Marie, Laura - Miss: Never Gonna Love Again [The Miss: Series] (BookStrand Publishing Romance)

by Laura Marie

  * * * *

  Julianna cried as Rooster took a bullet to his shoulder and fell into the snow.

  Before Julianna could react, Lawrence was pulling her up off the ground, ripping her sweater in the process.

  She fell to the ground a few times as he kicked her legs, and she covered her belly.

  “Get up! You’re coming with me now.” He pulled her up by her hair as she screamed out in pain.

  Lawrence pulled her to a truck by the side of the building and pushed her inside. “You drive, so I can keep an eye on you,” he ordered as she slid over to the driver’s side. The keys were in the ignition, so she started the engine.

  “Stop! Police!” Johnny yelled as he pointed his gun at the truck.

  Lawrence fired his weapon, just missing Johnny.

  Julianna screamed as she watched him fall to the ground through the back window of the truck.

  “No, Lawrence. Don’t shoot him!”

  “Then drive!”

  * * * *

  Johnny got up and ran after the truck. There was no way he would catch them on foot.

  The sound of a horn and tires screeching caught his attention. As he looked up, he saw Lou Black driving his sheriff’s truck and two other deputies behind him in police cruisers.

  “Let’s go!” He jumped in and off they went after Julianna and Lawrence.

  “They’re headed out of town. He has Julianna driving,” Johnny stated.

  “Well, good then. She’ll ditch the truck quickly in this type of weather.”

  “What?” Johnny asked.

  “Well, the last damn snowstorm, her luck with pickup trucks wasn’t good.”

  “Shit, Dad…now is not the time to tease. He’s going to kill her.”

  “You’re hurt,” Lou stated as he looked at Johnny’s bloody arm.

  “Just grazed. No big deal. There they are!” Johnny yelled as they caught sight of the blue pickup truck.

  * * * *

  “Lose them or I kill them both,” Lawrence stated as he moved closer to Julianna.

  “I missed you, princess. We have so much catching up to do.” He cupped her breast where her sweater had ripped, and Julianna cringed then swerved.

  “Don’t touch me!”

  “Oh, I’m going to do more than touch you. Once your punishment is over for cheating on me, I’m going to make up for lost time, so lose them,” he ordered as he glided his hand between her legs while he pressed the gun against her stomach.

  Julianna swallowed hard. The baby. I need to focus on the baby.

  Julianna pressed down on the gas pedal. The roadways were already covered with snow, and more snow was falling from the sky. The weather forecasters predicted at least six inches, but not for another hour. Once again, they were dead wrong.

  * * * *

  “What the hell is she doing? She can’t drive at that speed in this. She’ll get herself killed,” Johnny stated as he watched the speedometer in his truck increase to seventy miles per hour.

  “She’s going to crash the truck, son,” Lou stated as his own truck began to swerve.

  “Why the hell would she do that?”

  “To stop Lawrence and give us time to—”

  Before Lou could finish his sentence, another truck was heading toward Lawrence and Julianna’s truck and was swerving out of control.

  They watched in slow motion as Julianna swerved to avoid the out-of-control truck and hit the side of it.

  Both vehicles reared off the road and into the embankment.

  As they approached with the other police cruisers behind them, Lawrence was pulling Julianna out of the truck. Her head was bleeding, but she was fighting his attempt to pull her along with him.

  “It’s over, Lawrence. Let her go!” Johnny yelled, gun drawn along with his dad and the two deputies.

  “Fuck you, Sheriff! She’s mine!” he stated as he pointed the gun at Julianna and prepared to fire.

  “No!” Julianna screamed as she tackled Lawrence to the snow. The gun fell from his hand, and they struggled for possession of it.

  He hit her repeatedly, but she wouldn’t budge until finally Lawrence straddled her and held her by the throat. Just as she felt herself losing the fight, two shots rang out, hitting Lawrence and sending him into the snow beside her.

  * * * *

  “Oh Jesus, Jules! What the hell were you thinking tackling him?” Johnny asked as he caressed her cheek and absorbed the sight of her injuries.

  “Are you okay, honey?” he asked as she closed her eyes and cried.

  “The ambulance is on its way,” Lou stated as he knelt down in the snow next to Julianna, after checking to see if Lawrence was breathing.

  “Great shot, Pa,” Johnny stated as he carefully pulled Julianna into his arms.

  “You too, son.”

  “Are you hurt badly, Jules?” Johnny asked as he began to lift her.

  “Where’s Lawrence?” she asked as her eyes began to close.

  “Dead, baby…He’ll never hurt you again,” Johnny said as Julianna passed out.

  Chapter 21

  Julianna woke up to people whispering and the low sounds of a distant heart beat. The “whoosh, whoosh” sound was loud and strong.

  Slowly she opened her eyes and realized she was in a hospital. Johnny was talking to the doctor, and Aunt Ellie and Uncle Roy were there.

  Dread filled her core as she instantly thought about the last time she was in the hospital and losing the baby.

  She grabbed her stomach.

  “No!” she cried out loud, and everyone turned to look at her.

  “Julianna. Jules, it’s okay. Everything is fine,” Johnny stated as he hugged her and caressed her cheek.

  He covered her hand with his own that lay over her belly.

  They locked gazes.

  “The babies are fine, darlin’. Our babies are strong and perfect, just like their momma.” He kissed her forehead, and she closed her eyes.

  “Thank God,” she whispered as the tears continued to flow. “Wait. Did you say babies?” she asked as her voice cracked.

  Johnny smiled from ear to ear.

  “Yes, darlin’, babies. Listen,” Johnny whispered.

  “Do you hear that sound, Jules? That ‘whoosh, whoosh’ sound and the echo of another are our babies’ heartbeats. They’ve been monitoring them since you arrived. Isn’t it beautiful, Jules?” Johnny asked as his eyes filled up with tears.

  “It sure is beautiful. Twins? My God, Johnny.”

  He squeezed her hand.

  “How are you feeling, Julianna?” the doctor asked as she tried to focus on him.

  “My head hurts a lot, and I can’t see too well out of my eyes.”

  “You have a concussion, honey, from the car accident, and a black eye and bruising from…”

  Julianna let the tears flow as she began to remember what happened. Lawrence was dead. He had hit her so many times. She must look like a boxer who lost a match.

  “How are Beverly and Rooster?” she asked.

  “They’re doing well. Beverly is home resting with a nice headache, but the baby is fine, and Rooster was shot in the shoulder, but it went straight through. He’s right down the hall,” Uncle Roy added as he took her hand.

  “Thank God you’re okay,” Aunt Ellie stated with tears flowing.

  “I love you, guys. I’m sorry that Lawrence came after me again.”

  Johnny tilted her chin up toward him.

  “It’s not your fault, and it’s all over. So rest, honey. We have a wedding to get ready for.”

  Julianna smiled.

  “Come closer, Sheriff,” she whispered, and Johnny moved closer.

  “I love you. Thanks for coming after me.”

  He kissed her lips, and she cringed a little from the pain.

  “Sorry, honey. I love you, too.”

  Epilogue

  December 24th, Christmas Eve in Claire County, Texas

  Sheriff Johnny Black stood in the office, looking
out the main window. His heart soared at the sight. All the townspeople, and even strangers who visited, joined in to create a winter wonderland and a memorable wedding for Julianna and Johnny.

  Word spread about what had happened and also the miracle of not only one, but two babies growing inside of Julianna. An instant family is what they would have, and he was overjoyed and excited.

  He glanced outside, and he saw all the people, some new friends and some old friends who had been there to welcome him back after the war and offer any help or just company.

  Johnny had been a different person then. He was angry, mean, and had even fooled himself into believing he was content and destined to be alone.

  He looked at the street lights on Main before the post office and the diner.

  That day, he saw some city gal sitting still at a green light staring at him with big brown eyes and a sadness that took his own breath away. He never believed in love at first sight or immediate attraction that would last more than a few hours or a weekend until seeing Julianna.

  He scared her speechless, pissed her off just by showing up at the ranch, yet still, he fell in love with her. They both had their scars from life experiences, they both were on the path to healing and recovering, but somehow they became one another’s strength.

  He couldn’t imagine life without her, he just couldn’t.

  “You’re going to miss your own wedding if you keep staring there in a daze, boy!” Lou stated, and as he turned around he saw his Pa wearing a black suit with a black bow tie. Never in a million years could he imagine his dad in something like that.

  “You look great, Pa.”

  “I sure as shit do! Now let’s get moving. I wanna make this wedding official and all so you can’t screw it up.”

  Johnny chuckled as he and his Pa headed out the door and to the gazebo in the center of town.

  * * * *

  Julianna held the tears in her eyes at the sight before her. The ride into town in the drawn horse-and-buggy with her aunt and uncle was memorable. The air was cool, and there was not a chance of snow in the forecast, as usual.

  Julianna smiled. The whole center of town was filled with people all decked out in aqua blue formal wear. It was like a snowflake dance in school where everyone wore white, silver, or baby blue. Except this time she would be the only one wearing white.

  There were lights in the shape of snowflakes, strung from building to building. They gave the appearance of snowflakes falling freely from the sky. It was breathtaking.

  As she approached, the crowd parted, and instantly she saw Johnny standing with his Pa by the gazebo. Her heart hammered in her chest. He was dressed all in black except for the blue and white snowflake-covered bow tie. That must have taken some serious convincing on someone’s part to get Johnny to wear it.

  She smiled wide as Uncle Roy helped her down off the carriage.

  * * * *

  The crowd gasped in delight at her gorgeous gown. Johnny took in the sight of his wife-to-be and the gorgeous, slim-fitting white sequined gown she wore. She looked stunning with her hair half pulled up with curls and crystal snowflakes while the rest cascaded down her back and under the veil.

  Although he couldn’t see her face from where he stood, he knew she was smiling. He could feel it in his heart.

  The music began to play as Julianna, escorted by her aunt and uncle, walked down the aisle.

  The ceremony continued, and just before the priest announced them husband and wife, the clock began to chime twelve times, officially making it Christmas day.

  “You may kiss your bride,” the priest stated, and Johnny lifted the veil to see his gorgeous wife smiling wide and her eyes aglow with happiness.

  “I love you, Jules,” he whispered.

  “I love you, Sheriff,” she replied, and then they kissed one another tenderly as the last few chimes rang out and the crowd yelled and cheered, “Merry Christmas.”

  THE END

  www.lauramariehenion.com

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Laura Marie is an imaginative dynamic author of suspense and romance fiction. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America.

  She has obtained many of her ideas and accurate information from family members, friends and law enforcement personnel. Laura has always had an interest in the law enforcement field and enjoys creative writing.

  As a young adult, she created short stories and poetry to share with her family and friends. Laura integrated her creative writing skills in her professional career as both a sales center manager and a social worker.

  Laura is also the office manager for her husband's business and a mom of three.

  She loves working with people and believes this stems from both her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work as well as her strong, law enforcement family background.

  These factors add to the authenticity of her stories and the true to life qualities of her characters.

  She continues to work on multiple manuscripts including the new MISS SERIES exclusively with Siren BookStrand.

  www.BookStrand.com