. "So...I hear you met Sophie Haines."
"Yeah she seems like a nice girl." Jake said as we walked Butterscotch back to the pasture.
"So where'd you meet here?" I asked. Jake raised his eyebrows at me.
"Work." Jake said simply. Work? So he met her as a deputy which means she had some kind of legal issue.
"Why?" Jake sighed.
"You know I can't discuss my cases." I rolled my eyes.
"I'm not asking you to discuss your case. I'm just asking for a simple reason."
"She was having trouble with an ex." Jake kicked a rock and avoided looking at me.
"Was his name Steve?" I asked, feeling the anger from yesterday resurface.
Jake looked up, surprised. "Yeah, it is. How'd you know?"
"Well he came into Sophie's work yesterday and was all over her. Didn't want to leave her alone." The anger simmered while I thought about when he grabbed her arm and wouldn't let go. I thought about the fear that she tried to hide.
"That is horrible. He apparently used to do this years ago to her." I felt for Sophie. Here she had to deal with this crap and it seems he would never leave her alone.
Jake and I talked for a little bit more about Sophie, but he had to go get ready for work and I had to saddle up one of the horses to ride out and check the herd. Before I did, I made sure to send Sophie a text. Maybe I'd see if she was working tonight and stop by if she was. Make sure she was okay and make sure Steve stayed away.
The beautiful girl that I had met had just gotten a lot more complicated.
…...
A/N: Hey readers! Here's chapter two for you :) Sorry it's been awhile. I have updated some of my other stories like Rescuing Me(Twilight), Bree's Challenge(Thoroughbred), This Is My Life(Phantom Stallion), Life Without You(Twilight), Racing Hearts(Twilight), Mine(Phantom Stallion), Juliet's Moon(Phantom Stallion) and Ripped Pictures(Phantom Stallion). I'm working on updating my other stories soon but I've been stuck on this story for a week or so now. Finally got it up! Hope you like it and I'd love to see more reviews! Also, if you read my story, Life Without You, check out the poll on my profile. And if you like this story and love Phantom Stallion and haven't checked out my other stories, please do!
From: Quinnandsethsgirl15