by Sable Hunter
“Don’t. Please don’t.”
Gideon froze. “We came as soon as we could, Princess. I’m so sorry this happened to you.”
She lifted her eyes to his. They were full of tears. “I’m so sorry you lost your company, your money. For me. For nothing.”
“Shhhh, everything is okay.”
“How is she?” Samson came rushing up. He didn’t even wait; he ran behind her to begin to undo the ropes.
“No! Don’t! The chair is wired. If I get up, if my weight shifts, it’s going to blow.”
“Fuck!” Gideon shouted.
“I love you, I love you both so much. I want you to know that I’d do it all again. You were worth it, you were worth it all,” she told them, her words coming out fast, punctuated by sobs.
“I love you, Ryder McCoy, more than anything.” Samson needed to put her mind at ease. “We aren’t going to let you die. We won’t allow it.”
“And I love you, Ryder McCoy, more than the whole world and the universe beyond,” Gideon cradled her cheek. “We’ll get this damn bomb off this chair. We have help.”
Harley came up behind them. “There’s no time.” She checked her watch. “The bombs in the basement are set to go off in six minutes. There’s more of them than I can diffuse. We’ve got to get out of here.”
“We’re not leaving her!” Gideon screamed.
“We’ll stay with her,” Samson said, not a doubt in his mind. “I’m not leaving her alone.”
Heath and her brothers came through the door. “Pull a rabbit out of your hat, Governor!” Heath shouted to Kyle.
Harley went to her knees, examining the bomb affixed to the bottom of the chair. “I can’t cut the wires, this one needs to be frozen. I need liquid nitrogen.”
“There’s no time,” Samson whispered. “No time.”
Harley held up her hand. “Let’s move her.”
“What’s the plan, Harley?” Kyle asked over the headset.
“Pick up the chair and carry her out, but it’s got to be done slowly and evenly…and the clock is ticking. Kyle, have someone get some liquid nitrogen and meet me outside in the empty lot across the street.”
“All right. Listen up. One person carries her out, the rest clear the path, then get the hell out of the way from the blast site. This is a one-man job.”
Heath spoke up, “I’ll do it.”
The other brothers spoke up, all volunteering.
“No, this is our place. Our honor,” Gideon said calmly and evenly.
Samson agreed. “Yes, our privilege. This is a two-man job.”
Ryder’s heart was so full of love, it broke. “If you two get killed, I’ll never forgive you.”
…Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Gideon’s heart beat in the same rhythm as the damn ticking clock. Tick-tock. Tick-tock.
He and Samson moved in tandem, each carrying two legs of the chair that held their hope – their future – their life. “Don’t you worry, darling. We’re going to make it.”
One-step. Two-steps. Easy. Easy. “You’re damn right we’re going to make it.”
“Three minutes. How’s it going?” Kyle’s voice sounded in their ear.
“Halfway down the stairs, then out the door,” Gideon spoke with confidence. There was only one way this could end. Only one way he would allow it to end.
“What about your money? Your company?” Ryder whispered.
Tick-tock. Tick-tock. “To hell with the money. To hell with the company. We don’t care about it. You are all that matters,” Samson said, feeling for the next place to put his foot.
Ryder wanted to cry. She wanted to scream. “I don’t want it to end this way.”
“You want me to tell you how it’s going to end?” Gideon spoke to her gently, tenderly. “You’re going to sleep in our bed tonight and tomorrow will be the first day of the rest of our lives.”
* * *
Across the road, a safe distance away, Ryder’s brothers were slowly going crazy. “Where are they?”
“How much time do they have?” Jaxson voice tore from his throat. “I can’t believe I ignored her, punished her by not speaking to her. What kind of a fuckin’ fool am I?
“One minute,” Harley said, evenly. “They’ll make it. You don’t know how long sixty seconds can be when a bomb’s ticking.”
“Not fuckin’ long enough.” Philip stood with his heart in his throat, standing and waiting to see their sister again.
“Let’s go back, let’s just go back in after her.” Ten started to cross the road, but Micah stepped in.
“No, you need to have faith in Ryder’s men. If we ran over there now, we’d just get in the way. She has to be brought out slowly and evenly, our presence isn’t going to change anything – one way or the other.”
Heath squatted down, his hat in his hands. Closing his eyes, he offered a prayer.
Dear Lord, this is Heath. I know I don’t talk to you often enough for you to remember who I am, but this is Heath McCoy and I’m coming on my knees with my heart in my hands. Please, Lord, save my sister. She’s one of the best people you ever created. I don’t know what I can offer you in trade, that you’d want. My love. My devotion. My faithfulness. And God, if you’ll just save her, I’ll be better. I won’t be such an as...astounding jerk. Please. Well, that’s all I got to say. Talk to you later.
As Heath stood, the house in front of them - blew. Every person in their little army gasped and cried out. The explosion was so loud and so jarring that it shook the ground where they were standing. “Oh, God, oh God.” Jaxson began to cry.
“Fuck it all!” Philip screamed, the profanity pouring from his mouth so unlike him.
“Why? Why?” Ten yelled. How could this be?
Heath couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t cry. He couldn’t look away from the rising flames and the billowing smoke. It seemed if he could just stare hard enough…he’d see… “Look! Look!” he yelled. “There they are! They’re alive! Thank God! They’re alive!”
…Once they stepped through the cloud of smoke, tears began to run down Gideon’s cheeks. “We made it. We made it.”
Samson urged his brother on. “Easy, we aren’t there yet. Let’s make it across the road and set her down easy so Harley can work her magic.”
Ryder began to cough and the men had to stop and hold the chair still, despite the jerking of her little body. “Oh, baby, baby,” Gideon didn’t know what else to say, all he could do was make his body a rock so he could keep her alive.
Tyson ran up to them with a small portable oxygen tank. “Here, breathe.”
Ryder took it, inhaling the clear air.
Samson and Gideon continued their journey, the few remaining steps until they were free and clear of the smoke and debris.
Once they had Ryder on the ground, the rest went quickly. Harley sprayed the bomb with liquid nitrogen, then cut it from the chair. A collective sigh of relief filtered through the crowd when the bomb was off and placed in a special container for transportation to police headquarters.
“Get her off that damn chair,” Gideon demanded.
Heath and Micah cut her loose and she briefly hugged her brother, but in the next breath she was in the arms of Samson and Gideon. “I love you two, so much!”
“We love you too, baby.” Gideon hugged her so tight she could barely breathe.
“We love you more than life, Ryder,” Samson blanketed her from the back, kissing the side of her face.
“I can’t believe you two did that – you risked your life for me!” She was still shaking, the horror just now hitting home.
“Every time,” Gideon promised. “We’ll be there for you – every time.”
After that, Ryder doled out hugs and kisses. She was so happy to see her brothers, to see her friends. The police came and she had to make a statement, but the presence of the Governor and the Equalizers made the process go smoothly.
Jet, Patrick, and Revel came from the direction of the beach. They were leading a very bedraggled,
very angry Scott Eagleton. “Damn you! Damn you all to hell! I’ll get my revenge! Don’t think this is over, because it’s not.”
No one even dignified his outburst with a response.
When it was Harley’s turn to wish Ryder well, she whispered to her. “I have this power. When I touch things or people, I get these images. I want you to know how much you’re loved. There are very few people in the world who will ever know such love and devotion as you have been granted – not in one person, but in two. You are doubly blessed.” Harley kissed her cheek. “I know. I can recognize this gift you’ve been granted because I have it myself.”
Ryder thanked the woman who’d done so much to save her life. “We’re two very lucky women, very lucky.”
When Harley stepped away, Heath was waiting to speak to her, Samson, and Gideon. “Next week is Thanksgiving. I can’t think of a better reason to give thanks than what we’ve witnessed here tonight.” He shook the men’s hands. “This is an official invitation to dinner. Come hungry and come ready to play football.” He winked at the newest members of his family, because that’s how he thought of them now. “I just think you ought to know - we cheat.”
* * *
“Don’t you want to know where we’re going?” Samson asked as the cab they were riding in traveled down Galveston’s seawall. The lights from the city reflected on the ocean, the sight would’ve been beautiful if they hadn’t just lived through hell. No matter – Ryder was with her men and that was all that mattered.
“We aren’t going home or to the yacht?” she asked, murmuring against his shoulder. Gideon’s hand rested on her knee and her hand held his arm in a grip that hadn’t lessened since they left the site of the explosion. She was holding tight to both men.
“No, home is too far and we’re not staying in the yacht until that Russian sub is as far away from us as the east is to the west.” Gideon pointed ahead. “Samson and I thought we’d stay a couple of nights at the San Luis Resort her on the island. We’ve got a little unfinished business to attend to.”
“Business?” She made a sad little face. “More business? Will you get your company and your money back?”
Samson tapped her on the nose. “Yea, I’m sure the lawyers already have everything all lined up.”
Ryder let out a long breath of relief. “I’m glad. I didn’t want to be the reason you lost everything.”
Gideon put his hands around her waist, picked her up, and sat her in his lap. “Let’s get something straight – for the last time. The company and the money are irrelevant.”
“That’s right,” Samson agreed, taking her other hand and twining their fingers together. “Compared to you, everything else is immaterial. We can always make more money, there is only one you.”
She bowed her head, the tears overtaking her. “I was so afraid.”
Gideon cradled her. “I know. It’s over. It’s over.”
“I was so afraid you’d die for me.” Ryder almost choked over the words.
“Why would we want to live without you?” Samson asked as the cab came to a stop in the circular drive of the beautiful resort hotel.
“I would want you to live. This has just been crazy.” Her mind was still muddled, but she needed to know more. “How’s Laramie? Did he make it?” she asked as they assisted her out of the vehicle.
“Yes. He had to have surgery, but he’s alive. He’ll have some rehab time, but he’ll be fine,” Gideon rubbed her back as they entered the hotel.
Ryder waited while her men booked the penthouse suite. Looking down at her clothes, she had to admit she wasn’t dressed well enough to stay at a homeless shelter, much less the penthouse suite of a nice hotel.
“Don’t worry about your clothes,” Samson said, noticing she was staring down at her soiled and torn garments.
“Why?” she asked, following them to the elevator. “I look like a ragamuffin.”
“Because you aren’t going to be wearing any,” Gideon whispered with a twinkle in his eye. “And if you do need them, we’ll provide. We’ll always provide you with what you need.”
“Thank you.” She liked the idea of that. “I’m sure looking forward to a bath. I smell almost as bad as Destry. How is he, by the way?”
“He’ll be okay. Probably has a concussion. He wasn’t shot, just pistol-whipped.” Samson pressed the button for the penthouse.
The ride couldn’t be over fast enough for Ryder. She felt that if she could just take a shower, she’d wash all the bad memories away. “What kind of business do you have to do tonight? Will it take long?”
“You’ll see,” Gideon promised. “You’ll see.”
…A little while later, Ryder felt like a new woman. A shower was just what she needed. After she toweled off, she was glad to see one of the men had found her something to wear, a pretty blue dress, too pretty to just lounge around in, but she didn’t care. Ryder pulled it over her head gratefully.
The penthouse suite was amazing, offering a breathtaking view of the ocean. While Samson and Gideon took care of whatever business they had, she was going to stand on the balcony like Kate Winslet on the bow of the Titanic – arms spread, thrilled to be alive.
“Samson! Gideon!” she called out, coming around the corner. “I’m here!”
“We’re waiting, Princess.”
When she found them, the scene she beheld took her breath away. A table was set with beautiful china. There were candles in the center of it and all around the room. A bottle of champagne stood at the ready. But what caught her eye the most – were her two men, dressed in black tie and tails. “What’s all of this?”
“Our unfinished business.” Samson held out his hand. “Making you ours.”
Placing her hand in his, she said simply, “I am yours. I belong to both of you. Completely.”
“We need to make it official,” Gideon said, going down on one knee.
Samson followed suit. “We don’t want to wait one more minute without putting our ring on your finger.”
Ryder’s knees went weak. “You’re asking…”
“Well, we’d rather just tell you,” Samson laughed, “but we’ll do whatever it takes.” He held up a ring, a beautiful ring.
“Oh, it looks just like my necklace,” she said in wonder, her hand reaching out so they could place the ring on her finger. “I don’t know if my heart can hold this much love.”
As tears flowed from her eyes, Gideon kissed them away. “I think the love’s overflowing, sweetheart. So, will you marry us?”
“Will you complete us, Ryder? Will you be ours?”
Ryder sank down on her knees between them, her arms going around their necks, pulling them close. “Yes, yes! I want nothing more! I want to belong to the two of you forever.”
As the waves crashed to the shore – as the stars shone in the sky – three hearts became one.
Slowly, purposefully, they undressed themselves, then they tenderly undressed her. No words were needed. No words were spoken. With grateful hands and seeking lips, they kissed and caressed her entire body. Not an inch was overlooked. While one worshiped her mouth, another suckled at her breast. When one kissed her between the thighs, she rode the other to heaven and back. Before their night was over, she’d made love with her men in every way possible…but one.
* * *
“We’ve gathered together to ask the Lord’s blessing.” Christian McCoy stood to offer grace. The family had watched with pride and love as their father walked on his own two feet for the first time in over a decade. “This bounteous table is full of food, for which we are grateful. But as thankful as we are for this meal, we are more thankful for the people we love. Our family.”
“Amen!” Heath said, happier than he could ever remember being. They were lacking nothing, before them was a bountiful feast – turkey, dressing, potatoes, vegetables, and enough desserts to feed an army. And seated around their dining table was the whole Highland McCoy clan – every one of them.
“I’d like
to propose a toast.” Christian held up his glass. “We’ve had quite a year and I want to take this opportunity to tell each of you how I feel.”
Everyone lifted their glasses as the elder McCoy gave his blessing.
“To Heath, my oldest, and to his beautiful wife, Cato - I’m thankful you found one another and I look forward to seeing my third grandchild. Thank you for taking care of this family so well and so faithfully.” Heath and Cato lifted their glasses in salute.
“To Tennessee and Molly. How grateful we are that you two found one another again. How lost we would be without those two precious girls you’ve given us - Ava and Ella. I wish all four of you a lifetime of joy and happiness.” Ten lifted his glass and Molly wiped tears from her eyes.
“To Philip, the only child who inherited my amazing brain.”
Everyone laughed – except Philip. He raised his glass a little higher in agreement.
“Philip, I’m thankful justice was served and you are with us tonight. I never want to be separated from any of my children, not even for one day.”
“To Jaxson, my child of the land. You inherited your mother’s heart. She valued the earth beneath her feet more than money in the bank. I’m thankful for your strength, we all depend on you to keep the ranch – and us, going.”
Jaxson raised his glass and nodded to everyone as they seconded their father’s sentiments.
“To my beautiful Pepper, you are the light of our lives. You give us laughter and you give us sunshine. I am thankful for your smile. Congratulations on your graduation. I can’t wait to see what you accomplish.”
Pepper blew her father a kiss.
“To Ryder, my beautiful daughter. My good girl. How thankful we are that you are…” He choked up. “How thankful we are that you are alive.” Her father finally got the words out. “And to the men who sit on either side of you. Samson. Gideon. We owe you an eternal debt of gratitude and we want you to know that we are thankful for you, not just for saving her life…we are thankful for your character, for your friendship, and for the beautiful way you love our Ryder. Welcome to the family.”
Everyone clapped and Ryder beamed happily.