Chapter 19

CHAPTERNINETEEN

Tal had kept a close eye on Heather for the last week. He was still worried that he’d moved too fast. That being intimate would somehow hurt the progress she’d made. But he needn’t have worried. Similar to sharing her story with the country, their intimacy had made her even more confident and outgoing. He’d never been so relieved.

Her days were spent doing her own thing. She still spent time with Whitney in the mornings, learning all the things she’d missed from not being in school after she’d been kidnapped, and the afternoons were divided between all of her new friends. And her small circle had quickly expanded. Everyone she came into contact with was eager to befriend the woman who’d been so mistreated and cheated out of twenty years of her life.

Her evenings and nights were spent with Talon. He opened up and told her things about his job in the military that he’d never told anyone before. She never judged him for the decisions he’d made or the lives he’d taken. She also talked more about her time in the cult. While Tal hated learning of the hell she’d been through, he listened willingly.

She’d even gone on a search with the team. A couple had gone for a hike and hadn’t returned. Luckily, they’d left word about where they were going and when they should be back. When they still hadn’t shown up hours later, their friends called the police. It had been a quick search, as Duke had picked up the scent of the couple right away.

Raiden and Duke, Tal and Heather, and Drew and Caryn had been the first wave of the search, while the others stayed back to relieve them if needed. It was obvious Heather was in her element in the forest. She’d been right on Raiden’s ass as he followed the bloodhound, giving suggestions as to where the couple might be…and it turned out her instincts had been dead on.

Seeing Heather blossom was both inspiring and humbling at the same time. Tal went through phases where he was so angry about what happened to her, he thought he might burst. There was no telling the good she might’ve done in the world if she hadn’t been robbed of twenty years. But she was making up for that lost time now, and Tal couldn’t have been prouder.

Tony’s teacher had asked if Heather might be willing to come to the school and give a talk to the class about personal safety and being aware of their surroundings at all times. Talon hadn’t been sure it was a good idea, but Heather had agreed without hesitation.

He’d taken her to the school and watched as she gave her talk…and he was impressed all over again by her resilience. She didn’t tense up when the kids asked questions that were borderline offensive. She didn’t scare them with stories of strangers lurking in the dark to steal them away. She was frank but positive, firm in telling the kids to trust their instincts. To be cautious. And to never give up if they ever found themselves in a scary situation.

“I’m so proud of you,” he told her later than night. They’d eaten dinner and were snuggling on the couch, relaxing before heading to bed.

“I’m proud of myself,” she said a little shyly. “I was told that I was a piece of trash so many times, that I wasn’t as important or as good as men, that I’d begun to believe it. But that year in the woods made me see I was capable of a lot. I wasn’t stupid. I didn’t need a man to survive. And now? Being free? Being here with you and your friends—”

“Our friends,” he interrupted firmly.

“Right, sorry, our friends,” she corrected. “And from talking to Lilac and reading about other women’s experiences after being taken captive…I’ve realized I have a lot to contribute to the world. I might not ever be a rocket scientist, or understand Algebra, but what I said today to those kids…I think it sank in. I could tell. If my story can help even one child overcome some bad thing that happens to them, everything I went through was worth it.”

“You know, Lilac makes a living giving motivational speeches around the country. Elizabeth Smart does too. You could always do something like that.”

Heather’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Yes. And a bonus would be that you’d get to travel…see more of the world than this corner of Virginia.”

She frowned then. “But I like Fallport.”

“I do too. I’m not saying that you’d move away, but you’d get to travel to places you might not otherwise see.”

“Will you come with me?”

Talon’s heart skipped a beat. “If you want me to.”

“I want you to. But I don’t know how to get into something like that.”

“We can talk to Lilac. And Elizabeth. Get their advice. I’m sure they’d be willing to help you out.”

“Talon?”

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

“I feel so lucky.”

Talon could only stare at her in awe. She never failed to surprise him. He shook his head. “You went through hell for two decades. You were lucky to survive, yes, but you were not lucky to have gone through that.”

“But it led me to you,” she said quietly. “There’s no telling where I would be right now if I hadn’t experienced what I did. I might have moved away. Might have met someone else and gotten married. Or you might’ve hated the person I became if you met me when you came to town.

“I know there’s a lot of stuff in the world I don’t understand, but I have you to teach me. To protect me. To help me figure it all out. If it wasn’t for you…I know I wouldn’t be doing as well as I am now. You make it easy for me to take chances. When I’m scared of something, I know you’re right there, ready to catch me if I fail. I just…I feel like the luckiest woman in the world because I have you at my side.”

Tal’s throat felt tight. He swallowed hard. This woman slayed him. He was all hers.

And she was his.

Women weren’t supposed to want to be taken care of, and men weren’t supposed to want someone they had to take care of, someone to claim. These days it was more acceptable to be independent. How Talon had found the perfect woman for him, he had no idea. All he knew was that he’d do whatever it took to keep her.

“I’m the lucky one,” he finally got out.

“Fine, we’re both lucky,” she conceded with a smile. “And now that we’ve settled that…I was talking to Caryn today, and she was telling me about a sex position called the G-Whiz, where I put my feet over your shoulders while you kneel in front of me and—”

Tal didn’t give her a chance to continue explaining. He stood and grabbed her hand and stalked toward their room. The giggle that left her mouth made him smile even as his cock throbbed. Now that she’d experienced what making love should feel like, rather than the abuse she’d suffered through, she was eager to explore. Tal was both embarrassed and grateful her friends were doing all they could to educate her.

They’d both gone to see Doc Snow in the last week, and he’d run several tests before declaring her healthy and inserting an IUD. They’d had another talk about children, and Tal couldn’t wait to have a family with her, but he also wanted her to live a little first. She’d been robbed of her childhood, and most of her early adulthood to boot. He didn’t want to rush her into having children before she was ready.

While teaching her how to use condoms had been fun, Tal was relieved he could take her bare once more. He’d never felt anything as pleasurable as being deep inside her without anything between them.

As soon as they were by the bed, Heather smiled at him and reached for the hem of her shirt.

This woman meant everything to him, and Tal would never stop being grateful she was in his life.

* * *

Heather smiled as she left the Chestnut Street Manor. Today was science day with Whitney, which she much preferred over math. Everything she learned was so fascinating.

Instead of calling Talon to pick her up, she’d told him that she’d walk to the square and meet him at Sunny Side Up for lunch. It was a nice day, not too cold, and Heather figured she could use the exercise. She’d gained quite a bit of weight since she’d left the forest, and while Talon seemed to love her curves, she didn’t think it would be good to get too overweight.

She just couldn’t seem to resist the cinnamon rolls Finley made. Or any of the other foods she’d been exposed to. Eating smoked meat and fish and leaves as salad for so many years had dulled her taste buds. The new world of spices and flavorful food was one of the greatest joys of Heather’s new life.

She was smiling as she walked, thinking about all the things she wanted to tell Khloe about Boots and how she was doing. This morning, just when things between her and Talon were getting interesting, the kitten jumped on the bed and dug her little claws into Talon’s ankle, letting him know in no uncertain terms that she was ready for her breakfast. He hadn’t gotten mad though, had simply winced, leaned down, and plucked the kitten off his leg and plunked her into Heather’s arms. He’d kissed her and told her to take her time getting up; that he’d get breakfast ready.

He spoiled her, and never seemed to show any sign of getting tired of doing so. She loved him so much.

Lost in memories of how wonderful her life was, and how grateful she was to be alive and with as many friends as she had, Heather jerked in surprise when a car pulled up next to her on the side of the road.

She smiled as she turned, expecting to see someone she knew. Most of the time when she was out trying to get some exercise, one of the guys on the search and rescue team, or their women, would pull up and offer her a ride.

Her smile died when she saw the person behind the wheel of the car.

None other than Cypress Goodson.

She turned to run—and stopped when he said, “Don’t you want to meet the newest Sunset Meadowblossom?”

Chills ran down her spine, and Heather slowly turned around. Many of the women in The Community had the same name. It made things confusing at times, but the men didn’t seem to care or notice. She’d talked to Talon about it, and he’d said that it was just another way to dehumanize the women. She totally agreed.

She wanted to run away, get to Talon. He’d protect her, she knew it without a doubt. She wanted to tell Simon where Cypress was so he could be arrested. But his words made her freeze in her tracks. She shivered at his evil grin as she faced the nightmare of her past.

“Go on…look in the window. See? She’s so pretty…red hair just like you…but unlike you, she’s going to be taught to obey the way a woman should.”

Heather’s heart nearly broke when she approached just enough to look in the window of the front passenger side of the car. A little girl was sitting on the floor, hunched over, her hands tied together as she stared unseeingly into space. Her hair was mussed and she had visible tear tracks on her little cheeks. She also was wearing the horrible brown dress that The Community made all the women and girls wear. Just the sight of it made horrible memories rise to the front of Heather’s mind.

Cypress chuckled. “She’s such a good girl. Hasn’t made a sound in the last few days. She’s a fast learner…much faster than you ever were.” His voice lowered as he said, “Get in the car, Sunset.”

Even hearing her old name made bile rise in her throat. “No,” she said as firmly as she could.

Cypress leaned toward the passenger window. “Get in. Now. Or little Sunset will be punished in your stead. You remember the punishment tent, don’t you? I’ll tie her down, blindfolded, gagged, and her ears covered, and beat her until her back is nothing but a bleeding mess. Then I’ll leave her there for a week, only coming in once a day to give her water and explain she’s where she is because of you.”

More memories threatened to overwhelm Heather. Her time in the punishment tent had been unbearable. Beyond frightening.

But instead of feeling fear toward Cypress, anger rose hot and fast inside her.

Looking at the little girl on the floor of the car once more, she made the only decision she could. She had no idea if it was the right one or not, and Talon would probably be furious with her, but there was no way she was leaving the little girl in Cypress’s hands. She didn’t know where he planned to take them, but she’d protect the child with her life if need be.

A conversation she’d had with Talon flashed through her brain as she reached for the door handle. She’d said nothing would make her go with Cypress if she saw him again. She hadn’t been lying at the time…but she’d had no idea the lengths he’d go to in order to force her obedience.

Little did Cypress know, she was a completely different person than he’d once known. She wasn’t Sunset Meadowblossom anymore. She was Heather Brown. She had a life, friends, and a vision for her future. And she had Talon.

There was no doubt in Heather’s mind that when she didn’t show up when and where he expected her, Tal would immediately be on the lookout. Finding people was what he did. Several cars had driven by while she’d been talking to Cypress. One of them would report what they’d seen and who she was with. It was simply a matter of time before Talon tracked her down.

Heather had survived years of abuse by this evil man, she could survive another hour. Two. Three. She’d take whatever he wanted to dish out…as long as it meant the precious little girl who was obviously scared out of her mind was spared.

She sat on the front seat, careful not to step on or jostle the girl, and closed the door.

Cypress didn’t say a word, simply smirked and put the car into gear and pulled back onto the road. He headed west out of town…toward where The Community used to live.

Heather knew she should be scared. Should be freaking out about where Cypress was taking her and what he was going to do. But instead, she felt…focused.

Talon’s love, support, and protection had fundamentally changed her. She’d heard enough of his stories about his time as a soldier and had understood that many times, he was successful in what he’d set out to do because he’d been patient. Waited for the right time to act. That was what she’d do now as well. Cypress was arrogant, and he already thought he’d won.

Well, he’d find out that Heather Brown was stronger than Sunset Meadowblossom had ever been. He wasn’t going to get away with another kidnapping. The little girl needed her, and when Cypress made his move…Heather would be ready.