Forever in Haven's Crossing

by Kyleigh Drake

  After she hung up the phone she called her friend, Sheila, to see how she was doing and to see if she might be able to come. Sheila was over-the-top excited for her, but told her she finally had to break down and have surgery on her knee. She had been having trouble with it for the past year or so and since she was a personal trainer, it wasn’t getting any better. Kim told her to get herself better and they planned for her to come after she was healed and had some more vacation time. It was good to hear her voice. Kim missed all the girls’ nights they used to have.

  That night at supper, Kim felt tension in the air. She actually stopped to wonder if she had done something she shouldn’t have, because they were so quiet. She decided to wait for their talk, until they were in a better mood. Later, the sheriff came over and talked to the men in private, making her believe that something was definitely going on and it didn’t pertain to her. When she asked them why the sheriff came by all she was told was that there was nothing for her to worry about and that everything would be okay.

  Two weeks later, the sheriff came out to the house again and this time the men all went for a walk, leaving her inside to wonder. When they came back inside, both men looked worried and solemn.

  “What did he say?” she asked softly.

  “Come here, darlin’,” Logan said with a sigh. She walked over to the table and Caleb held her chair out. They all sat there in silence for a few minutes and Kim was starting to get worried.

  “Please, Logan—tell me. You’re scaring me.” She watched their faces intently. Logan picked up her hand and began to talk.

  “Do you remember when the sheriff came by the other day?” She nodded. “He came to tell us we had a woman missing from town.” Kim gasped at his words. “He came today to tell us they found the body and”—Logan paused—“she had been murdered.” Kim started to get tears in her eyes.

  “Did you know her?” she asked, almost in a whisper.

  “She was a sub that came to visit here at least every other month,” Caleb answered. “She was a real nice woman and she certainly didn’t deserve to die the way she did.”

  “Now, Logan and I have talked about this, sweetheart, and we need you to know the whole story. We’re gonna tell ya so that maybe you’ll be more careful, more aware. We don’t wanna scare ya, but you need to know, okay?”

  “You are scaring me,” she said, getting up from the table. Logan reached out and pulled her into his lap, putting his arms around her waist possessively.

  “I know, darlin’,” Logan soothed. “But we’re just tryin’ to protect the most precious thing we have around here—and that’s you.” He gestured to Caleb to continue.

  “This isn’t the first time this has happened, sugar. The sheriff thinks we may have a serial killer on our hands, and worse yet, it may be somebody who lives here.” Kim shuddered and Logan held her tighter.

  “We’re sending you away for a while until this sicko is caught,” he added.

  “What? No! I’m not leaving you!” she cried, trying to break free from Logan’s hold.

  “You are going, baby,” Logan said matter-of-factly.

  “No. I. Am. Not. And you can’t make me!” she yelled, hitting his arms with her hands. He wrapped his arms around her arms and took her wrists in one hand, pinning them up against her lap.

  “You’re also gonna listen to us carefully. Now, settle down and pay attention. Go on, Caleb,” Logan said.

  “From this moment on, you are in our sight at all times. You go nowhere alone, understand? We don’t even want you outside on the ranch by yourself. Are we perfectly clear?”

  “Yes,” she mumbled, still in shock. “But I’m not leaving,” she added with determination.

  “We’ll talk about that later, darlin’. Right now we just want to make sure you’re clear on the rules.” Logan made her look at him and she nodded her head in agreement. “Good girl. Now let’s get ready for bed.” He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, knowing in his heart he would kill anyone who tried to harm her or take her away.

  The next month was really stressful. Caleb and Logan watched her like a hawk, not leaving her alone for a minute. It finally got to the point she had to tell them to back off because she couldn’t even sneeze without them being right there. She swore to them that if they sent her away she’d come back the very next day and they knew she was stubborn enough to do it, so they reluctantly let her stay. Her days were spent inside all day long and even though she knew she’d rather be with them rather than somewhere else, she wasn’t sure how much longer she could stand it. She was thrilled when word got around that the sheriff had arrested someone and the whole town breathed a sigh of relief.

  Everyone started to gradually get back to their regular routines and Kim was extra thankful, because she hadn’t wanted Myka around if there was a serial killer running loose. So, now she could come and they could get on with the wedding plans. There was only a little over a week left and so much still needed to be done. Kim called the other girls, but they weren’t going to be able to make it either. Mel was leaving for a business conference, and Teri’s son had just returned from a tour in Afghanistan. They all wished her well and promised they would all make a trip together sometime soon. Kim loved those girls. They had been with her through good times and bad and her life just wouldn’t have been the same without them.

  Chapter 19

  Myka was arriving at the airport, and since it was an hour away, Caleb drove Kim to go pick her up. Logan was left behind to fix some fences that needed to be repaired. Both men had been quiet about Myka’s visit and she wondered if they were concerned about how Kim would behave when Myka got there. She also thought it might just be a reminder of Kim’s pre-Wade life when she was alone and had no one to love her. Of course, her inner voice graciously suggested that they may be having second thoughts about the wedding.

  Caleb was silent most of the drive, not cooperating in Kim’s attempts to engage him in small talk.

  “If you don’t want to marry me just say so,” she blurted out, praying he wouldn’t confirm her fears. His head turned so fast she thought he might get whiplash.

  “Why would you ask me that?” he said, concerned.

  “Because you and Logan have been so quiet lately and we’re supposed to be married in just a week. I thought you might be getting cold feet.”

  “No, sugar. No cold feet here. We both love ya more than ever and can’t wait for you to be our wife.” He put his hand on her knee and rubbed up and down her leg.

  “Okay, well first of all you can’t be doing that,” she said, removing his hand from her leg, “when we’re about to be walking into a public place. I’ll be damned if you’re gonna leave me hot and all worked up. Second, I think we need to have a little talk about how it’s not okay to make me talk about every little thing and then you two don’t have to. It’s not fair,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest and making him smile.

  “I’ll be sure to inform Logan that we’re gonna be having that talk and I do look forward to seein’ how that turns out,” he replied, still grinning.

  As they entered the airport, Kim couldn’t contain her excitement.

  “Damn.” Caleb laughed. “If we’d known you were gonna be like this we would’ve had her here a lot sooner.”

  “I can’t wait to see her, Caleb. She’s my best friend in the whole world. Girlfriend, that is. You and Logan are my best guy friends.”

  He raised his eyebrow and with sarcasm oozing from his words said, “And I’m real glad to hear that, sugar.” Kim stood close as people were exiting the plane. When she saw Myka, they both screamed like little girls and ran into each other’s arms.

  “Oh my God, you look amazing!” Myka squealed.

  “So do you! I’m so glad you’re finely here,” Kim replied. Caleb stood patiently waiting, propped against the wall. His arms were crossed over his chest, his boots crossed at the ankle. And his cowboy hat made him the quintessential cowboy.

  When
they started walking in his direction, Myka gasped and whispered, “Tell me that is not one of your cowboys.”

  “Yep,” Kim said proudly. “That’s my Caleb.”

  “Oh dear God, do they all look like that in Haven’s Crossing?” she asked, her mouth hanging open.

  “Pretty much,” Kim said, laughing. As they got closer, Caleb stepped forward and Kim introduced them. He shook Myka’s hand, putting on all the Wade charm he could muster and then they walked over to get her luggage. When Myka located her bags, he pulled them off and started carrying them out, without saying a word.

  “Wow,” Myka whispered. “Such a gentleman.”

  “You have no idea,” Kim said with a nudge and a wink.

  She smiled to herself as she looked over at Caleb, who was not saying a word, but just absorbing all that was being said. Occasionally, he would grin and she knew he was amused at the conversation. When they arrived at the house, Myka—just like Kim had been the first time she saw the ranch—was awed by the beauty and peacefulness that surrounded them.

  “Okay, I’m never leaving,” she said, taking it all in.

  “Welcome to my world, sister,” Kim said proudly. They got her unloaded and settled into one of the spare bedrooms and then started discussing plans for supper. “They cook, too,” Kim said loud enough for Caleb to hear. His look told her she would be teased without mercy once he got her in bed that night. Her face got flush at the thought and he knew he had gotten his point across.

  Logan came in and Myka about fell out of her chair. Smiling, Kim made the introductions and both men were on their best behavior, which made her even more proud to be theirs. She knew they knew that Myka was important to her, but she felt like they truly did like her. Caleb had to take an important business call, so he excused himself for a while. Logan was heading for the shower and she asked him if he felt like cooking steaks that night.

  “Anything for you, darlin’,” he said as he pulled her up from her chair, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her hard against his body. He then kissed her so passionately that she almost collapsed. Myka sat there with her mouth open, not able to speak.

  When Logan had left, she swallowed and said, “Dear God in Heaven. I definitely need some of that.” Kim burst out laughing and then they both started giggling like schoolgirls again.

  Kim grabbed her purse and went to see if Caleb was finished with his call. She could see that it was going to take some time and they needed to go get the steaks, so she picked up his keys and jotted a note letting them know where she was going and that she’d be right back. She knew they wouldn’t mind since it was just to town and back and besides—Myka was with her.

  As they pulled into the parking lot at the grocery store, Kim noticed there were only two other vehicles there. Have they already closed? She looked at her watch and they headed on inside. Kim led the way back to the meat department, Myka following right behind her.

  “Hey, Charles,” Kim said, causing the butcher to look up.

  “Well hello there. What can I get ya today?” he asked politely.

  “Logan’s cooking tonight and you know what he likes, but we’ll need four steaks instead of three. This is my friend Myka. She’s visiting us this week.”

  “You don’t say?” he said, looking at some of the steaks he already had out. “Could you excuse me for a moment? I need to see what we have in back. Don’t wanna disappoint Logan.”

  “Oh, sure,” Kim said, as she and Myka walked over to look at the fish. A few minutes later, Charles stuck his head out of the door.

  “Ladies, could you help me in here a minute? I need one of you to hold this door and the other to help me lift this box and get it out of the way.”

  “Uh, okay,” Kim said, walking back toward the chilly room thinking that Logan or Caleb would never ask her to help them lift anything. Myka followed close behind and as soon as Kim stepped over the threshold, she saw a knife go up to Kim’s throat.

  “Get in here, bitch!” he yelled at Myka. “Or I slit your friend’s throat!” Myka went in without hesitation, and Kim knew her friend would never leave her alone. “Now shut the door and lock it,” he ordered, holding the knife tighter against Kim’s skin.

  Kim could feel the panic rising in her body. Deep breaths. No sudden moves.

  “I’ve been waiting for you, whore,” he spat in her ear. She could smell his breath as he spoke and it disgusted her.

  “Charles, I don’t understand,” she said as softly and calmly as she could.

  “You’re all alike. You’re just like her—every fucking one of ya!” Myka tried to speak and he told her to shut up, so she said no more. He led them out to the back, making Myka walk in front of them.

  His van was parked by the door. Kim had seen his van out front earlier and realized he had moved it when he left them at the counter. Kim had put the keys to the pickup in her jeans pocket, but they hadn’t gone all the way down. They were still close to the top and easily accessible. While Charles was paying attention to Myka, she slipped them out of her pocket and dropped them on the ground by the door, hoping someone would see them. The girls were shoved into the back of the van and the duct tape was handed to Kim. When he took the knife from her throat, she thought about charging him, but that knife was a huge hunting knife and she didn’t think that would be a smart thing to do. She was ordered to duct tape Myka’s ankles and wrists and then put a piece over her mouth. Kim tried not to do it too tight, but he was watching.

  As Kim knelt down, she felt the knife in her pocket. Logan had given her a hot pink pocketknife to have as her very own because she had always asked to borrow his to open packages or whatever. She had gotten in the habit of keeping it with her because she needed it a lot when she was working or doing things around the house. Kim had to get the knife out of her pocket and get it to Myka without Charles seeing her. She “accidentally” dropped the duct tape and it rolled over to the side of the van, so as she stood to go get it, she took it out and got it ready. Myka saw what she had done and was ready. As Kim stood to hand the duct tape to Charles, she used her other hand to drop the knife to Myka. Since it was small, Myka was able to hide it in her hands with ease. She cooperated with Charles as he used the duct tape on her next, while silently praying. Please, God, tell them where we are.

  Chapter 20

  Logan got out of the shower and headed to the kitchen. Not seeing the girls, he went back to see if they were with Caleb. Caleb had just finished his phone call and was walking out of the office when he saw Logan.

  “Where’re the girls?” Caleb asked.

  “I thought they were with you,” Logan replied. They both walked to the dining room and saw the note Kim had scribbled for them. The two brothers looked at each other, realizing they should’ve been back by now. They tried to call Kim’s cell, but it went straight to voicemail. Caleb swore as he remembered she had left it in his truck on the charger. They both ran out the door, Caleb calling the sheriff on the way.

  They rode bound in the back of the van, listening as he ranted and raved about how evil all women were. Kim and Myka communicated with their eyes and Myka began to work the knife open, slowly cutting through the tape. She made sure the cut was underneath, so he wouldn’t be able to see. They both knew they would be fighting for their lives as soon as he opened the door. The girls couldn’t see where they were going because he had them on the floor. Kim’s heart never beat so hard. She hated that Myka was with her, but also knew if he had taken them alone, they probably wouldn’t have a chance of getting out alive. They felt the van turn off onto a gravel road and they braced for the impending fight. They were tough. They could do this.

  Logan and Caleb pulled into the grocery store parking lot, seeing Caleb’s truck out front. The sheriff was already there, along with Blake and a few other trusted men. Logan and Caleb ran into the store and saw the sheriff walking their way.

  “They were here!” he yelled, throwing Caleb the keys. “I found those on the groun
d outside the back door.”

  “That’s our girl,” Caleb said, knowing she was trying to leave breadcrumbs for them to follow. Blake walked up beside them.

  “It’s Charles, isn’t it?” he said with distress in his voice.

  When the sheriff nodded his head, Logan, running his hand through his hair, yelled, “That fucking son of a bitch! He’s lived here five years!”

  The sheriff split them up. “He’s got two places. Logan, Caleb, and Blake—you go to his house. I’ll take the other two and head out to his dad’s old place. Call me if you see him!” the sheriff yelled as everyone was heading out.

  Logan mumbled, “I’ll kill the fucker first.” Both Caleb and Blake heard his words and knew he’d do exactly that.

  After Charles shut his door, he left them in the van and went into the house. Kim pulled part of the tape from her mouth so she could talk quickly.

  “When he pulls me out, you lunge at him. He won’t be expecting that and it’ll be our only chance.” She started to put the tape back on, but before she did, she said, “I love you, Myka.” She saw the same in her friend’s eyes and both girls knew they’d never leave the other one, no matter what.

  When they heard his footsteps on the gravel, they got ready. Please help us to do this right, she prayed. Her heart began to beat harder and harder the closer he came. As the van door opened, she sat perfectly still, looking as if she were bound securely. She allowed him to pull her out backward and then, when he sat her on the ground and started to pull Myka out, Kim pulled her tape free and wrapped her arms around his legs. Myka lunged at the same time and he ended up falling backward onto the ground. He struggled to get up, but both girls pushed him back down and Kim saw a large rock beside them. She picked it up, squinted her eyes almost shut, and hit him in the head as hard as she possibly could. It took two good hits before he lay motionless. The girls didn’t speak, but continued to work in unison. Myka grabbed the duct tape and they began to bind his wrists and then his ankles. They wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to get away, so they wrapped his legs together, too, all the way up to his knees.