Bending to stare the man in the eye that Madison never truly believed would be brought to justice, Xander said quietly enough that only the three of them could hear, “Remember my face, Jason. You ever come near my woman again and they’ll never find your body. The animals won’t even know if you’re safe to eat when I get through with you.”
“She’s mine…”
“I was never yours. One day soon, I won’t even remember what you look like. You’re going to prison and I hear it’s a rough stay for dirty cops. How many of those guys did you frame? How many of them would love a shot at you?”
“I’ll plea out, I won’t serve a day! You fucking bitch! You won’t get away with this…”
Jimmy dragged him across the diner and through the glass door, but Jason never stopped screaming. She watched as all three men were put in the back of squad cars and he lost his mind, kicking and screaming behind the cage.
She rubbed her hands over her upper arms and Xander pulled her into a hug. Exhaling roughly, she tilted her head back to look at him. “How about some coffee and a piece of pie?”
Stroking her cheek with his warm palm, he smiled. “That would be great.” Then he lowered to one knee and took a small box from his pocket. “Madison Wilcox, will you marry me?”
Nodding as tears streamed over her cheeks, she dropped to her knees and held him tight as she let go of the pain and the fear of her past and grabbed hold of her future life with both hands.
Epilogue
Six months later…
Madison was nervously cleaning…again. Xander hugged her hard. “Honey, you have sterilized our house. Surgical procedures could be performed in here. Come here.”
He turned her in his arms and his heart sped up the way it always did, knowing she was all his. He’d gotten her a pretty engagement ring, added a matching wedding ring three months before, and they sparkled on her left hand.
Xander often caught her looking at her hand and smiling. He was pretty smug about it.
Madison’s sister and grandmother were due to arrive any minute for their second visit. Both of them had been at their wedding. They waited to get married until Jason and his two friends were convicted for rape, kidnapping, and a host of other charges.
They were still pursuing charges for the death of Madison’s parents.
Sensing a massive lawsuit, the city of Reno gave her an out-of-court settlement for pain and suffering. She sold her childhood home and her little car, splitting all the money equally with her sister. It took her three weeks to settle everything in Reno.
She’d insisted on going alone and he’d begun to worry that she wouldn’t return to Alabama.
Then one bright day, she drove up in a new little car and he ran out to meet her. Unable to make it back to the house, the first time they made love was on the backseat of his Bronco, in broad daylight, in full view of the road.
Afterward, she cried happy tears and then they both started laughing and couldn’t stop. Talking about it still made them laugh.
“I love your dark hair.”
He raked his fingers through it as he kissed her lips, smiling when Madison moaned against his mouth. His hand drifted down to cup her breast and she ground her hips against him.
“We have no time…I can’t take you upstairs right now.” He held strong for another thirty seconds before growling, “Fuck it.” Throwing her over his shoulder, he took the stairs two at a time, and her hysterical laughter echoed off the walls.
* * *
Ten minutes later, two women opened the front door, ready to call out when Xander’s voice shouted through the house, “Oh my god, Madison! We’re going to have a baby?”
There was rapid talking, laughing, and then more celebratory yelling.
Abigail Wilcox looked at her grandmother with a grin. “Doesn’t sound like they’re going to be down for a while.”
“It’s a real pretty day. We can wait on the porch, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, I’m happy to wait.”
Both of them settled in the old-fashioned wicker furniture on Xander’s wraparound porch and stared out over the fields.
They’d watched Madison spiral deeper and deeper into terror and depression until she finally escaped a man who’d been dangerous to every person in her life.
Now, she was healthy and healed, married to a good man who’d give her the moon if she asked, and living in a sleepy little town where she could breathe again. They were going to have a little baby and there was no doubt that they’d make wonderful parents.
Her grandmother stared out over the landscape and sighed contentedly. “Everything always happens for a reason, Abby. Remember that…every little thing.” Then she took out her book to pass the time, slowing rocking in the warm breeze that blew across the front porch.
Abby leaned back to rest after the trip and closed her eyes.
“This was a good place to break down, Sissy. Your real life was just waiting for you.”
About Shayne McClendon
Shayne McClendon is an indie author most recognized for her premiere novel “The Barter System.” Also set in “The Barter System” world are “Hudson” (book two), “Pushing the Envelope” (book three), “Backstage” (book four), “Liberation” (book five), and “Radiance” (book six).
Other releases include “Yes to Everything,” “Completely Wrecked,” “Love of the Game,” and “The Hermit.”
Shayne listens to the voices in her head because their ideas are (almost) always awesome. Those around her don’t question the crazy. Coffee consumption is too high, amount of sleep is too low, but the words always feel just right.
Stop by her Facebook page or visit her Always the Good Girl website and subscribe for your free story!
Break Down Here: A Country Romance Page 5