Allie decided that she wouldn’t keep her mouth shut, since it looked like Megan had gone into shock mode. “So Mike, do you really need a woman like Megan? I mean what did you ever see in her? What you need is a real woman that would slap you back when you hit her. Someone who isn’t afraid to take what you hand out or maybe you just hit on her because you are too afraid to admit that you might like the other lifestyle better. It makes you feel more like a man’s man to hit on someone smaller than you. That way no one will know that you really would like for some guy to give it to you.” Allie had been watching to see what would make Mike flinch; instead he just grew calm and turned to face Allie.
“I’m sure that when this is all over there will be lots of reasons why I did this to my wife. I have never wanted a man of any kind. Women do it for me, but when a wife is not submissive then she needs to be taught a lesson. Now Megan here, stepped way over her bounds and showed the whole town that I wasn’t being a good husband by allowing her to do that. When the missus is not keeping up with her responsibilities; that is when she needs a good beating to make sure that she won’t forget what her duties are anytime soon. All she had to do was make sure that I got home and in bed before half the town had seen me in my truck asleep. This entire mess could have been avoided if she had just done her job.” Mike sounded so confident and sure of himself.
Allie was simply amazed that any man would think that a wife was only good for cleaning up his mistakes. When she went to open her mouth, Mike stepped in front of her tapping her lips with the tip of the knife.
“I’d keep that shut for the moment, if you don’t want me to cut it out. This is between me and my wife as it should have been from the beginning.” Mike faced Megan so that he could see when she was sorry for her actions.
“Megan, honey, I just need to know that you are sorry for your actions then you and I can go somewhere and start over as a family with Sally. I know that you didn’t understand what you were doing to our reputations, but now that you know, it won’t happen again.
Moving toward Megan, Mike crouched down so that he could see her expression as he trailed the knife along the side of her face. “So Meg, are you going to apologize so that we can get going? I don’t want to wait while they get the fire under control.”
Megan looked up at Mike then, “You bastard, you set the fire so that everyone would be out there trying to save their crop and they wouldn’t be able to save us. How could you do that to such innocent people?” Megan had gotten so used to allowing Mike to do whatever he wanted to her. Trying to hurt her new family, now that was a different story.
“Oh, Meg, they are not as innocent as you would have them think. They are keeping you from me. They were destroying our family by allowing you and Sally to start over without me. What kind of good people would do something like that? Families are supposed to stay together.”
“Mike, they are the best family that we could have ever asked for, because they truly love us. They have helped to get past all the old stuff and start with a new beginning. Sally has gotten so attached to the ranch hands and really considers G.G. and James as adopted grandparents.” Megan wasn’t quite as scared of Mike when she thought about all the people that loved them and would take much better care than Mike ever had.
“How dare you call these people family? What, my family wasn’t good enough for you? I built our family so that we could be there for each other in the circle of trust. Do you have any idea how much you hurt me when you broke my trust by involving all these people?” Mike stood up at these words and started pacing.
“Really Megan, I provided for you, gave you a child and a home, what else could you possibly have needed?” Mike threw the knife at her feet barely missing her ankles. Bending over to retrieve the knife, he grabbed Megan’s shoulders instead and started to shake her.
“Why did you need that woman to be your friend? She’s the one that put all those ideas in your head. You would have been the perfect wife if she hadn’t come around the house trying to make you into someone that you weren’t. I loved you as my wife.” Mike ended each sentence with a rough shake that made Megan’s teeth clang together loudly.
“That’s enough. Stop!” Startled that Allie would say anything after his little demonstration with the knife, Mike turned toward the doorway to see his daughter standing there shouting at him.
Sally was certain that her daddy was going to hurt her mommy again and it was time that he knew that it was against the rules.
Mike started to move toward Sally to hug her after weeks without having seen her.
Sally reached out and picked up the gun that was lying on the floor where Allie had left it. “I said, ‘stop, that daddy.’ You are not going to hurt my mommy again.”
“Sally, just put down the gun honey before someone gets hurt.” Mike started to edge slowly towards Sally to take the gun from her.
Sally just backed closer to the doorway so that Mike couldn’t reach her. “If you come any closer I will shoot your knees out. I am going to make sure that you don’t ever hurt my mommy again, you bad, bad daddy.”
Mike stopped to reconsider when Sally readjusted to make sure that both hands were holding the gun steady. “Sweetie, mommy and I have just had a misunderstanding that’s all.”
“Don’t lie to me daddy, I’m not stupid. I know that you hurt my mommy and put her in the hospital. Then you went back to punish her for telling the good police that you were a bully. Bullies get in trouble at school, daddy. We are supposed to stand up to bullies. You didn’t listen to the good police; you hurt Aunt Julie and Aunt Allie. So you are not my daddy anymore. You are the bad police and you can’t hurt my mommy again.”
Mike didn’t try to argue with her he just lunged toward Sally hoping to distract her.
Sally was smarter that he was and jumped back through the doorway. Aiming at his right knee, she shot the pistol, but she jerked it when it went off hitting his foot instead.
Megan rushed over toward Sally, engulfing her in a huge hug. Knowing Mike would immediately take out his anger on Sally, Megan shielded her leaving her back facing Mike.
Mike was hopping up and down on one foot muttering, “She shot me. My own kid shot me.” Disbelief edged thru his voice. If he hadn’t seen the evidence of blood pouring from his foot, he wouldn’t have believed it. Taking the gun from the back of his pants he aimed it at both Megan and Sally.
Knowing that they had both betrayed him, he flicked the safety off.
“Die, you Bitches.” He shouted and pulled the trigger.
Hearing the shot and knowing that they must be hit, Megan looked at Sally, but didn’t see any blood. Hesitating to turn around, she looked up and saw that G.G. had a gun pointed past them straight at Mike. Sally followed Megan’s gaze and saw that G.G. had blood coming from her chest.
“No, G.G. Don’t be dead.” Sally raced to her side as she slid to the floor.
Megan turned to see why Mike had gone silent, only to find him holding his chest. She raced over to him, kneeling beside him. She could make out his raspy voice trying to say something.
“The old lady shot me. First my kid and then an old lady got the better of me.” Mike last words were of total disbelief.
Megan bent closer so that she could whisper in his ear. “I’m so glad that she did, since I couldn’t kill you. I did love you. I just wish that I hadn’t ever met you. I know that you will get your just rewards where you are going.”
Megan got up leaving Mike gasping at her words and walked over to make sure that G.G. would be okay.
Allie had managed to scoot over and pick up the knife that Mike had dropped when he was shot. Cutting the zip ties from her feet first, she looked at her hands. “Megan, could you please cut these off me so that I can call an ambulance for G.G.?”
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The next few hours were confusing. Between all of the police officer, paramedics, and firefighters there was no chance to really think about the fact that Mike was dead. Meg
an had gone with G.G. to the hospital while Allie stayed to help with Sally.
Justin and the ranch hands had raced back when they got a message from G.G. about what was happening with the fire.
The fire was finally put out and was in no danger of hitting the fields with the crops that the Greeley’s grew. It had taken over and burned a pasture that they collected hay from, but the fire department was able to contain it from spreading to the nearby fields with actual crops.
In all of the chaos no one had informed Justin or his dad that G.G. was in the hospital so when they arrived ready to help with the fire they were in for a surprise.
Justin rushed up to Allie, glad that she was still okay. He held onto her, while she explained what happened. When she mentioned that G.G. had been shot, Justin pulled away and raced over to his dad.
“Dad, Mom’s in the hospital, but they said she is going to be okay. We can drive you over there.” Waving to Allie and Sally to follow him, he grabbed his dad’s arm and started leading him to the truck that they had just arrived in.
“Allie, I’m going to take dad over to the hospital. Why don’t you and Sally come with me so that I know that you are okay?” Justin might have been told Mike was dead, but he didn’t want Allie where he couldn’t see her. He didn’t want to take a chance on losing her even though the danger had passed.
They all climbed in and Justin drove since he knew that his dad would be a little reckless trying to get to his life- long love. They arrived at the hospital 10 minutes later all in one piece. Before they had even stopped James was out and through the ER doors, headed to find G.G. They followed at slower pace and were told that she was in surgery and they could wait in the room set aside for families. This is where they found Megan; she had been given scrubs to wear since all her clothes had been covered in blood. They would take her clothes for evidence, but at least for the moment she was clean.
“Oh, Mr. G. I’m so sorry that I got her shot. I didn’t mean for that to happen. He was aiming at Sally and me; but he hit her instead.” Megan just hugged him and burst into sobs.
He hugged her back, “Megan you must quit calling me Mr. G., just James or even Dad will be fine. I don’t know all the details Megan, but if G.G. was there it was for a good reason. I don’t blame you at all sweetie. We will get through this and she will be all right.” James guided her over to the couch and set them down.
Allie and Justin sat on the opposite couch with Sally in the middle. Allie was just explaining what happened when Mark rushed in and came to a complete halt when he saw Megan and Sally were okay.
“Oh, thank goodness. When the police report came over the scanner, I was in court and my assistant let me know as soon as I got out. All they said was that one was dead and one was on the way to the hospital. I was so worried that it was you.” Mark walked over and took Megan by the hands and pulled her up towards him. He then kissed her a hot, I’m glad you’re alive kiss. Megan sat back down with her hand over her mouth in shock when he had finished.
Evidently Mark had more than a lawyer’s interest in Megan’s welfare. Allie smirked to herself that there might be more romance in the air when things calmed down.
Mark looked around and then realized that they were at the hospital with everyone, but his Aunt G.G. wasn’t in the room. “Oh, no Uncle James, was G.G. shot?”
“Yes, she was, but they are removing the bullet and think that everything will be okay. So we are just waiting for the doctors to come and update us.” James accepted the man hug, hand shake with a slap on the back from his nephew.
Allie went back to the beginning and explained what had happened, with a few words from Sally. Amazingly Sally seemed unfazed by what had happened and had taken everything in stride so far.
They were still waiting an hour later when the police finally showed up to finish getting the rest of the details and the time lines on what happened.
Taking the ones that had been at the scene of the crime, they led them one at a time from the room. They got Megan’s statement and then Allie’s. Sally was allowed to have Mark present since he was the family lawyer, so that they could get a different perspective.
By the time they finished, the doctor had arrived to let them know how G.G. was doing.
“She had a close miss to her heart, the bullet was lodged in the top left of her chest. It wasn’t next to anything major, but it took some digging so that we didn’t damage anything while we were in there. She is in recovery right now and we will have her in a room shortly. I suggest only one or two close family at first and then maybe switch out if she is up to it.” The doctor nodded as he left the room.
James and Justin went in to see her first while the others waited outside. Then they took turns because James was going to stay with G.G. while she was in the hospital.
Megan was so thankful when she saw G.G. that she burst into tears again for the sheer joy that G.G. was alive. “I am so glad that you are okay. I thought we were all going to die. I am so glad that he didn’t kill you.”
G.G. wasn’t quite recovered, but she knew that Megan needed reassurance. “Megan, I walked into that room knowing that it was a bad situation. I am thankful that we all got out of it without more people being hurt. I’m sorry that he died honey, it was us or him. I choose him. So no more tears or worry, just go take good care of Sally. We can talk more when I get out of here.”
So that is what everyone did, they left to go back and make sure that the Double G was put back in order.
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After the medical examiner had done the autopsy on Mike and found that there had been two shots, one had just wounded him, but the other was a killing shot. It was clearly self- defense since there were four different accounts of what he was trying to do.
They had a simple funeral that only the close family attended. There was not any big deal made over it, but Megan thought that a proper funeral would be a way to bring closure to Sally. Once it was over, they headed up to the hospital to see G.G. before they brought her home the next day.
Justin and Allie were thrilled that Mike was no longer a threat and they could resume their lives. Helping Megan move forward would be the bigger challenge. They were planning to see how dating under normal circumstances would work out, but things were looking good.
Mark was planning to help Megan get settled and there would be lots of things that she needed to help with to get everything sorted out in the near future.
Epilogue
Over the next six months things returned to a new kind of normal for Allie and Justin. They dated and discovered that they like being together better than being apart, which was giving Justin problems on how to surprise her with a ring.
Stan had asked that she come to the bar early that Sunday night because Jessica was sick and wouldn’t be able to help restock.
When Allie got there the entire Greenley family was waiting to have a party if she accepted Justin’s offer.
Justin followed her in letting her read the banner over the bar that said, WILL YOU MARRY ME?, with AND MY FAMILY? right underneath it.
Turning toward Justin with a look of astonishment, Allie saw that he was down on one knee.
“Allie will you do me the honor of letting me love and protect you and cherish you for the rest of your life? Will you marry me?” Justin looked hopefully up at Allie.
“Yes!!! Yes!!! I will marry you and your family. Laughing, Allie turned toward the waiting crowd, “I’ll think I will keep all of you, no matter what, if you will have me?”
Sally ran over and jumped into Justin’s arms, “I’ll marry you Justin, if she ever gets rid of you. I’m next in line.” All of the adults burst out laughing.
Everyone was hugging and there were many tears of joy that Allie would be joining their family. After all the heartache, she had finally found a place to belong.
Only one person noticed when Megan left the room trying not to burst into tears. It was such a happy occasion and she didn’t want to put a d
amper on their day, but she was certain that no one would ever love her in that way.
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If you or someone you know needs help with an abusive or violent situation please get help.
http://www.thehotline.org/ Computer use can be monitored so please use caution when visiting this site.
Or call 1-800-799-7233 | 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
These are some sites that you may find helpful as well.
Domestic Violence Resource Center
www.dvrc-or.org
NRCDV - National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
www.nrcdv.org
Domestic Violence Statistics | Domestic Violence Statistics
domesticviolencestatistics.org/domestic-violence-stat
Domestic Violence Statistics - AARDVARC.org
www.aardvarc.org/dv/statistics.shtml
Death by Poison?
Nova Ladies Adventures: Book 2
Megan had a little time left before Sally would be home on the bus. Deciding that a mommy break was needed, she poured herself a glass of tea and went out to sit on the porch swing. Enjoying the brief rest during a hot day, Megan drank all of her glass and went back inside for a refill. Trying to relax into her new life hadn’t been too difficult. Sally made every moment worth all of the trouble that Mike had put her through.
Sitting back on the swing, Megan started to feel a little warm. It was over 100 degrees outside, but it seemed that she was becoming hot rapidly. Drinking her iced tea quickly, in the hope that it would cool her down didn’t appear to be working the way she wanted.
Ding Dong!! Is She Dead? Page 17
