by Lee Rose
“Remind me to lecture your papa on that subject,” she told the baby, rubbing her stomach in a soothing motion.
“Dorothy, put your hands up in the air!” she heard Ben yell firmly and let out a big sigh of relief. The cavalry was finally here.
“Ben? You’re supposed to be at the shelter,” Dorothy said and Hannah could hear the nervousness in her voice. “I just wanted to talk with Hannah. I wasn’t going to hurt her.”
Hannah snorted and heard Billy reply, “Sure, you weren’t. That’s why you’re holding a knife and dressed like a thug all in black.”
Hannah heard a clank on the floor and guessed Dorothy dropped the knife.
“Move away from the door, Dorothy. You are under arrest,” Ben said in a hard, cold voice. “How did you get in my house?”
Dorothy laughed but it wasn’t a happy laugh, more like a crazy laugh. It sent shivers up Hannah’s spine. “Ben, you gave me a key. I’m your girlfriend, remember? You love me but that stupid girl trapped you by getting pregnant. I was just going to offer her money to get rid of the baby. I wasn’t going to harm her.”
Ben gasped, his voice full of shock at the words coming out of Dorothy’s mouth. “You really are crazy and delusional, Dorothy. Hannah and my baby mean everything in the world to me. I love them. I am going to make sure you are never going to be around to harm them.”
Ben looked over at Billy. “Billy, handcuff her and read her her rights.”
“You can’t do this to me, Ben Parker!” Dorothy yelled in outrage. “You can’t arrest your own girlfriend.”
When Hannah heard handcuffs being clicked she opened the door and spotted Ben standing in the hallway, still standing there in shock at Dorothy’s true colors showing. Billy had Dorothy with her hands cuffed behind her and she was screaming at him not to touch her. Hannah did a double take when she looked at the screaming woman. Since when was Dorothy a blonde?
Ben grabbed Hannah by her shoulders and engulfed her in a huge hug. His body was still shaking from the fear and anger he had felt driving over here. Ben looked her over looking for any injury. “You okay, baby? Do I need to call doc?”
Hannah put her face in Ben’s chest as Billy led a shouting Dorothy away from them while telling her what her rights were. “She didn’t get the chance to touch me, Ben. I was so tempted to come out and kick her ass, but I was afraid for the baby.”
“Ben is mine, Hannah! Get away from him right now!” she yelled, looking over her shoulder at the hugging couple. “It’s me he loves, not you.”
“I suggest you take advantage of your right to remain quiet, lady,” Billy told her in a fed up voice as Dorothy fought to get away from Billy by kicking him.
“Stop it. You’re pissing me off,” Billy said grouchily as one of her kicks landed on his shin. “Do I get hazard pay, boss?”
Ben sighed and let go of Hannah to walk over and help Billy get Dorothy out of the house and into the squad car. Dorothy kicked Billy again but he had a good hold on her. Ben grabbed Dorothy’s shoulders.
“Stop it, you crazy woman. This is resisting arrest. You’re just making your list of accusations longer,” Ben said in frustration. “Lucky for you I don’t hit women, because right now I am tempted to.”
Dorothy glared at the two men. “I’m innocent, let me go!” She pushed Billy with her shoulder, making him lose his balance and fall into the wall. She kicked Ben in the knee, making his leg go under him. They let her go for one second and she ran toward Hannah with a loud, crazy scream.
Hannah balled up her right hand into a fist and was ready when Dorothy came charging for her. As soon as Dorothy was near, she pulled her hand back and let loose right into Dorothy’s jaw, knocking the woman out cold. Hannah looked down at the unconscious woman. “I on the other hand have no problem hitting a woman, especially one who has caused me nothing but grief.” She barely resisted giving Dorothy a good kick, too, for all the pain and grief she had caused her.
Billy burst out in laughter while Ben stood there with his mouth gaping open. “All right, Hannah! Are you sure you want to marry Ben? You are exactly my kind of woman, all fire.”
Ben growled at Billy and Hannah laughed, looking over at Ben. “Well, Billy, I just happen to be in love with the sheriff and look forward to a long happy life with him.”
Ben gave Billy a superior, smug smile. “That’s right. She loves me.” He stepped over Dorothy’s unconscious body and hugged Hannah. “Damn, woman, you scare the hell out of me and turn me on all at the same time. I am so glad you belong to me.”
Billy picked up Dorothy and took her out to the squad car. “And I once thought Bear Creek was a boring place to live.” Billy laughed while shaking his head in disbelief.
Epilogue
Ben and Hannah sat on his porch, lying together on a lawn chair. It was twilight and the sky was turning a beautiful mixture of purple and pink. Hannah felt a breeze run through her hair and smiled, feeling content with her lot in life.
“Tired, honey?” Ben asked, moving her silky hair out of her face so he could see her face. He had taken very good care of her this last month, making sure she didn’t overwork and ate healthy meals. His hand was placed along her rounded tummy. He was enchanted with her ever-changing shape now that the morning sickness was gone and she ate regular meals. He even indulged in her strange cravings and made sure she got what she wanted, even if he had to make a drive to Austin.
Hannah shook her head and softly answered him. She leaned against his chest and looked around the front yard filled with pretty trees. It needed some colorful flowers, but otherwise she loved his yard. “I love this time of day. The sky is so beautiful.” They had little citronella candles all along the porch to keep the mosquitoes at bay but Hannah loved the soft, golden glow of the lighted flames. “It’s so quiet and peaceful. I feel like we’re all alone in the world.”
Things had settled down after that episode with Dorothy was over. She had confessed to slashing Hannah’s tires and all the vandalism and fire at the shelter. She swore she never intended to hurt Hannah. She thought if she could get the shelter to go out of business Hannah would move away and she could have Ben all to herself. Hannah believed her and couldn’t help but feel sorry for the woman. Unrequited love was an awful feeling. Ben had recommended she get psychiatric help but it was in the hands of the court now.
Ben felt so guilty for not believing Hannah and had apologized at least twice a day until she finally convinced him to let it go. She wanted to concentrate on the future and not the past. She had learned to let go of her own fears. She and Ben had their arguments, how could they not? They both had strong opinions and wanted their own way, but she was no longer afraid they would grow to hate each other. She trusted in their love to stay strong. If they both worked at it, how could they fail? Hannah had never failed and she wasn’t going to start now. They made up as quickly as they argued and their lovemaking would turn explosive, how could she complain about that?
They had held a small wedding two weeks after Dorothy’s arrest under the weeping willow at the Lazy J with her family, friends, and Billy and Stan all in attendance. She had even worn a long white dress with short sleeves. She still refused to wear high heels and had bought new white boots instead. Grace laughed and said over dinner that she and Hannah should start a new line of wedding boots because she intended to wear some at her own wedding. What was the point of spending hours with your feet feeling so uncomfortable in high, pointy shoes that no one would see under the long wedding dress?
Ben had looked so handsome and proud in a dark, navy blue suit and crisp white shirt waiting for Hannah to walk over to him on her brother’s arm.
Pastor Jones had come out to the ranch to perform the service and the vows they said to each other still filled her with such strong emotion that she couldn’t think of it without tears of joy falling down her face. It had been a perfect day that she would never forget, even when she was old and gray. They had postponed having a honeymoon until after
the baby was born. Grace and Ida were already eagerly anxious to watch the baby while they were gone.
She could envision her kids and Grace’s kids running around the yard, playing noisily sometime in the future. She sighed happily at that thought.
“We both have tomorrow off,” Ben said and even though she wasn’t looking at him she could feel his smile. She had cut her hours down at the shelter now that the minor damage the fire had caused had been repaired by the insurance company and it was open again. Thanks to Billy and Stan they had gotten all the animals out. Amy had received her license and Hannah hired another helper, a young woman from Dallas that was looking to relocate and had been an assistant in a veterinarian’s office.
“What would you like to do? We promised Jack and Grace we’d go pick out pumpkins at the Johnson farm,” she reminded him. Halloween was right around the corner and she loved the whole spookiness and fun of the holiday. When she discovered Grace felt the same way they had screamed in excitement and started making plans to have another party at the creek complete with decorations and costumes. Ben and Jackson grumbled but wisely kept their mouths shut.
Hannah felt him nod. “Not until the evening, so I say we lock the doors and stay naked all day long.”
Hannah giggled, playing along and teasing him. “But what will we do all day long?”
He tickled her side, making her laugh. “Let me give you a preview.” He put his hand underneath her shirt and cupped her breast, playing with her nipple slowly. He loved the fact that they were so sensitive and he could drive her crazy and to orgasm just by playing with them, which he did often. He tilted her head toward him and leaned down to kiss her deeply, making her heart rate pick up speed and sound like a runaway train.
“Okay, you talked me into it,” she agreed in her Texas twang that he loved to hear.
Ben smiled contently and tightened his hold on her, feeling the happiness reach all the way down to his soul. His little Texas tornado wasn’t going anywhere. He intended to hold on to her forever.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I have always loved reading, especially romances. I believe in a happy ending and that love does indeed conquer all. Now I love writing romance stories just as much. When not writing I spend my time with family and friends. I enjoy hearing from my fans and can look me up on Facebook.
For all titles by Lee Rose, please visit
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Siren Publishing, Inc.
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