“Ah, here’s Rocky now, Jaycee,” he says and I hear him harshly whisper to the others. “Find her or we’re all dead.” Running footsteps echo in the hallway and I fall to floor and crawl under the bed as far back against the wall as I can.
“Buck?” Rocky bellows. “This is between us. You and I. You want me, I’m here.”
“Rocky, got to say, not trusting you since you turned on all of us. You used to be one of us. Now, you come after us? Kill us?”
“Yeah, that’s right, Buck. Going to kill each and every one of you.” Rocky says calmly, as if discussing the weather. “Won’t rest till you're all burning in hell for what you did.”
“You're going to burn with us, Rocky. Remember that.” The deputy he calls Buck yells.
“Yeah, I am. And I’m okay with that.” More gunshots sound and I cover my ears to block out the sound, my heart pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat. My breathing is too loud; I try to take a steadying breath, but I almost scream when someone walks into the room. The booted feet walk through the room; I can see the barrel of a shotgun aimed at the ground.
I hold my breath as he stops right in front of the bed. Sweat is dripping down my face and running into my eyes; burning them. He shifts positions and although I'm not sure what I’m going to do, I get my knife ready to swing. The bed skirt flies up and I push back out the other side and stand; ready to run.
I come face to face with a killer. The deputy. He smiles and raises the shot gun at me. I can tell he’s deciding on whether to kill me or not when more gunfire breaks out in the backyard. At first he doesn’t react. He stares at me and then tilts his head for me to follow him. Another round of gunfire erupts, but he keeps the gun on me.
He lets out an annoyed breath, then smiles and winks at me. “This isn’t over. As long as he’s alive, they’ll keep coming for her.” This time he turns and rushes out the door. A few seconds later, several car doors slam followed by the squeal of tires.
Everything goes quiet as I back into the corner still holding the knife. Taking a few calming breaths, I slowly start to the door. I take a peek towards the kitchen and nothing. Sirens suddenly sound in the distance. Lots and lots of sirens. There's still no movement so I take a chance and start through the house. I say a prayer as I try to open the door and find it still locked. I softly knock and call out to them cautiously. When nothing happens, I use the knife to jimmy the latch and pull the door open. The closet is still closed so I make my way to it and again cautiously call out; not wanting them to think I’m one of the bad guys.
“Aunt Paige? Callie?” My voice is shaky and hoarse and ends on a sob. Finally, I manage to somewhat yell to them. “Callie? Aunt Paige? It’s okay, I think.” My eyes dart around the room, relieved when it looks like nothing was touched. They never got this far. “You can come out.”
The door slowly opens and Aunt Paige comes out holding a shaken Callie. She sees me and starts crying and reaches out for me. I know how worried and scared she must have been. I take her from Aunt Paige and hold her close and try to soothe her. The sirens are getting closer, we start to walk to the front of the house when a man appears from around the corner; pointing a gun at us. We freeze in place.
“I just need her.” He points to Callie and I tighten my grip on her as I take a few steps back.
“Why?” I ask. “She’s a child. What could you possibly want with her?” An evil smile stretches across his face.
“You don’t know who she is?” He chuckles. “Let me rephrase my question. Do you know who this little girl belongs to?” When we all stay quiet, he laughs.
As he laughs, a shadow comes up behind him and a gun is pointed at his head. “You should have left with them.” The newcomer speaks up. The man freezes, all color draining from his face. “Jaycee, you and Callie turn around. You too, Paige, turn around. Callie, cover your ears, baby.”
I'm frozen as Rocky comes into view. His hair is long, his beard full. He gives Callie a small, sad smile. She's staring at him and she doesn't seem afraid; it's almost like she knows him. I look closer at Callie and then back to Rocky. Their eyes. There's something about their eyes...
“Jaycee, baby, I need you to turn around and Callie, cover your ears.” Rocky repeats.
I start to protest right as the man makes a move towards us with his gun. As quick as I can, I drop to the ground and cover Callie. Aunt Paige does the same as one gunshot is fired and then there's nothing but silence. Too terrified to move, I stay down, covering Callie’s body with mine.
Footsteps start towards us and I look up as Rocky steps over the man’s body and reaches down to help me up. I hesitate, but then tentatively reach for his hand, keeping my eyes locked on his, which are starting to tear up. As I make my way to my feet with Callie in my arms, he breaks eye contact with me and smiles down at Callie. Catching me off guard, she reaches out her arms and falls into him. He catches her and holds her close for a few moments and then pulls back. Aunt Paige and I are completely blown away as we watch them together.
Their hair is different, but their eyes, they’re exactly the same.
Callie looks down and frowns. Rocky pushes her back into my arms so hard we fall to the ground. Two more gunshots fire off followed by shouts and the sound of running feet. I start to panic, looking around for somewhere to hide until I see Max. I almost weep in relief. The police, my family and Max are here. Rocky falls against the wall with his gun hanging down at his side.
Callie squirms to get free of my hold.
“No, baby.” He gasps, shaking his head; she pushes off me again trying to get down but I hold her tight. All the men flood the room and point their guns at Rocky.
“No, he saved us!” Aunt Paige yells out.
“He protected us,” I whisper.
“I’m sorry,” he says to me. “So sorry for everything. For our baby.” Tears start dropping from my eyes as I see that he's sincere in his remorse.
“I know,” I say.
He looks around at everyone. “I wanted to make it right.”
Bringing his gaze back to Callie and I, his gun drops to the floor. Callie cries and pushes so hard that I almost drop her as she jumps from my arms and runs to him. Bradley kneels down and grabs her and holds her despite her continued struggles.
“Callie, go back to your aunt Jaycee, baby,” his breathing is heavy and he starts to turn pale. Max tucks his gun in the back of his jeans as Nash and Jesse do the same.
“Fuck, he’s been hit,” Max hiss's, moving to Rocky's side.
Hit? Where? I look down at Rocky’s shirt and a small amount of blood is starting to form. Jesse grabs one of his arms as Nash takes his other.
“Jake, grab some towels,” Max calls out.
Uncle Brock makes his way to Callie and takes her from Bradley. “You okay, honey?” he asks as he checks her over and then yanks Aunt Paige to ensure she's not hurt. “Jesus Christ, I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
Max, Jesse and Nash help Rocky to lie down on the ground as Jake comes forward with towels. My dad and Uncle Duke make their way over to me. The pool of blood is spreading under Rocky, its red coloring making the situation more real. I gasp as Uncle Brock turns Callie so she doesn't see it, but it’s too late and she starts crying.
“Down! Down! GO! GO! PWEASE! PWEASE!” she screams and begs, her cries turning to wails. Uncle Brock swears as he puts her down and she runs to Rocky.
She crawls up next to him and lays her head on his shoulder as he reaches and pulls her closer with one hand, caressing her hair with the other. Max takes the towels from Jake and lifts Rocky enough to get the towels underneath him, applying pressure to his wounds. A noise in the doorway draws my attention and I glance over to see Linc coming through the door. He rushes over to Rocky.
“I told you to wait for me.” He crouches down next to him. “Where are you hit?” Nash and Jesse step back to give them some space. He lifts Rocky’s side up as Rocky groans in pain which makes Callie cry. Her small hand touch
es his cheek. Linc cusses when he sees the blood. “Where are the paramedics?” he asks the room and then turns back to Rocky. “Daniel, don’t you fucking die.” Linc looks over at Callie and she starts crying harder. He reaches out to her and caress her hair. “Shush, darlin. It’s okay.”
“You’ll have to protect her now,” Rocky says as he looks at Linc. Then he turns to Max. “If they think there’s a threat, they’ll keep coming for her.” His breathing starts to slow and he looks down at Callie and pulls her closer before leaning down and kissing her on top of her head. She climbs up higher and tucks her face in his neck. She whispers something in his ear and he smiles and closes his eyes.
“Promise me, please,” he says and turns to Max. “I know what I did. To Jaycee and Abigail. I’ll burn in hell for it. I wish I could take it back. I wish I could have had the life you’re going to have with her. I still gotta ask though.”
My dad steps forward. He’s a big old bear but he has four sons. I know he’s feeling something for Rocky despite all that happened. Knowing we what know now, that it’s not entirely his fault. He leans down.
“What do you need, son?” Rocky stares at my Dad and I see him mouth “son” as a few tears slide out of Rocky’s eyes and into his hair. Linc moves in closer and Rocky turns to him.
“Son. Did you hear that?” he says to Linc. “I almost killed both his daughters and he calls me son. Our father, never. My only regret was not killing him,” he says.
Linc leans down and says inches from his face. “No little brother, he was mine.”
“Son, the paramedics are here. Hang on,” Dad says as everyone starts to stand back.
Max starts to pull Callie away put she tightens her grip on Rocky. “Come on baby. We have to take Rocky to the doctor,” Max tells her and Callie raises her head and looks at Rocky with tear-stained eyes.
“You have a owie?”
“Just a little one baby,” he says, weakly.
I start to cry as Callie leans down and kisses Rocky’s cheek and then looks back up at him with hope in her eyes. “Betwer?”
“All better, baby,” he says and smiles at her and then looks back at Max. “Promise me.” He stops and looks over at me, then Callie and back at Max. “Take care of my girls for me.”
“She’s my girl, asshole,” Max says as Rocky tries to laugh and then moans.
“Yeah, she’s your girl.” His gaze falls on Callie. "But she’s mine.” He coughs and some blood falls from his mouth before he says his last words “Take care of my baby sister for me.” He pulls Callie closer and then releases her.
Uncle Brock steps forward and picks her up. It’s like she knows he’s gone because this time she goes with him. I look as he takes Aunt Paige’s hand and leaves as the paramedics come in and start working on Rocky.
His baby sister?
It’s late evening and I’m sitting at my dad’s house on one of his lawn chairs thinking back to the last year and all that’s happened. Abigail is getting ready to move to Lubbock and the family is having a barbeque for her before she flies out in the morning.
It’s been three months since that terrifying day at my grandma’s when Rocky’s saved us. He earned his redemption as far as I’m concerned. I think he earned it from everyone. I know Abigail and I have forgiven him. My mind wanders back to the first time I met him at the dance hall. When my dad came over because my brothers were worried. I remember him saying, “No worries, if I had a sister I’m sure I’d be protective or her, too." Protect her is exactly what he did. Finding out he had a sister was what pulled him out of the dark and back into the light. Callie was his salvation.
After Rocky’s shooting, Linc came forward with the information that linked Cole and Callie to Linc and Rocky. Sasha Rowe, Cole and Callie’s mom was a nurse who worked with Dr. Jennings and eventually became one of his victims along with Cole. We’ve learned she loved her children dearly and was an amazing mom. Their great aunt turned over pictures to Aunt Paige and Uncle Brock of her and Callie for safe keeping. One day while looking through the pictures with my Aunt Paige, I froze on one. As I studied it, tears filled my eyes. It was the woman I saw at Cole’s funeral. The one that hugged the man holding the tricycle. My heart burns in pain as I realize that was the moment she realized her fate and let go so that her daughter could have something better.
The people that showed up at my Grandma’s house that day are gone. I never saw anyone's faces except for the deputy and the man that Rocky killed. The deputy is gone; the police say he's probably hiding out in Mexico. There’s a warrant out for his arrest for the attempted murder of Sheriff Cullens. He almost died that day, but after eight hours of surgery repairing damage the hollow point bullet caused, he’s back at work and doing well. With Rocky gone, and not going after anyone, it’s been quiet. The police have gathered evidence on everyone involved, as well as a list of the people that were used as guinea pigs. Hopefully, they will be able to get them some help. Captain Walters and I have had lunch a few times since everything happened and he keeps me updated on what he can as the investigation continues. This story has been in the local headlines off and on for weeks and even made the national news. Each time the police make another arrest on the case, it’ll fire back up in the media for a couple of days. I’ll be glad when it’s finally over.
I’ve been back to work at Dan’s Grocer for a while and Max did end up reenlisting after talking to my brothers and dad about his concerns about being away from me...leaving me alone. I’m so proud of him and his service. I’m so glad he decided to stay in.
A couple of weeks after Rocky was taken away by the paramedics, we started moving forward with our wedding plans and the building of our home. The foundation is set, the frame is up and the brick is set. Now we’re working on the interior and picking out furniture. It’s a beautiful two-story ranch house with white stone walls and blue trim. It’s has a covered front porch and Max says as soon as he can, he’s hanging a porch swing for me. My dad’s company, McGinty Construction, should have it finished and ready for us to move in just in time for the field next to it to be covered in bluebonnets. Just like I always dreamed of having. Our wedding is planned for June of next year.
Last weekend was Bradley and Connor’s wedding and the day after tomorrow they're going on a cruise for their honeymoon. They’re taking Uncle Brock and Aunt Savannah along with Connor’s parents with them as a thank you for always loving and accepting for who they are. Abigail and I had been going with them to cake tasting and such and it was a blast. I think more wedding bells will be ringing for Nick and Abigail soon. Callie is going to be busy being everyone‘s flower girl.
Callie has flourished and is talking more and more like a little girl. She doesn’t seem affected by what happened the day Rocky was taken from her arms but we’re watching out for her. Linc has been back a few times and taken her out for ice cream. She now knows he’s her brother and they very much adore each other. With Cole and Rocky both gone, Aunt Paige and Uncle Brock agreed they needed each other, needed to know one another. No one in my family ever mentioned to the police about Linc telling Rocky he killed their dad. There were police in the room and if they did hear, they're not saying anything either. I think everyone agrees Dr. Jenning’s deserved what he got.
The door opens and Violet walks out holding a small package that she hands to me. I look down and read the front. “Callie McGinty ℅ Jaycee McGinty" and my grandma’s address. I raise questioning eyes to her, but she just shrugs her shoulder.
“I went by yesterday but no one was home. When I was pulling out of the driveway, the postman waved so I stopped. He handed me the mail and asked if I would drop it off since there was a package.” Violet tells me and then smiles, touching my cheek before turning and going back in the house.
I look down and see no return address but it was mailed from the Texas/Mexico border town of El Paso a few of days ago. I open it as Max walks out of the house and sits down next to me and looks at me in question. “What’s
that”?
“I don’t know. It’s for Callie but was sent to my care. The postman gave it to Violet yesterday when she stopped by the house.” I say as I open the small box. Inside is a pouch. I pull the string loose and open it, letting the contents fall into my hand. I stare at it for a few moments before reaching down and pulling it up by the chain. Max knows what it is from my description. He sits back in the chair and rubs his hands up and down his face.
“Is that what I fucking think it is?” he asks as I hold it up but don’t say anything. “Fuck!”
Yes, I will hold on to this for her, but one day, after you find them all, after she’s safe, you can give it to her yourself.
The End
Sasha Rowe
‘I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.’
Five years ago, I stood before my teachers, fellow graduates and my aunt Louise and took “Florence Nightingale Pledge” and it was the best day of my life. I had such big dreams. I was going to save the world.
One year later, I fell in love and that love destroyed my dreams. That love destroyed me and over the last four years, I’ve watched it destroy life after life. I fell in love with a doctor, a handsome true blue devil. His eyes sparkled like stars. His silver eyes hypnotized me. I fell hard and fast in love with a monster. That monster was Dr. Davis Jennings.
I remember it started as careless flirting, a touch and then a kiss. He shared his dreams of saving the world too. We would talk for hours and share dreams of helping people together. We were going to get married and start a family but I found out too late he already had a family. It devastated me and then his promises started. His lies started. His torture started.
Love Is Forever Blue Page 17