Lorna smiled. Her mother was dating. “That sounds nice, Mom.”
“So, what about you? How did the visit go? Did you tell him about your period?”
“You mean my non-existent one? No.”
“What was your excuse then?”
“I just came out and told him that I wanted a shot with him.”
Moira was shocked. “I am so proud of you. This certainly is a change! What did he say?”
Lorna blushed.
“Oh, it looks like he said a lot,” her mother joked.
“Well, he was very happy.”
“I am so happy for you, Lorna. Did he say anything else?”
“He wants to get married.”
Moira paused and looked up at her daughter. “I knew it. I knew he felt something strong for you, what did you say?”
“I told him that he was crazy, that there was no way that you could love someone after only knowing them for four days. He asked me how long?”
“How long, what?”
“He asked me how long it takes to love someone, and I came back with a year. He told me that was no good, and I said six months…he said that was okay, because that would bring us well into the New Year and he wanted to be married to me by then.
“Oh my God! Lorna!” her mother cried. She jumped up and down like a teenager. “You’re engaged.”
“I am not engaged,” Lorna said, even though she was smiling. “But we agreed to find out what this thing is. And, Mom, I’m scared. I think I…”
“You love him?”
“I think maybe I do.”
“Tell him now, Lorna. I’ll start the car.”
“No, Mom, I’m not doing that. I have Liam to think about.”
“What’s to think about, Lorna? Liam will finally have a dad.”
“I know, and that is why I need to take this time to make sure that Jake is the one that I want to be with forever.”
“You’re a smart woman, dear daughter.”
“Thank you, Mom.”
“What were you saying when I came through the door?”
Lorna thought about it for a second then said, “For keeps.”
“I love you, Lorna.”
“I love you, too, Mom.”
Chapter Six
Three months had gone by since Lorna and Jake talked about how long it took to fall in love, and every day since, Lorna fell even harder. It was easy being around Jake. He was special. A one of a kind man that did everything to make her feel like she mattered. She wasn’t used to that kind of treatment, and she loved it.
“Kids Kare, Lorna speaking,” she said into the receiver. She was putting away blocks after a very long day of work. The kids were anxious to go home, and she could tell.
“Hi, baby, are you coming over tonight?” Jake asked, calling her by the nickname he dubbed her last month. Normally she hated that name, but coming from him it sounded like heaven.
“I can’t tonight; I have so much to do at home. The laundry pile is now higher than the washing machine.”
“It’ll still be there tomorrow. Come on, you can come out tonight. I’ll make a cozy fire in the fireplace and Liam can roast smores.”
“That sounds so nice, Jake, but I can’t. I really need to start doing my share at the house. My mom shouldn’t have to take the brunt of everything. Besides, I didn’t get much sleep last night and we are not sending the right messages to Liam.”
“This again. Lorna, I love you. I’m in love with you. Come live in the house.”
Lorna smiled. She loved him so much and she wanted to stay with him—live there, but she promised herself the six months and she was going to keep that promise. “We have three months left, then we’ll know for sure.”
“I already know, Lorna. And you do, too.”
Lorna stayed silent. She still hadn’t told him that she loved him, but she didn’t want anything to get in the way of the remainder of the three months. Her head and her heart needed to be in the same place.
“Jake, come on. You promised. Six months, remember?”
“I remember,” Jake grumbled.
“Say hi to Jenny and Sarah for me.”
“I will when they get home. They went in to town today.”
“Okay. Bye.”
“I love you, Lorna.”
Lorna hung up, tears flowed down her eyes. She knew he wanted to hear her say it, but she just couldn’t trust herself. John was the same in his letters and then after they were married he turned. She knew she should tell him about it. She just couldn’t. He knew that John hit her, and knew that he had raped her, but he didn’t know about the letters. It was too much for Lorna to admit to.”
LATER THAT NIGHT JAKE called, scaring Lorna out of her sleep. It was two am.
“What’s happened?” Lorna asked, now wide awake. “Are you okay?”
“It’s Jenny and Sarah. They’re not at home.”
“Jake, maybe they…”
“What?”
“I don’t know; I really didn’t think she would go back to him, Jake, but maybe she did. You don’t think she would take Sarah, do you?”
Jake was pissed. “I would sure as hell hope not, but who knows. Look at you, you stayed.”
“That was different, Jake. I didn’t have a child with me. I would never have had Liam there.”
“How do you know? You didn’t even have the chance. A bomb killed him.”
“I know, Jake, because I never told him about Liam. I had a restraining order against him in place before I found out I was pregnant. I had pictures taken, you asshole! I don’t need this from you.”
“I’m sorry, Lorna.”
“No, I should have known. All men are the same.”
Now, Jake was really pissed. “I have never hit a woman, and I never will.”
“Oh sure, you may not have hit a woman, but verbal abuse is just as bad!”
“When have I ever done that?” Jake asked, outraged.
“You were getting ready to say something to me. You, you can just hang up.”
“I am not hanging up, damn it! I love you, Lorna. I need your help.”
“Well, you can just…what do you need my help with?”
“I don’t know where they are. Can you come with me?”
“I can’t be in that situation again, Jake. I don’t want to be near someone like that again.”
Jake could tell that she was shaken and he hated himself for even asking. “I wouldn’t ask, but someone needs to take Sarah if I find them. I don’t want her to see my sister like that. She should never have had to see her mother like that at all.”
“I agree, Jake, but…”
“I need your help, honey. Please?”
“Of course. I have to tell mom to stay with Liam and I’ll be down.”
“I’ll pick you up in twenty.”
“See you then.”
After the long drive to Jenny’s exes, Lorna was wired. She had mixed emotions. For one she was pissed that Jenny would buy in to the same old crap, especially after their long talk. She thought for sure that she wouldn’t have gone back to him. If anything, because of Sarah. And she was scared. Scared more than ever because she had finally put that part of her life away and now she was going to see it again, only with someone else’s family.
“Are you okay?” Jake asked, grabbing hold of her hand.
Lorna exhaled. “I’m fine.”
“Please don’t be mad at me, Lorna. I’m scared for Jenny. I’m scared for Sarah.”
“I know.”
Lorna looked at Jake. His eyes were hard, and she could tell that he was tired. He had a rough day, of not only worrying about his sister and his niece, but being rejected once again by her. Lorna decided it was time to tell him.
“Jake,”
“There, look! He’s got her!”
Jake put the truck in park and ran out toward Jenny and her ex. They were fighting in the driveway with Sarah looking from the car. Lorna ran out and around to the other car, t
rying to get Sarah. Sarah waved, little tears were sliding down her face. She cried, “Help my mommy!” Lorna wanted to beat the shit out of the son-of-a-bitch that was hurting her mother.
“Uncle Jake is helping her, sweetie. Unlock the door and come with me. We will sit in Jake’s truck.”
“But…”
“Honey, please, hurry. I want to get you in Uncle Jake’s truck before your daddy sees us.”
That did the trick. The little girl climbed up into the front seat and pushed the unlock button. Suddenly all the doors clicked and Sarah was in Lorna’s arms. Lorna didn’t stop to help Jake. She was there for Sarah. She ran back to Jake’s truck and locked the doors once she and Sarah were safely in. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed 911.
Jake threw a punch to Charlie’s face and it connected, knocking his head to the right as Jake’s fist landed an uppercut to his stomach. Charlie doubled over, yelling obscenities. Jenny ran. She ran for the car and noticed that her daughter was no longer there. Lorna could see the panic in her eyes, so she rolled down her window and yelled for Jenny to come to the truck.
A few seconds later, Jenny was at the door and inside. “Oh, baby, I am so sorry!”
Sarah’s arm went around her mother’s and she cried. Lorna swallowed. “I really didn’t think you’d go back, Jenny.”
Jenny’s eyes widened. “Is that what you think? Because if it is, you’re crazy!”
“What happened?”
“Daddy took us from Uncle Jake’s and hit mommy. He…”
“He came after Sarah. He climbed through her bedroom window and was going to kidnap her. I came in to wake her up for breakfast.”
“Oh my God! I can’t believe Jake didn’t see this…”
“He left early this morning. You know how Sarah is after treatment.” Sarah had been getting her chemotherapy treatments from Byron’s for the last three months. The doctors were positive that she would be in remission soon.
“I am so sorry, Jenny! Jake called me a little bit ago. He just figured you were out late shopping.”
“That’s my fault. I put a note on the counter before I woke her up. I was going to take Sarah to the mall and let her pick out a new Unicorn. She has been down lately and I wanted to cheer her up.”
Lorna was heartbroken for the little girl. “We should call the hospital. Sarah should get checked out.”
Jenny closed her eyes, crying. “Sarah, baby, I am so sorry that this happened, but Lorna’s right. We should go get you checked out.”
Sarah cried and kissed her mom’s cheek. “It’s okay, Mommy, I’ll be fine.”
Lorna looked out the window just then, nearly forgetting about Jake and Charlie, feeling terrible. She saw him fight with precision and strength. All the shots he landed were good, nothing cowardly like John. John would have waited until you turned around before he punched you, or he would have kicked you in the ribs when you were on the floor. Lorna’s lip trembled. She got out of the truck.
“Lorna, what are you doing?” Jenny yelled, momentarily distracting Charlie from coming after Jake. Jake’s eyes widened with fear as he saw Lorna get closer.
“You, mother fu—,” she yelled, as she ran after Charlie. Charlie was stunned, not knowing the newest person that was coming after him.
“What the—?”
Lorna kicked him in-between the legs and he doubled over. While she had him stunned, she landed a fist to his face and pushed him over. He fell straight to the ground. “Don’t you ever touch her or her daughter again, you bastard!” She kicked him two more times when he was on the ground and then stomped her heel between his legs.
Jake stepped back, watching Lorna, knowing that she needed this moment. He swallowed back his fear for her and watched the horrifying moment take place. “Lorna, are you all right?” he asked, as he wiped blood off of his lip. Charlie’s fist landed a few punches of its own.
“I’m—great,” she said. Just then the police showed up. Taking in the scene, they questioned Lorna, and Jake first and then Jenny and Sarah. They assured her that it would be a long time before Charlie was a free man. Jenny closed her eyes, thanking God.
Chapter Seven
When Jake dropped Jenny and Sarah off at his home, the sun was just rising in the sky. They had been out all night. Everyone was exhausted, Lorna included. “We’ll be back, Jenny. I have to take Lorna home.”
“Thank you, Lorna, for everything.”
Lorna had tears in her eyes. She didn’t think it was possible to have any left, but she did. “Thank you. I feel like a weight has been lifted. I am so glad that you are safe, and that Sarah is okay.”
“Me, too.”
After they hugged, Lorna stepped back into the truck, but not before she heard Jenny say, “She’s a keeper, Jake.”
“You scared the hell out of me, you know that?” Jake asked, glancing between her and the road.
“I know, and I am sorry.”
Jake nodded. “He could have hurt you, Lorna.”
“He could have hurt you, too.”
Jake grabbed her hand and held it tight. “I love you so much. Please, don’t ever do something like that again.”
“I love you, too, Jake.”
Jake slammed on the brakes, nearly knocking his and Lorna’s heads on the dash. “What?”
Lorna’s heart hammered. “We are in the middle of the road!”
Jake pulled the car over to the side of the road and put it in park, and then turned to face Lorna. “What did you say?”
Lorna smiled gently. “I love you. I said, I love you, Jake.”
“That’s what I thought you said,” he said softly, moving his right hand up to the side of her face, cupping her lovingly.
“I wanted to tell you, but I had to wait.”
“Wait, for what?”
“My head to catch up with my heart,” she said, smiling.
“What’s your heart tell you?”
“My heart’s been telling me since day one that you are it for me. You are the one I was supposed to be with. You were never meant to be a do over, you were meant to be the start. I am so sorry that you weren’t the first one and only, but I am not sorry that you and I are here right now, together. I love you so much, Jake.”
Jake grinned. Lorna could see the love etched on his face and in his eyes. “Now, Lorna,” Jake said softly, taking something out of his pocket. “I’ve been carrying this around for a while now, and I think I’ve had enough of your ‘six month plan’.”
Lorna took a deep breath and trembled. Jake rubbed the side of her cheek with his hand and swept away the tears.
“You are it for me, honey. I knew the moment I walked into that building with all those screaming kids and weird smells.”
Lorna laughed.
“I knew the moment you turned around and looked right at me, and of course I said something stupid.”
“You were pretty ridiculous.”
“I know. I knew the moment you woke me up at that horrid hour and I thought I was dreaming. You are who I see at night before I go to bed, and you follow me in my dreams. I want you to be the one I wake up to. I want you by my side when things happen.”
“I love you so much,” Lorna sobbed.
“I love you, too, baby. I love that you went after Charlie, and I love how you are with my sister and my niece, and I love that you are the best damned mother in the world to our son, Liam.”
“Our son?”
“Ours. I love that boy more than anything. I want my name on that birth certificate, I want him to know that I love him and his mom more than anything. I love you, Lorna. I want you to be my bride. Will you marry me?”
“Of course I will!” Lorna cried, coming into his arms. His lips were on hers, nearly taking her breath away, tears were streaming down both of their faces. It was hard to tell who was who, they were so tangled.
“It’s about damned time,” Jake said, laughing as he pulled apart from her long enough to put his ring on her finger.
“For keeps?” he asked.
“Oh yes, for keeps.”
Epilogue
“Daddy, how much longer,” Liam asked, pulling on Jake’s suit coat. He smiled down at the little boy as the last girl spread flowers all over the ground.
“Not much, buddy, she’ll be coming out any second.”
“There she is!” Liam squealed. The guests at the wedding laughed, watching the love on the little boy’s face as his mother walked down the aisle. She looked beautiful.
“Yes, there she is.”
“You love mommy, don’t ya?”
“Yes I surely do, Son.”
“Hugs and kisses, right, Dad?”
Jake looked down at his son with his heart in his eyes. “Always, Son.”
When he looked back up Lorna joined him at his side; they both grabbed hold of Liam’s hands.
“And now we become a family,” Lorna whispered.
Join Danielle in celebrating her whole series “Cowboys & Cowgirls” when the next book in her series comes out next month! “Cowgirl Up!”
Turn to the next page for a sneak peak!
Cowgirl Up!
Chapter 1
Colton Stevens never wanted to get married; it wasn’t something that appealed to him. But after living alone on the Lone Tree Ranch for the past five years, things started to get a little lonely. A lot lonely. Everyone around him seemed to be getting married. Six best friends and three had gone and gotten married in the past few months! Colton would have thought it had something to do with the water if he wasn’t drinking from the same well. It was two weeks ago when Jake Anders, his buddy from high school, married another one of his friends, Tessa Jons, that things started to get a little difficult. There was nothing worse than being a third wheel at a dinner date.
“Hey, boss, there’s something wrong with the tractor,” Ted Miller said as he walked up on the large wraparound porch on Colton’s home. Ted was one of Colton’s ranch hands. He had been working there since Colton’s dad died six years ago.
“Figures. I swear every time we have someone out here that knows a little something about motors or whatnot, nothing happens, but as soon as they leave—bam—everything goes to shit.” Last week was Sam Elders last day on the ranch. He was what Colton’s dad referred to as a popcorn fart. He was gone as quickly as he came.
The Cowboy Takes A Slave (Cowboys & Cowgirls) Page 5
