Chapter 3
JJ made her way to the airport, the knots in her stomach began to tighten. This was the first time she had done anything like this, she in a sense was running away disappearing from everyone she knew, but at the same time something settled inside her. No more worrying about serial killers. No more looking at pictures of young dead girls. No more dealing with the public or reports every day. No more fear that she's made the right call. She handed her boarding pass in at the gate, first class all the way to Oklahoma City, where she had also made arrangements to pick up a rental, she had asked them to leave her a road map if at all possible. Nothing was too much trouble, they even placed a few sites that she may find of interest, local sightseeing spots, info on local history and they also placed a satnav in the car in case she needed it.
The only thing JJ needed to do was relax and think of the places she wanted to visit. She knew she was going to travel to that town which she mentioned to Garcia, but other than that she was just going to go where her heart said. Six weeks to relax, although Hotch had told her if she needed any more time to let him know. Maybe he knew she was on the edge, had he too seen that broken look in her eyes? There again she knew he would have done, some days she hated working with profilers but she was also grateful at the same time. No awkward questions of what was wrong, why she needed so much time off, why she didn't want to tell them where she was going. The reason she didn't say goodbye other than sending Garcia a text before she left. To be cut off from everyone, there was something peaceful about that. Although she had her cell with her, she was going to do her best not to turn it on. Complete alone time.
"Explain it to me again" Emily said as she made her way back into the kitchen.
"The fence is down again on the north side of the property" Kate said.
"I thought you and Robert fixed that last night?" Tracy asked as she placed the cups down.
"She did, fourth time this week it's been down" Adam said as he took his boots off.
"I'll make a trip into town later today and order some knew fencing wire" Emily paused "Or would you rather use wood at least then it shouldn't break as much"
Adam nodded slightly "Sounds better, wire will only last so long. If you order the wood I'll start post knocking" Emily nodded.
"Move the cattle to the south side for the time being" Tracy said taking a seat.
"Aunt Emmy!" Robert shouted as he ran into the kitchen.
Emily cringed slightly. "The reason you're shouting?" Emily asked looking at the young boy.
"The filly, she won't get up and Bella is getting worked up"
They all seemed to stand as they rushed out of the kitchen up to the foaling pen. "Call the vet" Emily said as she carefully made her way into the stable. "Calm down old girl" Emily said softly as she carefully made her way over to the mare. "Whoa girl," Emily smiled slightly, sometimes animals had better instincts than humans.
"You want a halter?" Kate asked as she looked on.
"She's fine" Emily replied softly.
"Vets on his way Aunt Em" Robert said as he carefully made his way to the stable door.
"Can you go and watch out for him for me Robert?" Emily asked as she looked at him.
"Yeah, coming with me Megan?" Robert asked, although he had hold of her hand dragging her out of the barn.
"Is it bad?" Kate asked as she watched Emily stroke the mare keeping her calm.
"Depends, won't know till the vet gets here"
Tracy gave a slight smile. "Em, if it's the same as last time, we need to consider retiring her"
"I know," Emily sighed. "Once the vet gets here I need you to take over Tracy, otherwise I'm going to miss ordering the fencing" Emily said as she looked at her sister.
"Of course," Tracy turned slightly "You guys get back to work, we can take it from here"
Emily patted the mare, "If we can't breed off her Tracy"
"I know. What about letting Robert ride her?"
Emily shook her head, "She hasn't been mounted for years I'd rather put him on chaos then this mare" Emily said.
"You are comparing this mare, to your stallion" Tracy mused.
"Yes. Tell you what, there is a farmers market coming up soon, I'll take him with me and see if he likes any," Emily said with a smile. "But if I do it he has to look after it" Emily said giving Tracy a pointed look.
"I think he's ready for that responsibility" Tracy said with a smile. "I think he could do with his own, as I am sure he will want to help with the cattle this summer" Emily nodded.
"Right you keep her calm, and I'll be back in a few hours."
"What's the deal with her anyway?" Kate asked as they made their way down the yard.
"Her deal?" Adam asked not sure what she was referring to.
"Emily" Kate said with a shrug. "Gibbo comes to help us out and she disappears"
Peter slaps her on the back as they walk up to the cow shed. "You'd do best to stay away from him as well. If we didn't need him" Peter sighed.
"Emily would have had him locked up years ago. But Peter is right stay well clear of him" Adam said as he opened the door to the cow shed.
"Do I dare ask what he did?" Kate asked, now more curious.
"Not our place to say" Adam said although his voice held a slight warning. "And Kate if you push the boss enough she will kick you out just as fast. And then where will you and yours be?" he asked.
"Tracy already told me I'd pissed her off before" Kate said with a slight shrug.
"Do it enough times and you won't see winter here" Peter said as he started to throw some bales down.
JJ did as she said and sent Garcia a message telling her she had arrived safely, although she didn't disclose where she had gone. Although knowing Garcia she'd track her back accounts if she truly wanted to find her. JJ smiled to herself as she made her way to the front desk, giving her id and payment they handed her the car keys to her rental, or small lease since she wasn't sure how long she was staying for and a lease worked out cheaper. She couldn't help the slight groan that left her lips as she looked at the pale blue SUV.
"Better than black" she mused to herself.
Emily made her way into town, "Morning Ste" Emily said as she walked into the shop.
"Morning Ma'am" he replied as he lifted his hat slightly.
"How's it going?"
"You know, plodding along" he smiled "Starting to pick up since I made a new website offering deliveries" he said giving a broad smile.
"That's good news," Emily replied as she handed over a list of supplies she needed for the farm.
"No wire?" he asked as he looked through the list.
"Adam and Peter are going to fence it instead, been an expensive month" Emily mused.
"Same part?" he asked.
"Same area, so at least if it's wooden it will be cheaper and easier to replace" Emily said with a smile.
"Yes ma'am" he tallied up the items before telling her the price. "Delivered?" he asked.
Emily nodded "If you can give me a day for delivery, then Adam can start post knocking"
"Monday is the earliest"
"That's fine Ste," with that Emily left the store. Heading over to the small bar
"How's the new girl doing?" Chris asked. Once Emily had taken seat on one of the stools
Emily shrugged "Be better if she would follow orders" Emily said lightly.
"Causing trouble already, boss?"
Emily laughed "No more than the boys"
"Scotch?" he asked before looking at the time. "Not working tonight?" he asked before pouring her a drink.
"Do you seriously think I'd be in here asking for a drink if I was?" Emily asked with a bemused look on her face.
"No ma'am" Chris smiled "So what do I owe the pleasure?" he asked.
"Just stopped in for a drink, had a few errands to run"
JJ had travelled out of the city and was now on more quite roads, while she had been in town JJ had bought a sleeping bag, the thought of being free, without anything to worry about other than eating, sleeping and being able to get gas. For the first time since leaving home she could drift without a worry.
It was getting late by the time Emily had arrived back at the ranch, she smiled seeing Robert sitting on the fence while Tracy lunged one of the youngsters, she could see the lights on in the outer housing. They were lucky, after Mitch had been killed in Iraq, Emily had offered for Tracy and her nephew to come and live with her, although Tracy wouldn't stay in the main house, instead she took one of the outer buildings. In total the property consisted of five outer buildings which were used for housing, the stable block, which was just off the main drive into the ranch, the cow shed was down near the bottom of the yard backing out onto a field. They had a big paddock for breaking and backing horse's in. but since Emily's accident she hadn't ridden the youngsters, although she did ride the older horses. She sighed slightly they would soon start harvesting the first crop which meant she had to speak to Gibbo again. Her skin crawled at the mention of his name, but for the sake of the farm she had to do it.
"Looking good" Emily said as she wrapped her arms around Robert's small frame. "Hey handsome"
Robert leaned into her solid frame. "Can I ride her Aunty Em?" he asked as he continued to watch Tracy lung her.
"Have you asked your Mom?" Emily asked as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"I did, she told me to ask you"
Emily chuckled slightly. "So I get to be the bad guy?" she mused.
"Or the good guy" Robert said brightly.
"Tracy?" Emily called pulling her attention. "How's she doing?"
Tracy allowed the mare to halt before answering "Really good, she didn't mind the saddle,"
Emily gave a slight nod. "Where's your hat kiddo?" Emily asked
"I can? You mean?" Robert gushed out.
"Go and get your hat" Emily said as she let go of him.
Tracy unclipped the mare for a moment so she was able to talk to Emily without shouting. "Everything okay?"
Emily nodded, "everything is fine, I need to speak to Gibbo" she couldn't help the slight flinch when she said his name.
"Em, you don't need to, we can manage" Tracy said looking at her sadly.
"That's the problem we can't, unless I find us more ranchers" Emily sighed. "It isn't worth upsetting him." Emily said firmly.
"Upsetting him? Are you serious?" Tracy said in a raised voice. "After everything he has done"
Emily glared at her, "I am well aware of that, but it doesn't change the fact that we need him for the harvest" Emily sighed "I don't want him here. I don't want him anywhere near me" she sighed again. "You find someone that can use the baler without injuring themselves" Emily sighed.
"I can always put an advert out?" Tracy said softly as she rested her hand on Emily's arm.
"That's fine for the next harvest but we need one before the end of the month, and if I don't ask him now" Emily cringed.
"Okay, I'll speak to him" Tracy said.
"You'll get a no."
"And I don't trust him around you" Tracy said firmly.
Emily laughed "its fine, but I don't want to have to deal with him next year" Emily said. "How about we both go to the bar together that way"
Tracy laughed, "Anyone would think I was the sheriff" she teased. "I'll ask Kate to watch Robert"
Emily nodded "Let him have a ride of her first" Emily said as Robert came back down to the paddock. "Right handsome, you get off once your mom says, I will go and speak with Kate" Tracy nodded.
JJ stopped at the local bar since it offered food as well, the double doors reminded her so much of the taverns in the old country and western movies, the wooden deck that surrounded the bar, seemed almost fitting, everything she had come across in this town was old. It was like stepping back in time, there was more dirt roads than tarmacked roads, street signs if you was lucky. Garcia wasn't joking when she called it barren. Although the jeans and boots even down to the shirt made her fit in, but the second she put her foot through that door she knew she was a stranger, but now she felt like an intruder.
