Forgiveness Creek: The Creek Series

by Abbie St. Claire

  While he examined my fancy cup, I fished around in my book bag to find the comic copy of two mosquitos. One was normal and the other really fat like an orange. The caption read: Pull back, pull back, you’ve hit an artery. It was a little nursing/medical humor, but when I handed it to Justin, he laughed out loud.

  “Some of these damn mosquitos around here are vampires. Very fitting.”

  He wasn’t good on small talk, so he used the cows as an excuse to leave. He was a sweet guy and needed companionship of the female kind. But who would want to move to nowhere land and live a boring life?

  Me.

  Dr. Ainsworth was a young OB/GYN and had just started her practice which made it easy to get in so quickly. Before my appointment, I stopped by Cabela’s gun department.

  “Ma’am, can I help you find something?”

  “I want a Bodyguard 380 and a thigh holster.”

  “Little lady’s done her homework,” he snarked under his breath.

  “Yes.”

  “I’ve got forms for you to fill out, and I’ll need your fingerprints.”

  “Not a problem.”

  “Are you familiar with the state gun laws?”

  “I’m sure you’re about to tell me.” I just wanted a damn gun to protect me and my baby. A criminal could get one in two seconds, but I was getting the third degree. Geez.

  “To carry this on your person, a permit is required.”

  “I’m aware. I’m just alone and want protection for my home.”

  “The holster?” He lifted his eyes from the paperwork and stared at me.

  “My business. But if you must know, I have a very large ranch and don’t want to be a coyote’s dinner. I’m pregnant and around my waist is a bit much at the moment.”

  He shut up and performed the sale. The next stop I made was to pick up a supply of skirts and soft pants that had room for my expanding belly, and I wanted them to all have pockets. It wasn’t as easy a task as I thought it would be, but I found a few along with a couple of maxi-dresses that would work as well.

  I arrived at Dr. Ainsworth’s office just in time to donate to the vampires.

  “So you haven’t had any care during this pregnancy?” the nurse asked suspiciously.

  “Yes, I have. But, my boyfriend is a wealthy businessman in Dallas and a threat was made on our lives on Sunday. I’ve returned to my ranch to go into hiding.”

  She looked at me and rubbed her brow before she started punching more buttons on her electronic tablet. I was sure she thought I’d been reading too many Harlequins.

  “I know it sounds like the makings of a Stephen King novel, but it’s actually true.”

  She pulled her glasses down and simply stared at me. “Well, that might explain the rise in your blood pressure. Is there any way we can obtain your records?”

  “I’d rather you didn’t request them. If the doctor thinks it’s urgent, I can contact a friend and have her pick them up.”

  She left the room without answering. Either she didn’t believe me or found that I was going to be a difficult patient unworthy of her extra time.

  A petite, young blonde woman entered the room by herself. “Hi, I’m Sarah Ainsworth. Tana, my nurse, has filled me in on your situation. I’m worried about you. Your blood pressure is very high, and to be honest, I really should put you in the hospital, unless you can give me a reason not to.”

  “I just finished nursing school at TWU and take boards in a couple of weeks. I promise to monitor myself at home. This nightmare that is my life has all happened two days ago, and to be really honest, I’m doing my best to keep my grip on things.”

  “My nurse said something about death threats.”

  “Yes, and some type of corporate espionage.”

  “Since you’re pregnant, I can’t give you anything for the anxiety. But, why don’t we do something calming and take a look at your baby? While we do that, I’ll watch your blood pressure.” Dr. Ainsworth dropped warm jelly on my tummy and turned the screen, so I could see too. She took measurements and busied herself with her routine.

  “Everything is looking good here. Heart is strong, and the baby’s development is right in order for your weeks. Do you want to know the sex or have they told you already?”

  “At first I didn’t think I wanted to know, but now, I do. I need the mental diversion.”

  “You’re having a little boy. Congratulations. He looks healthy, and we’ll do our best to keep him that way.” She looked over her shoulder at the blood pressure monitor. “I see your blood pressure has dropped considerably, but I’m making a note that you should be on fifty percent bed rest. That means fifty percent of your day should be spent reclining and resting. In addition, there shall be no heavy lifting and very light housework. Studying is perfect.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Ainsworth, for believing me and for your understanding.”

  As she opened the door to leave, she turned back to me. “You’re very welcome. Please take good care of yourself. I want to see you again in two weeks, and if there is anything I can do to help you in any way, please call me.” Then she left closing the door softly behind her.

  A little boy. Asher had got his wish.

  My drive home was uneventful other than my imagination filled with thoughts of my little peanut…my little man. I knew I had to do everything possible to keep him safe.

  I stopped at the pharmacy and picked up a blood pressure monitor and made him a promise to take the best care of him I could.

  I drove my car over to Stephan’s and put it in his barn. The hills, plus the rock road down to the barn, weren’t good for a low-riding car such as a Beetle, but I crept slowly and made it work.

  I took my new purchase from Cabela’s out of the case and loaded the clip. It had been a long while since I’d fired a gun. I walked down to the pasture and lined my selection of cans on the rocks and fence posts. I practiced taking aim and fired until I had memorized the feel of the gun and felt comfortable with my target. A sniper, I was not, but I wasn’t a wimp either.

  Justin came to give me a lift back home as promised.

  “Do you really think they’re coming after you?”

  “Yes, for some reason, I do. Why? I haven’t the foggiest idea, but I’m going to be ready for them.”

  Later that night, I cut the seam from all the pockets on my right side. I put the gun in the thigh holster and double checked all the skirts, dresses, and pants to make certain that in the event I needed to reach the gun, all I had to do was slip my hand in the opened pocket and down to my thigh.

  I practiced the move over and over, until I was comfortable moving the safety and pulling the gun out of the holster. I knew I would have to fire through my clothing or risk shooting my own leg or foot.

  From that moment on, I was never going to be unarmed. While the situation at hand pushed all of my boundaries, I was never going to let it define me.

  Dane

  The hurt in her eyes spoke the volumes of words she hid from me. I had just won her love only to lose her again. But I had to let her go. I had to keep her safe. I knew she would return to the one place that made her comfortable, and I prayed it would be enough.

  The flight to China was anything less than routine. I wasn’t certain who was behind the corporate issues or the threats against my family, but I had my suspicions.

  “What do you mean she didn’t take the truck?” I asked Grandfather as soon as I had landed.

  “Her roommate says the truck is sitting out front. The keys were left on the table along with a note saying she’d gone deep into hiding.”

  “Fucking great. I had a tracker on that truck, so I’d know where she was, Grandfather.”

  “There’s more, son. She left the burner phones as well.”

  “Well, that would explain why she’s not answering. This just gets better and better.”

  Grandfather and I had discussed all day which employees we felt could be trusted and which ones would be terminated. We agreed on e
very person, except for two. I let him have the final call. Stella was one we definitely agreed on, and if our hunch was right, we would see her show her true colors.

  After I spoke with Grandfather, I called an emergency staff meeting and woke my team in the early hours of the morning.

  I watched as Stella rolled in at the last minute. She must have taken the flight right after mine and hadn’t gotten her beauty rest, because she looked like a warmed up corpse, pale and eyes sunken in dark circles.

  I explained to the group there would be a cleaning of the house, and each one of them would be receiving an envelope with their new assignments or their final severance. We were generous to everyone that would be leaving the company.

  There was much grumbling and even some who voiced their concerns vividly, but security ushered them out. As the team disbanded and those that were removed from their roles left the room, I studied the final six sitting before me.

  “You are the chosen team. My grandfather hand-selected you to build our company, and he wants you—and I want you—to stay and make this new adventure a success. Your commitment is requested, and if you don’t want to move forward, please let me know so a generous severance can be prepared for you.”

  No one budged.

  “Great. That means we have an emergency situation on our hands for our distribution channels, but first, I need to speak with Stella. Wait for me in my office please.”

  Stella stood in a huff and jerked her handbag from the table. I watched as she exited the room and walked down the hall through the glass walls.

  I pushed play on the video monitor. “The rest of you, please watch this video and put your heads together. I need five action plans from each of you by the time I return. Breakfast will be arriving shortly and please let your families know to expect you by the normal dinner hour. We’ve got twenty-four hours to turn this around.”

  I walked out of the conference room and made my way to the large office at the end of the hall. It wasn’t just one corner office. It was two, expanding from one corner of our floor to the opposite side, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Dong Cheng District of Beijing.

  “Want to explain to me what you were doing at the ranch?” I asked as soon as I closed the door behind me.

  She sat up straight in her chair and picked at some fuzz on her black skirt. “I…um, wanted to speak with you and saw that you had company.”

  “Bullshit. Try again.”

  “What do you want with me, Dane? You’re toying with that little girl who you know can’t please you like a real woman.” Stella stood and started pacing by the window, like a caged lioness looking for an escape.

  “You stole the remote to the gate of my house from my car.”

  “Prove it.” Her snarl warped her once beautiful face.

  “Honey, it’s the least of your worries. I want to know what you and Carl were going to do with Wrenn.” I stood from behind my desk and pressed a very inconspicuous black button. Then I closed the distance between us. “In less than three minutes, the police will be here to remove you from my building. There will be no severance for you. You see, that check you’re holding isn’t signed. Unless you tell me what I want to know, you will not see a penny. I don’t have anything to have you arrested here in China just yet, but there are plenty of charges coming for the U.S. should you return there—including kidnapping.”

  Stella slapped me hard across the cheek. “You’re nothing to me. You’re nothing but a little boy who cannot handle a real woman. I will take you down. You can bet on that. I’ll find that micro-chip, and when I do, I’ll own this company.”

  By the time she finished spitting her words, the guards threw back the door and entered with guns drawn. Stella raised her hands in defeat, but I was certain this was a painful new beginning, rather than a peaceful end.

  I called Grandfather to keep him abreast of the situation. “Stella’s gone, and I’m headed right back to Texas as soon as I get business under control here. Travel agents are monitoring the flights for her name, and the FBI is watching for her. I need Wrenn to make a statement, but without a phone, that isn’t going to happen.”

  “I can’t believe you let her get away without finding out where that place was.”

  “Don’t rub salt in the wound. I have a plan, and I’ll let her hide out because she’s safe, but when I need to find her, I know how. The truck would’ve just been easier. She’s so damn stubborn.”

  “And you’re not, son?”

  “Goodbye, Grandfather.”

  I went back to the conference room to find my team elbows deep in projects, like busy bees on steroids. They had QC records and regulatory team members on their way in. Seemed that Stella and some of her flunkies had been in the process of a huge takeover and had left more of a paper trail than they’d probably thought.

  Had the Chinese government not complained about distribution, we wouldn’t have known, until things were too late to resolve. Stella had no idea that my insiders within the government had told me about the new chips being released. Chips that weren’t ready for the open market. It had been a huge tip-off.

  I went back to my office and stared at the picture of me and Wrenn that was taken on the Kiss-Cam at the Stars game, grateful that a friend had taken a snap shot of it and emailed it to me. It was my favorite picture of us.

  I pulled out the sonogram photo from my wallet and kissed my little peanut.

  Stay safe, little one. Daddy’s on a roll now.

  To be continued…

  Redemption Creek, Part Three of The Creek Series available November 25, 2014

  Will Wrenn and Dane find the happiness they’re

  desperately searching for?

  Find out in the final installment of the Creek Series.

  Redemption Creek

  Secrets and lies of the creek...

  When escaping isn't enough.

  Never underestimate the power of a woman…

  Money can’t buy every girl in town…

  Nice guys finish last…sometimes.

  Between trying to sell the company and fixing his private life, Dane Lawrence underestimates Wrenn’s stubborn streak and seeks out the help of his grandfather. Little does he know, he’s being seriously played, but by whom?

  Wrenn fights her attackers with everything she’s got and she’s grateful that Stephan taught her to shoot, but there were bullets that even she didn’t see coming.

  When the nightmare’s return, Wrenn’s physical health in in serious danger. Dane whisks her off to France to save her from herself. Can Wrenn finally put the pieces of her life together and find the redemption she deserves?

  More From Abbie

  Thank you for reading the second installment of The Creek Series. Wrenn feels that her world has gone up in flames and her external fight has only begun, but it may be her internal fight that destroys her. The end of the story comes in Redemption Creek. Will Wrenn get the redemption she craves?

  Here are links to more books from Abbie:

  Click here to find my books at Amazon

  About The Author

  I'm a Texan through and through. While I've lived in various parts of the state, Houston is home now, but Dallas is my favorite part of the state and Austin runs a close second. Let's hear it for the HORNS!

  The hubs and I enjoy having friends over and our place is kind of a hangout...of sorts. We cook and entertain together.

  I want my stories to excite the reader. I love it when readers reach out to me.

  2014 has started off with my stories of HOOK-UPS with Ace's Key, Booty Call, Christmas In July and Consolation Prize. I put the four of them in a collection, you’ll find it under All About The Heat.

  This KISS ME (standalone novella series) is underway with Kiss Me-Crazy and Kiss Me-The Love Shack coming soon.

  Releasing in October, The Creek Series. Broken Creek, a novella, introduces you to Wrenn Cunningham and her estranged relationship with ex-boyfriend, Pro Fisherman, Stephan
Hart.

  Followed by Forgiveness Creek, a novel, and Redemption Creek, a novella, in November.

  Stay tuned, FALL 2014 is going to be full of love in all the right places.

  XOXO,

  Abbie

  PS: Follow me on Twitter and Facebook and feel free to email me! I love to hear from you!

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  Email me at: abbie@abbiestclaire.com