Psycho Love / Troy Otto

The Secret Place

"Troy, I can't just leave. I have things to do." I protest as he pulls me gently by the hand, leading me towards the woods.

"It'll only take a few minutes, I promise." He reassures me, his eyes pleading with me to come with him.

Reluctantly, I follow him deeper into the woods until we reach a clearing. The field was filled with wildflowers, the sun shining down on us, creating a warm, peaceful atmosphere. Just across the clearing stood a large boulder with water trickling down the middle, leading to a thin stream.

"This was our spot as kids. Remember?" Troy asks, a soft smile on his face as he looks around the field.

I feel a rush of memories flooding back to me. The endless summers we spent playing here, the laughter and joy that filled the air. It was the only place that was truly ours. Not even Jake knew about it.

Troy's eyes held a mix of nostalgia and vulnerability. "This was the place I would run to when my dad was drunk after you left," he confesses, his voice tinged with raw emotion. "It was the one place he wouldn't find me. But more than that, it was the place where I felt closest to you."

His words hit me like a tidal wave, stirring up memories and my guilt for leaving. I reach out and gently touch his arm, a silent gesture of understanding. "I wish I could have been here. I could have...."

Troy chuckled softly and shook his head. "No....you couldn't have. Though, it would have made it a lot easier to handle with you here." He admitted as he placed his large hand over mine.

His eyes bore into mine. I could feel my heart quicken once again. How does he have this effect on me? It's been seven years. We were just kids. Yet, as he leaned closer to me and placed his forehead on mine, I could feel all my defenses begin to melt away.

Suddenly, he gave out a long sigh. "They will be looking for us soon. We need to get back and finish up." The warmth that radiated off him was now gone as he backed away.

I composed myself quickly, taking in a deep breath. "Y-Yeah. You're right." I give him a small smile. "I've been looking forward to tending to the horses all morning." A nervous laugh left my lips before I turned around and began walking back to the Ranch.

Troy followed behind me, his silence speaking volumes. I could sense the unspoken words lingering in the air between us, but neither of us dared to address them. I continued to the stables while Troy went back to tend to the fence. As I reached the stables, I immediately set to work on tending to the horses, brushing them down and feeding them.

As I worked, my mind couldn't help but wander back to Troy and our moment in the woods. I couldn't shake the feeling of vulnerability he showed me, the raw emotions he laid bare. I couldn't help but worry for him, knowing the struggles he faced and the internal turmoil he must be going through.

Just as these thoughts consumed me, Jake approached me at the stables. His presence snapped me out of my thoughts, and I turned to face him, a mix of curiosity and apprehension in my eyes.

"Hey, Rae. Can we talk for a minute?" Jake's voice was calm, but there was a seriousness in his tone that made me uneasy. As Jake started to speak, I could sense the seriousness in his tone. He wanted to make sure I was aware of the danger Troy posed. But before he could delve further into his concerns, I interrupted him.

"Jake, I know you're worried about Troy. And I appreciate your concern, I really do. But constantly reminding him of his faults and feeding into the negative won't help him. How can you expect someone to do positive things if all they hear is negativity?" I spoke passionately, my voice unwavering.

Jake studied me for a moment before continuing. "Rae, I know you care about Troy. But you need to be careful. He's...going through a lot right now. He's walking a dangerous line, and I don't want to see you get hurt in the process."

His words hit me hard. I knew Jake was right, I could see the struggles Troy was facing and the darkness that threatened to consume him. But a part of me couldn't help but hold onto hope, hope that maybe, just maybe, I could help bring him back from the edge.

I took a deep breath, my eyes meeting Jake's. "I know Troy has his demons, Jake. I've seen them too. But he's still your brother, and he needs your support more than ever. Instead of pushing him away, try to understand him. Try to help him see the light in the darkness."

"I try every day to understand him. You're the only one who seems to be able to." Jake let out a big sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "I just don't want more people to get hurt."

My eyes soften, and I approach him, placing my hand on his shoulder. "This is about Charlene, isn't it?" The way his eyes teared up confirmed it. "Oh, Jake. I miss her too!" I pull him into a hug and feel his body begin to relax as he silently releases his emotions.

Jake has a tough position. Always having to keep the peace between everyone and Troy, plus help his dad run the Ranch. It's a lot on one person. Not to mention having to grieve someone he had known since they were babies. Charlene was his best friend. We all used to joke how they would get married if they were older and single. Now, she was gone. 

Jake pulled back and wiped his face with his sleeve to be rid of the evidence of weakness. I gently rub his arm. "Jake, it's okay to stop for a moment and mourn who was lost. Charlene was your best friend. The only person who knew you inside and out. It's not fair what happened to her. It's not fair what happened to anyone in this new life."

These words only made him break again. "I could've......I could've done something! I could've saved her!"

I quickly shake my head and place my hands on his shoulders. "Look at me." With reluctance, he looked up and met my eyes. "Don't do that to yourself. What happened to Charlene wasn't your fault. Whoever shot down that helicopter is the one at fault. They killed Charlene. You did your best. Charlene would slap the shit out of you if she heard you say that. She loved you, Jake. She loved this Ranch. We are going to find out who killed her, and we are going to protect this ranch with everything we got. Okay?"

Jake nodded and composed himself once more. "Thanks, Rae. I needed to let that out."

I give him a nod. "I know. I have to sometimes, too. You can't keep that stuff in. It could cost lives in these circumstances." 

Jake sighed softly. "I know. I'm just trying to make sure this place doesn't fall apart."

"And you're doing a great job, Jake, but you gotta stop trying to be your dad. Jeremiah is a force to be reckoned with, has too big of shoes to be filled. When the time comes, you gotta run this place like Jake would. Not Jeremiah."

A smile formed on Jake's lips. "Yeah. You're right. Dad won't always be here. I need to figure out how I'd handle situations." He got a strange look in his eye, like a deep determination. "I'll catch you later. I got something I needed to do."

I raised a brow at him. "Okay? See ya, Jake." I watched him leave for a moment, then went back to my duties with the horses.