by Kim Turner
“It’s not your fault, Jenna, a man like him, there’s probably more here than even the Feds know. I think that’s why they are worried little about the explosion, they want him for more than what he is causing here, which is why his trashed career matters little now and why we still have to be careful.”
She shook her head, folding her hands. “Aaron, no one is safe with him here. Look what’s already happened.”
“We are gonna get him.” Aaron grabbed her hand.
“How?” She shook her head.
“I don’t know, but for starters wait him out.” He held her gaze as seconds passed.
“Aaron, he did this to you. I know he did, because of me. I can’t stay here…endanger you and your family further.” Her voice cracked. “God, it’s never going to end.”
“If you run, you will run the rest of your life, Jenna. We’ve talked about that. Let’s end this now, here, where you have help.” Aaron leaned to squeeze her hand. “If running was the answer, I’d let it all go, take you and the kids somewhere safe and never look back, but running isn’t the answer, babe.”
She brushed back the tears and shook her head. “I try to stay sane each day, not think about it…”
He needed something profound, something to get through to her. “Jenna, you didn’t let it make you a victim when he beat you. You continued forward with your life, even when it was hard, but you have to hang in here for now. We can’t prove much, but Gabe and Tuck will get to the bottom of it.”
“Aaron, I’m so afraid.” She whispered and blinked hard.
He scooted forward, wanting to hold her but could hardly get out of the chair. “Help me get the recliner down.”
Jenna got up and pushed the foot board down slowly as Aaron adjusted his position from the chair to standing.
“Come on, let’s go upstairs.” He wrapped his good arm around her, holding her close.
Inside his room, he shut the door and watched as she walked aimlessly to the bed and sat down. He hated this, seeing her so worried and broken, much like Maxus and him if he had to compare.
“Aaron, you can’t put your life on hold for me, for this.” She shrugged and walked away from him but turned back, holding his gaze.
“My life is nothing without you in it. You have to trust me.” He tried; anything to keep her from running and thinking that would stop Vince Hanson.
She shook her head putting her hands to her face and dropping them. “He almost killed you Aaron and I wouldn’t have survived it and to think he could hurt your family or God forbid Lily or Mason. I can’t let that happen.”
“I can watch you here, but I don’t need you out on your own alone at all.” Aaron ducked to make her look at him again.
“Trust me for now,” he tried again.
She nodded. “I’ve warned Bri, but I at least need to get a few things at my apartment and check on Bodi. I saw him once a few days ago, and even if Tucker is checking, he probably thinks I’ve left him for good.”
Aaron shook his head. “Give me a couple of days to rest and I’ll take you. Maybe he can bring him back here at some point to get him used to things.”
“Aaron, I’ll be fine. I’ll go during the day and be quick, watching closely. Besides, your friend Tucker is always nearby and you can’t be riding all over in your condition,” she chided.
Aaron could tell she was trying to make it all sound good but he wasn’t falling for it. “Regardless, I’ll get Gabe or Jeremiah to take you then.”
“All right.” Jenna pushed him toward the bed. “But only if you rest like the doctor said for now.”
Aaron sat easily on the bed. “Where is everyone? The house seems quiet or I guess I got acclimated to all the bells and whistles at the hospital.”
“Sarah went on to bed earlier with Amos. I’m not sure about Jeremiah. He was outside and Gabe still isn’t home. You look so tired.” Jenna stood beside him. “I know I am adding to your stress, but please don’t worry about me. Please rest.” Jenna tried for a smile. “Nurses orders.”
He gave into a nod and she helped him remove his shirt and sweat pants, leaving him in his boxer before her. He grinned. “Damn lucky for you I’m injured.”
“You are in no condition, which is why I will lay here with you tonight.” She turned, walking into his small bathroom and pulling off her clothing to put on one of his t-shirts.
Aaron settled back against the pillows to a comfortable position and watched with keen interest as she readied for bed, washing her face and brushing her teeth. He thought to curse at his body’s reaction but there wasn’t much he could do about it at this point.
She walked back to the bed and dimmed the lamp, crawling into the bed carefully. “Are you comfortable?”
“I was.” Aaron teased her, moving to adjust his position.
“Oh, you are bad even when you can’t be bad. Rest Aaron,” she scolded.
“I’m better every day. And soon enough you will be too.” Aaron slid his hand over until he found hers and gripped it tight.
“Aaron?” She spoke in a whisper.
“Huh?” Aaron closed his eyes.
“I love you, no matter what happens.” Her voice was as sweet as he’d ever heard, but the fear in her words was evident.
He turned and held her gaze. “Babe, a lot of things have happened and there’s most likely more to come, but he crossed the line in hurting you and my horse. Nothing’s gonna happen to you or your son as long as I can draw a breath. I can promise you that.”
She snuggled closer as he continued.
“Spent my whole childhood wanting a family and then fought like hell not to let them love me when I got one. When Lily came along…” His voice cracked and he took a breath. “I held her for the first few hours, thinking I finally had a family of my own, but it always felt like something was missing. And since you and Mason, that gap has closed and no force on this earth is gonna take that from either of us. I can promise you that.”
She nodded and he was aware because of her own tears she couldn’t speak. So he hugged her as best he could, ignoring his physical pain in wanting to comfort her. He was in no shape now to be of much help, but he would be soon and if his brother and Tuck didn’t find Hanson first, then there would be nothing to stop him from taking the man down one way or the other.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Hey, Daddy. Did you have a spend-the-night party with Jenna?” Lily waltzed into Aaron’s bedroom, dragging a large teddy bear behind her, rubbing her eyes.
Jenna bolted awake, sitting up, still in Aaron’s bed, grabbing for the blankets. She glanced at Aaron saying nothing and then back to Lily. Aaron moaned opening his eyes, holding his side. Mornings were harder, but how on earth would he answer this one?
Lily ambled over to Mason’s portable crib peeking inside as Mason stirred to life with a whine, standing up. With Jenna on edge, he’d moved Mason into their room to give her peace of mind, much to Lily’s dismay.
“Uh, Jenna was taking care of me since I’m hurt.” Aaron struggled to adjust his position and sit up.
“You slept like a mommy and daddy in a family. Hi Mason. Hi.” Lily rubbed the top of Mason’s head. He held his arms out to her and Lily tugged him from the portable crib and handed him his small stuffed lion.
“Careful, baby.” Aaron grabbed his side again, focusing on his daughter but taking Jenna’s hand. “What would you think about us being a family? Me and you and Jenna and Mason.”
Jenna gulped, but waited as the scene played out. While Aaron was all her dreams come true and Lily the added bonus, things were still uncertain in her mind. She had to wonder if telling Lily was a good idea for now. She’d woken nearly every hour with vivid dreams of Vince chasing her and her running into nowhere.
“Jenna could be the mommy?” Lily asked looking at Jenna and back to Aaron.
Jenna lifted Mason to the bed and into her covered lap. He giggled, waiting on Lily who plopped up on the bed causing Aaron to groan.
“Easy,
no bouncing,” Aaron scolded but then lifted Jenna’s hand, the one wearing the ring he’d given her. “Daddy gave Jenna this ring, so we’re gonna be a family real soon if it’s all right with you and Mason.”
Jenna glanced at the ring on her finger, the constant reminder that she’d found herself again, through this incredible man beside her. Her fairy tale. Her knight in shining armor. Oh God, Vince couldn’t ruin even this, could he?
“Can we all have a spend-the-night party?” Lily handed off her bear to Mason, who dove forward on the large stuffed softness with a giggle.
“Yep, once we are a family,” Aaron answered.
“That sounds like great fun,” Jenna added, wishing she could cut the intense dread inside her.
“Can Sammy and Lion come too?” Lily picked up the bear once more, but Aaron grabbed it from her with a pretend growl making both children squeal.
“I…don’t know, he’s kind of furry and big and takes up a lot of room.” He juggled the bear in his good hand, tossing it back to them.
“He likes spend-the-night parties.” Lily hugged the animal close.
“Well, what do you think?” Aaron asked Jenna.
This was a beautiful moment, even if she was still afraid that Vince wasn’t done. “I think, he’s furry and big and right for the party.”
“Then, it’s settled. And Lion too!” Aaron touched the lion in Mason’s grasp.
Lily looked at them both and in a very serious tone asked. “And I can call Jenna mommy?”
Jenna nearly choked on her on saliva. While she wouldn’t mind it at all, she hadn’t expected it to come so quickly.
Aaron squeezed her hand. “I suppose that would be up to Jenna.”
Jenna took what little breath she could, fighting off the tears that wanted to gather. There was nothing she’d want more than to love this little girl as her own. “I think I would like that a lot.”
“I’m going to see if Uncle Jeremiah is awake. He’s going to make French toast and watch cartoons with me and Mason.” Lily sprang up as if the new situation were all normal. She jumped from the bed and waited as Jenna lifted Mason off the bed.
“Hey, hold Mason’s hand on the stairs and tell Uncle Jeremiah he needs a diaper change,” Aaron said as they watched Lily lead the way into the hall.
“All right, Daddy.” And with that she and Mason were on their way.
“Aaron?” Jenna looked down at the ring and back to him. “Of course I adore her, but she has a mother…”
“Who has never cared two cents about her. It’s fine…” Aaron looked at her in question. “If it’s fine with you.”
“It’s perfect.” Jenna’s voice cracked, “I adore her and she’s so good with Mason. But are we rushing with all that is going on… Aaron, I’m so afraid of your getting hurt and…”
He didn’t let her finish. “It will end soon. Tuck and Gabe have a few more leads, but we have to be careful.”
She wiped her eyes and gently wrapped her arms around him, hanging on as tightly as she could without hurting him. She didn’t want to let go of him ever, not ever.
Aaron held her. “Shhhh. You’re safe here.”
She’d spent hours last night watching Aaron sleep and she’d come to a few more conclusions. When she could manage to slip away, she’d take some of the money she’d put away and purchase the land Aaron wanted in full for him. He would never take the money, so she would have to put the motions for purchasing the real estate into play without his knowing and that wouldn’t be easy, given she was never on her own. “Aaron, promise me, no matter how life goes, you will build your ranch.”
He studied her for a moment. “I know what you are thinking, but this will end soon and then we’ll do that together, you, me and the children.”
She nodded, wishing she didn’t feel like the world was caving in. That was the problem. It would all end soon, but it wasn’t likely it would end well, given how things were going. She’d thought of running, but then…Aaron was right, she would be running for the rest of her life. But if things got much worse maybe her only choice would be to run, in order to keep Aaron and his family safe. And if it did come to that, leaving would break Aaron’s heart and somehow it would shatter her own into a million tiny pieces.
****
Aaron walked from Gabe’s truck to the corral on the set, meeting Thor. Somehow the horse seemed rather lonesome without Maxus, or maybe it was Aaron that was lost without that damn stubborn horse. And while he felt much better, being on the set brought it all back quick.
“Good-boy, how ya been?” He patted the horse, fighting emotions that wanted to erupt.
It had been weeks now since his fall, though he still wore the half-cast to his arm. His ribs and back were better but he was far from being fully recovered and it was most likely Maxus never would be. He’d spent the earlier part of the morning taking Maxus for a small walk outside the barn, wondering if it had been a blessing or a curse the animal had survived. It seemed all the spirit was gone from the animal, who now startled easily as was expected with the limited vision he had retained.
He looked toward the fallen part of the ramp that still lay on the ground, roped off and unmoved. Gabe had discovered where the joints of connectors were blown and suspected just like the Feds, that Hanson had placed someone on the inside of the set, but they weren’t as interested in Jenna’s part of the story as they were at simply locating Hanson.
He thought of Jenna and the fact that she’d seemed a bit better, as weeks had gone by with nothing more out of Hanson. The presence of the FBI had probably kept the man quiet for now. He’d left Jenna at the ranch, sleeping alongside Lily, with Mason nearby in his play pen. She hadn’t needed to come with him as all he wanted to do was check on the horses.
“Want to take a look at the ramp?” Gabe had parked the truck and joined him.
He nodded, his pulse racing at the idea, since the first glimpse of the heap. He could remember the fall, hitting on the way down and then nothing.
“I talked to the film boys again and they’ve slowed down the pictures, nothing shows but the ramp giving way,” Gabe explained.
“Let’s look at the ramp first.” Nausea hit him like a brick at the idea of watching his fall and seeing Maxus panic on film. He hadn’t expected his physical reaction but followed his brother ahead. A large portion of the ramp lay crumbled below the remaining supports, charred edges easy enough to spot where things blew.
“So Horace let it all stay for now?” Aaron took a step closer, touching the charred wood where the ramp had broken apart his mind drifting over the last moments before he fell.
“You know Horace; he’s hoping to avoid a lawsuit. But Hanson did a damn good job of hiding the placement of several explosives on timers. Small and expensive, a professional job. The night guard says no one came thru the set for several nights before it happened. My guess is he made his way inside through the woods. We found a few tracks; two different sets of boots passed the saloon. The FBI hasn’t looked further here, but they are still hanging around.” Gabe bent and pointed to the areas of damage.
Aaron stepped back. All he could see was Maxus. He held his side and sucked in several forced breaths.
“You all right?” Gabe stood again, touching his shoulder.
“Yeah, I just want the bastard.” Aaron tugged free of his brother. It was one thing that he and the horse had been injured but it was completely something else to see Jenna live in fear.
“He knows the Feds are onto him. He’s been too quiet.” Gabe looked at him, pushing his ball cap further back. “He’s just timing things, but he isn’t done.”
“Yeah, well this playing games is getting old.” Aaron shook his head. He’d had time to think hard while mending and it wasn’t over. Not even a little, but when it was time, he’d find a way to free Jenna of it all. One way or another, if it came down to it.
“You know if we don’t end this, Jenna, Jennifer, whoever she is, is only gonna live on the run and…�
�
“Don’t you think I know that? But that’s not what this is about, is it?” Aaron cut him off. There was something that Gabe didn’t like about Jenna and there was no need for his brother to beat around the bush any longer.
Gabe looked at him for a moment and then answered him, his tone stern. “What the hell are you doing, Aaron? You fall for this chick, knowing nothing about her, and still don’t. She almost gets your ass killed and then you move her right into the house. Who gives a shit if you don’t care about yourself, but did you ever stop to think about Amos and Sarah, or how about Lily, for God’s sake?”
So that was it. That’s how it must’ve looked from the outside. Yes, he’d thought of the dangers, but to leave Jenna out in the cold was something he couldn’t do. “Yes! I have thought of that but just because you can’t trust anyone—” He stopped mid-sentence.
Gabe’s face reddened. “This isn’t about my trust issues. We’ve grown up, Aaron. This is about you risking it all. Putting the bait right smack dab in the middle of our home. She’d better be damn worth it.”
Aaron looked at him hard, having no words. How could he even ask that?
“This isn’t a game Aaron, you almost died. Scared the fucking hell out of me too, bro.” His brother softened his tone. “Look, I get you care for her, but I’m telling you to be sure, because this is one hell of a mess and this dude don’t play fair.”
“I know full well what’s at stake, but I can’t help her without you and Tuck,” Aaron defended, grabbing his side.
Gabe leaned on the nearby fencing. “You need to be prepared…this is going to get ugly and we need to find him before he finds her.”
“Look, just fill Jeremiah in, we’re gonna need his help too before this is over.” He asked because Jeremiah wasn’t a P.I., and due to the work he did with the local fire department, they hadn’t wanted to risk his being involved.
“I told him this morning but he’s pissed as hell we didn’t come clean before now,” Gabe answered.
“And Amos?” Aaron kicked the dirt disgusted. Because things had been quiet, didn’t mean Hanson and those working with him weren’t watching. And as much as he hated it, there might come a time to send Sarah off with the children.