Greg landed in Dallas a few hours later and rented a car and made his way to his bank. He realized that his family would never accept what he was about to do so he needed to make a living will and set it in motion first so that they could not contest him in anyway.
He talked to his attorney and had a will drawn up. In it he settled a half million dollars each on his parents, aunt and uncle and their son and daughter. They were free to use the money however they wished. However, once the money was finished, it was finished. There would be no more for them. He had letters made out to each person informing them of his decision. He made it clear that he would support them emotionally and he wanted to be a part of their lives if they would allow him to be, but he would no longer be their personal bank. Each person would be notified of the contents of the will and letters the same week.
After Greg left his lawyer, he stopped at an upscale bistro for lunch. There he ran into his old school buddy Devin and was invited out for drinks and a party at a new club which Devin was opening that night. He agreed to go, thinking he would make an appearance and then would leave. He had no desire to mix in with the party scene anymore.
The party was already in full swing once he arrived. Greg accepted a bottle of beer from one of the circulating trays and headed to the VIP lounge to meet Devin. There he ran into several others from high school and some he had known in college who had all become successful in their chosen fields.
“Well if it isn’t my man Greg.” A familiar voice said as a hand thumped his back. “Where have you been bro? It’s been a while since we hung out and lived it up.”
“Henry,” Greg said icily, “it has been a long time.”
Greg fought to keep his sudden temper in check. Just seeing the man brought Becca and her tale to mind. What I wouldn’t give to pummel the jerk right here. But I won’t do anything to even hint at Becca. For the rest of the night he tried to avoid Henry but the man kept popping up out of nowhere.
As the night wore on and Greg accepted one drink after another, he forgot about his resolve to not get involved in the party scene. When someone bought the cocaine out, he cheered with the others and took a hit or three right alongside them. The combination of drugs and alcohol weakened him and loosened up his tongue. Soon he was telling the guys about the Ugly Duckling in Bend, Oregon, who had become a swan and crowing about his luck in finding her and how he was falling for her as she had once fallen for him.
Greg had quite forgotten all about Henry but the man was listening to Greg’s story with a thundering rage inside of him. She thinks she can humiliate me with the golden boy? Over. My. Dead. Body. Greg had carelessly tossed his phone onto the table in front of him and didn’t notice anything when Henry picked it up. Henry scrolled through it and found Becca’s information, including her address, and texted it to his phone. He was shaking in rage when he read the last text Becca sent to Greg: “I am here if you need me. I am glad we got to spend some time together last night.” She’s going to pay for this. Who does she think she is to two-time me? No one crosses Henry Miller.
Henry tossed the phone back on the table and left. He was on the next flight out to Oregon the next morning and standing in front of Becca’s house within a matter of hours. This time he didn’t bother with subterfuge. He knocked on the door.
Becca opened the door with a smile to greet Esther. Sometimes the old dear would come over in the morning to talk when she didn’t have much to do and Becca always accommodated her. Her smile turned to fear when she realized that it was Henry standing on her threshold, not Esther.
“Hello, Becca.”
“Henry? What are you doing here? How did you find me?”
“Your boyfriend sends his regards.”
She didn’t have to ask who he was referring to. Only one person outside of Bend knew where she was. “Greg?” she whispered. “But he promised he wouldn’t”
Henry laughed dryly as he stalked her into the house. “Oh he didn’t know. He was too high in the clouds to care about his tongue. He bragged he was falling for you. I took your information off his phone.”
“Please,” Becca begged. “Please just leave. There’s nothing going on between me and Greg. I’ve never done anything to you.”
But Henry was too fast for her. He advanced on her and struck her cheek. Becca fell against the side table in the living room with a cry of pain. Henry grabbed her hair.
“Get up, Becca” he said, “I am not done with you yet.”
“Yes, you are” a new voice interjected.
Henry whipped around, pulling Becca by the hair with him, even as she whimpered with pain.
“You!” Henry stared in shock at Greg. “What are you doing here?”
“I followed you this morning. When I woke up and checked my phone, I saw that I had sent a message to you last night. Only, I know that I didn’t. You sent a message to yourself with Becca’s information. I knew you were coming after her so I followed you. Let her go, you’ve done enough damage.”
But Henry wasn’t done yet. His face mottled in rage as Greg spoke. From his pocket he pulled out a gun and pointed it at Greg. “You are not going to get her. You’ll die first.”
“I don’t think you want to do that, Son” someone said from behind Greg.
“Who said that?” Henry demanded.
“Police,” said the man who was now stepping over the threshold next to Greg with his weapon drawn. “Put the gun down, son, nice and slow.”
But Henry just stared at the man with his mouth agape. Greg took advantage of his distraction to rush him. But Henry snapped back to attention when he saw the movement and fired his gun. Greg dodged to the side and felt the bullet whiz past him. At the same time he heard another shot go off and he watched Becca fall.
“No!” he cried and dove to catch her.
Greg checked Becca for wounds and discovered none but she was paralyzed with shock. He looked behind her and saw Henry lying in a pool of blood, the gun useless by his side. He realized that the policeman had shot Henry in the shoulder of his gun arm to disarm him and was now radioing for an ambulance.
Greg gathered Becca in his arms and rocked her against his chest. Esther and Jeb came rushing in to see what the commotion was about. The police took them outside, leading a cuffed Henry, and explained what had happened as he placed Henry in the cruiser.
Esther came back in and clucked over Becca like a mother hen. She quickly made some tea and pushed it into the girl’s hands. Greg looked around the room and his eyes fell on the pool of blood that was still staining the hardwood floors, He got up and made room for Esther to comfort Becca while he found the officer and was granted permission to clean up the blood spill.
He explained to Esther that he was going to clean the floor and asked her to look after Becca. The elderly lady called her husband and together they walked Becca over to their house. Greg went to the Joe’s and bought some cleaning supplies; he didn’t want to use Becca’s because he didn’t want anything in her house to remind her of the trauma of the morning. He planned to throw away whatever supplies he used that day.
When he got back to Becca’s house, he scrubbed the floors till they were clean and polished them. Then he set the furniture aright and washed the dishes. By the time he finished, Becca had returned.
He greeted her with a warm and concerned smile. “Are you alright?”
She nodded but remained stiff when he tried to hug her.
“What wrong, Becca?”
“You told me that you would never tell anyone where I was but you got so high last night that Henry knew you had found me and was able to locate me himself through you. I am sorry Greg, but I can’t do this.”
“Becca,” Greg whispered. “Becca don’t do this. I am falling in love with you and I think I have always been in love with you.”
“Don’t Greg. I can’t fall in love with you, not when you willingly allow yourself to be ruled by drugs and alcohol. If you want me as someone more than a friend, then you have
got to give it up somehow. Please leave now. I would like to be alone.”
She didn’t give him an opportunity to respond, Becca just went to her room and shut the door.
Greg stared at that door for a long time before he walked out of the house. Becca was right. He knew what he had to do.
***
A Little over One Year Later
The stadium roared to life as the football sailed into the air. Both sides cheered their team on in the rush to capture the ball. The Chief’s fans groaned when the Bronco’s wide receiver caught the pass. Becca Fields was on her feet jumping up and down, screaming her head off as she cheered Billy Gail, the rookie, towards the goal. The crowd went wild when he scored the touchdown and the final whistle was blown. The game had been tough. Neither side had scored against the other all through the match until Billy ran the pass. He would be the man of the hour tonight.
Becca clambered down the bleachers as fast as her rounded stomach could take her and waddled over to the sidelines to await her husband. Greg came over to her and picked her up and swung her around before kissing her soundly in front of his team, the coaches and the fans watching on site and from their couches. She smiled contently when Greg set her back down on the ground and whispered her congratulations to him.
Greg was a changed man. After the incident with Henry, Greg had checked himself into a Christian rehab facility. Their program was a six months long. The first two months were intensive therapy and counseling. In the last four months the people were released into the “real world” with their mentors so they could face their challenges head on. Greg had placed his trust and faith in Jesus Christ in those first months. When he got out, he contacted Becca and explained that he was on “parole” so to speak for the next four months but he would love to see her as he adjusted to a new life as a Christian man and made every effort to leave his past behind.
Becca was ecstatic that Greg had accepted the Lord and she flew out to see him every weekend in Denver where he trained, and later to his games. They had grown irrepressibly closer as the time passed and their faiths had deepened as they trusted in the Lord and their love for each other had grown and matured. The love was now founded deep in Jesus Christ on both sides and as they grew closer to the Lord in their personal walks, they grew closer to each other. On the last day of his therapy, Greg proposed to Becca, she accepted and they were married within the month. Three months later, they discovered that they were going to be parents. Now, four months in, both were excited to finally find out the gender of their firstborn.
Henry Miller, in the meantime, had been tried and found guilty of harassment, assault and attempted murder and was now serving his very long sentence in jail without hope of parole. Greg’s family had attempted to contest the living will without success for several months but were now quiet. Becca had re-united with her family but she and Greg decided to settle in Bend.
That night, as Becca reflected on all that had happened in their lives in the past year, all she could say was, “Thank you, Lord. You have been so good. So faithful. Thank you, Lord, I can’t ask for more.” Greg came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, kissed her neck and gazed up at the night sky. They both chuckled in amusement when they felt their little boy kick their joined hands from within his mother’s womb. “I think we have another football player in the family, Honey.” Greg whispered as he kissed his wife again.
*****
THE END.
Love Unexpected
Mail Order Bride
CHRISTIAN MICHAEL
Chapter 1
Belle Lane felt as if her hands were tied and, in a way they were. Her brother had practically sold her off as a bride to some wealthy man out West and now she was on a train headed West without one notion as to what to expect. How could John do this to her?
The train was nearing its destination and she had run out of options. She’d tried in vain to think of a clever way out of the situation, even going so far as to consider getting off at one of the stops before she reached her destination, but then she hadn’t known what she would do. She had no money, no resources, and no real skill aside from caring for children and cooking.
Besides, the stories she’d heard of the West were frightening. It did not sound conducive to a single woman living on her own.
So here she was, still on the train and about to meet the man she would marry.
Her hopes of one day falling in love and marrying a man who would care for her sunk lower in her stomach. Any man would willingly purchase a bride from their brother could not be on the up and up.
Could she protest in town? Perhaps beg the sheriff to have mercy on her and find her a better situation. The notion had weight, but she wasn’t sure how she would even find the sheriff’s station with her husband-to-be finding her first. John had said Dennis Gaston would be waiting for her at the train depot and he had her photograph so he would recognize her.
Wonderful, she thought. She wouldn’t know what he looked like until the moment she laid eyes on Denis, and she had a feeling he would be old, bald, and ugly.
She bit her lip to keep from laughing.
If her brother hadn’t spent every last ounce of their inheritance money this never would have happened. And yet Father had still insisted on naming him beneficiary despite the fact that Belle was older by a year. Hadn’t Father seen his coming? All of Mother’s pleadings hadn’t done any good either and here they were.
The train slowed and she collected herself. She was a lady of poise and determination. She loved to read and she would pass her time as this man’s wife living out her days reading and caring for his house, even if she never cared for him. That was most likely.
“Right this way, Miss,” the train attendant said. He directed her to the end of the car and held her elbow firmly until she stepped off onto the platform bustling with men and a few women walking to and fro.
Her eyes rose and she searched the faces looking for passengers. Her eyes rested on an elderly looking man who held her gaze.
I was right, she thought, and made her way toward him.
“Hello,” she said with a bland but determination air. It was better to get this over with now so she could face up to her future. “I’m Miss Lane.”
“Howdy,” the man said, his eyebrows rising and his eyes taking in every bit of her.
She shuddered and swallowed past the lump in her throat.
Just as she was going to say they might as well make their way to the church a voice behind her said, “Miss Lane?”
Startled, she turned and her eyes collided with a tall man, his fair completion showing off ruddy cheeks and reddish hair that had been tamed at one point that day but now flew in all directions after being held captive by his hat.
“I’m sorry, you are?”
“Dennis Gaston. Your future husband.”
Her eyes rounded and she looked back to the older man, amusement in his eyes. “I’d marry you in a second, darlin’ but I think this fellow has prior claim.” The man shuffled off and Belle admitted to herself that she was pleasantly surprised by Mr. Dennis Gaston.
***
She’d thought she was marrying Otis? He wanted to laugh out loud but there wasn’t time for that. Instead he tilted his head in the direction of his wagon. “Shall we? The pastor is expecting us.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You were informed we are to marry immediately, were you not?”
She cringed and he realized he’d sounded more like a businessman and a fiancé. “That is, your brother told you?”
“He did,” she admitted, “I suppose I just didn’t think right away meant the minute I stepped from the train.”
“Well, it does,” he said. His tone was even, but his words had the desired effect.
“By all means, lead the way.”
Her sensed her sarcasm but didn’t acknowledge it. If she wanted to make snide comments he’d allow that, for now. It would appear neither of them were pleased abo
ut this union and yet here he was, marrying again. If it could have gone any other way…
But no, his hands were tied. He was a slave to his company and, as far as his future business associate still knew, he was married. That persona needed to be upheld if he were to gain favorable ground.
The silence between them stretched on and he wondered if he should say something. He ground his molars instead. This was going to be more difficult than he thought. Just looking at her made him think of Maddie…
No, he couldn’t go there. Her death was over a year ago and they had moved on. They’d had to.
Mercifully, the church came into view and he was distracted by the process of marrying the woman he’d paid an arm and a leg for. He cringed. When he thought of it like that it made him feel like a scoundrel. Some man who had to buy a bride. But then again, her brother had said she was happy to come be his wife.
Looking down at her, her light brown hair framing an oval shaped face with ruby red lips and eyes downcast, she didn’t look happy.
They said their vows in a quiet way that would almost be considered reverent but was more likely due to the fact that neither of them were very happy about this situation. It would have been almost comical if he hadn’t been the one living it out.
Then, when they had signed the documents making everything legal they set out for his wagon out front.
He helped her in, feeling a strange sensation as her hand rested light in his, and then he climbed in next to her.
“Do you live far out of town?” Those were the first words she’d spoken to him aside from their vows in the past few hours.
“Not too far.”
They rode on in silence until he turned down the long dirt road that led to his ranch.
[2016] My True Love Page 16
