The Irrevocable Series Boxed Set

by Samantha Jacobey

  Not seeing anything but black, she pressed her face against the slats, allowing her eyes to slowly adjust to the lack of light. A few minutes later, she realized she was seeing a pair of eyes, staring back at her. Drawing a deep breath, she focused on remaining calm, aware that some type of animal had become trapped beneath the structure.

  Watching the yellow spheres blink a few times as they bore into her, a wave of panic twisted her gut, “Oh my God, are you a coyote?” The realization that the front gate had been down for days, and there was no telling what had wandered in caused her voice to tremble. However, as soon as her words were out, she could see a large bushy tail begin to wag. Holy shit, it’s a dog!

  Leaning back, she sank her fingers through the diamond shaped holes, grasping the underpinning as an anchor while she surveyed the length of the porch from where she knelt. “I don’t see any holes, baby. How’d you get in there?”

  Rising, a little stiff from the cold and the awkward position, she kicked the snow away from the edge of the porch all the way down until she reached the corner, thankful her new footwear made the task easier; and more comfortable. Turning, she continued the six feet or so, until she reached the place where the house met the mesh; there she located a fairly decent sized hole. Only hesitating for a moment, she poked her head inside and called to the creature that had curled up below the front door.

  Lifting its head to look at her, the animal didn’t move. However, as soon as it did, a few loud squeals echoed under the cramped space, and the girl recognized the noise, “You’ve got puppies!” she called loudly, a surge of excitement washing over her. Pulling her head back out into the swirling flakes, she knew she needed to move quickly.

  Looking around wildly, she had no idea where the boys would be. Shading her eyes against the biting wind that appeared to be gaining strength, she glared down the road that led to the other side of the compound where the stables and barn lay; of course!

  Taking off in a run, Bailey made it to the far end in a matter of minutes. Panting heavily when she pushed through the double doors at the end closest to the rabbit cages, she halted in her tracks. Before her, the two young men were doing their best to clean up the area where she had disposed of her assailant two days prior.

  “Caleb!” she practically screamed, causing him to stand straight up, an expression of panic flittering across his rugged features.

  Giving her a quick inspection, he didn’t see any obvious injuries, and demanded bluntly, “What’s up? Is someone here?”

  “Not that I know of,” she grinned with anxious excitement, “I found something you have to see. But we have to hurry. It started snowing again, and I have no idea how long she’s got before she freezes to death.”

  “She who?” Carson butted into the conversation, dropping his shovel and preparing to follow the girl who had exited the swinging door in a flash. Marching down the road at a quick pace, he pumped his arms vigorously, “Who’d you find, Bailey?” His voice had picked up an agitated tone when she failed to answer the first time.

  “Not who,” the girl corrected, reaching to clasp Caleb’s hand and give it a squeeze, “I found a dog!”

  “A dog?!?” the latter used the connection to yank her to a stop. “What kind of dog? And where?”

  “I don’t know what kind,” she smiled, “I can’t see that well. It’s hiding under the Knight porch, and it has puppies!”

  “Bailey, there’s no dogs here!” his voice became panicked.

  “Yeah there is,” the younger male adjusted his cap against the rising wind, “It showed up outside th’ gate a few weeks ago, an’ Don Finch let it in. Said it was bad luck t’ harm one o’ God’s creatures without just cause.”

  “Really,” Caleb considered his words for a moment, “Was it pregnant?”

  “Don’ really know,” his brother supplied with a shrug, “I only saw her once, an’ she didn’ look like it then. But that was a few weeks ago, like I said, when she got here. After a couple o’ days, an’ the new wore off, I think everyone kinda forgot about ‘er.”

  Studying Bailey’s deep green eyes for a long moment, Caleb rocked his jaw side to side, considering their options before he inquired, “Whatcha think?”

  “I think we can’t leave it there,” her brow furrowed that he would consider doing so, “Especially not with young. We need to get her some place warm, and get a meal in her belly.”

  “Alright,” he agreed reluctantly, moving up the narrow path once again. “Go inside the house an’ get us a blanket an’ a few towels. I don’ suppose you know how many pups there are.”

  “No,” she shook her head, shoving her hands in her pockets, “It’s too dark, and they’re all curled in a ball.”

  By the time they had covered the short distance, the wind had begun to howl, and flakes were swirling around them like mad. Leading him to the end with the hole, she pointed, “In there.”

  “Go get the stuff,” he wafted his hand towards the door, while beginning to kick the slats next to the hole to break them.

  “What’re ya doin’ that for?” Carson demanded, dismayed by the damage they would have to repair.

  “We don’t have time to crawl in there an’ be all civilized. Besides, if she’s been under there this whole time, we need t’ get her out quick.” Having completed removing about three feet of the wooden covering, he knelt down as Bailey returned. “Hello, mama,” he called to the eyes that glared at him, noting that she began swooshing her tail slowly when he did so.

  “Push the blanket in to me, an’ hold the towels,” he commanded, sliding closer, “Does she have a name?”

  “I think ‘er name’s Patches,” Carson nodded as he spoke.

  “Hey, Patches,” Caleb shook his head as soon as he said it; if she’s only been here a few weeks, she ain’t gonna know that’s her name; but, it’s all I got. Keeping his voice low, he continued to speak while stroking her thick fur. After a few minutes, he exhaled loudly, relieved that she didn’t attack him when he touched her. Petting her, he worked to build her trust before he reached beneath her to remove her pups, one by one, three in all. “Toss me a towel!”

  Catching the smaller portion of material, he spread it out slightly over the blanket, grasping each of the warm little bodies and grouping them in the center. Folding the edges over, and sliding back towards the expanded entrance, he passed the parcel to the girl’s waiting hands. “Wrap them in the other towel as well, an’ take them t’ the house, little bit. Make a bed in the kitchen, close t’ the oven so she can warm up. She’s in bad shape.”

  Taking the bundle, Bailey moved quickly to obey, while Carson awaited his orders. Sliding back to the mother, Caleb worked the blanket beneath her, noticing how weak she appeared, and that she did not even bother to resist. Once he had her encased in the thick comforter, with only her nose and face exposed, he began dragging her to safety.

  “Go get the bottles an’ stuff out o’ the barn, Cars,” he commanded.

  “The ones for feedin’?”

  “Yeah, get them an’ the nipples; the smallest we got,” he made it out, hoisting the dog and pressing her against his chest, “She may not make it, but I think we should at least try to save her pups.”

  “Ok,” the younger boy took off, disappearing into the wind driven sheets of ice.

  “Son of a bitch!” the older Cross cursed aloud to himself, lowering his face and turning down the road. The frigid air whirled around him, stinging his exposed flesh while he clutched the animal and fought his way to his home, where Bailey anxiously awaited.

  Inside, the girl had kicked the oven on full blast, while laying the door open to allow the heat to flood the room. On the floor in front of it, she piled a quilt and clean towels for the pups, where she sat examining their tiny bodies; they’re so cute. There little eyes are scrunched shut, and they sound so adorable!

  “Is she ok?” she looked up at Caleb’s entrance, wad of blanket and fur in hand.

  “Too soon to call,” he s
upplied, lowering the mother next to the bedding. Opening the covers, he used a fresh section of terry-cloth to rub over the damp and chilled fur. “She needs warmth, water, an’ food,” he stated calmly, glancing at his brother when he entered the back door, carrying a crate of nursery equipment.

  “I got it!” the youngster exclaimed, dropping the wooden box on the table and emptying his haul. “There’s no milk, though.”

  “It’s ok, we’ll use the powdered,” Caleb explained, shifting his gaze around the kitchen while scowling at its empty cupboards. “She can’t eat this stuff, though,” he surveyed the dry goods and cans that remained from their Midland stores. “We need to get some meat out o’ Lawson; for her an’ us.”

  Rising to peer out the window, Bailey pulled the blanket aside and glared into the white-out, “Man, it’s really coming down.”

  “Yeah,” he agreed, shifting the animal over onto the dry blankets and closer to the heat, “Cars an’ I’ll go get it. You start workin’ on something warm for us to eat. We won’ be long.” With a wave of his hand, he and the boy passed through the portal and back into the storm.

  Bailey leaned against the counter for a moment, staring at the wooden covering he had closed behind him. He’s a good man, she considered him fondly, recalling all the times he had come to her rescue. I’m lucky to have him in my life.

  Returning to the task at hand, she filled a pie pan with water and placed it on the floor next to the mother, which began to lap at the liquid greedily. “Well, I think that’s a good sign,” she petted her head softly.

  Pulling out a large pot, she opened cans of vegetables and dumped them into water to boil for a stew. Then kneeling down next to her find, she returned to inspecting the puppies, noticing that they fit easily into her cupped hands, each with distinctive white, brown or black markings. She was still messing with them, thinking about what their future might hold, when the back door opened and the young men clomped inside, stomping their feet to remove the snow caked on their boots.

  “Here ya go,” Caleb almost sounded jovial, placing his box on the table, and holding up a jar, “All o’ these have meat in them, an’ we brought a ham.”

  “A ham!” the girl exclaimed, “From this summer?”

  “I think so,” he agreed, lifting the large round parcel that had been wrapped in thin cloth for storage. “We can eat for a few days on it, for sure.” Opening one of the jars, he shredded some of the rabbit meat into a dish for the dog. “She’s drinking, tha’s a good thing.”

  “Yes, I thought so, too,” Bailey agreed, preparing their meal while he dealt with the animal.

  On the floor next to him, Carson sounded disappointed, “All o’ them are boys,” he indicated the miniature bodies.

  “How do you know?” the girl asked innocently.

  “Are you serious?” he held the black and white one suspended for a moment while he gaped at her.

  Feeling as if he were belittling her, she turned her back, busying herself with the dishes. Finally, she admitted, “Yes, I’ve never really been around animals before we came here. My mother didn’t like the mess they make, so we never had any.”

  Rising next to her, Carson brushed his long bangs out of his eyes and offered her the small beast, spreading its hind legs, “See the li’l bump?” he indicated with a stiff finger, “Tha’s boy parts. When he gets bigger, you’ll see ‘em better.”

  “Ah,” she smiled, flicking her green eyes over at him. “Thanks.”

  “Don’ mention it,” he nodded, returning the pup to its mother, where the other two were trying to latch onto a nipple. “How old do you think they are, Caleb? They look perdy new t’ me...” his voice trailed away as he poked them.

  “A few hours,” he replied, taking a chair with his food before him, “A day at most.” He watched the girl, admiring her long auburn waves as she perched on the seat beside him, “If you hadn’t found them, I don’ think they woulda made it.”

  “Well, it was purely by accident that I did. I wanted to take care of the Knight house, and heard the faintest of cries when I was going inside.”

  Carson joined them, sitting so he could watch the litter while the large female laid out and basked in the warm air. “What’re we gonna call ‘em?”

  “It’s too soon for names,” Caleb interjected. “Give ‘em a few days. If they make it, you can name them then.” He shook his head, studying the lot, “An’ don’t feel so bad, little bit. We normally don’ keep pets either.”

  “I’ve seen cats around here,” she corrected, wondering where they had been hiding since the snowstorm had taken over the area.

  “They’re not pets. They keep the mice population down in the feed barn. Every animal on The Ranch serves a purpose; none of them are just here for the hell of it. We haven’t had dogs here since the only two that were around when I was little died.” He grimaced, moved by the memory of his childhood companions. “I guess that sounds pretty crazy, huh?”

  “Not really, I guess,” she shrugged while considering their newest members. “She found her way here, so I guess she belongs.”

  Caleb grinned at the young woman next to him, “Yeah, looks like we’re takin’ in more an’ more strays every day.”

  Cutting her eyes over at him, she suppressed her own smile, fully aware he referred to her. “I didn’t ask to be brought here,” she retorted, “At least not last summer. But, I’m very glad and grateful to be here now.”

  “We’re glad you are too, Bailey-girl,” his fingers tickled the back of her hand for a moment, then returned to the meal. Deciding he couldn’t leave it at that, he teased, “Besides, if I hadn’t been in Midland with you, I’d be missing along with everyone else. That’s one good thing,” he pointed his flatware at her, “An’ you can cook, too. That makes you a keeper.”

  Bailey giggled loudly, “Well, at least I’m good for something,” she tossed at him, wondering if that would be enough once the other women had returned to their sanctuary.

  Devon frowned at the snow swirling outside their new window, “Can you believe dis shit?”

  Amanda moved around the tiny apartment, poking and searching the meager furnishings of their accommodations, “Have you figured out how we’re gettin’ outta here?”

  “We still workin’ on dat,” he dropped the curtain, moving to slide his arms around her waist, “But it’ll be soon, I promise ya.”

  Spinning in his grasp, she placed hers around his neck, pressing their lips together. “I love you, Dev,” she cooed, her heart fluttering at the admission.

  Stroking her long blond strands, his own joy overcame his concern for their situation, if only for a moment. Pressing his body more firmly against her, he growled. “Don’ get too comfterble here.”

  “I won’,” she grinned, dropping her arms and returning to her snooping. “Is there anything I can do t’ help?”

  “Jus’ be ready,” he nodded, pulling his coat on, “Gonna go meet up wit da others at th’ diner. I’ll bring you back a plate, an’ you can stay here an’ be warm wit th’ babe.” He smiled down at their infant, his finger tracing the line of her scalp while her name danced around in his mind; Hope. Dat’s what she is, alright.

  “Be back soon,” he called, exiting and closing the door quietly behind him. Squinting into the storm, he shuffled his way through the gusts, arriving at the cafe a short time later. Removing the gloves and heavy jacket, he hung them on the hooks next to the door. Selecting a booth, he sank down onto the leather cushion and ordered coffee while he waited for the others.

  A few minutes later, Don arrived and slid into the seat facing him. “We have a problem,” he began without preamble.

  “What’s it now,” Devon’s large black hands encircled his cup.

  “We’re gonna have t’ kill the guards in the jail if we wanna get all our people out, that’s one thing. But,” he hesitated, his eyes darting around the small space while dropping his voice even further, “I don’ think we can wait a week. There may be a
trial in a day or two, an’ I don’t like our chances o’ what they may get sentenced to.”

  “Yeah,” Devon agreed, sipping loudly, “Crazy buncha fucks here. Can you get ‘em out tonight? An’ don’ worry ‘bout their losses. Some o’ dem’s gonna die.”

  “Sure, whenever,” the other man grinned, “Got it all worked out, just give me the word.”

  “Le’s see how Luis is doin’ wit our young-uns. Den we kin decide.”

  Ordering their meals, with a third to go for Amanda, the pair continued to wait until Luis came in from the cold, shaking off the snow and calling loudly to the waitress, “Hey there, Bonny Lass.”

  “I asked you not to call me that,” the girl shook her ebony curls and grinned at her new friend. “Want your usual?”

  “Sure,” he took a seat at the counter to continue their banter, giving her a wink.

  When his food arrived, she placed it before him. Leaning over from the other side, she breathed softly, “How’s it you’re over here with me, while your friends are off over there?”

  “Come on, Bonny,” his face flushed slightly, “You think anyone knows about us?”

  “They will if you keep hangin’ around,” she touched his hand lightly, indicating the other two men with a toss of her wrist, “Go sit with your friends. I’ll see you tonight.”

  Taking his plate, he gave her another wink, and obeyed her command. Pulling a chair over and taking the end of the booth, he drawled, “Fine weather we got here.”

  “You bangin’ dat girl?” Devon accused in a hushed voice.

  “Sure am,” Luis agreed, “She may come in handy soon enough.”

  “Yeah, about that,” Don countered, “We need to get outta here sooner rather than later. You got your part lined out?”

  “Almost. I got all but two o’ the girls located, an’ gettin’ ‘em will be doable. But…” he paused, staring at Devon for a moment, “I can’t find the boys. Can’t go around asking too loudly, either, without drawin’ suspicion.”