What A Woman: Book Five (The Woman I Love Series 5)

by G S Binkley

  Stella hugged her daughter in law. “I’m sure she’s concerned about your safety and the kids.”

  “I know she is as much as I am.” Lacy plopped down in the chair. It was then she heard a car drive up then a door slam.

  Gage’s intent stare fell on Lacy. “I know…” She shielded the small gun case in her hand.

  “Do you think this is the answer?” Lacy stood, facing her partner.

  Stella decided it was time to take her leave. She gathered up the sandwiches. “I’ll just take these out to the kids.”

  They barely heard Stella leave.

  Lacy stared at the gun case in her partner’s hand. “You made the decision for us?”

  “It’s not like that, Lacy.” The blonde set the case aside. She placed a reaffirming hand on her partner’s shoulder. “I have to protect you and the kids. I just have to.”

  “I understand completely…” Lacy fell into her partners arms. “Wish you would have talked with me first.”

  A tear formed in Gage’s eye. In the many years that they were together, Lacy and Gage paved an understanding that their partnership was just that… making decision together. Gage knew very well the implications of having a gun in the house. The blonde wasn’t very familiar with a weapon but knew of its power to take a life but, she reasoned, it could also save a life. That was her intent. Lacy was very familiar with various weapons being around her father and brothers so Gage wasn’t worried about her handling of it.

  Lacy insisted that Gage could keep it on one condition. “We have to make sure it’s put away from the children…”

  “Absolutely.”

  “And… it’s secure. We need to get a lock box for it.” Lacy was adamant on that point.

  “But what if I have to get to it in a hurry…” She prayed she would never have the need.

  Lacy would not budge on the condition. “It’s going in a lock box period.”

  Gage acquiesced. They decided to secure the weapon in their bedroom.

  *********

  Lacy and Gage waved goodbye to their children. Dan assured his daughter and Gage that he would rather die than let anyone harm his grandchildren. They knew this went for Lynn and Stella as well.

  “I’ve called the security company and arranged for a patrol to come by here and at the studio.” Gage informed her partner.

  Lacy nodded. “I talked with Tony again. He hasn’t heard from…” It left a bad taste in her mouth to say his name. “…Blade.”

  Suddenly, it dawned on Gage. “You know, I’ve been looking at that picture Tony left and I just realized that… you remember that guy I hired to take care of our lawn?”

  Lacy nodded.

  “It could… I think it was him.” She handed a copy of the picture to Lacy. “He’s got long hair in the picture and the lawn guy’s hair was short but…”

  “Maybe.” Lacy studied the photograph. “Doesn’t make me feel any better if it was.”

  Gage felt guilty since she was the one that hired him or at least the lawn company.

  *********

  Several days went by peacefully. The empty house was so unusual for the pair but was happy to know that their family made it safely to Branson and their children were enjoying it immensely.

  Daily, Gage would ride their ATV around their grounds, looking for anything out of the ordinary. They stayed in mostly, not wanting to venture out. Lacy tried to paint while Gage focused on writing.

  Mostly they were distracted by the unknown. Waiting. Expecting.

  On the fourth day, Lacy decided to drag her easel and paints down near the lake. It was a beautiful day and she was tired of the stuffy room that became like a prison to her while she tried to paint. There were a few boaters out for the day on the lake and a lone man on a jet ski. Mostly the calm waters soothed her soul for the moment. She allowed herself to relax and focus on her painting.

  Standing on the front porch, Gage smiled upon seeing her partner near the water’s edge. She knew it was a trying time for both so she decided to make dinner reservations for them that night. “It’ll be good to get out of the house.” That remark sent a shudder down her spine. We love this house…our home. It’s been such a retreat for us from the world and now I want to us to get away.

  After making the reservation, Gage walked back in her office and sat down to write. The warm sunlight brightened the room. She got up to open the French doors to the outside, allowing a soft breeze through.

  Lacy lost herself in painting the landscape around the lake. Finally, she felt at peace.

  Gage engrossed herself in her next story called ‘Murder at Knifepoint’.

  Unbeknownst to either Lacy or Gage, there was someone close by that wouldn’t find peace until he committed his goal… murder.

  *********

  Lurking eyes cased the place. Silently, he roved around through the woods, waiting patiently. Stooped low, he unsheathed his long blade, wiping it against his dark jeans. He quelled his hatred that burned deeply inside him. His patience would pay off in the end. Watching now, the sheer curtain flow in the wind, Blade turned his attention to the water’s edge. A smile etched on his scruffy face.

  He had killed before so this would be nothing new. His thoughts travelled back to when he was in prison. The woman. He smiled. She was so easy to manipulate. Even though he was bitter while in prison, it was made easier by her gifts of money for his cigarettes and such. Soon she was his courier for the letters he had written. Making her post the letters at various cities provided him an anonymous mask of deceit. He thought himself so clever. She was his first order of business when he was released from prison. On their way to the bus station, he had her pull over. He made short work of her. His hands were dirty now. Nothing could stop him.

  *********

  Lacy decided to call it a day. She heard Gage typing away on her next book so she decided not to bother her partner. Lacy headed upstairs for a quick shower. The cool water rained over her body, washing away her worries. Lacy smiled when an idea popped in her head. Tonight, I’m going to get Gage out of this house and go have a nice dinner… just the two of us. It was a delicious thought.

  The writer hurried with the last scene of her book. It was a sense of great pride when she finally wrote those two words – the end. Gage saved her work before turning off her computer. She leaned back in her swivel chair and stretched.

  Blade moved slowly across the well-manicured lawn. A few bushes near the French doors provided his cover. He heard the squeaking of a chair and smiled. Through the glass door, Blade snuck a quick peek. He saw a silhouette of someone standing, turned away from him. He ventured forward ever so slowly so as not to surprise his prey. When a telephone rang out, it startled him. He backed up, again taking root near the bushes. Blade couldn’t hear what was being said but had to remain patient.

  Gage placed the home telephone receiver on the desk. She left her office, looking for her partner. Not seeing Lacy near the dock, Gage yelled her name throughout the house. Thinking that maybe Lacy was upstairs, the blonde went back to her office and picked up the telephone. “Lynn, can I have her call you back? I think she might be in the shower.” When Lacy’s mother agreed, Gage hung the telephone up.

  Walking toward her office door to find her partner, Gage was jerked back violently. Her body slammed against the edge of her desk. She turned around to see who was there only to be smacked upside the head. The blonde tumbled over her desk, landing on the floor. Dazed, Gage rose up and saw the edge of a ten inch knife staring at her. She backed up. “Hold on… if it’s money you want...”

  Blade easily slid across the desk top before Gage could get out of the way. They tangled up against the wall as the blonde tried to knee him between his legs. He was at least seven inches taller than her so Gage dropped down to the floor. She tried to crawl away under her desk and nearly made it through but not before his long knife slit her lower right leg.

  Her thoughts were of Lacy, wanting to keep her partner safe from this
hell bent demon. Should she call for Lacy or remain quiet thinking that maybe he wouldn’t know someone else was home. That thought was to no avail since Blade ripped the desk across the room like it was light as a feather. Gage tried to get up. Her leg bled out even more.

  Blade was intent, heading straight for the door. He seemed content to bypass her but Gage would have none of it. She knew this was the man intent on killing her partner. She would die before that ever happened.

  “Lacy! Get out!”

  He twisted around and she lunged at him. This time Blade ended up on the floor with Gage on top. “You son of a bitch.” Fist after fist slammed into his face. Blade grabbed the back of the blonde’s hair, jerking her back.

  His blade slit her left rib cage. More blood.

  More determined than ever, Gage bit his left forearm making him release her hair. With her left arm, Gage tried to hold down the sharp blade in his hand. She jabbed her fingers in his eyes, trying to blind him. Another cut from his blade, this time deeper in her side. Blade pushed her away enough that he could get up.

  Breathing heavily, Gage crawled toward him. She reached for his leg to stop him but was kicked in the face and knocked backwards. Her left eye now swollen from his boot’s edge. The blonde forced herself to rise up to her knees. Weak. Bleeding. Her only chance was to knock him off his balance and somehow get his knife.

  Suddenly, Gage was jerked up, barely on her tip toes, being held by the menacing attacker. Another jab of the knife. This time to her stomach. Again one to her chest. She tried desperately to grab at him to no avail. Too weak to even suck in a deep breath. Again, his knife punctured her chest. She fell to her knees.

  He smiled. Menacing. His evil dark eyes seemed to grow with amusement. Slowly, he raised his right arm, intent on slicing the blonde’s neck. This would be the appetizer before the final feast. The bitch! He paused just long enough to savor the delicious feeling of having someone at his mercy. Then his smiled faded away into a sneer. Blade cocked his arm and was ready for the final blow.

  To Gage’s surprise it never came.

  Gage saw his arm drop and the blade fall to the ground. His eyes now dull and lifeless. He let go of her shirt and she slid to the floor. When he dropped down in front of her, Gage saw the reason why.

  Before her stood Lacy, gun in hand. Gage hadn’t even heard the weapon fire. Her final thought that day was of Lacy… the woman I love.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Lacy lifted her partner’s head up. “Gage, sweetheart.” Tears filled her eyes when the lifeless blonde did not answer. She reached for the telephone, calling for an ambulance. The longest moments of her life were waiting for the EMTs to arrive. The ride to the hospital seemed like she was on a slow boat to China. It wasn’t any better as the emergency room attendants rushed her partner into surgery.

  Beside herself, Lacy did manage to call Nathan. When her brother arrived, he brought along Hank and Jen. Relieved to have her family around, Lacy was still in a daze. “I need to call Mark…”

  “I’ll make the call.” Nathan walked a few feet away. He returned to let her know that Mark was on the first plane back. He wrapped his arm around his sister. “Can I get you anything?”

  “What about mom? Should we call…” Hank stopped when the police arrived.

  Two officers interviewed Lacy about the events that took place at her home. She was shaken but was able to tell her side of what she knew. Lacy had already given a brief statement to an officer at her home before she left with Gage to the hospital. The officers informed Lacy that the young male was dead and had been removed from her home.

  Hank pulled one of the officers aside. “When can we get in to my sister’s house?” He wanted to make sure everything was cleaned up before his sister returned home. The officer indicated that they should be done by the next morning.

  There was nothing to do but wait… and pray.

  After a few hours, Lacy sucked in a deep breath before she said. “It should have been me.”

  “No, Lacy.”

  “He was after me not…” Tears filled her sad eyes once again. Both Hank and Nathan were next to her. Lacy started to ramble. “I just got out of the shower… I thought I heard my name…” She combed her fingers through her hair. “But I wanted to dry my hair first… I should have…” Again, more tears.

  “It’s not your fault.” Hank insisted.

  “If I had went down…” Lacy cried. “…Gage wanted that gun in her office…”

  “Lacy, please none of that matters right now… we need to focus on Gage.” Nathan desperately wanted his sister to stop blaming herself.

  “No. I insisted it be up in our bedroom… away from the kids…” Lacy’s hands now covered her face.

  Jen knelt down in front of her sister-in-law. “Lacy.” She gently pulled Lacy’s hands down into her own. “Gage is strong. You need to be strong for her now.”

  Blue eyes met Jen. “You’re right. I know.” Lacy shook her head. “What would I do without her?” Lacy’s blue eyes now stared off into space.

  Hank turned his sister’s head to face him. “You have to believe, Lacy. If I know Gage...” He smiled for the first time that night. “…and we all do, she won’t let this… stop her from being with you and your children.”

  It was a long night and would be an even longer day.

  After five hours, the surgeon asked to talk with Lacy. “It was touch and go but she made it through the surgery.” She cautioned them. “She’s not out of the woods yet.” She looked away but for a short moment, remembering the extent of Gage’s injuries. “It’s really up to her now.” The surgeon informed Lacy that her partner’s left lung was punched in several places along with the stomach wound. She advised Lacy that Gage’s recovery would take some time.

  They thanked the surgeon.

  “See, Lacy.” Nathan grinned.

  “What?”

  “You heard her. Do you really think Gage would die on you?”

  Lacy cried.

  Hank slapped his hand up against his youngest brother’s head. “Watch what you say.”

  Nathan composed himself. “What I meant, Lacy…” He ducked his head so she could see him. “…is that Gage has everything to live for… you… the kids… she has every reason to pull through and she will.”

  The nurse interrupted them.

  “The doctor said you can go in now.”

  Lacy jumped up and followed the nurse.

  Both Nathan and Hank stood.

  “Stay!” Jen commanded. “She needs some time alone with her.”

  They sat back down and waited.

  *********

  Late the next day, Nathan informed his parents and Stella but asked that the children except perhaps Dani not be informed yet. Lynn insisted that they would leave right away but he had been informed by Lacy to ask their mother to not come back until they were originally scheduled since Gage was still in the hospital.

  Mark arrived but Gage was still unconscious. “What can I do to help, Lacy?”

  “Just be here for her.”

  “And you. I’m here for you, too.” Mark sat down next to Lacy.

  **********

  Lacy remained by her partner’s side for the next two days. Gage had not woken up yet. She rubbed the blonde’s hand. “Gage, sweetheart, I love you so much. I need you to know that… we need you.” When Lacy’s tears began to fall again, she brought her hands up to her closed eyes.

  Then it happened.

  Lacy felt a touch on her face wipe away an errant tear.

  “I love you… and I’m not going anywhere.” Gage tried to wink but her eye was still somewhat swollen. “At least not without you.”

  There were tears of joy now that cascaded down Lacy’s face. There were no words that could express just how wonderful Lacy felt. Before Gage could hardly move, Lacy was lying next to her partner on the bed.

  When Gage squirmed a little, Lacy asked. “Is this okay?”

  “Stay right where you
’re at… it took me long enough to get you in my bed when we first met.” The blonde smiled.

  “Oh yeah…you had me in your bed the very first night.” Lacy kissed her lover.

  “And two kids… that was a lot of fun.” Gage laughed which caused her side to hurt.

  “You enjoyed every minute of it.” Lacy held onto her partner for dear life, vowing never to let go.

  **********

  Gage was out of the hospital and back home only hours before Dan, Lynn and Stella arrived home from their trip. Dan and Lynn had extended their trip so Gage could heal. Lacy met them at the door. She could see that Stella was worried as was Lynn and Dan.

  “Mom? Where’s Gage?” Dani had been told about the incident.

  “She’s up in our bed.” Lacy hugged her children.

  “Yippee… pillow fight.” Sammy ran past his mom.

  Tagging right behind him was his sister, Hayley. “Yeah!”

  Derek shrugged. “Guess I should go, too.”

  “Hold on kids.” Lacy hurried past them, up the stairs to their bedroom.

  They pouted when their mom stopped them. “Gage kinda got hurt so she is resting in bed.”

  “Let them come in here, Lacy.” Gage insisted.

  Hayley swooped under her mom’s arm while Sammy dodged her other arm. Both jumping on the big bed. Derek shook his head. “Kids.” He walked quickly over to the bed.

  Dani stood at the doorway for a long moment, remembering their first pillow fight. Back then, she was suspicious of Gage. The years deepened her love for the blonde who shared her passion for rocks, boats and caves. “Mom?” Dani turned her mother. “We should go back.”

  Lacy knew exactly what her daughter was suggesting.

  Dani made her way to the bed and joined her siblings. “Lazing around today, Gage?”

  The blonde had the biggest smile plastered on her face. “You know it.”

  Lacy walked across to their bed. She climbed upon it, settling next to her partner.

  Stella, Lynn and Dan stood at the door way. Relieved, that their family was back together.

  *********

  As soon as Gage was able to travel, Lacy packed her partner and their kids for the trip back to the cabin on the lake where they first met. Lacy promised the children they would go to the fair and fish and take as many boat rides as Dani would allow since she was now officially captain of the ship.