Saving Us (12 page)

“I don’t even know how to explain this. There is so much that I don’t know. Heather didn’t even know all the details.”

I heard that blondes name and thought my sister was going to lose it. “What did you just say?”

She turned around to face me. “Conner, I need you to sit down next Miranda and listen to me. Something happened today and you both need to be aware of it.”

“If that little bitch did something, I will kick her ass,” Miranda threatened.

I held up my hands. “Just calm down and listen to me. For once she didn’t do anything, well, at least not to me. She’s in serious trouble, actually.”

I had about enough of the waiting. “Amy, spit it out!”

For the next ten minutes she explained how Heather had come into the salon in disguise and warned her about what Rick was up to and what happened in his past. I have to be honest and say that none of it was shocking to me. The guy was a total punk.

While I was still thinking about everything she said, she grabbed my arm. “Please say something.”

“You said you called the cops and they couldn’t help you?” I was trying to remain calm even though I knew I was slowly losing it.

“Yes, they came and said that we had to have proof that he was threatening us. Right now it is just two women saying that someone threatened them. Without me even seeing him for a while didn’t help.”

“You ain’t goin’ back to that salon. Call who you need to and have them come here instead.” There was no way I was going to put her in harms way, not now, not ever.

“I don’t need a babysitter. That is my business Conner. I can’t just tell people to go somewhere else.” Her makeup was running down her face from where she was starting to cry.

“I never said you needed a babysitter, but I’ll be damned if I let something happen to you and that baby. Stop bein’ selfish. I need to know you’re safe.” I was adamant about my decision. She was staying away from that salon, at least until we could figure out a way to keep her safe.

I slammed my hand into the kitchen table, catching everyone off guard and scaring the twins enough to make them start crying. “Conner, you need to calm your ass down. How do you even know that Heather is telling the truth about bein’ threatened? We all know how she lies.”
My sister didn’t have to tell me what I already knew.

“Have you heard anything I’ve been saying? Rick may have killed his first wife. I didn’t even know about her. I thought his family was all dead and they might be alive somewhere. He has a son that nobody knew of. You’ve seen what he did to me when he got mad. I don’t doubt anything Heather said. I hope she’s away by now, because even after everything she put this family through, I wouldn’t wish harm on anyone.” Amy started crying harder. She got up and headed in the direction of our bedroom. I let her walk off by herself, while I stayed back to talk to my sister.

“This has gotten out of hand. I need to take her back to Kentucky. We’ll be safe there.”

She shook her head. “She won’t go with you, Conner. You know how hard headed she can be. She just reconnected with her father again. You can’t expect her to leave everything because some douche bag is out there with some vendetta.”

“Well I sure can’t sit around worryin’ about her leavin’ the house. Somethin’s gotta give.”

Randa sighed and spooned another mouthful into both of her son’s mouths. “We need to get that fucker locked up. That’s the only way any of us are goin’ to be able to sleep at night.”

“And how am I supposed to do somethin’ like that without puttin’ us all in danger? Randa, I can’t just make somethin’ up to have him put away. I’d need something real on him.” It would have been a fast solution, except we had nothing solid that would convince the police he was a criminal. Aside from him and Amy being separated, he was a model citizen, who sometimes had too much to drink. Nobody knew the secret side to Rick.

“Oh, I know. You could look into his past. You could hire a private investigator.”

I cocked my eyebrow. “You been watchin’ too many soap operas, sis. It ain’t that easy.”

“It is if you are legally married to the guy. Amy has access to everything.”

My sister was right. With Amy’s help, we may be able to find something on Rick that we could use against him. If the police weren’t willing to help me, I needed to find someone that could. “No matter what we decide, I want you to know that I won’t put your kids in danger. You know I would lay down and die before I let that happen. If you need us to leave, we will.”

“No! I want you to be here with us. We are going to stick together. He won’t come onto this farm and threaten us. He does that, he knows his ass is grass. The safest place for Amy to be, besides Kentucky, is here.”

I leaned down and kissed my sister. “Love you.”

“Yeah, I love your ass, too.”

I headed in the direction of my room and found Amy on the bed. She was face down and crying. I slid in beside her. “Hey darlin’, it’s goin’ to be alright. I ain’t goin’ to let anything happen to you. I promise.”

She turned around and leaned into my chest. I kissed the top of her head before she lifted up her face to look at me. “I’m scared, Conner. I don’t know what to do. God only knows what he’s capable of. What if he tries to hurt you or your family? I would never forgive myself. I need to just go away for a while. It would be better for everyone.”

I brushed the hair away from her face. “Is that what you want to do? Do you really want to leave me?” It hurt to even ask. A knot formed in my throat and I could feel my heart aching.

She looked me right in the eyes. “No, I don’t want to be without you, Conner. I don’t ever want to be without you, but I can’t put you in danger. I can’t ask your family to do it either. There are children involved.”

“Our child is involved, Amy. You think that wasn’t the first thing I thought about? I will do whatever you want. My sister wants you to stay, but you just say the word and I will take you back to Kentucky.”

“What do you think we should do?”

I laid back and pulled her down with me. After letting out a long sigh, I looked down at her. “I don’t know. I’ve never been one to back down from a fight, but seein’ as you and my baby are in danger, I know I need to be responsible. Miranda thinks that we should hire an investigator.”

“I need to get in touch with his daughter. She knows something, Conner. She told me to look in his truck. First I found those checkbooks and now Heather has uncovered some secret past. There has to be more he’s hiding. He changed his name and everything. God, who the hell did I marry?”

It wasn’t time to joke, but I just couldn’t help myself. “It beats me. I just hope your second husband doesn’t turn out to be a serial killer.”

She slapped me in the chest. “Stop it! There is only one man that I would ever marry and he is too sweet to kill people.”

“I’d like to skin your ex. You let me find him alone in some alley one night and you won’t be callin’ me sweet anymore. I’m serious, Amy. I think I could kill the man. I sure as hell can play it out in my head. His ass needs to be thrown in jail so he can be gang raped repeatedly.”

She finally laughed. “I’d pay to see that. After everything he’s done to me, I wouldn’t mind seeing him suffer.”

“I know it’s the middle of the day, but how about you get a nice hot shower and put on some of my clothes then get your ass back in this bed.” I kissed her slowly on the lips.

She opened her eyes and looked right at me. “Will you be here when I get done?”

I stood up and helped her off the bed. “I need to go finish up with something out in the pasture. Promise me you will get into bed and try to relax. I can’t have you gettin’ all stressed out. My baby needs a happy mamma.”

She giggled and held out her hand while I handed her a pair of boxers and
a t-shirt. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. I plan on spoiling you for a long ass time.” I kissed her one more time before sending her into the bathroom to get that shower. She needed to calm down. I could tell from her body language that she was anything but alright.

I found Ty out where we had been working before.

“Dude, what the fuck? I’ve been waiting for you to come back with that tool for a damn hour. Did you have to take a shit or something?”

“Suck my dick, we got bigger problems than fixin’ this here fence. Amy and Heather are in some deep shit, man. I’m goin’ to need your help.”

When I said the name Heather, I thought Ty was going to crap himself. His eyes got huge. “I am not doing shit for that whore.”

“We don’t have a choice. I can’t have a clear conscience if I let soemthin’ happen to another person. She’s in trouble, bro. I need your help and you’re goin’ to help me.”

He tossed the tool down on the ground and held up his hands. “Fine! Tell me everything.”

I sat down and explained everything to my hardheaded brother-in-law.  He seemed shocked at first, but after the past year, nothing surprised any of us. “We need to nail this fucker to the wall, dude. Whatever you need, you just tell me.”

With everyone on board, there was only one thing left to do.

Protect Amy.

Chapter 15

Amy

Everything was happening too fast. One minute I am in Kentucky having a great time and the next I am being thrown into a huge mess of dram
a. I did as Conner asked and took a long, hot shower. I had to admit that it felt good to relax under the beads of water. Once I got out and put on Conner's extra-large clothes, I climbed into his warm bed and got comfortable. I'm not really sure how long I had been asleep, but I woke up to my phone ringing. Thinking it was just a client returning my call, I answered it without checking the caller ID.

Hello?

How's my pretty little red haired wife doing these days? Is that young cowboy still making your heart patter?

Rick?

How many other husbands do you got?

I want a divorce. I don't even know you. How many wives have you had?

Why are you asking me that? You been taking to someone?

No!

You have, haven't you? I knew that little bitch was going to run right to you. Tell me where she is, Amy.

I don't know and I don't care. I haven't talked to anyone. I found out everything on my own. I hired someone to look into your past. I know all about your ex-wife and how you changed your name, Rick Martin.

You don't know shit. Meet me somewhere and we can talk about it.

I wouldn't meet you if you were the last person on earth.

Where are you, bitch?

None of your damn business. You lost the right to ask me for anything the moment you started lying to me, which was obviously our whole marriage.

If you know what's good for you, you'll watch what you say to me. You ruined everything, you little bitch. Now you will pay.

I have spent our entire marriage being afraid of you. I'm done with your bullshit. If you ever cared anything about me, you will leave me alone, Rick. I will not spend my life looking behind my back. I called the police today. They are watching the farm and the salon. If you try to do anything to anyone in my life, they will drag your ass to jail.

You think you can threaten me?

Conner walked into the bedroom and heard my last sentence. He grabbed the phone from me before I could even argue.

You call this number again and I .......hello?
"Shit!" He kneeled down beside the bed. "What the hell did he say to you?"

After I gave him a replay of what we discussed, he seemed pretty impressed that I had taken up for myself. He pulled me into his arms and I started to cry again. I knew he could feel my body trembling. I was petrified.

"I won't let nothin’ happen to you, Amy. I hope you know that."

"I do. It's what scares me the most. I'm afraid of what you might be willing to do to protect me. Conner
,  I can't have you out there trying to be a hero. I want you here with me."

When the phone rang again, Conner reached over to answer it.

Hello? Yeah hang on.

He handed me the phone.

Hello?

Ma'am this is Ron from the alarm c
ompany. We just wanted you to be aware that a break in was detected at your business location. The police are in route. Can we let them know that you or one of your representatives will be out there to meet them?

I was in shock. Had Rick been sitting outside of the shop the whole time we were on the phone?

Yes, I'll be right there.

I hung up the phone and turned to Conner. "We need to get to the salon. I have to call my father." I started to walk out of the room, but Conner grabbed the back of my shirt.