Buck paused in the doorway holding his biscuits and directed his attention to Red. “I could always use some help with the horses,” he said. “If you want to learn.”
Red seemed to perk up hearing that.
“But I don’t want people messing around in the barn if I’m not there,” he said. “There’s a lot of dangerous things out there.” Then with a nod to all, he was out the door, heading back to his horses.
Ellen wondered if Red would take him up on that. She hoped so. It looked like Red was interested in the horses.
Janelle sat rubbing her forehead.
Leah’s voice, softer now, asked, “How is your headache?”
“The aspirins helped,” Janelle said. “And it went away, but it feels like it’s trying to come back.”
“There’s nothing planned after dinner tonight, so you can relax.” Leah smiled at her. “Hopefully with rest you’ll feel better in the morning.”
* * *
The next morning,Ellen sat with the rest of the ladies in class waiting for their first self-defense class. A former Green Beret would be teaching them. One of the Brotherhood Protectors, a local bodyguard service which hired highly skilled military veterans had sent one of their men to teach the classes.
When their instructor walked in, all the women took notice. Barrett Williams was a very built guy. Ellen had never been around men who worked out like he must have done to maintain his strong physique. She found him more than a little intimidating.
He took roll call to learn their names and looked at each woman for a moment, like he was memorizing who they were. He was a man who paid attention. It seemed he paused a few moments longer looking at Chyna, whose green eyes had widened in what appeared to be sudden hero worship.
Chyna was a small woman, like Ellen, and she noted that she and Chyna were the smallest women in the group. Hopefully they’d be paired together for the physical fighting. Ellen wasn’t keen on the idea of fighting someone bigger and stronger than her.
That part of the class wasn’t going to be easy. Ellen had spent her days teaching small children that it was not okay to fight. Now she had to learn how to fight. She’d never hit another person in her life. No one had ever been physical with her before she’d been attacked in the parking lot.
Her sister Elizabeth was ten years older than Ellen. They hadn’t grown up fighting over toys or getting physical with each other. Elizabeth was always taking care of other children and animals. So, it was no surprise she’d gone into nursing. Theirs had been a loving, peaceful home, full of helpers and healers. Something Ellen wished all children could be blessed with as they grew up.
She watched, listened, and noted the way Chyna followed Barrett with her eyes.
Oh, that girl has it bad. And it’s going to get in the way of her learning what she needs to learn. If she’s not paying attention that could be bad if she’s my fighting partner. I wish I could tell her to pay attention.
Ellen had always been a serious student and loved taking classes. This one, though intimidating, could one day save her life.
Red was talking now, saying, “None of these girls look like they could kick my ass or like they’d even want to.”
“Women,” Barrett corrected her.
Good. He’ll stay in control of the class. Red is apparently going to be one of those kinds of students. The kind that make you carry extra aspirin to fight off the headache dealing with a difficult student can bring.
“You’d be surprised the damage even a small woman fighter can do, especially if she has the training,” he said.
As he went on, she turned her full attention to what he was saying, ignoring how handsome he was and how Chyna was reacting to him.
Red’s mouthiness continued. She wasn’t the type to stop. But it pulled no reaction from him. Barrett was fully in control of his class and let Red and the others know it.
Ellen couldn’t help but admire that.
She made herself focus on his words, trying to ignore the other women and to turn her internal thoughts off as well. It was essential to remember everything in case she was ever in a bad situation again. It was no small thing to live with a stalker out there whose intent was to do her harm. She had to be ready for anything.
He’d just told them the first half hour would be for conditioning. Push-ups, sit ups, squats, planks, some yoga, and tai chi.
Well, she wouldn’t need to join a gym. Used to being active at her school, she’d never wanted to spend the money to join one. Now she’d get training from this uber fit military guy. The exercise would be good for her, so she wouldn’t complain about that.
Though Red would. And she was.
I hope he gives her extra push-ups if she keeps that up. He’s having to spend too much time dealing with her. We could be doing sit ups already.
