The Cowboy Takes A Slave (Cowboys & Cowgirls) (5 page)

“I need to know.”

Lorna swallowed and repeated what she had already told Jenny. Jake was enraged. “If that son-of-a-bitch were still alive, I would have killed him myself.”

Jenny nodded, then went into his arms. “I know.”

“You know that I am not like that, right, Lorna?”

Lorna knew in her heart, but her head didn’t trust it. She didn’t answer. Jake pulled back. “You have to know that I would never do anything like tha
t. My sister. My Jennifer. She…just look at her.”

“I know. We talked.”

Jake was shocked to say the least. “She never talks to anyone.”

“She’s done, Jake. I can tell. I could see it in her eyes. She’s left him for good.”

Jake’s body shook and she could feel him tremble. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

“Are you ready to go back?” Lorna asked, reveling in the feel of being in his arms again.

“No. Why did you come back?”

All Lorna could think of is what her mom told her to say. “I…”

“Why?”

“Because, Liam…”

“You came back because you didn’t want to disappoint the kid?”

“No.”

“Did you come back because you…”

“I came back because I wanted to see where this went, I came back because I trust you, and I haven’t trusted anyone in a long time.”

Jake’s heart hammered in his chest and his hands moved up to both sides of her face and he brought her lips into his.

Chapter Five

Later that night after dinner and riding, Jake helped Lorna put Liam back into his booster seat. Surprisingly, Liam felt a little heavier. Jake could feel his age just then.

“How in the world do you do this all the time? You’re so small.”

“I am not that small,” Lorna said, laughing. “Besides, he’s sleeping. That’s the worst.”

“You are a strong woman, Lorna.”

Lorna paused at his tone and smiled. “Thanks, I try.”

“No, I mean, raising Liam by yourself. It couldn’t have been easy.”

“No, nothing ever worth it is, Jake.”

“Loving you is easy.”

Lorna gasped. Jake was standing a shoulder’s width apart from her. “You don’t love me, Jake.”

“I do.”

“It’s too soon.”

“So, how long do we give it?” Jake asked. He pulled out his cell phone and flicked the calendar app with his thumb. “When will I know for sure?”

“What’s wrong with you?” Lorna laughed.

“I told you what’s wrong with me. I’m older…I’ve never had kids, I have this big house, a good job, and plenty of time for you. How long
‘til I know for sure, Lorna?”

“I don’t know,” she said, frustrated. “It’s just too soon now.”

“So, give me a date when I should know.”

“You’re serious?”

“Yes.”

“Jake, that’s crazy. How am I supposed to know that?”

“Exactly, but you are telling me that it is too soon for me to tell, but then on the other hand you can’t tell me when I should know for sure.”

“How about a year?” Lorna breathed.

“No, that’s way too long.”

“Too long?” she said, breathlessly, as Jake pulled her into his side.

“Yes, way too long. Try again.”

“Six months?”

“Let’s see, that brings us well into the New Year. I guess.”

“What’s so special about
next year?”

“I want to be married to you by then.”

Lorna stopped dead at his words. “Married? No, Jake, I don’t ever want to be married again.”

“Everyone gets a mulligan, Lorna, or didn’t you know that?” Jake smiled, laughing at her reaction.

“A mulligan?”

“A do over. You didn’t do very well the first time, so God let you have a do over.”

Lorna couldn’t help it she snorted. “A do over. So,
you
are my do over?”

“That I am. So, I will give it six months, even though I already know that I am head over boots in love with you.”

“Head over boots?”

“I’m a cowboy.”

“Sure,” she said, laughing. She looked into the window at Liam. He was fast asleep and so sweet.

“So you agree?”

“To the do over?”

“Of course.”

“What about yours?”

“My what?”

“Your do over?”

“I am saving mine for something else.”

“What does that mean?”

“I am saving mine for when I do something stupid to make you mad—years later of course. And then
, I will use that do over to remind you that I am not perfect.”

Jake looked happy with his explanation and grinned at Lorna.

“So, I don’t get one?”

“Nope.”

“Why not?”

“You’re using yours on me. You had the worst and now you are getting the best. You are getting for keeps.”

Lorna wanted to cry. She never thought her life could be anything like what she read about in books. Jake was romantic, he was funny and he seemed to genuinely care about her. “I’d like a shot at that.”

“See, it doesn’t sound so bad.”

“No,” Lorna whispered, “It doesn’t.”

TWO HOURS LATER, LORNA was still thinking about what Jake said. She sat at the kitchen counter with a glass of milk and some leftover cookies. Liam was all snuggled in his bed and her mother was still not home from wherever she had went. “For keeps,” Lorna whispered with a sigh.

“What’s that?” Moira said, walking in the front door, hanging her coat on a peg.

“Oh, it’s just…where have you been?” Lorna asked, looking at the clock. “It’s midnight!”

“Oh, so it is,” Moira laughed. “I was at the bowling alley with Gus Lingstrom.”

“Gus? What’s that all about?”

“Well, Ms. Goody Goody, Gus asked me out on a date and I accepted.”

“How was it?”

“I know my daughter isn’t asking me about my beaus!  Remember how you were earlier about Jake? Well, I do… someone wouldn’t give any details!”

Lorna laughed. “Well I don’t want details, Mother, I was just asking how it was.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean how
it
was, I meant…” Lorna covered her face.

Moira laughed. “It was fine. We bowled, ate a hotdog or two, had a few beers and then played pinball. Gus is wonderful at pinball. And now you see me, no kiss, but he said that he is saving
that for our second date.”

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

T
hree 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. The
y’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, trying 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.