The Price of Trust by Amanda Stephan

He's too nice to hurt." Carly sighed heavily. "Trust me. It's better for everyone this way."
    Kelly was unconvinced. "Why can't you stay? I don't understand."
    "I can't stay because I have a problem to deal with," Carly answered evasively.
    "A problem to deal with? Oh my. Oh wow ," Kelly breathed, her eyes wide, her face pale. "Carly, are you married?" She squeaked the last word out.
    Carly burst out laughing. "Married? No way, trust me. You should see your face. If you opened your eyes anymore, I think they'd fall right out!"
    "Are you sure you're not married?" She eyed her doubtfully.
    "Positive. You remember me telling you all at the Bairds' that I was engaged once?" Kelly nodded, not taking her eyes off Carly's face. "Well, when I broke off our engagement, my fiancé was less than pleased. In fact, he was furious."
    "So? Why would that make it to where you couldn't stay here?"
    "He told me that he would follow me wherever I went, that he wouldn't let anyone else have me, and that he'd kill me if I tried to marry anyone but him. That's pretty much it in a nutshell."
    "Are you serious?" Kelly stared. "He loved you a lot then, right?"
    "Love? Ian didn't love me. He felt that I was his property, and he can't stand for someone else to have what he wants. It isn't romantic. It's frightening. I've had to keep running, because he keeps finding me and trying to force me to come back to him. I've lost everything I had because of him. When I tried to leave the first time, he took the car he bought me away, and he locked me in my apartment for a while. He's crazy. Obsessed."
    They finished their meals, paid their bills, and left without another word. Kelly was quiet until they arrived at the hardware store.
    "Carly, I'm sorry you've had it so rough, and I wish you felt safe here. I want you to stay here, and I know Joe wants you to stay here."
    "I would love to stay here, but Ian will find me and will hurt anyone that he thinks I'm interested in. I can't let that happen to Joe. I'll just leave before he likes me too much," Carly said simply, shivering. The wind was cold and whipped through her light jacket.
    "I think you should tell Joe and see what he thinks. You should give him that option before you leave," Kelly said stubbornly, refusing to see it Carly's way.
    "Thanks for listening. You're the only person I've told, and it feels like a load has been lifted off my shoulders." Carly smiled sadly, giving her friend a hug.
    "I'll see you later, girl. If you need anything, let me know," Kelly said, walking away. Carly watched her go, thankful for her friendship.
     
    Todd called Kelly that evening.
    "Hey, babe! How are you?" He always acted like it was the best part of his day to call and talk to her.
    "I'm good. How was your day?"
    Todd told her about his day at the farm as she listened patiently.
    "How's Joe been today?" she asked, wanting to tell him about her experience with Carly.
    "Joe? Let me see. How can I describe Joe? Hmm. Grouchy? No, too nice. Grumpy? Sounds too much like the Seven Dwarfs. Just plain cantankerous. He's grumpy, grouchy, crabby, irritable, and he's just not happy with anyone or anything. In fact, I'd have to say he's miserable. He spends a lot of time out at the horse corral though, which is good for the rest of us. Makes me feel sorry for the horses. Why do you ask?"
    "I had lunch with Carly today."
    His curiosity was piqued immediately. "Oh really? Did she have anything interesting to say?"
    "Yes, she had some pretty interesting things to say, but I'm not going to tell you everything. Just the important things. It's not my business to tell you the rest; she'll have to do that. Joe doesn't need to be so miserable. She cares for him, but she's really scared, like I thought she was. And tell him that she's jealous when Angie sits next to him at church, that should make him feel better."
    "Good. Maybe it'll cheer him up finally. He's been awful to be around." They continued talking for a while, said their