by Vivian Arend
Another crash echoed as the bathroom window was destroyed. If he didn’t go out, Simon was likely to take out every single piece of glass in the house. Gage pointed firmly at Katy. “Stay here, and get the RCMP.”
He opened the door cautiously, glancing around the corner to make sure Simon wasn’t waiting to jump him.
The man stood a few feet from the house, his truck pushed through the snow bank with its high-beam lights directed into the busted windows. Simon roared obscenities, hurling a beer can that bounced off the wood siding and disappeared into the shadows.
“Hey,” Gage shouted. “Stop that, you asshole.”
Simon whipped his head toward Gage. “Son of a bitch. There you are. Don’t try anything with me. I know all about you, and you’re not going to hurt Katy.”
“Of course I’m not going to hurt her. What the hell are you doing? Coming out here—”
“Murderer,” Simon shrieked.
Gage’s stomach fell.
Simon stomped forward, his hands balled into fists. “Did some looking into you, mystery man. Think you can come in here and steal my woman?”
“She’s not your woman. I didn’t steal—” Gage jerked aside to avoid the fist Simon threw at him.
“Stop, Simon.” Katy stood on the front porch, shouting a warning. “Leave. I called the police.”
“Good. They can take away this murderer and keep you safe.” Simon attempted to dodge past Gage only to be caught by the shoulder and whipped around.
“Don’t go near her,” Gage ordered.
“Or what? You’ll kill me too? Did you tell Katy about that? How you killed your own father?”
Stunned by the words, Gage never saw it coming. Pain exploded in his jaw as Simon’s fist connected with his face. Pain shot through his mind as what Simon was shrieking registered as well.
All the air rushed from his gut as Simon landed another blow. Gage folded around the other man’s fist as he attempted to break free. He lashed out at Simon, fists and forearms meeting, the icy-cold air around them clouding as Simon continued to scream insults.
Gage saved his breath, backing up enough to get the space he needed to strike. A new kind of pain blossomed, this time in his knuckles as his fist connected with Simon’s face and sent him staggering.
The world slowed to here and now. Gage’s ribs and face took a beating as he worked to keep Simon from approaching the house any farther. He wasn’t trying to take the man down, but to protect Katy. Or at least that was his main motivation. He couldn’t deny the small part inside pleased to be inflicting pain on his rival.
The headlights spotlighted their macabre dance.
“You plan on hurting Katy, you’re going to have to go through me.” Simon lunged forward and drove Gage to the ground.
Snow stuck instantly to his bare arms and the back of his neck, but he was more worried about flying fists. He roared as he reared upward, slamming a hand against Simon’s chest and exchanging their positions. One more blow to Simon’s face and the man rolled to protect himself. Gage used the momentum to flip Simon to his stomach, then scrambled on top and trapped Simon’s hands behind his back.
Gage paused, breathing heavily. Ready to do more, but willing to stop as long as Simon didn’t move an inch. “Stay put until the police get here.”
Simon glared, his one cheek shoved into the snowy ground. He was red-eyed and furious, and alcohol fumes rose off him in waves. “Killed your own father. You think I’m going to allow my kid anywhere near you?”
“Shut up,” Gage ordered.
Sirens whistled in the background, growing closer.
Simon raised his voice. “Ask him, Katy. Ask him what happened to his dad. Then ask yourself if you should be with him or me. I love you, Katy. I’ll take care of you.”
Gage resisted the urge to stuff Simon’s mouth with snow, instead adjusting position and making sure Simon’s hands were firmly pinned in place.
Two RCMP cruisers pulled into the yard, sirens silenced but the red and blue lights on top flashing a mad display. The officers raced up about the time Katy’s dad arrived from his rooms above the garage.
Voices and shouting continued. A whirl of motion and forceful commands. Gage backed off Simon, holding his hands in the air to reassure the cops.
“He attacked me,” Simon roared. “Make sure he doesn’t go near Katy. I’m telling you, he’s a killer.”
His shouts only cut off when he was finally stuffed into the back of a RCMP cruiser, and the door closed on him.
Two officers broke apart from the others to return to Gage. One wore a familiar face. Anna Coleman. Hard to believe one of the kids he’d gone to school with was now part of the local police force.
She looked him over carefully. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
She glanced up at the house, then back at her team. “We’ll get their statements. You take Simon in.”
Katy’s feet were freezing, but she wasn’t moving from her position on the front porch until Gage was back in the house and Simon was gone. Hopefully to hell.
Her father wrapped an arm around her. “Come on, baby. Come inside. It won’t help anything if you get sick.”
She still waited just inside the door until an officer led Gage into the house. He was bleeding from a cut along his jaw, but throwing herself into his arms and clinging tight was as necessary as breathing.
Gage clutched her to himself, whispering soothingly as he stroked her hair. “It’s okay. He’s gone, and you’re safe.”
He repeated it over and over, as if reassuring himself.
Anna interrupted with a soft cough. “I need to find out what happened.”
Katy refused to let go of Gage’s hand, sitting next to him on the couch while her dad settled in a chair to one side. Gage repeated what had happened, and Anna took notes, her partner leaving the room to examine the bedroom at one point.
“You have any contact with Simon in the past few days?” she asked Katy once the initial questions were over.
She shook her head. “I told him last month that until there was some proof of paternity, I wasn’t interested in a relationship with him anymore.”
“What about you, Gage? Any contact or trouble?” Anna asked.
Gage paused for so long Katy stiffened. Had something happened she didn’t know about? But it was a completely different track Gage rushed down.
“I haven’t seen him, but there’s some bad blood between us. We’ve had a few clashes before.”
“Enough that he’d accuse you of potentially hurting Katy?”
“I think he went looking back into my history.” His fingers around hers tightened as he turned to face her. “When my dad went crazy and started hitting my mom, I didn’t know what to do. I remember rushing up and shouting at him, trying to get him to stop, but he was so furious, he wasn’t hearing anything. He backhanded me hard enough I got knocked aside.”
He wouldn’t meet her eyes, staring at the floor as he continued. “I couldn’t stop him, but I couldn’t let him keep hurting her, so I ran to the truck. His gun was in the window rack, and I grabbed it, thinking the sight of it might scare him off. But he ignored me, and when my mom started screaming, I…I swung at him, using the gun like a club.”
Katy’s fingers had gone as icy cold as the rest of her. “What happened?”
Gage ignored the RCMP sitting across from them, ignored her father listening to every word. Focused completely on her as if willing her to understand. “He wouldn’t stop hitting her, Katy. Even after the first time I hit him with the gunstock. So I swung again, and again, until he turned his attention off her and onto me. Only then I already had the gun in motion, and it hit him in the side of the head. He finally went down. It was an accident, but it wasn’t, because I wish I would have done it sooner to have given my mom a chance.”
Keith Thompson swore lightly. “And that killed him?”
Gage nodded.
Katy sat silently for a moment, trying t
o take it in. No one spoke. No one moved.
He lifted his head, and his eyes were haunted.
“None of this is on your record, correct?” Anna asked.
“No. It went through the juvenile courts, and it was also considered self-defense, but it doesn’t change the fact. Simon wasn’t lying about that one part—I did kill my father.”
The RCMP took more notes, asked more questions, but Katy’s brain kept repeating on an endless loop the story Gage had shared, tonight and a month ago. So much sadness he’d had to endure at such a young age. Such a horrifying and violent loss.
Gage touched her arm and she jerked upright with a gasp.
“Sorry, but they asked you a question.”
“Do you want me to start an emergency restraining order against Simon?” Anna asked.
Sheer relief rushed her. “Whatever it takes so I don’t have to see him again.”
Anna nodded. “I’ll get things together for you. Come by the office first thing in the morning. I assume you’ll press charges for tonight?”
“Definitely.” Keith Thompson spoke up. “If you need anything regarding that, contact me.”
The RCMP left first. Keith disappeared briefly only to come back shaking his head. “You kids can’t stay here. Go to Gage’s—I’ll cover the windows, and we’ll clean the rest tomorrow.”
If she’d been numb before, by the time they were at Gage’s place Katy was a walking zombie, only every time she tried to relax she heard glass shattering or Simon shouting.
Gage pulled her closer as they lay in his bed. “You want a hot drink or something to help you relax?”
She shook her head, not sure if he could see it in the dark. “Nothing.”
He stroked her back softly, trying to soothe her. He had to be hurting from the punches Simon had gotten in, but he didn’t say a word about it. He focused on something different. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the entire story before.”
God. “I understand it would have been tough to talk about, and I’m not mad. I’m just sorry Simon went crazy like that tonight—it must have been terrible for you.”
“I was worried about you.”
She squeezed him hard. “I know, but…I’m sorry if it brought back bad memories. Of your mom and dad.”
“Oh, Katy.” He kissed her tenderly. “That’s the least of my concerns right now. I’m a grown-up and I’ve moved on. I was afraid that I might have my father’s temper, but I’ve chosen to be different. I’m not afraid to fight to defend someone I care about, but I won’t go too far.”
Confusion and fear and exhaustion mixed together, and made her brain more tangled than clear. “I’m not even sure what I’m saying anymore, except I hate that I was the cause of a fight.”
He curled himself around her, but his body had tightened. “I’ll never sit back and allow you to be hurt, Katy. I’m going to protect you, no matter what the cost to me.”
Her throat tightened at the enormousness of that statement.
A strange sensation hit her belly. She slipped her hands down, tilting her hips back slightly to be able to cup the growing baby.
“Katy, you okay?”
“Wait…”
It happened again, and she wasn’t sure if she was about to laugh or cry. “The baby moved.”
Gage’s much-bigger hand slid over hers as their voices stilled, and she waited for another nudge from within. Silence surrounded them until all she heard was their even breathing and the light buzz from the distant refrigerator.
A faint motion. Rolling or wiggling. Now that the sensation had repeated, she realized this wasn’t the first time. What changed was her awareness of her baby making itself known. She shifted her hand out of the way to direct Gage’s palm directly over the most active spot.
Gage held his breath. Another flutter went off, and he made a noise. “That’s… Wow.”
His huge hand that lay so tenderly over her belly had been curled into a fist to defend her only an hour earlier. Strength and softness. Power and control.
A shiver rocked her at the anger Simon had shown—how out of control and dangerous he’d been.
Gage adjusted position, spooning her back into his warmth, instinctively knowing she needed the comfort. “I’ll take care of you, Katy. You and the baby.”
Katy clung to his words, fighting the lingering fear that they hadn’t seen the last of their troubles.
15
Timing for the May long-weekend fair and picnic was nearly perfect. Local ranchers and farmers were done enough of the spring planting to take a moment and actually relax. The rest of Rocky Mountain House that could shut down for part of the day did, and the weather usually cooperated.
It was one of Katy’s favourite community events. Like hibernating animals crawling from their dens to discover the world had become shiny and fresh all over again.
She was more like a bloated balloon than a thin blade of spring grass, but getting to ditch the heavy winter coat and boots at least made her a few pounds lighter. The baby was taking up more and more room in the bulkhead that had become her stomach, but her changing body didn’t bother her too much. The kid needed room to grow, yet the timing for her due date meant she wouldn’t be hauling a huge belly around all hot, sweaty summer long.
Or maybe best of all? Gage didn’t seem to mind one bit. He’d been attentive and caring, and oh-my-gawd intensely involved for the last three months.
She’d been surprised when her interest in sex hadn’t decreased as her girth widened, but maybe the nonstop caresses and massages had something to do with that.
He’d all but moved in with her. Fixed the damages caused by Simon then they’d both set out to ignore the other man. The restraining order had been a sad but necessary step.
Gage paced beside her, his fingers linked through hers as they strolled the fairgrounds, the scent of buttery popcorn and new-mown grass mixing into a sort of holiday-themed perfume.
“Move over, dude.” Janey shoved her way between them, linking her hands over both their elbows. “I take it we won’t be attempting any ride records on the Zipper this year, hey, Katy?”
Oh, lordy, no. “I can only imagine what that would do to the kid. If you want to challenge your stomach, sweet-talk someone else into riding with you.”
Janey squeezed her arm. “Perfect. That’s what I hoped you’d say.”
She stepped forward, boldly tugging Gage with her.
“Hey.” He resisted her takeover. “Not me.”
Katy laughed. “Go on if you want to. I’ll wander for a bit.”
“Nope. I’m here with you,” Gage insisted. His eyes lit with mischief. “Hey, Len. You still scared of heights?”
Her brother sauntered into view, corndog in one hand, burger in the other. “You smoking something funny over here? I’m not afraid of heights.”
“Good to hear.” Gage darted a quick glance at Katy. “Then you can take Janey on the Zipper.”
Janey dug her fingers into Gage’s side briefly, and Katy attempted not to laugh out loud. She joined him in the tease, complete seriousness in her voice. “That’s a good idea. I usually ride with her, but this year the poor girl is simply lost without me.”
“With friends like you two, who needs enemies?” Janey muttered. Then she turned her bright smile on Len. “So, whad’ya say? Shall we go flip ourselves around and show the teenagers how it’s done?”
Len gave them a dirty look before gesturing Janey ahead of him toward the fair rides set up in the corner of the grounds.
Katy and Gage managed to wait until the other two were out of hearing range before bursting into laughter. “That was sheer brilliance,” Katy praised him.
Gage caught her fingers in his. “Len likes her. I don’t know what his problem is.”
“Janey’s a bit…exuberant at times. Bet they’ll figure it out eventually.” Katy got sidetracked by the sight of an art display. “Come on, I want to look closer at this.”
One of the locals who ha
d an art studio had displays of her work set up on easels, and Katy slipped in closer to chat with Ashley for a while. The other woman had far more experience, with an art show or two under her belt. Katy loved that there were people she could turn to for help as her new interests continued to grow.
Gage let her go, striding over to the next tent where a group of guys had gathered to shoot the breeze.
Ashley smiled. “Hey, good to see you again. Name is Ashley if you’ve lost it.”
Katy accepted a brief hug. “You’re so lovely. Also, thank you for not saying, ‘Haven’t you had that baby yet?’ People should have to give me a quarter every time they mutter that phrase.”
“You’re not ready to pop,” Ashley teased.
“Four weeks left.” Katy admired the painting in front of her, with two cowboys sitting easily on the backs of their horses. “Your work is amazing.”
The woman grinned harder. “I have great inspiration.”
They both turned without a word to stare across the yard. Katy took a moment to admire Ashley’s men, Travis and Cassidy, but her gaze moved quickly to Gage. “I’ll say. I think I need to suggest another practice session of nude sketches. To work on my anatomy lines.”
Ashley chuckled. “Dirty girl. I knew I liked you for a reason.”
They exchanged smiles then visited for a bit longer before Katy wandered off. Gage was still busy talking to his friends, so she waited outside the cookhouse and chatted with the ladies there. Familiar faces—at times names eluded her, but her problem didn’t bother her nearly so much anymore.
The people who mattered knew how to help her, and the people who didn’t know, she got around.
Life had changed a lot since the previous fall. The kid rolling awkwardly inside her was only part of it as elbows or knees dug into her bladder at the most inopportune moments.
It was bigger things. She was more confident than she used to be. More determined to do what was right for her and the baby. More in tune with the man who had come into her life in a powerful way.
He watched her. All the time Gage laughed and joked with his friends, he kept an eye on Katy. Loving the moments where she smiled in response to a comment, her entire face shining with happiness and joy.
