Love on the Free Side

by Mariah Ankenman

  “If you ask me to, I’ll go.” She’d do anything to save Tony because she loved him. More than her ranch, more than her dreams…more than her very own life.

  Trevor started to smile, dropping the gun to his side. Her chest eased with a sigh of relief. Then his smile disappeared, anger darkening his expression once more. He strode toward her, grabbing her right shoulder with one hand, thrusting the gun in her face.

  Jamie bit her lip on a startled scream, air leaving her lungs in a rush of terror. Blood rushed through her head, pounding in her ears; her heart worked at triple the speed.

  “No! I have to destroy everything so you have nothing left but me.”

  He could destroy everything in the entire world, and she still wouldn’t love him. Did the man not understand how love worked? You couldn’t bully or threaten your way into it. Caring, kindness, self-sacrifice, those were the keystones of love. It wasn’t about what the other person could do for you, but how you could make their life better. Tony showed her that, and she hoped she lived long enough to return the favor.

  “All right.” Her voice came out shaky, not at all calm and soothing as she intended. Tears blurred her vision, but she blinked them away. She had to be strong, smart, if she wanted to survive this. “All right, Trevor. We’ll do this your way. Can I at least pack a bag first?”

  Crazed eyes stared at her, but she didn’t think they truly saw what lay in front of them. He bobbed his head up and down, gun still pointed in her face. She really wished he’d put the weapon down. Good thing she hadn’t eaten any of the truffles at the cupcake shop. With the twists and turns her stomach was taking, they would have been all over her office floor.

  “Yeah…yeah. Yes, you should pack a bag. Right, that’s good. Take your stuff. You’ll need your stuff.”

  The gun lowered—finally—and she let out a breath of thanks.

  “We’ll pack your stuff, do what needs to be done, and then live out the rest of our lives together. Happy and in love.”

  Through the fear and shock racing through her, there was also a tug of guilt. Trevor was delusional. He’d obviously built up an entire fantasy in his head where they were in love and meant to be. How had she never seen his psychosis before? She was a psychologist, trained to recognize mental health issues in people, and she couldn’t even see the one in a man she’d talked to every day. Did Doctor Bell even kno—

  “Let’s go, we need to burn this place and set a trap before lover boy gets back.”

  He waved the gun, motioning for her to get moving. Putting aside her self-reproach and fear, she turned and headed out of the office, making her way up the stairs to her bedroom. Trevor followed, a terrifying presence behind her. She tugged her bottom lip between her teeth, biting hard, the pain clearing the fear from her mind so she could think.

  As they passed the hall closet, it came to her.

  “I need a suitcase,” she said, stopping in her tracks and turning to face him. “I’ll just grab one from the closet.”

  Walking up to the door, she gripped the knob and turned. The door opened outward and she started to step inside.

  “No!”

  Grabbing her arm with a bruising grip, he pulled her backward. She held back a cry even as her arm burned. That’s gonna leave a mark.

  “But I need something to carry all my clothes in,” she protested.

  “I’ll get the bag.” His gaze narrowed. “Don’t think I don’t know what game you’re playing, Jamie. I don’t know what’s in there. You could grab a weapon and try to take me out. No, no, no. I’m not trusting you until I know I’m your only option.” He licked his lips, nodding with that distant stare back in his eyes. “Then I know you’ll love me. You’ll have to.”

  “Okay, Trevor.” She nodded, going for calm when she was anything but. “You get the bag.”

  He walked backward, gun still trained on her. “Where is it?”

  “In the back,” she spoke as steady as she could manage. “On the high shelf.”

  The hall closet was large. Mrs. Dunn had used it to store all the holiday decorations—which she discovered the old woman had left behind. The small storeroom also had another unique feature.

  “Up there.” She pointed, and when he turned his focus off her to glance up, she slammed the door closed and slapped the top dead bolt. Locking Trevor inside.

  Thank you, Mrs. Dunn, for being an eccentric old biddy.

  She didn’t know anyone who put a lock on the outside of a closet, but if she ever saw the previous house owner again she might have to kiss the old woman.

  “Jamie!”

  The rage-filled scream of her name was followed by a gunshot. Wood splintered a foot above her head.

  Slapping her hands over her ears, she ducked down with a scream. Crap! He might be locked in, but he still had a gun.

  Heart pounding, she raced down the stairs, pulling her phone from her pocket to dial the sheriff. Before she could unlock the screen, the sounds of sweet, blessed sirens hit her ears.

  She burst from the front door, flying down the porch steps as Sheriff Ryder’s truck came barreling into her driveway, followed closely by Tony’s.

  Tears poured down her cheeks, but she didn’t stop running.

  “He’s in the house. Locked in the upstairs hall closet. He has a gun.”

  Ryder rushed out of his vehicle, taking off toward the house with weapon in hand, calling for backup on his walkie-talkie.

  Tony jumped from his truck, rushing to her. She launched herself into his arms, sobbing as they tightened around her.

  “Jamie, mierda, are you all right?” His hands ran over her. “Did he hurt you?”

  She shook her head, tears tracking a damp path down her cheeks to fall on her lips. “No, I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me, but he was going to—” Unable to finish—just the thought of Tony being hurt terrified her—she broke down. Huge racking sobs shook her body.

  He gathered her in his arms, stroking her back, whispering soothing words in her ear. She clung to him, breathing in his scent, assuring herself he was alive and whole. Sucking in air, she tried to get her emotions under control.

  Just when the tears subsided and she thought she could speak like a rational human being again, two loud gunshots sounded from the house, making her jump in surprise. Tony’s arms tightened around her, and he hustled her over to his truck, opening the passenger door and stuffing her inside.

  “Stay here,” he said, reaching behind the seat and pulling out a hunting rifle.

  Her heart sputtered in shock. Not at the gun—this was hunting country, most people had them—but at the thought of Tony going into the house. The house where a mad man who wanted to kill him laid in wait…possibly not locked up anymore.

  Had the shot been the sheriff’s or Trevor’s?

  “Tony, no. Don’t leave me.”

  His gaze held hers as one hand came up to cup her cheek. “I won’t let anyone hurt you, bonita.”

  Her heart raced. She couldn’t let him go. Not without knowing how she felt about him.

  “Tony, I—”

  Her words were cut off when someone came slamming out the front door. Make that two someones—a handcuffed Trevor being pushed by a very pissed off Sheriff Ryder.

  “Asshole tried to shoot me. Nearly scuffed my brand new hat.” He tossed Trevor in the back of his SUV. “My wife bought me this hat, dickwad.”

  Sirens surrounded them as another police car showed up followed quickly by an ambulance. Jamie breathed in her first thankful breath of air since coming home to find Trevor in her house.

  A flurry of activity ensued. Tony stayed by her side as Ryder took her statement. A deputy went inside to photograph the scene and remove any evidence. The EMT’s looked her over, but since she had no injuries—besides the scare of her life—they left, followed soon after by the sheriff and his men.

  Jamie started to speak, but Tony placed a finger over her lips. “No.”

  His dark eyes shone bright with fear, happiness
, and…love? Oh, she hoped so.

  He took her still trembling hand, tugging her away from the house. She wondered where they were going, but truthfully, she’d follow this man anywhere.

  He led them past the barn, down to a spot imprinted on her very heart. Their tree.

  “I was so scared,” he admitted, pulling her to him.

  “Me, too.”

  The two softly spoken words were the only thing she managed to get out before his lips engulfed hers. He came at her like a man possessed. A desperate man in need of her and only her. Fine by her. She needed him just as bad.

  Clothes flew, hands caressed. He lifted her, pressing her against the rough bark of the old oak tree. It scrapped against her back, but she didn’t care. All she could feel was Tony. He lifted her legs, wrapping them around his hips and thrust into her. In moments, they were flying together, assuring each other they were alive, whole, together.

  She screamed out his name as she came, her body collapsing in exhaustion. He held her weight easily, groaning out a soft curse as he joined her.

  Jamie stroked his back, their harsh breath mingling in the rapidly cooling dusk. He kissed her neck, a million sensations running down her spine at the touch. Happiness washed over her. Today had been such a rollercoaster of emotions, but thankfully ended on a high.

  “I love you, Tony.” She couldn’t stop the words from coming out if she tried, and she didn’t want to. No matter what he said, she needed him to know.

  He pulled back far enough to gaze into her eyes.

  “I always have. I never stopped. Even when I thought I hated you, I still loved you.”

  He shook his head, and her heart cracked a little until he spoke.

  “I love you, too. I never meant to hurt you, Jamie. I was stupid. I thought I was protecting you…and myself. I never meant any—”

  She placed a finger over his lips. “Shhhh, I know. It’s over now. In the past. I realized something recently. You can’t let the past rule your future. Everything that happens to us makes us who we are. Every event shapes our lives for better or worse. If we keep living in our mistakes, they chain us down.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to be chained down anymore. I want to be free, free to live my life. Free to be with you.”

  His lips curled up into a wide smile. Twin dimples greeted her, setting her heart a flutter as much now as they did at eighteen.

  “I think that can be arranged, bonita.”

  Epilogue

  The cold December air whipped around her, biting into her cheeks with its festive frostiness as she stood on the porch. Jamie tugged her sweater tighter around her body, leaning back against Tony’s strong chest and waving goodbye to her parents as they pulled out of the ranch house driveway. Christmas dinner was over. Presents had been exchanged, carols sung, and a light snow had started to fall, leaving a hush over the night.

  Magical.

  It seemed every moment for the past six months had been magical. After the terrifying incident with Trevor was handled, things started to fall back into place. Tony informed her he would never leave her side again. A statement she was completely on board with. He hired a general manager to run his restaurants in New York and moved in with her, working as the chef for the ranch. A situation that worked out well for everyone.

  The staff arrived in time for training, and the first few weeks of camp went off with only a few minor blips. Once fall came, the summer staff left and Jamie kept a small crew on to help individuals who used their equine therapy services. It seemed once Trevor was no longer trying to kill her business—and the man she loved—things ran pretty smooth.

  A small pang of sadness pierced her chest, thinking of Trevor. Though the mentally unwell man had been locked up, he was finally getting the help he needed, thanks in part to her. People told her she was the crazy one when she wrote to the judge presiding over the case, pleading for her attacker to receive mental health care in prison.

  What kind of psychiatrist would she be if she didn’t believe in rehabilitation, that people could change with help? Her entire goal with her ranch was to give people second chances. She believed in them, no matter what.

  “That was fun.”

  Tony’s voice rumbled in her ear. Shivers having nothing to do with the freezing weather cascaded over her.

  “Mmmm. I’m glad your uncle could make it. He and Bernadette make such a cute couple.”

  “It is nice to see him so happy.”

  Juan had been dating the pretty nurse who helped him through his physical therapy for the past few months. They graciously accepted Jamie and Tony’s invitation to Christmas dinner.

  Glancing out into the dark night, she could just make out the shadow of the barn where six beautiful therapy horses lived and worked. Fat, wet snowflakes swirled in the air before falling softly to the ground, like tiny ballerinas dancing across a sea of darkness.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “You’re beautiful.” Tony tightened his arms around her waist and kissed her at that sweet spot right below her ear. “And as pretty as the snow is, it’s also cold. Come inside, bonita. I think Santa left one more present under the tree.”

  She chuckled, letting him pull her back into the house and close the front door. “Oh, did he?”

  Tony had already gotten her far too much for the holiday. He protested by saying half her gifts were from Santa, not him. She hadn’t believed in the jolly, red-suited man since she was six, but it was fun seeing Tony so excited and joyful.

  “Okay, so maybe this one is from me.” He gave her a wide grin, dimples blasting her with their charm. “I had to.”

  Never one to say no to a present, she allowed him to lead her into the living room where they had set up a large pine. Lights twinkled on its branches, brightly colored balls hung everywhere, and filling out the tree were handmade ornaments from the summer camp kids. Craft time was a great way to relieve stress and allow emotions to release through art. She’d taken a picture of the tree and sent one to each camper along with a note letting them know someone cared.

  Sometimes that was all a person needed to get back on track.

  “So, what’s this present?” She tilted her head with a coy smile. “Could it perhaps be something tiny and naughty you couldn’t give me in front of my parents.” Over the past few months, she’d discovered Tony had a thing for lingerie. She’d also discovered she had a thing for modeling it for him.

  “Well, it is tiny, but it’s not naughty.” He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small black box.

  Her heart skipped a beat, eyes welling with tears as he dropped to one knee. “Yes!”

  He shook his head, laughing. “I haven’t asked anything yet.”

  A sob of happiness escaped her, and she slapped her hand over her mouth to hold the flood of emotions back. Unable to speak without bawling her eyes out, she nodded for him to proceed.

  Still chuckling, Tony took her free hand in his. “Jamie Thompson, I knew I loved you from the very first day I met you. Your beauty, your spark, your intimidatingly smart brain are all parts of what I love about you, but those aren’t the reason I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” His smile turned serious, brow pulling down. “I once thought I wasn’t good enough for you. I needed to build myself up, prove I was worthy of your love.”

  She shook her head at the absurd statement.

  “I was wrong. I didn’t need to be richer or more powerful to be worthy. Just you loving me made me all the man I needed to be. I know I can never truly deserve you, but I would like to spend every day of the rest of our lives trying. Would you do me the honor of accepting this ring and becoming my wife?”

  He released her hand to open the box. A beautiful silver ring with a circle of diamonds set in the band glittered from within. Stunning, unique, hers, like the man offering it to her.

  The floodgate opened, warm tears pouring down her cheeks. She nodded, releasing her hand from her mouth. “Yes, yes, yes! A billion times yes!”

/>   Her body trembled as Tony took the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger.

  A perfect fit. Just like them.

  Elation soared through her, laughter and tears escaping of their own volition.

  Tony stood, sweeping her up in his arms, and headed for the stairs. “I know you said I got you too much for Christmas, but I couldn’t help myself.”

  Staring into his dark brown eyes, she felt her heart swell with love. She had no idea a person could be this happy. It all seemed too wonderful, like a dream.

  If it was a dream, she never wanted to wake.

  Stroking her hand along his jaw, smooth from the shave he insisted on before their company arrived, she smiled. “You got me everything I wanted and more.”

  “Everything?” His eyebrows bobbed as he tightened his grip on her and headed toward the stairs. “Because if you’d like, I think I can find one more present for you in bed.”

  She slipped her hands behind his neck, leaning into him until their lips touched. The kiss started soft, but soon turned heated. The salty taste of her tears mingled in with the delicious flavor of Tony.

  With a soft moan, she pulled away. “Hurry.”

  Tony shook his head, staring at her with so much love she thought she’d drown in it.

  “No need to hurry, bonita. We have the rest of our lives.”

  The rest of our lives. Never had five words sounded so perfect.

  The road getting here may have been bumpy, and she knew it wouldn’t be smooth sailing all the time, but Tony was hers for the rest of her life. She couldn’t ask for anything better.

  A word about the author…

  Mariah began writing at the tender age of five. Her first book, George and the Green Glob, received high praise from her mother. Many years and green glob stories later, Mariah received a playwriting degree from the University of Wyoming. After a few years in Hollywood, working in “the biz,” she came home to the beautiful Rocky Mountains. When she’s not writing, Mariah loves to read, crochet, and play her ukulele. She loves to hear from readers. You can contact her through her website www.mariahankenman.com or on twitter @MAsbooks.