Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

CASH

After getting Brooks and Anna safely inside the house, I have no problem shooting that asshole Jarod right in the head. My ranch hands help carry the two bodies over to the pig pen, where we summarily dump them. The pigs won’t need to be fed for the rest of the week. Two large men are enough that they won’t need more, and I really need these bodies to be completely gone before anyone comes looking.

After clearing away all the evidence of what’s just occurred, I head to the house to make sure Brooks and Anna are okay. Entering the living room, I see her sitting on the couch. She’s got her arms wrapped around my son, crying and holding him.

“Thank you so much, Brooks,” I hear her murmur to him. “You don’t know how much that meant to me out there.”

“Are you going to leave us like our mom did?”

“Never. I’m here forever. I promise.”

Brooks wraps his little arms around her, hugging her back tightly. I allow them to have their moment before going in.

“Brooks, buddy, are you alright?”

“I’m okay, Dad. They tried to take Anna from us, and I couldn’t let them. They said they were going to hurt her.”

“I’m so proud of you, Brooks. Thank you for protecting my wife when I wasn’t here to do it. I love you, Son.”

Anna and I spend the entire afternoon with Brooks and Bailey as a family. We watch movies, eat junk food, and fall asleep together on the couch. The kids are happy; Anna and I are relieved. It may seem strange, but we’ve bonded as a family over the trauma of having her almost taken away from us.

Once the kids are settled, I take my wife to bed. I can’t help but reflect upon the last few days. How well Anna has fitted in with our family; how she’s stepped up to be the best mother my children could wish for. She’s gained the respect and love of both of my children, and I can’t wait to hold her tight, to make love to her, and to get her pregnant with another child. We are a family and she’s going to stay right where she belongs.

Anna is mine forever.

A few weeks later, Anna complains of feeling tired and nauseous. It’s obvious she’s pregnant; I mean, I have been consciously trying to knock her up since our first night together.

Once we get the local doctor to examine Anna and confirm the pregnancy, we keep the secret between the two of us until she’s out of the danger zone. Then, we tell Bailey, Brooks, and Mama. They are all overjoyed, but Anna is the happiest. She now has the family she’s always wanted, and she’s finally living free from the abuse and control she was raised in.

As for me, I hope this is the first of our many children together.

In my dreams, I see our beautiful North Carolina ranch filled with laughter and joy.

THE END