Her Choice, Forever (A Her Choice Story)

by Megan McCoy

  Neither Holly nor Meredith had fallen in love as a teenager. They were both college graduates and had been working for years before they met their loves, her brothers.

  Curious, she decided to focus on what they knew, instead of what she didn’t have. Maybe apply it to her life. Couldn’t hurt. She wasn’t doing better on her own. Meredith had been married before, even. To an alcoholic asshole jerk, as far as she could tell, who’d beaten her so badly, she’d lost their baby. Her dad had stepped up and moved her out and hired a divorce lawyer before she was even out of the hospital. She wanted to meet her dad one day; he seemed to be the kind of man she wanted. One who took care of their own, and did what needed done, despite any risks.

  “Meredith, how long before you knew Ethan was the one for you?” she asked. Might as well pass the time in the car productively, she decided. Then get all gorgeous and go back to seduce Matt. Suddenly, there was a plan in place and she felt much happier about being here.

  “Oh, Liz, I’m still not sure half the time. Ethan is wonderful, really, but I don’t want to make another mistake,” Meredith twisted her long blonde hair around her finger.

  “You’re engaged, honey,” Holly pointed to the big diamond on her finger. “Doesn’t that mean you’re a little bit sure?”

  “It should, shouldn’t it?” Meredith sighed. “I love Ethan, I really do. I just worry sometimes.” She threw a glance at Holly that Liz caught.

  “You worry because Eric bosses Holly around like she’s a puppet on a string, and you don’t want that?” Hell, might as well come out with it, Liz thought. Idiot elephants, always sitting around in the room, or the car.

  “Well. I know they are both happy, but… yeah,” Meredith said. “I don’t want that. And I don’t understand why you do.”

  Liz settled back and sipped her coffee so she wouldn’t grin. She wanted to know this, too. About damn time they had this conversation.

  Holly sighed, and seemed to contemplate. “Well. It works for us?” she said, questioningly. “If we’re being honest, and since we are all family, I’ll share. Usually this is private stuff, you know.”

  Liz and Meredith both nodded vigorously. “We understand,” Liz said. “Why do you like him being so… such… a….” Words failed her.

  “A commanding asshole?” Holly said, humor thick in her voice.

  “That works,” Meredith said, solemnly. “You know he terrified me for a long time.”

  Holly reached over and patted Meredith’s arm and Liz felt a lump rise in her throat.

  “I know. I’m so sorry about that. We actually think we’re a lot more discreet than apparently we really are,” she said.

  Liz snorted. “Yeah. No. We all know what’s going on. That he tells you what to do, and how to act, and I’m dying to know why you think being spanked is acceptable.”

  She was more than dying to know. She wanted it from the hot cowboy so badly, she could almost taste it. She hoped it would be waiting for her when she got back from her spa weekend. She wanted him to be large and in charge and in control like Eric was to Holly. She wanted to be as happy as Holly always seemed to be, and as confident in a love. Would she ever be, she wondered pathetically. She’d only met the man a few days ago. Well, maybe he would be the one to do it, but if not, she realized that was what she wanted. What Eric and Holly had. With someone, and very soon.

  “Who knows,” Holly said, in a matter of fact way. “I don’t. I just know this works for us. We’re both happy. I love the way he treats me, mostly, and I can’t imagine ever being happier than I am.”

  “I love that for you,” Meredith said. “I just can’t imagine not being terrified all the time that I’d do something wrong and be in trouble.”

  Holly paused and Liz could see her trying to choose her words. “The difference is, that when I’m in trouble with Eric, it’s my choice.”

  “What is your choice?” Meredith asked.

  “Well. I know when your asshole ex was hurting you, you couldn’t say no, could you?”

  Meredith shook her head.

  “I can. I can stop anything I want, at any time. I like this kind of relationship, and I’ve found from recent experience, I’m not happy when he’s being all equal and not bossy. I just feel better overall knowing that he’s taking care of me.” Holly said it as if she weren’t sure how the words would come across.

  “Don’t spankings hurt, though?” Liz asked. “Can’t he be the boss of you without doing that?”

  “Not if I can help it,” Holly giggled. “It seems to be something I need. Like right now, I need a pedicure. Seems we’ve been driving on this back road way longer than we were supposed to be. I thought we should have been on the interstate like an hour ago.”

  Liz looked around at all the woods, holding her now cold coffee. Putting it in the cup holder, she noted there were a lot of trees in this part of the world, obviously. It felt very peaceful and calm here, but suddenly just a bit ominous. When was the last time they’d seen a house or even power lines? It had been a while. The road that had been highway a few miles back now seemed a large one-lane road.

  Hopefully they would be on the main highway soon. She looked at the GPS and it looked as if it had frozen. “Meredith, restart the GPS. Something isn’t right,” she said, not really worried. Worst-case scenario, they’d be an hour or two late for their pampering.

  “Probably just in a place with no access,” Holly laughed. “It will pop back on pretty soon, I imagine. But can’t hurt to restart it, I guess.”

  Meredith reached up and restarted it and they all waited expectantly while it did its thing.

  “There’s nothing happening,” Meredith said, cautiously. “And we haven’t seen a house or a gas station for a long time.”

  Holly shrugged. “Well, the road has to come out somewhere. It can’t just run into nothing. As soon as we get to a town, we’ll find out where we are, and hopefully the satellite will kick back in. If not, I’ll go buy a new GPS. We got this.”

  “What?” Liz gasped in mock horror. “Buy a new thing without asking the boss man for permission or to get his sage and wise advice on what to get?”

  “I know!” Holly agreed. “It’s like I’m a woman with my own mind and money!”

  “Aren’t you worried he’ll spank you for it?” Meredith asked, biting her lip and Liz knew she was really concerned.

  “Nah, he never spanks for money stuff. Now, not paying attention and maybe getting lost? Yeah, that one might happen. But buying something I need, or even want, not even an issue. I’m pretty well spoiled,” Holly said, almost smugly.

  Liz rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I heard you bawling over his lap. Not my idea of spoiled.” And yet, suddenly it was. It was the only thing she wanted.

  “Look out!” Meredith shrieked. A deer bounded out right in front of them. Holly jerked the car, and managed to miss it.

  “Damn, that was close. I heard deer kill more people every year than any other animal in the US,” Liz said, shakily, noting her coffee had turned over, and bent over to straighten it before more spilled. “You okay, Holly?”

  Suddenly, she heard and felt a big thud, and the car went careening off the road. Her last thought before she hit her head was, “it’s always the second one that gets you.”

  Chapter Eight

  “It’s a 2013 silver Lexus,” Eric said, then rattled off the license plate number for the police. “They are almost four hours late and not one of them are answering their phones. They haven’t checked in to the hotel, either. They should have been there hours ago, even if they stopped for lunch or shopping or both. They know we were expecting their call.”

  “AAA hasn’t heard from them,” Ethan said, grimly. “That’s the first place Meredith would have called. She loves her Triple A. They’ve helped her with everything from a battery change, to a flat tire, to running out of gas. Oh, Eric, try checking your credit card? See if they charged gas or lunch and where?”

  Eric flipped his card to Ben. “I
’m on hold with the state police. Get on line and check the recent charges. Number is on the back and the password is Holly23, capital H.”

  Ben grabbed it and started punching in numbers on his phone. Eric knew he would figure out how to do it. He hoped that there was only a flat tire or long shopping spree in a mall with no Internet or something.

  However, he knew something was wrong. Holly would never let him worry this long. She knew he was expecting her call or text of arrival. So was Ethan. So was Ben. Liz wouldn’t let her kid worry for no reason. They’d all promised to check in. No one had. Something was wrong.

  “Yes?” He barked into the phone as the police came back on line. “No wrecks? No accident reports on that stretch of interstate? Who do I check with now for the Missouri line?” Scribbling down the number, his eyes flew to the cabin door that slammed open.

  “What’s going on?” Matt demanded. “Mariah said you all needed some help?” His eyes flew around the cabin, obviously looking for Liz.

  Ethan explained, “The girls were heading to St. Louis for a spa day. They’ve basically gone missing now for four hours, and we can’t get hold of them. You have any ideas to help?”

  Matt took a deep breath. “There’s some bad roads about an hour and a half from here. The GPS usually doesn’t work and if you aren’t paying attention, it’s easy to miss the turnoff to the interstate. If you miss it, there are switchback roads by the river, and some treacherous bridges and side roads. We had someone last summer go off one, and sat for two days before someone found them. I’ll get Blaze to come here and stay with Ben in case they call or come back and lets the three of us go check it out.”

  “I hope they call with a really good reason before we get there,” Eric growled, grabbing a cooler he’d packed earlier just in case he had to go. Part of his military training had been to be prepared. He liked to be ready for emergencies and always had a medical kit and some food on hand to grab. His medical kit was in the trunk of the car Holly drove.

  Matt, dialing Blaze, said, “I’m going to go up and get the shuttle van. It’s full of gas and if we need to bring everyone home… there will be room. I’ll throw an ATV in the back, just in case we need it.” Punching a number in his phone, he walked out the door, saying, “Blaze, I need you.”

  Ben looked at Eric. “Last charge on there was from here. Aunt Holly bought a sweatshirt in your size from the office. No gas, no lunch.”

  Eric nodded, feeling sick to his stomach. She only had the one credit card, and he’s given her strict instructions to use it, and not her debit card. “We are going to find your mom. Things will be fine. You know Blaze, right?”

  At Ben’s weak nod, he continued, “Okay. You are in charge of the home front. If your mom calls, you let us know. If they show up here, you let us know. One of us will be checking in with you every hour.”

  “Can’t I come with you?” Ben asked, and Eric saw the young boy he still was instead of the sullen teenager he’d been pretending to be.

  “Buddy, how are we going to know if they show up here? I really need you to stay. If we need someone with computer skills, or to get on the phone for us, I’m counting on you.”

  At Ben’s weak nod, he continued, “We will do what we can, okay? Will let you know anything as soon as we find out. I’m counting on those women calling from the hotel very soon, then you can let us know, and maybe we can still go fishing in the dark tonight like we planned.” Eric pulled his nephew into a hug.

  “I hope so,” Ben mumbled, not pushing him away, but holding him a bit desperately. Eric felt bad leaving him but knew he would be safer here.

  “Blaze is here,” Ethan said. “You going to be okay, Ben?”

  Ben nodded, frowning, as Blaze walked in the door, his strong confidence making them all feel some better.

  “Dad’s grabbing some blankets and things, and will be here in a minute with the van. Give me your numbers to put in my phone in case Ben’s dies or something.”

  Eric and Ethan quickly did as he requested and also gave him Holly, Meredith and Liz’s phone numbers. Then both gave Ben one more hug. “Plug in your phone and keep calling all three of those numbers. One of us will check in every hour with you. Call us if you hear anything. We love you, buddy. Things will be fine.”

  “Counting on it,” Ben said, gruffly, turning away.

  “I’ll take care of him, till you bring his mom home,” Blaze assured them. “Let us know as soon as you hear from them.”

  Eric looked back at the door and saw Blaze’s arm around Ben’s shoulder and felt a bit more comforted at leaving him. He didn’t know why he trusted Blaze, but he knew he did, and that Ben was in good hands.

  “Shotgun,” he said, quietly to Ethan.

  Ethan didn’t answer but opened the back door and climbed in, slamming his door in unison with Eric’s.

  Matt had the paper map out, as well as the GPS on. “Brought the paper map with the side roads in the state park marked off. Best case, they went down a side road, had car trouble of some sort and are waiting for rescue.”

  Eric knew that he, and Ethan, too, did not want to ask the question that hung in the air. “What was the worst case scenario?” No. They would know when they got there. He could handle a flat tire, or some engine trouble. Or even a smash into a tree if no one was hurt. Hell, with his Lexus. It could be replaced. Holly couldn’t.

  That was the key. He needed no one to be hurt. Eric wished he were driving. Matt wasn’t going near fast enough. He didn’t even know where they were going and knew he could get there faster.

  Matt headed out of the ranch, after calling his dad and Candy and letting them know what was going on. They would check on Blaze and Ben, and also start calling hospitals and the park rangers his dad knew. Everyone would be on alert and notified. He had a gut feeling he knew where they were though. At least the general area. He had grown up here, and had driven back and forth from St. Louis regularly, since Blaze was six. Sometimes multiple times a week, so that he wouldn’t miss any ball games or school programs. There were no back roads or no detours he didn’t know.

  Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm the two stressed out men in his car. “Hey, we’ve been in business a long time and never lost anyone,” he said, then realized how that sounded. “I’m sorry.”

  “We know,” Eric said. “Not your fault. I just wish we’d hear something.”

  “These woods, especially down by the river, there’s often no satellite, no signals, no bars, nothing. They probably can’t call. Let’s just hope for a flat or something easy to fix when we find them.”

  “Meredith has to be so scared,” Ethan said, quietly. “She’s not really strong, yet.”

  “She’s come a long way,” Eric told him. Then looked at Matt. “Meredith was in a bad relationship. Ethan has been really good for her.”

  “She’s good around me, and in her workplace, but I worry how she will handle something like this,” Ethan leaned forward, tensely.

  “She has Holly and Liz with her,” Eric reminded him. “She’s not alone. And hey, maybe they’re all sitting in a bar, having a great time, or by the side of the road with a flat and just waiting for us to show up.”

  “Yeah. I hope the latter because if it’s the former, Holly won’t sit down for a week,” Eric said, grimly.

  Matt threw him a look. “You spank your wife?”

  “Hell, yes, he does,” Ethan said, voice stressed and body almost shaking with nerves. Eric reached back and put a hand on his shoulder.

  “It’s not quite like it sounds,” Eric told Matt.

  Matt shrugged. “My dad blisters Candy’s butt often and regularly. They both seem to thrive on it. I don’t judge as long as things are consensual.” Maybe if he’d spanked Kim, she wouldn’t have left. No, he knew her issue was with place, not him. Weirdly, he flashed ahead to Liz. Did she have the spanking gene? Would he be spanking her soon? What was he thinking? Sure, he teased about it, but he never really had done it.

  �
�Okay, this is the turn for the interstate. I’m guessing they missed it and went down the river road. I’ve got the ATV in the back if someone wants to go to the interstate,” Matt didn’t turn, but kept going straight. If they had broken down on the interstate, someone would have seen them. Since no one had, including the police, he knew they were down this road. He hoped it was something minor, but realized there were a lot of other options.

  “Okay, our phones probably aren’t going to work in the next mile or so, so call Blaze and see if he’s heard anything,” Matt said in his best take charge voice.

  “I’ll call,” Eric said. “You pay attention to the road.”

  After confirming with Blaze there had been no news, they drove in tense silence for another half an hour, eyes scanning the road. Matt slowed down and rolled all the windows down. “There’s some drop offs next couple of miles.”

  They all peered out the window and in the back seat, Ethan stuck his head out the window.

  “Hey, there’s skid marks!” Eric pointed out, and Matt came to a quick stop as they jumped out of the van and looked around.

  “Over here,” Ethan called. “I think I see the car! Meredith! Holly? Liz?” He started running down the hill toward it.

  Eric and Matt turned around and headed back toward him, then down the hill, too.

  “Be careful, Ethan!” Eric called.

  “We’re right behind you!” Matt called. The car sat on an angle at the bottom of a short hill. The hood crumpled against a tree, but nothing seemed to be smoking and he didn’t smell gas.

  As they got closer, the driver door opened and Holly got out of the car. “Eric!” she called out.

  “Holly! Damn. You okay?” Matt saw Eric swoop her up.

  “I am. Meredith is hurt, though. Not serious, Ethan,” she said as he charged around the car to the passenger side.