by Ally Nelson
Amanda could not seem to care and everyone noticed. She thought they were chalking it up to being pregnant. Maybe it was, but she could not believe that. She loved Jake and that was that. She knew her sister would be coming down to check on her soon so she waddled her way over to dress in clean clothes and make herself as presentable as her new size allowed. Once dressed she looked herself with disgust, as if my breasts had not been big enough, she thought to herself. She was well and truly fat.
When the door opened she smiled for her sister and was surprised that it was Jake instead.
“Uh hi Jake, I thought Leah was coming over.” She told him
“She had some shopping she wanted to do. Now that the storm has passed she hustled off to town to make sure we have everything we need for the baby.” He gestured at her round belly. It was a reminder that soon Jake would not need her. She turned and lowered herself to her chair. He took a seat across the table from her.
“So what is the matter with you? I can tell something is wrong. Leah can too and will probably buy something to try and cheer you up but you have not been good since the pregnancy began. So tell me, what is it? You are supposed to be avoiding all stress.”
She looked at him and it felt like her heart was breaking. She shook her head mutely, unable to speak as tears welled up in her eyes.
“Amanda? What’s wrong, do I need to get the doctor?” Jake asked on the beginning of panic. Amanda waved her hand.
“No, don't, it is just… I love you Jake!” There, she thought, I said it. Let the chips fall where they may.
“What?” he asked quietly in shock.
“I love you,” She began and found herself unable to stop. “I can't stop thinking of those nights. I know you felt it too, when we were making this child. Stay with me Jake, Leah will understand and we can.”
“No!” He shouted surging to his feet with anger.
“But Jake…” She tried to continue.
“No Amanda! You are my sister in law and that’s it! I felt nothing but a desire to give a child to my wife and I. You agreed and swore it would be a problem. Are you delirious Amanda? For God sakes, listen to yourself!” She saw repulsion shining in his eyes for her and she sobbed.
“Jake, please, I can't help it. You have been so good to me and so caring, you must see.”
“No!” He shouted for the last time.
“I will never ever dishonor your sister in deed or thought. You used to believe that. I have no desire for anyone but your sister. I am leaving and I do not want to see you for some time. At least until you get your thoughts in order because I believe you have gone crazy!”
He stormed out in fury leaving Amanda sobbing in her chair. Soon her exhaustion and grief had her asleep with the loss and grief following her into her dreams. It was a slamming of a door that woke her up.
Amanda jerked upright in her chair and blinking saw Leah standing in front of her. Leah was more furious than she had ever seen. Her brain just registered that Leah's palm slapped Amanda's cheek with a greater force than she would have given her sister credit for. Her head rocked to the side and another hard slap rocked it to the other.
“How dare you Amanda?” She hissed with furry.
“Leah.”
“Not a word. I do not want a word from you. Jake told me what you did and I am here to tell you never again. I will not have you destroy what I am trying to build with your selfishness. I am blessed that Jake is an honorable man because you have no honor!”
That one hurt. Somehow she had managed to make her sister hate her. Her beloved little sister despised her.
“Jake does not want to come anywhere near you and frankly neither do I. But my child depends on me making sure you are alright so that I will do and then we will part ways. There is nothing you can say to change this so just shut up. When our baby is born I will not want to look at you again!”
She turned and stormed out. Amanda could not believe how much she had destroyed in one short day.
What have I done, she whispered to herself pitifully.
Chapter Seven
Amanda was sitting in her chair facing the front door. That was where she sat most days now. She was less than a month away from delivery and had never been so miserable in her life. She sat there to be able to see her sister when she came in, hoping the look of disgust had gone. It had lessened some, but it was not gone and Amanda was beginning to believe it never would. She had thrown away her sister’s love. She could not get past her stupidly and it was eating her up.
She began sobbing, thinking of all the great times she had had with Leah growing up and rocked back and forth with one arm over her big belly. Back and forth seemed to be soothing as she cried. She did not hear Leah enter.
“Amanda, honey, are you all right. What’s wrong?” There was panic in her voice and Amanda sat up shaking her head. She had a hard time speaking at first through her sobs.
“No, I am fine; just stupid.” Leah sighed.
“Oh is that all. You should be used to that.” She was trying to make her feel better with jokes. Even after what Amanda had done, Leah was trying to make her feel better! That got her crying harder and she felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up.
“Is it because you love Jake so much?”
Amanda shook her head.
“I love you so much and made you hate me.” She lowered her head again and felt her sister put her arms around her and rock her. Amanda could feel her love despite everything and it was release for her that no matter what happened she might be able to cope.
“I am so sorry,” she said into her ear. “I don't know why I did what I did, but I am so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I was proud to take care of you when daddy died. I am so sorry.”
“I don't hate you.”
Amanda raised her head. Leah's eyes were wet and she could tell she meant it.
“But the stupid things.”
“Oh they were beyond stupid and I am still mad about it. I know, however, you have no chance with my husband and I have always known you would realize what you had said. It was just going to take time.” Amanda lowered her head to her sister shoulders with more relieve than she had ever felt.
“I forgive you but if it happens again I will have to kill you.”
Amanda chuckle and sat up again. Leah was smiling but Amanda was fairly sure she had been serious. A she had every right to be.
“Not only will it never happen again, once this baby is born you can take him or her away. I know the doctor said some women have a hard time giving it up, but I can promise, with no reservations, it is all yours!”
They both laughed knowing she was quite serious. Being a parent was so far down on Amanda's list of things to do you couldn't find it.
“Ok Amanda let me get you some water and a cloth. You are all blotched from crying and it will help you feel better.”
She bustled out of the room down the hall into the kitchen area. So she wasn't there when Mallard Johnson entered through the front door. Holding a gun.
“As expected, here alone. Not so tough now that you can't get along without help. You have killed quite a few of my men. That is not nice.”
Amanda realized whatever Hernandez had done had got someone’s attention. She pushed herself up, her mind clear for the first time in her whole pregnancy. Danger did that to her, she could feel her blood pounding and a determination she had not felt in a long time as well. Unfortunately, she was much heavier than before and not that quick.
“So, you are the one trying to run me off of my land. What took you so long boy.” He snarled as she insulted him. She wanted to keep him off balance while trying to keep her own.
“Your man Hernandez is getting a bit too close. So I sent my man to take care of him.”
Amanda felt a little worry, but knew Hernandez was no push over.
“You mean Rodney, yeah I have known for while what he is. You know you can't trust a traitor, right? Next he will be after you.”
“You are right, wh
ich is why he won't last much longer than you will. Rodney was going slow, but now that I am one step closer to what I want, I don't have to be shy.” He said seriously.
“Really, what do you think Blackrock is going to do? Hand over the land to you because I am dead?”
“Not voluntarily. Like I said, this is just a step. I am sure with the death of you, and their baby, the Blackrock's will be quite grief stricken. Since I have made sure they are looking to other neighbors as the real culprits behind you troubles they won't have a problem letting me oversee your lands for them and then I will end up owning it.”
Amanda felt furry like she had never felt before.
“Within six months there will be an accident and I will have the land as my own, Blackrock too I should imagine. Less than two years and ahead of schedule.”
Amanda heard herself growl, she was almost blind with rage and started to move forward.
“You can try girl, but there is no way you can make it to your daddy’s gun. In fact, it would be amusing if I shot you with that, but I won't bother.” He said smiling, raising his gun.
“Then I will!” A voice said as a huge explosion rocked the room followed by a crash and Johnson flying backward hitting the door and then the floor with a wet crunch.
Amanda looked to her side and saw her sister on the floor against the wall and a few feet in front of her was her father’s old blunderbuss. A very big, very powerful black powder gun. The cloud of smoke it had belched made her cough. Leah pushed herself up carefully, coughing as well and Amanda was pretty sure the gun had knocked her down when she fired it.
“Nice shot Leah!” Amanda told her. There was a moment of silence and they both started laughing uncontrollably. Amanda heard the back door fly open.
“Leah, Amanda, are you here, are you ok?” Jake ran into the room with both of his pistols drawn and skidded to a stop.
Both women were laughing and the body by the door had a sizable blood pool spreading around it. Leah had blown a hole through his chest. Amanda got her laughter down to a giggle and wiped her eyes. Jake looked at them both a moment and then walked over to the body and turned it with his foot. He nodded once and then spotted the gun. He looked at Amanda.
“Nice shot.”
“Wrong again, Leah shot this one.” She told him proudly.
He glanced over at his wife and she shrugged.
“Trust me Jake, you don't want to mess with that woman’s family.” That got Leah and her laughing again and after a moment, so was Jake. Until Hernandez showed up.
“Senorita Amanda!” The door opened a foot and ran up against the dead body. With a curse he shoved and slid the body back and hopped over the blood. He took a look at the whole room and bowed to Leah. Obviously deducing who had pulled the trigger. He then looked at Jake.
“You received my message then?” Jake smiled.
“I did and the Sheriff is on his way now. You have the proof.?” Hernandez pulled a folder out of the back of his pants and handed them over.
“It seems Rodney was keeping track of all of Johnson transactions. That way if things went wrong, he could deflect it back on his real boss. He did not want to give them up, but I persuaded him to.”
“Where is he now?” Leah asked.
“He will not bother anyone again Senorita Leah.”
She just nodded. Amanda's little sister had toughened up.
“I will go wait for the Sheriff now.” Hernandez said and left the house.
“I received his message explaining the plot and who was behind it. He was too far away to get here and was worried Johnson might feel rushed. So I sent for the sheriff then came here directly.”
Jake pointed at the dead man. “He almost had me convinced the villains were Marsten or Elkland.”
“My apologies Jake. Call it crazy or stupid or pregnancy, but what I put you two through will not happen again, that I can promise.”
He seemed relieved that she had said that and he seemed to guess she and Leah had talked too.
“Good, then can we please, at least for a while, have some peace and quiet.” he asked. They all agreed to that.
“No matter what happens between us, we are still family.” Leah said calmly.
Epilogue
Amanda rode off from Blackrock Ranch smiling. The sun was just about to come up and everything was right with the world. There was peace in the family again and she was going off on her own. All interests in Morgan ranch had been sold to Jake, so that was good. Amanda had transferred some of her money ahead, so she didn't have to worry about carrying a large amount with her. She was wealthy now with the price Jake gave her and she wanted to see more of the world.
Despite the peace in the family, she and her sister knew it would be best if she wasn't around much for some time to come. She had promised to come back and would be writing Leah at least twice a week to keep her informed. She felt good, just a little sore from the birth but other than that she was trimming down and looking forward to something different. She also felt she had a few self-created demons to dispel. It would be best to do that somewhere else. As the sun began coming up she got to the crossroads near town and saw a rider waiting. As she drew close she recognized him.
“So where are you headed?” he asked casually.
“Maybe San Francisco. I am not sure.”
“What a coincidence! So am I.” He told her with a flourish of his arms. She laughed.
“We are friends Senorita and I thought you could use the company, since we are both traveling.” She agreed and laughed with him.
“Alright then my old friend. How far to the next town?” he thought about it.
“Maybe a hundred miles. For a good one anyway. Have you packed enough for a journey of that length?”
“I think so. Race you!” She told him and she urged Minny forward. She was a fast horse and Hernandez had a hard time keeping up. Laughing she raced into her new future with the sun rising on her left.
In Too Deep with the Montana Cowboy Brothers
By: Steamy Reads
In Too Deep with the Montana Cowboy Brothers
© SteamyReads4U, December 2015 – All rights reserved
Published by Steamy Reads Publishing
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events are purely coincidental. This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.
This book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please return it to the seller and purchase a copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
Warning
This book contains graphic content intended for readers 18+ years old.
If you are under 18 years old, or are not comfortable with adult content, please close this book now.
Chapter One
Alicia sighed as she walked down the warm street of Bearcreek, Montana. Alicia had lost her teaching position last month due to a massive layoff the school district was having which was unfortunate for her.
“I’m so tired of doing this day end and out,” Alicia searched online every day for jobs that were hiring and she went to ten business establishments on a daily basis and dropped off her resume and a cover letter. So far she wasn’t receiving any calls for interviews. The one interview that she did have was for a waitressing position at a popular night club. The only reason why she didn’t get that job was because they said she was “over-qualified.”
Alicia never understood what over-qualified
meant. If she was there looking for a job, then as long as they thought she’d be able to do the job they should have just given it to her. She always thought to get a waitressing job a woman had to be fairly attractive. Men told her constantly that she was beautiful with her even ebony skin and her curvaceous body. Her breasts weren’t incredibly big, only at 38 C, but her hips were wide and her rear was plump. She always kept herself looking her best. She went to the hair salon weekly and got her shoulder length hair treated and she kept her nails done. She could dress professional or any style to fit the occasion.
“I just need to find something quick,” she had saved up some money to help her pay her bills, but that would soon run out and if she didn’t do anything soon she’d be homeless. She applied to teaching jobs but Montana schools weren’t looking for elementary school teachers at the moment. She was willing to work any job as long as it’ll keep a roof over her head. She walked by construction workers then and they began whistling at her.
“Hey baby, why the long face?” A man asked. Alicia decided to ignore them. She had too many other things on her mind to listen to the men flirt with her. Alicia made her way into a liquor store and went to the counter.
“How can I help you sweetheart?” the cashier asked and Alicia pulled out some money.
“Let me get that big bottle of vodka up there,” Alicia pointed to it and the man turned around and grabbed it.
“$15.98” Alicia handed the man sixteen dollars and she shook her head when he attempted to give her change. She took the bottle from the man, which he was nice enough to wrap up in a nice paper bag, and she walked out of the store. She was stressed out and she felt like nothing was going her way. She wanted to have a drink to relax her mind and hopefully put her back in high spirits. She was still angry that the school laid her off the way that she did. She gave the school five years of her life. She had worked their quickly after receiving her teacher’s certification when she was twenty-two years old.