by K. C. Crowne
“Sure, let them in,” I said slowly.
A few minutes later, my mom rushed in the door followed by my father.
“How did you guys know I was here?”
“The whole town's talking,” Mom said, stepping up to my side, next to Eli.
“What are they saying?”
“Mostly that Peter was hauled away in cuffs after trying to choke you. I’d been trying to reach you, but wasn’t getting a response, and one of the ladies in my book club said she saw you coming in here.”
Small towns. Gotta love em.
“Are you okay?” my father asked. “Did he hurt you?”
“Or the baby?” Mom asked.
“What? How did you know? Alexis?” My sister never told anyone my secrets before, why now?
“Oh honey, if you don’t think I noticed you turning the wine down at dinner, plus the natural glow you have going on right now… No, no one had to tell me anything.” My mom offered a proud smirk, and I had to admit, I was impressed. Not that I should have been surprised.
“So are you okay?” Dad asked again.
“Yeah, everything seems fine. I’m being released,” I said. I quickly added, “And as far as they can tell, the baby is fine too. We’ll do a follow-up ultrasound back in Liberty in a couple weeks just to be sure.”
“You’re going back to Utah?” Mom asked.
Eli looked down at me. “You don’t have to, you know. I am willing to move back here if you’d like to raise our family in Red River.”
I shook my head. “You have your life there - your brothers, your property with a new home being built, and the business you’re planning to start, which I think is amazing, Eli.”
“But this isn’t just about what’s best for me,” Eli said.
“I know, and I’ve considered that. I just think-- well, unlike San Diego, Liberty has grown on me. It’s the type of small town we grew up in, and I don’t think this is the place for me anymore. I can’t explain it, it’s just not the same.”
I turned to my parents. “I will be back to visit, obviously. And I want you to be involved in our child’s life. I just-- I don’t think my home is here anymore.”
“Are you sure?” Eli asked me. “Because last time you uprooted your life for me, well, we know what happened.”
“I know, this time is different. I’m not just doing it for you, I’m doing it for me too. And I’m going to be honest, there’s partially a selfish reason for me doing this too. I know about your business plan, and I want to get in on that, Eli. I want to help. My dream is to build community gardens where people can grow their own food, and I want to help those in need through this - just like you. I think we can work together.”
Eli leaned forward and kissed me. “I think that’s a wonderful idea.”
“As long as you’re happy and healthy, that’s all I care about,” my dad said.
My mom added. “Me too. I know it sometimes doesn’t feel that way, but I want you to do what you want in life, Charlotte.”
“Thank you both. For everything,” I said.
Epilogue
Charlotte
Epilogue
Charlotte
Several weeks later
I’d located a very good obstetrician thanks to Penny’s suggestion. Once we got back to Liberty, I made an appointment, and set everything up. I had a dating scan set up, and we’d finally get to see the baby.
I counted down the days and the weeks until we could do that. I was likely being overly cautious, trying to avoid all stressors, because even though I knew the doctor was likely right, I still feared that anything I did could result in us losing the baby. Eli was more than happy to wait on me hand and foot, if necessary, too.
It was definitely different this time around. I wasn’t alone. Hell, I hardly got any alone time at all, which I wasn’t complaining about.
Eli was with me almost round-the-clock. And the brother’s wives, all of them were fantastic. They helped me out, offered me tips, gave me their old maternity clothes, and offered me hand-me-down baby clothes and toys for when the baby came.
And the brothers were great too. It was like old times again, like I had never left, and I was welcomed back into the family. Mrs. Harvey told me that it was exactly the way it should be, and she knew that Eli and I were always meant to be together.
Even Graham came around - he apologized for being cold with me, and I told him that I understood. He was protective of his family, and that was exactly the type of family I wanted my child to grow up in - one where the members looked out for each other.
And Liberty was such a charming little town that had no intentions of changing. The small businesses that dotted Maine Street were likely to be there for decades to come. Sure, maybe they’d switch hands or be passed down to children and grandchildren, but the fact was, Liberty held strongly to their small-town values. Which is what I had missed all those years ago when moving to the big city, and later, even as I lived in my own small town.
The day of the dating scan approached, and I was nervous, but I wasn’t alone.
Eli was by my side as the sweet doctor looked over the ultrasound.
“Is everything okay?” I asked after she seemed to study them for longer than usual.
“Oh yes, everything is fine. The heartbeats are strong,” she said.
I picked up on that little nuance. “Heartbeats? As in… more than one?”
“Mmhmm, yes, I just wanted to be sure, but here, let me show you,” she said, pointing at the screen. “This is baby A right here, and just behind him or her, you can see another sac which is baby B.”
Eli’s hand seemed to tremble in mine, or maybe it was my own.
“So we’re having twins?” I asked. Just to be sure.
“Congratulations,” the doctor said, her smile wide. “I know it probably comes as a shock, and there are special risk factors we will want to watch out for, but from what I can see, both babies are right on track and healthy.”
Two babies. I wasn’t even sure I could carry one to term, and now I had the added risk of two?
“I know this is a lot to take in,” the doctor said. “But we will be monitoring you the entire time.”
“And you won’t be alone,” Eli said next to me. He sounded calmer than me, perhaps because his family seemed to have a history of multiples. Seriously, what kind of luck was that?
Twins. I was having twins.
Scratch that, we were having twins.
I looked up at Eli, hoping to see joy on his face, and I wasn’t disappointed. He had tears in his eyes, and a smile that spread across his entire face. He leaned down and kissed my lips.
“We’re having twins,” he whispered to me. “Twins, Charlotte. Can you believe it?”
And I had to admit, no, I couldn’t believe it.
Had you asked me a year before if I’d be having a baby with my high school sweetheart, the man that I had left and never got over, I would have called you crazy.
But there I was.
And even though I was scared like hell, I had to admit, I couldn’t be happier.
This concludes your story - but I’ve got some awesome news. You can experience the love and excitement of Charlotte and Eli's wedding day! I'm offering a FREE exclusive extended epilogue of their magical dream wedding day not shared elsewhere, and you can access it by signing up to my email list HERE for your copy now.
There’s even more great news. For a limited time, you are able to snag the pre-order for the next book in my Mountain Men of Liberty series, Mountain Man’s Treasure, for the special launch price of 99 cents HERE. Prices always go up after launch so don’t miss out. This is one is Declan’s story! Snag your pre-order TODAY.
Delivering His Gifts (Preview)
"What do you mean my babies are coming out early?!?"
How did I get myself into this mess?
1. A wicked snowstorm.
2. Stranded in the middle of the mountains.
3. Twin babies tha
t want out NOW.
4. Absolutely NO doctor in sight. FML!!
Dear Santa, This is NOT what I meant when I prayed for a memorable Christmas!!
Prologue
My hand grazed his crotch, bringing a low groan from his lips.
My eyes widened as I felt the size of him through his pants.
My Lord, I thought, I want this man so much. I could feel the heat growing between my thighs, the need to have him inside me taking over, making me forget about anything and everything else in that moment.
I had made it very clear that yes, I wanted this. It had been so long since I’d been with anyone.
Five years of denying myself the touch of a man, and suddenly, there was this hot as hell mountain man looking my way and I threw myself at him.
Before I knew what was happening, He had lifted me into the cab of his truck. His strong hands picked me up as if I weighed nothing at all. He joined me in the truck, sitting in the driver’s side, but I wasn’t in the passenger seat for long. I straddled him, my hands pawing at his jeans. He helped me remove them, sliding them down just enough for his cock to bounce free.
I gasped, a tightness low in my belly screaming.
You need him inside you right this second.
I was thankful for the sundress I’d chosen, as it allowed easy access. His fingers pushed my panties aside, and I was on top of him, feeling his tip pressing against my opening.
And then I slid down, my body stretching to take him inside.
My nails dug into his back as I settled down on him, getting used to the new sensations inside my body.
And damn, did it feel so good.
My toes curled and it was like my body was on fire.
He took my face in his hands, staring deep into my eyes as I began rocking back and forth, slowly at first. I’d never been with a man so big, and the way he felt against the walls of my body… It was almost too much for me. I could feel the pleasure building already.
His mouth found my neck, dotting kisses as I rode him.
He nibbled gently on the flesh, his hungry hands moving over every inch of my body, helping to guide me as I bounced on him.
“Yes, yes,” I whimpered as pleasure ripped through my body. My head fell backward, and I screamed his name as I experienced the most intense orgasm of my life.
Just like that, I had forgotten where we were, the public nature of our exploits, and let myself go, coming harder than I had ever come before.
His fingers teased my nipples, playing with them through the flimsy material of my dress. It was like a straight line from my nipples to my clit, causing me to shudder as I rode him harder and faster than before.
After the first orgasm, I thought I might be tired or ready to stop, but I only wanted more.
And I wanted to make him feel as good as he made me feel.
Mason
Oh hell no.
I took in a deep breath and sighed as I stared at the overgrown grass leading to the old man’s house.
I’d have to do something about the grass soon. I would come by later in the week since I was just dropping off groceries that day.
As I walked up the stairs, I noticed one of the steps felt a little shaky. The old man didn’t go out too often, but when he did, he always refused help.
The last thing I wanted was to come over and find him on the ground because the stair broke beneath his feet. Damn, I’d have to fix that as well.
“Guys like him deserve better,” I muttered to myself regarding the veteran living in the poor excuse for a home. I carefully walked toward the front door of the man’s house.
I tried to come by every few days to check on him, but obviously I’d need to make sure his house was in good repair, which meant more than a quick visit.
In the distance, I heard a loud popping sound. Memories flooded back to me, and I had to remind myself that I wasn’t in Afghanistan.
I was in Liberty, Utah, nowhere near the desert.
Another popping sound echoed, and I recognized it as firecrackers. Ahh summer, I thought, when everyone and their brother lit off fireworks, even though it wasn’t Fourth of July for a few more weeks.
Ironic enough, it was a veteran’s worst nightmare.
I searched the area, my eyes falling on two teens down the street. Just a couple of kids, likely bored and intending no harm. I scoffed to myself, remembering a time when I was just like them. Carefree.
I continued up the steps, stomping on the wooden porch near the door before knocking, my way of letting the old man know someone was there so I didn’t startle him.
“Calvin,” I called as I placed my hand against the heavy wood of his door. “It’s me, Mason. I bought you some groceries. The heat outside is scorching today so best you stay indoors.”
No answer. I knocked as quietly as I could.
“Calvin?” I tried the doorknob. It was locked, of course. If he was in the kitchen on the other side of the house, he might not hear me. So I raised my fist and knocked louder, calling out to him. “Calvin, it’s me.”
When there was no sound on the other end of the door, my pulse raced a bit.
What if… no, don’t go there Mason. He’s an older man with health issues, but still…
I stepped over to the window next to the door. The curtains were shut, blocking my view of his home.
“Dammit,” I grumbled, placing the groceries on the bench on the other side of the door. I attempted the window, assuming it would be locked as well, but lo and behold, it opened for me.
I called out again, my face pressed against the screen. “Calvin? It’s Mason. Everything okay in there?”
Silence.
I opened the window wider, noticing I would have to break the screen in order to climb inside. But my heart was racing, and I feared the worst. Calvin’s truck was parked out front, so unless he’d walked somewhere, he was home.
With trepidation, I pulled the screen out of the window and promised myself that I’d replace it. I crawled in through the window, which wasn’t an easy feat when you’re six foot six and hardly fit through doors, much less windows.
“Calvin?”
My chest hurt just thinking about what I might find, but I kept walking. Hoping maybe he was asleep and couldn’t hear me.
I walked through his living room and into the hall. I glanced into the kitchen as I passed but saw no sign of him. I passed a spare bedroom and the bathroom to my left, his bedroom at the end of the hall. The bathroom door was closed. His bedroom door was wide open. I slipped into his dark bedroom silently.
No sign of him.
I glanced towards the bathroom, the only room I hadn’t checked. I tried the handle, and it was locked.
“Calvin?”
I expected silence, since that’s all that I’d been getting up until this point, but I heard something. Not an answer, per say, but a mumble. And some movement. Yes, someone was inside.
“Calvin, are you okay?”
A weak voice spoke back softly. “Mason, is that you?”
“Yes, it’s me,” I said as relief rushed over me. “Can you let me in?”
“I—I,” Calvin stammered.
I looked at the doorknob, a simple one. Easy to break into. I was weighing my options on how best to do just that when I heard the lock click. I tried the knob again.
Thank you, Jesus, I thought as the doorknob turned and the door opened. Calvin looked like a shell of a man, curled into himself against the bathtub. He stared at me with a familiar look in his eyes.
Shame.
I kneeled beside him. Calvin was by no means a small man, but he looked so small. I had no doubt that he’d been a lady-killer back in his day, the type of man who could nab any woman he wanted. With his strong jawline and piercing blue eyes, even in his seventies, he was handsome. But as long as I’d known him, he’d never mentioned an ex-wife or any ex-girlfriends. He didn’t date. He didn’t even seem interested in the idea. Which was fine, except it also meant he had a very lon
ely existence. His family was long gone - his only brother had been killed in the very war that left Calvin broken and damaged. His parents died many years ago, and except for one photograph on the nightstand next to his bed, there were no photos.
I was the only one who came and went, the only one who looked after this man. Before I met him, prior to the flooding in Liberty, he’d been on his own.
“What’s going on, Cal?” I asked him, my voice flat. I knew better than to show an ounce of pity. Calvin was a strong-willed soldier; he didn’t take kindly to pity.
He unfurled his body, stretching his remaining long leg out. I noticed his prosthetic was sitting in the bathtub, as if he’d taken it off to get more comfortable in the bathroom. He was opening up, coming around now. I had broken the trance.
He sighed. “There was a noise. Some explosions. It sent me back to ‘Nam and I…well, I ended up here, like this,” he confided miserably. He placed a hand on the side of the bathtub to push himself up. I stood and reached for his other hand. He scowled back at me, but eventually, he had no choice but to take the help offered to him.
“Fireworks. I heard them when I came inside,” I said softly.
Calvin didn’t say anything.
“Here, let’s sit you down here,” I said, helping him onto the closed toilet seat. “And put this back on.”
I reached for the prosthetic, and while I could tell Calvin hated me helping him, he didn’t utter a word to argue with me. I helped put his leg back on him and patted it gently. “Good as new.”
He scoffed and rubbed the stubble on his face. “It’ll never be as good as the leg I lost, but it’s a good fake. The best I’ve ever had. Thanks to you.”
I smiled, remembering. I had helped Calvin apply for a new prosthetic to replace his old one, which often caused him mobility issues and sores where it connected with his thigh.