Chapter Three

Whiskey placed Onessa down on the recliner in the guest room. Her pulse pounding in her throat along with her rapid breathing had worried him as he carried her up the stairs. He didn't want to place her on the bed and loom over her.

Crewe had arranged with Stella to come upstairs and give both of them check-ups. He had no doubt that all the women would end up upstairs because Crewe wouldn't be able to stand up against the combined questions of the Bluff Creek Beauties. And honestly, it might not be a bad thing. Beth could vouch for how he and his siblings and cousins treated women and reassure Onessa she was safe here.

"So this is your room. Private bathroom is that door. There's the microwave, a mini fridge, small coffeemaker, toaster, and sink so you don't have to get stuff from the main kitchen unless you want to. There's popcorn, hot chocolate, tea bags, and coffee in the room, along with some granola bars. Juice and bottled water are in the fridge. King-size bed and then the couch folds out to a bed or we have a rollaway in the closet that fits right alongside the bed. Door locks and there's a deadbolt on top. You're safe here. Only my family uses the hidden staircase in the office we came up. Both it and the main staircase can only be accessed with a code. Stella is going to come up and check you over. Are you hungry? We can get Crewe started on something for afterwards."

Whiskey worked to not clench his hands. Both Onessa and her son's demeanor screamed victim. He wanted to pummel whoever had made them feel this way, which was ironic considering they were this way because of violence. He didn't know who she was running from yet, but he wanted her examined before he started asking questions.

"The burger and fries sound good. It's been a while since I've had one. Ambrose, what do you want Whiskey's cousin to make you?" Onessa reached for her son's hand, pulling him down into the recliner with her. He dropped his head on her shoulder.

"The hamburger sounds yummy. What else does he do?"

Whiskey grinned, "So many yummy things. How about I ask him to do some hamburgers and French fries. I'll ask him to do a couple other of his favorites because I'm a little hungry and Hennessy can always eat. You can try some different things and what you don't want someone else will eat."

Ambrose nodded, wrapping his arms around Onessa's belly.

"Knock, knock," Stella's words accompanied her walking through the door. "I heard someone might need checked out because their car fought a deer and lost."

Ambrose smiled a little at her words. Stella carried a small bag, which she put on the couch. She opened it up and looked at Onessa.

"So, my name is Stella and I've been a traveling nurse practitioner for years. I now have a clinic in Bluff Creek. It's about an hour and a half away unless one of my daughters is driving. Then sometimes it's only an hour." Stella turned to Ambrose and crouched down. "Now, I'd like to check a couple things, then I'll need to check your mom. I want to look in your eyes, listen to your heart, a couple other things and ask you a couple questions."

Ambrose nodded. Stella looked in both his eyes with lights then held her hand at his pulse.

"So, did you stay awake the whole time during the crash?"

Ambrose nodded while Stella listened to his heart. "Okay, two last things. Does anything hurt?"

He shook his head no.

"Okay, can I see if you have bruising from where the seatbelt pulled tight?"

"Go on," Onessa urged.

Ambrose stood up and pulled his shirt up. Whiskey didn't see any bruising. He assumed that was what Stella was looking for.

"Okay, young man, I deem you good after your tussle with the deer. I'm going to need to examine your mom. How about you and Whiskey go out? Onessa, if you're good with it. I'll have Tasha, my daughter, who is also a nurse, join us."

Onessa nodded and patted Ambrose's shoulder. "I'll be fine. Why don't you have Whiskey show you where the stuff is in the big kitchen just in case we need something after everyone is asleep?"

Ambrose reluctantly walked out with him. Tasha passed by and went into the room. Why did he feel like he should still be in there? He didn't know if she was running from a husband or a boyfriend?

Beth, Rose, Ellie, and Hennessy were sitting on the couches in the common room.

"Yeah, we're glad you're out here. Crewe sent up some cookies until your food was done, but he said we couldn't have one until you did." Beth motioned Ambrose over, holding up the plate of cookies. "Please eat one because Crewe thinks he makes better chocolate chip cookies than I do. I need to taste his so I can prove him wrong."

Whiskey appreciated Beth manufacturing a reason to need Ambrose's help. Ambrose tugged Whiskey's hand. "Is it okay?"

"You can eat anything you want here. I know cookies are usually dessert, but I think your mom will be okay this time."

Ambrose selected a cookie and took a bite, chewing slowly. He was so polite while he ate. Nothing like Whiskey and his siblings would have been at that age. They had been almost like feral dogs falling on food.

"It's very tasty, but I've never had yours, so I don't know whose is better. I'm sure they are both good."

For an eight-year-old, Ambrose's words were a little too precise, as if he was choosing his words to not offend anyone.

"Yo, buddy, have a seat."

Once again, Ambrose looked to him to see if it was okay. Whiskey couldn't believe this skittish kid already trusted him, but he was going to accept it and make sure no one hurt Ambrose on his watch.

"Ambrose, I trust everyone who is in this room. They're all like family. We'll sit down in just a moment. I promised to show Ambrose the kitchen, so he'll be able to find things if they need something during the night."

Beth jumped up. "Oh, I get to show him the dumbwaiter."

Hennessy jumped up too. "Nope. Why do you get to show him the coolest thing about our living space? You don't live here."

Beth rolled her eyes, which had Ambrose's lip quirking up. "Okay, I guess I'll just go along for the explanation," Beth sighed and slumped her shoulders, sticking her tongue out at Hennessy's back until Ambrose smiled.

"Whiskey, could you join us for a minute?" Stella's voice called out.

Whiskey turned to Ambrose. "You good with my brother and friends?"

Ambrose nodded and took the hand Beth offered.

Whiskey walked quickly toward the room. He still wasn't sure why he cared so much about a woman he'd just met. Especially when she was someone else's.

Stella waited for Whiskey to pass, then came in.

"Onessa approved me sharing a couple things with you. She didn't want to go over it again. First off, she's doing fine after the wreck. I have a list of things that you will need to watch out for, but I feel comfortable letting her stay here."

Whiskey breathed a sigh of relief. Knowing he hadn't done anything to hurt her by letting her come to their home was a weight off his mind.

"She also shared she's running from the family of her deceased husband. Brother-in-law and father-in-law were determined she would marry one of them. I explained to her none of us were going to let that happen. Onessa would like to stay here with you. I offered to take her back with us to the compound, but she feels safe with you if you'll have her."

Whiskey nodded. He was a little ticked off Stella hadn't asked him about Onessa going to Bluff Creek, but he understood why she had.

"Of course, we'll keep you and Ambrose safe here. It might be a good idea for us to call you something besides Onessa. We don't plan on talking about you being here, but just in case someone accidentally said something where someone could hear, a different name would be good. What's your full name?"

Whiskey waited while Onessa decided if she was trusting him with her name.

"Onessa Vivian Charles," she whispered.

"What about Vivi? A shortened form of your middle name would be easy. To be safe, we should call Ambrose something else. His name is very distinctive."

"I like the name Vivi. Ambrose hates his name because he was named after my late husband. I'm fine with whatever he wants to call himself if it will keep us safer," she answered. He was pleased to hear her getting a little louder as she talked. He was guessing her scumbag dead husband had not wanted her opinion ever.

"Okay, well, if you're good, you can come out and join us for food or rest in here and I'll bring you food in."