Forever in Haven's Crossing

by Kyleigh Drake

  They turned the unconscious man over onto his stomach and then Kim sat on his legs while Myka sat on his back and shoulders. They sat motionless, afraid to breathe, too scared to move.

  Myka whispered, “Should we look for the keys to the van?” Kim shook her head.

  “They’ll come for us, soon,” she said with confidence. She could see her purse in the back of the van, but remembered she had left her phone in Caleb’s truck. She was also afraid he might get away if either of them got up, so they just stayed put. He made a groaning noise, so she picked up the rock—just in case. Please hurry, she thought, knowing in her heart they were trying.

  Logan was speeding down the road, all three men silent. The tension filled the air. As he turned onto the gravel road, Logan quietly prayed and then he prayed again. Caleb was the first to see the van and they all jumped out before the truck was barely in park. As they ran up behind the van, trying to be quiet, they heard Kim and Myka softly talking. Caleb started around one end, while Logan and Blake went the other way. The men were speechless as they peered around each side. There they sat, with Charles underneath, as if they were on the front porch having a cup of coffee.

  “You gotta be kiddin’ me,” Blake said. They ran toward the girls, helping them up and making sure they were okay.

  “Did he hurt either one of you?” Logan yelled, as he picked Charles up off the ground. Charles was now conscious and cussing at that point.

  Kim glanced back and saw the look in Logan’s eyes.

  “You fuckin’ son of a bitch!” he yelled, punching Charles in the face and stomach over and over again.

  “Logan, no!” Kim screamed, trying to run toward him, but Caleb grabbed her around the waist and wouldn’t let her go. “Caleb! Stop him!” she cried, trying to push his arms away.

  “He needs to do it, sugar—but I’ll stop him before he actually kills him.” Caleb gave Logan the time he needed and then handed Kim over to Blake so she couldn’t interfere.

  Caleb walked over and touched Logan’s shoulder, not saying a word. Logan looked at Caleb and then at Kim, taking a deep breath. He threw Charles on the ground, now unconscious again, blood covering his entire body. As Logan walked toward Kim, Caleb took his turn and kicked Charles several times in the ribs hard enough that his body moved on the ground. Blake let Kim go as she ran into Logan’s arms, and he squeezed her so hard she thought she might break.

  “I’m so sorry, darlin’,” he whispered as he started to kiss her all over her face.

  “Sorry for what, Logan? You’re my heroes.”

  Blake called the sheriff and they all waited around until he arrived along with the ambulance. All three men decided the girls needed to go see Doc Bailey even though they argued they were fine. Myka wasn’t used to be taken care of like that. She looked up at Blake, who was now standing next to her, and said, “I’m fine really, I don’t need to see the doctor.”

  “You’re goin’ to the doctor, sweetheart,” Blake said, giving her one of those looks that all men in Haven’s Crossing apparently use. “And if it has to be with me carrying you kickin’ and screamin’, then so be it. Am I clear?” Myka stared at him speechless. Myka was never speechless until she came to Haven’s Crossing.

  “When I ask you a question, Myka, I expect it to be answered,” he added, tilting her chin up so she was looking in his eyes.

  “Y–yes, sir, you’re clear,” she stammered.

  “Good girl,” he said, smiling. Myka swallowed the lump in her throat and Kim giggled. I knew she’d like Blake, she thought as Caleb and Logan walked her to the pickup. When they got back into town, Logan went back to the grocery store so Blake could get his truck and Caleb could get his. Myka rode with Blake and Kim rode with Logan. And they all headed straight to Doc’s.

  After Doc Bailey gave the girls his seal of approval, they all went to the sheriff’s office to give their statements. They all listened intently as the girls told their story of how they were taken and how they escaped. Kim saw the pride in Logan’s eyes when she talked about purposely dropping the keys and getting the pocketknife to Myka. She also saw the anger when she said Charles had put a knife to her throat. The sheriff said that Charles was barely conscious, but he’d survive. He did have a concussion, broken nose, dislocated jaw, broken arm, and several broken ribs, which made Kim very happy.

  They had found lots of evidence in Charles’s home linking him to at least six murders over the past five years. The sheriff also told them the story of how Charles had grown up. Apparently, Charles’s father was very abusive to his mother and when the town found out about it, they beat the hell out of the father and banned him from ever coming back. Out of spite, the father took Charles with him and poisoned his son’s mind from the very beginning. Charles’s mother had remained in Haven’s Crossing under the protection of the entire town and died twenty years ago, never getting to see her son again. With all the evidence against him, the sheriff was confident that he would be sent away for life and possibly get the death penalty.

  Chapter 21

  After finishing at the sheriff’s office, everyone headed out to the ranch. Logan was quiet on the way back, and Kim didn’t press the matter. She was just thankful that she was right where she wanted to be. Sara and her husbands had supper ready for them when they got there. Logan had called them while they were seeing Doc Bailey. They all hugged Kim, met Myka, and then headed home, leaving them to eat.

  As they were eating, Kim noticed that Logan wasn’t paying attention to the conversation and obviously had something on his mind. When he got up to go into the kitchen, she followed behind.

  “Logan, what’s wrong?” she asked, touching his arm. When he turned around, there were tears in his eyes.

  “You wanna know what’s wrong with me?” he said loudly and a little harshly, which caught Kim by surprise. “I’m debating on whether to put you over my knee and bust your ass.” She knew they heard him in the other room, but she didn’t dare tell him to lower his voice. “You knew not to go anywhere without us, dammit! Kim—you almost died!” He used his body to push her up against the wall. His face was now in her face and his left arm leaned against the wall next to her head. With his other arm, he pulled her body up by her waist and kissed her. She felt his love, his anger, and his passion all at once as she melted into his embrace. He kissed her long and he kissed her hard. When he stopped, her lips were swollen and he looked at her, not saying a word.

  He walked her back into the dining room, where Caleb sat all alone, pushed back in his chair, his hands laced behind his head.

  “Where’s Myka and Blake?” she asked, now embarrassed because she knew they had heard Logan’s words.

  “They went out on the porch. They’re okay, just wanted to give us some privacy to take care of any business we might need to tend to.” She blushed at his remark and looked down.

  “I’m sorry I went off without you. I thought it’d be okay with Myka there, too, but obviously I was wrong about that.” She looked up slowly, trying to gauge their reactions.

  Caleb remained seated and Logan remained standing, neither saying a word. She crossed her arms, glared back at both of them, and said, “If you’re gonna spank me just go ahead and get it over with!”

  “Well, aren’t you the bossy one?” Caleb said with a smirk. “Logan, what do ya think? We could call Myka back in here and do it in front of her.”

  “You wouldn’t!” she said, pleading.

  “Nah, we wouldn’t, but I bet that in the mornin’ you’re gonna be awfully sore—and it’s not gonna be from a spankin’,” he said with a wink and a grin. Okay, so Caleb’s good.

  Kim walked over to Logan, wrapped her arms around his waist, and looked up at him through her eyelashes with as much innocence as she could manage.

  “Logan, you’re not gonna spank me—are you?” He closed his eyes for a moment and then let out a deep sigh.

  “You deserve a spanking and I should give you a spanking and I want to give you a span
king because I’m so damn frustrated with you, but—if for some strange reason I don’t feel so frustrated come mornin’, then I will not give you a spanking.”

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she said, squeezing him tighter and smiling to herself at her small victory. As she turned to walk away, he pulled her back into his arms.

  “And, don’t think”—swat—“that your little miss innocent act”—swat—“works on me”—swat swat.

  “Owww!” she whined. “You said you wouldn’t spank me!”

  “That, darlin’”—swat—“was not a spankin’.” She looked up at him with her pouty face, but didn’t say a word when she saw he wasn’t smiling.

  They all turned around when they heard a knock on the door and Caleb yelled at them to come in. Kim was surprised to see Blake with his arm around Myka.

  “I’m gonna take Myka home with me tonight, to give ya’ll some privacy.” When Kim tilted her head at Myka she blushed.

  “Do you want me to help you pack a bag?” Kim asked, hoping they would have a minute to talk.

  “That’d be great,” she said, then looked up at Blake. “Uh, I’ll be right back.” He nodded and the girls took off toward the bedroom.

  “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, I can’t believe this!” Myka screamed, both girls now giggling.

  “I knew you would like him!” Kim squealed “He’s a really nice guy, Myka. I hope it all works out. And I think you’ll even like some of the Dom stuff, too,” she added.

  “Dom stuff?” Myka asked. Oh hell.

  “I’m sure he’ll explain it all way better than I ever could, so you just go and have a good time. Be sure and call me in the morning though,” Kim said, smiling. She stopped when Myka hesitated. “What’s wrong?” Kim asked, concerned.

  “Is he really gonna spank you? ’Cause he sounded really, really mad back there.” Kim smiled again.

  “I can promise you I have no intentions of getting a spanking, sister, and even if I did, it’s not all bad, trust me. Besides, you’ll be finding out for yourself sooner rather than later. Of that I have no doubt.”

  Myka smiled and they walked back to the dining room. Blake stepped forward and took her bag. Kim hugged her friend good-bye and then she hugged Blake, which took him by surprise. Kim looked up at him a little teary eyed. “Thank you, Blake, for saving us.”

  “Ohh, sugar. You’re welcome,” he said, hugging her back. He then looked at Logan. “Logan, you can’t spank her, man, she’s too damn sweet.” He then looked down at Kim and gave her a wink.

  “Yeah,” Logan replied with sarcasm. “Don’t let her fool ya.” Kim gave Logan a look of her own for that little comment as they walked Blake and Myka outside.

  After they drove off, Logan threw her over his shoulder while she kicked and screamed and Caleb followed behind, turning out the lights and locking the doors. They took her together and then separately. Caleb, slow and soft. Logan, hard and passionate. True to their word, by morning she was sore. She also knew though, as she smiled to herself, that she wouldn’t be getting a spanking, either. As Kim was starting some breakfast, her phone rang. Myka was whispering in the phone.

  “He’s fixing me coffee,” she said hurriedly. “Oh my God, he’s amazing, Kim! And the other stuff you mentioned—he’s gonna rock my world! Okay, I gotta go. I love you and thanks!” Kim didn’t even get a chance to say anything before Myka hung up the phone. She started laughing to herself as she turned on the radio, so she could listen to some music.

  She was still smiling when she walked back through the dining room to put her phone on the charger, since Caleb had told her she’d be in trouble if it ever went dead again. Logan and Caleb were sitting at the table reading the newspaper, because she promised to cook them breakfast for a change.

  “So what’s the smile about, little one?” Logan asked deviously.

  “Not you!” she teased, throwing the dish towel at him. “Myka just called and I think she and Blake are having a really good time.”

  “I imagine so,” Caleb said, not looking up from the paper.

  “So, are we still getting married in, like, five days?” she asked, causing both men to look up at her.

  “Yep,” they said in unison, making her smile.

  “Good,” she replied, making sure to accidentally drop something so she had to bend over in front of them, causing her robe to rise up from behind.

  “You’ve got ten seconds to get back in that kitchen, or we’ll take ya right here on the table,” Logan said, making her run in the other direction. She could barely walk after last night and she needed to recover a little. As she got breakfast ready, she started laughing as she heard the song by Big & Rich come on the radio.

  “Uh, guys?” she yelled. “I think I’ve found our song!”

  “What’s that, baby?” Logan said as they walked in.

  She turned the radio up and said, “Of course we’ll have to revise the title a little though—it’ll have to be ‘Save a Horse, Ride Two Cowboys.’” Both men smiled and she knew better than to dance—she had to be careful and not get too cocky or they’d haul her back to the bedroom again. She immediately started handing them plates and silverware to take to the table, needing them to stay occupied elsewhere.

  Chapter 22

  Two days before the wedding, Kim sat on the porch waiting for Myka to pick her up. They had a girls’ day scheduled at the spa and they looked forward to spending some time together. When they called the other girls to let them know Myka was moving there permanently, the other three decided they probably needed to come for a visit as soon as possible. Kim secretly hoped they’d all come and decide to stay, and her plan was to make it happen before the next year was up. Caleb and Logan flew the boys in so they could be there on the big day. The men had talked to her about moving Ben to Texas permanently and she was thrilled. There were lots of opportunities in the medical field here in Texas, so Ben would not only be close by, but would be happy, too. She couldn’t believe how far she’d come and couldn’t even imagine going back to what her life was like before.

  Kim told Myka that Ben went with Logan and Will to do some work on the ranch, but that he wanted to talk to her in person later in the afternoon, so they’d have to come straight back once they were finished. Of course, she was worried about why he needed to talk to her, so she was glad she had something to do to keep her mind occupied.

  After several hours of bliss, they finished about the same time and decided they would keep a standing appointment every two weeks. Myka was looking for work as a physical therapist in the neighboring communities that were close enough to commute back and forth to, but until then Blake gave her a credit card to use whenever she needed anything. Spa day was definitely a need, they decided. As Myka drove Kim back to the ranch, she reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a pack of cigarettes.

  “Want one?” she asked as she lit up.

  “Are you freaking kidding me?” Kim yelled. “Blake doesn’t care if you smoke?”

  Myka shrugged her shoulders. “He doesn’t know, I don’t guess,” she answered nonchalantly. “And I can’t believe you’re not.”

  “No thank you. And I will be interested to know what Blake thinks about it, so let me know when he does.” If Blake lets her smoke, I am so throwing a huge fit!

  Myka had finished her cigarette and had already put it out by the time they got back to the ranch. Kim saw Ben and Caleb out on the front porch and when she got out, they waved goodbye to Myka as she was backing out.

  “Hey, Mom! Have fun at the spa?” Ben asked as she walked up on the porch.

  “I certainly did,” she replied, hugging Caleb as he stood up. When she tried to let go, he held her for a second or two longer before releasing her.

  When she looked at him he tilted his head and said, “Kim?”

  “What?” she asked, a little confused.

  “Nothing,” he replied, leaving them on the porch to talk in private.

  Kim couldn’t han
dle any beating around the bush. She sat on the swing and said, “Okay, so what’s up, baby?”

  “Wow, you’re just wantin’ to get right to it, aren’t ya?” he said, smiling.

  “Benjamin,” she said, trying to be patient, “when you tell your mother you need to talk to her in person and won’t give her any details, which definitely makes me worry by the way, then yes I want to get right to it, thank you very much.”

  He smiled. “I love you, Mom.”

  “I love you, too, sweetheart. Now please tell me before I have a heart attack.”

  “Okay, okay. I just wanted to ask your opinion about something and if you don’t like it, just tell me, all right?”

  “Of course, Ben,” she said, putting her arm on around his shoulder.

  “I, uh, never really knew my dad, and Michael was around, but he never loved me like a real dad would.” Ben got quiet for a moment and Kim sensed he might even cry.

  “Go on, sweetheart,” she said.

  “Well, I was wondering if you would be okay with me talking to Caleb and Logan and seeing if they would a…”

  “Adopt you?” Kim asked, not sure if that’s where he was going or not.

  “No—not adopt me. Mom, I’m about to be twenty-three, I don’t think parents adopt twenty-three-year-olds. I was thinking maybe I could just borrow their last name.” He looked at her, intently waiting for her response. Kim started tearing up herself.

  “Ohhh, Ben, of course I would be okay with you changing your name!” They both stood up and hugged each other, Kim now crying fully.

  “Uh, Mom?” he said when he let her go.