The Mountain Man's Babies Books 1-5

by Frankie Love

  Luke pulls back his shoulders, his face growing red; he’s angry. “Now you’ll have to repent, repent for your sins you little bitch.”

  I pull in a sharp breath, pressing my hands around Titus’ ears, knowing he doesn’t understand the words, but shame flooding me for them nonetheless.

  “Do not call me that. Do not—”

  I don’t say anymore, because Luke reaches for me, grabs my wrists hard and pulls me to him. He squeezes me so tightly I’m scared my wrist is going to break.

  “Let me go, Luke. “

  Luke has never touched me like this before. Never gotten this cold.

  But he’s angry now.

  “Who is Hawk? Who is this man who ruined you?”

  “Let me go.”

  With my free hand, I shield Titus and I step away, but Luke reaches for my shoulder, squeezing tight, and pushing hard at me.

  It all happens in a flash: Luke pushing me, Jaxon reaching for him, pulling him away, right as another car pulls into the driveway.

  I fall to the ground, my arms wrapping around my baby, and my eyes close, barely registering that a man is running toward Luke.

  I blink, seeing him punch Luke in the face. Luke falls to the ground with the single blow. The man stands over him, and Luke doesn’t try to stand.

  The children scream.

  Harper cries. Titus sobs. My head spins and I will myself to focus on the reality of the scene before me.

  The man protecting us from this monster is Hawk.

  Hawk with his strong arms and his solid hands, keeping me from the man who hurt me.

  Luke’s face is bloodied, yet he still manages to snarl, “You’re the man who turned my wife into a slut?”

  Hawk drags him up by his shoulders, “You best get in your car, you motherfucker. And don’t ever show up here again.”

  “You can’t tell me what to do,” Luke manages, wiping the blood from his face.

  I’m sobbing, the boys are crying, huddling around me where I lie on the ground.

  “I was only willing to come back because you never physically hurt me before,” I shout, using the voice I’d been scared to use in the past. “But what kind of mother would I be to go back to you now? To take them back to a monster.”

  “I’m calling the police,” Harper yells. “Your whole cult is going to burn to the ground.”

  “You’re going to do that to Kind and True, your parents, where are they gonna go?” Luke asks, turning to me. “They’ll be out on the street because of you.”

  “I don’t know,” I admit, not needing all the answers right now. I look at Hawk, knowing I have enough answers for this moment. “I don’t have all the answers, but I do know this. You need to leave.”

  Hawk wraps his arms around me, helping me off the ground, kissing Titus on his head, helping soothe the boys. Timothy is already on his hip, Thomas, too.

  “You’re nothing but a filthy whore, you’re not gonna take me down. As God as my witness—”

  “As God is my witness, you'd better step down,” Hawk growls. His voice is so firm and determined, all of us stand still. “You may think Honor was your woman, but you’re wrong. She was never yours. You tried to take her, but she won’t be claimed by a man like you.”

  I look at Hawk, my heart beating so fast, the afternoon changing so quickly. Hawk is here.

  He came back.

  I’m shaking, having felt so vulnerable in Luke’s presence, but now I’m not scared at all. Because Hawk is here. His arms are around me and the boys, he is protecting us.

  “To hell with you all!” Luke climbs into his car and drives away, screeching tires, as if he can’t get away fast enough.

  “Are you okay, baby?” he asks, cradling my face in his hands, the children between us.

  “I am now. You came back for me. I thought you left forever.” I start shaking again, hating that he ever left and trying to understand why.

  “I didn’t mean to scare you when I didn’t come back. I was just getting my shit in order before I came to get the woman I loved.”

  I shake my head. “I don’t need anything, I don’t need anything put in order, all I need is you.”

  “Angel, I know you say that, but you have three babies, they need a place to sleep. A roof over their heads. A kitchen and a table. I needed you to know I could take care of my family.”

  I pull in a sharp intake of breath, “Your family?”

  “Damn straight.”

  “Hawk, it’s too much.” I shake my head wondering why I’m getting everything I ever wanted when I made such a mess of everything already.

  “Angel, I love you more than life itself. I never had a purpose until I met you. The moment I saw your face, I knew that my life was no longer my own, it was yours.”

  He’s on bended knee now, looking up at me, taking my hand in his. “Your boys are my boys as far as I'm concerned.” Titus is still in the sling, and Thomas has his arms wrapped around my leg, and Timothy is crawling up onto Hawk’s lap.

  Jaxon and Harper watch us with mouths gaping open.

  “I fell in love with you at first sight,” Hawk tells me. “And I will love you for the rest of my life. Let me prove that to you as your husband. Do me the honor of becoming my wife.” Hawk pulls out a ring, a simple gold band that holds more beauty than a ten-carat diamond. It holds the same simple beauty as our love—a never ending circle of unity.

  “Yes, of course,” I tell him.

  He slips it on my finger, then he stands, wiping the tears from my face, pressing his forehead to mine, kissing me softly on the lips. My heart is overwhelmed, my body is shaking. Hawk is going to be my husband.

  He loves me.

  And he never left.

  “I’m sorry I was gone for the last week, but I was finishing building our home. Signed the papers this morning, it’s ours.”

  “A home of our own?” I furrow my brow, confused. “But how?”

  “Sold my tools, a few cars I had back in the city. And I’ve been saving up to buy a mechanic shop of my own.”

  “You gave up everything for us?”

  “No, Angel. I sold the stuff that held me back. It’s time I got tied down to the only thing that matters. My family.”

  Hawk explains to Jaxon, Harper, and me that the house he was finishing up with Buck’s crew is complete and ready for us to move in.

  “Shit, you bought it outright?” Jax asks.

  Hawk nods, explaining that he bought me a home.

  “I’m so sorry, Hawk,” Jax says. “I had no idea you were so committed. I should have never sent you away like I did. I thought—”

  “I know what you thought. And Honor and I should’ve been more honest in the first place. Truth is, we feared losing what we found.”

  “Still, I could’ve done better. I shut you out.”

  “I could’ve done better too,” Harper says. “I already apologized to Honor earlier, but let me apologize to you, too. I was so worried about protecting her that didn’t realize I was hurting her.” Harper pulls Hawk into a hug, and he lets her know all is forgiven.

  “What I’m trying to understand is how you were out at that site all week finishing that house when I told Buck you were off our crew?”

  Hawk smiles. “That’s not my problem, boss.”

  He explains that Buck helped this past week, helping him figure out a home loan, and get the house furnished with Rosie’s help.

  “I even got you a new car, angel,” he tells me. “That rusted out van won’t do for my wife. Or my three sons.”

  I look past him and see a shiny bright minivan parked beside my old one.

  I bite my bottom lip. “What is it?” he asks. “You don’t like the color?”

  It’s a silver gray, sleek and beautiful. I can’t believe he sold his precious truck for me.

  “How many seats does it have?” I ask.

  “It’s either 6 or 7? Enough for the five of us.”

  I swallow. “Well, actually, it has to be en
ough for the six of us.” I press my hand to my belly.

  “Are you kidding me?” Hawk asks.

  I shake my head. “I wouldn’t lie to you.”

  “You’re having my baby?”

  I nod, seeing the tears in Hawk’s eyes.

  My heart bursts with joy, I’m so proud to be his woman, proud to be carrying his child. He falls to his knees, wraps his arms around my waist, Titus’ little legs kicking him in the head.

  Hawk kisses the tiny foot of Titus, then kisses my belly, before he stands and kisses me.

  “I’m so glad you’re pleased,” I tell him.

  He shakes his head, grinning. “Angel, you made a man out of me.”

  Epilogue 1

  Hawk

  When we go in for the 12-week ultrasound, it’s just Honor and me. Josie from the diner has been our babysitter the last few weeks, and she came over today to help us out.

  Of course, we’re nervous and anxious, me more so than Honor. She’s done this before.

  For me, I couldn’t be more excited to hear the heartbeat of my child.

  We got married as soon as we could, we went to the courthouse and Jaxon and Harper were witnesses. They understood we couldn’t wait. There was no reason to. Honor had never been legally married before so it was pretty straightforward.

  The most straightforward part of it being my own unwavering commitment to her and her family.

  In the van on the way to the appointment, she fills me in on the conversation she had this morning with her ex-sister-wives, True and Kind.

  “They both have found a place to live. Luckily Kind has family in Washington state, and they came and got her and her children last week. She sounds good. Still pretty shook up, but that’s expected.”

  “And True?” I asked.

  “She has a brother who left the church a year ago, and he has an apartment in Boise. True and her little girl are there now. It’s easier since she just has one child.”

  “Still hard. Damn, I’m so happy they had found a place to go.” I look over at my wife, knowing how hard this is all been on her. She was under the impression no one was being physically hurt under Luke’s hand, but it turns out he hadn’t been as gentle with True or Kind as he been with her.

  “Any word from your parents?” I ask.

  “Not since that last letter.” Honor licks her lips but she doesn’t say more.

  “I’m sorry, Angel.”

  She takes my hand, lacing her fingers through mine. “We’re all grown-ups here, we all made our own choices. The shame is, most of what was happening at the church isn’t necessarily illegal. But at least now social services are involved, they're gonna come check on families with young children again. And who knows if Harper’s parents or mine are going to continue living that lifestyle, at least I know that True and Kind got out before they were hurt anymore.” She shakes her head. “I just wish I could do more.” She wipes her eyes.

  “Oh, sweet angel.” I pull her hand to my lips, kiss it.

  “I know, I’m crying at the drop of a hat these days.”

  “That’s okay, you can cry all you want, I just hate to see you hurting.”

  “It’ll be good to hear the heartbeat.” She smiles, through her tears.

  “Do you think it’s a boy or girl?” I ask.

  “I honestly can’t tell. But this pregnancy feels different. I’m already showing. Maybe it’s because it’s my fourth.”

  I squeeze her hand. “I’m sure everything is just fine.”

  – –

  “The ultrasound technician presses his wand against Honor, and she grips my hand, staring at the screen anxiously.

  “Is everything okay?” she asks. “I’m so nervous.”

  “Oh, you’re carrying just fine, and I’m glad you came now and didn’t wait any longer before your first appointment.”

  “We’re pretty anxious to hear the heartbeat of our child.”

  At that, the ultrasound technician smiles. “Hear that?”

  There’s a thump, thump, thump and movement on the ultrasound screen.

  “It sounds like two heartbeats,” I say.

  “Which one is mine, and which is the baby’s?” Honor asks.

  The ultrasound technician shakes his head, looking at her with a smile.

  “Honor, that second heartbeat you’re hearing isn’t yours.”

  “What do you mean?” she asks, her eyebrows knitted together. She leans up on her elbows to get a better look at the ultrasound screen.

  My eyes widen, I look over at her, seeing if she sees what I see.

  “There are two babies here. Congratulations,” the technician says. “You are having twins.”

  Epilogue 2

  Honor

  My back is killing me. My knees are killing me. My feet are killing me.

  Basically, everything hurts.

  I’ve done this three times before, I’m not exactly sure why it feels so excruciating now.

  Oh, probably because there are two babies inside me this time.

  “Baby, are you sure you don’t want to call the doctor?” Hawk asks.

  I shake my head. “I don’t want to leave for the hospital until I really have to. And the contractions aren’t that bad yet, besides, my water hasn’t even broken.”

  “Well, I’m still calling Josie. It won’t hurt to have her at the ready for when it’s time to leave for the hospital.”

  I smile at Hawk’s thoughtfulness and continue to waddle around our cabin.

  Our house is more beautiful than I could’ve ever imagined. Probably because it isn’t really a house all, it’s a home through and through. We got through our first winter here, Hawk and I both getting used to the deep trenches of snow, being housebound for so many weeks. The boys loved it, of course, Timothy and Thomas would spend an hour getting bundled up just to play outside for ten minutes.

  But the house would have a blazing fire and hot cocoa waiting for them when they returned with their father. Titus is too small to go outside, but I’d hold him on my hip, and we would look out and watch them from the window, my sons making snow angels next to their dad.

  It was a picture-perfect winter, more beautiful than I ever thought I deserved.

  But Hawk reminds me daily that I do deserve all this. And more.

  And I’m beginning to believe it’s true. Believe that we all deserve this kind of happiness.

  That there is enough.

  That happily ever afters aren’t just for the virgins and innocents. A happily ever after belongs to every woman, no matter how complicated their past or present may be. No matter how many tears they’ve shed or how many battles they’ve lost.

  I’m beginning to believe that every woman deserves a man who will fight for her.

  Now it’s March and the snow is melted, and the first tulips are beginning to bloom around the perimeter of our little cabin.

  I walk out onto the front porch, resting my back against the railing, imagining what this place will be like in the summer. All five of our babies will be here, under our roof, in one place, feeling safe and secure, with two parents who love them more than life itself.

  “Mama, potty,” Thomas says, walking out to the porch where I’m getting fresh air.

  I laugh. “You can go to the potty without me.” I shake my head. Toilet training is not for the faint of heart.

  I follow him to the bathroom, and while I wait for him to finish, I look toward the kitchen where Timothy and Titus are in highchairs, finishing a snack of goldfish crackers.

  My life is simple and beautiful, and mine.

  Hawk walks toward me from the kitchen, phone in hand. “Josie is on her way.”

  I shake my head at my worried mountain man. “It could still be days. Is she just gonna sleep on the couch until I going to labor?”

  “I don’t want to risk anything.” Hawk kisses me softly on the lips. This husband of mine has been more neurotic than me this entire pregnancy.

  The moment he heard we we
re having twins he became this bundle of energy. Assembling cribs months before they would be needed, researching the best car seats. And insisting that we replace all the boys’ seats too, not just getting new ones for the twins.

  I tell him we can’t afford top-of-the-line anything, but then he puts in more hours at work, explaining that it’s not about getting top-of-the-line, it’s about getting the safest. And that sometimes the safest costs more money. But that he’s not going to skimp on safety when it comes to his children.

  I just smile and nod, inwardly beaming that he cares so much about his children.

  I’m so distracted by Hawk’s kissing that when he pulls back, telling Thomas to not pee on the floor, only then do I realize that’s not Thomas peeing at all.

  “Mommy peed on the floor, not me,” he says, wide-eyed. “Mommy had an accident. But it’s okay. It’s just like Mommy says, accidents happen and that’s okay.”

  Hawk looks at me wide-eyed, and I start laughing.

  “Did your water break, baby?” he asks.

  I look down at myself, feeling the shift already.

  I nod.

  “See, I wasn’t being overly anxious. It’s a good thing Josie is coming now.”

  Just then, I grip Hawk’s arms, squeezing tight.

  “Oh, my God,” I moan. “Oh God, Hawk.”

  A contraction barrels through me, it’s as if the moment my water broke my body went into high gear.

  I shake my head. “Oh, my gosh, I think... Oh my gosh.” My body sinks against the wall, and I lower myself to the ground.

  “No, no, no,” Hawk says. “Don’t sit, we need to get you in the car.”

  “I can’t move,” I groan, another contraction twisting through me.

  “Baby, you can’t just sit here like this, we gotta get in the car. We have to get to the hospital.”

  “Oh, baby, I can’t, I can’t,” I start screaming. Thomas looks at me, wide-eyed and I don’t even care, my thighs are already trembling. I think I’ve dilated from 0 to 8 in 10 seconds flat.

  “There’s no time,” I tell him, knowing we are way too far out in the sticks to get anywhere before these babies are born. “Call Harper and Rosie. Get them over here. Now.” Hawk fumbles with his phone like a bumbling father-to-be, he is so adorably anxious— which is quite the contrast to me.