Saving Us (20 page)

He kissed my hands again. “I ain’t wearin’ no tux.”

We both started to laugh. “I don’t even care.”

“Camilla and Joshua.”

“Huh?”

“You wanted to know the two names that I liked. I like the name Cammie for a girl. When I was a kid my dad brought me home this baby raccoon. My mom about flipped her lid, but it was all alone and goin’ to die. Randa and I named her Cammie. We would get up at night to bottle feed her. She was litter trained and we could let her run around in our rooms. One day I forgot to shut my bedroom door and our Springer Spaniel went in there and busted through the cage. She killed our little baby raccoon. I guess  I had a soft spot for that name ever since.”

It was such a sweet story.

“And Joshua?”

“Yeah, that was my father’s middle name. I think it’s a strong name, plus it’s in the bible and my mother would really appreciate that.”

Of all of the hundreds of names I had been looking at in every book possible, none of them made me fall in love with them, until I heard these two names come out of Conner’s mouth. It literally took my breath away. “I love them.”

“Really? You don’t have to like them. I just wanted you hear what I liked.”

“They’re perfect, Conner. I would love to have a Cammie or a Joshua.”

His smile was so big. I studied his perfect face as he sat there looking back at me.

He cocked his eyebrow. “Maybe we could have both? I was kind of hopin’ you would want more, with me?”

“I will give you whatever you want. This has been one of the best days of my entire life, Conner.”

“You just wait till you have my last name, darlin’. It’s goin’ to get even better.”

Chapter 24

Conner

Everything was looking up for Amy and I. Though we weren’t making wedding plans yet, I knew that eventually it was going to happen. If it were up to me I would have been fine with the way things were, but I knew it meant more to Amy and my mother. I’d done so many things the wrong way for so long, that it was important for me to grow up and be the responsible man that my family wanted me to be.

After arriving back to Kentucky and telling the family the good news, Amy and I were finally
able to be optimistic. It was then that she starting making calls to find out how to prove that her marriage was not legal. Since it didn’t happen very often, she was tossed around from person to person. Rick’s ex-wife was going to have to contact her lawyer and see what he could do from his end. In the meantime, we contacted our family lawyer and met with him.

While we waited for that to be taken care of, we focused on getting ready for the arrival of our baby. We
decided on just waiting on decorating until we knew what we were having. However, we did decided to paint the room a light brown. I made sure to buy the paint that didn’t contain fumes, because she insisted on pitching in.

I think Amy got bored easily. I know she didn’t hate the fact that she wasn’t having to stand all day long, but she still missed the interactions with all of her clients.

About two months after the salon was vandalized, the police contacted her to let her know that they still hadn’t caught the perpetrator and with no new leads they weren’t very optimistic. It pissed me off knowing that Rick was still out there just waiting to make a move to hurt the people that I loved.

Amy finally heard from Rick’s daughter and after a three hour phone call, she agreed to meet the mother she thought abandoned her when she was a little child. I think it was hard for Amy having to do something for a family that was never really
hers. Still, she did it anyway. While she waited to see how the meeting went, we focused on what she was going to do with the salon.

We were settled in Kentucky and Amy felt safer than she had the whole time we were in North Carolina. Here, she was just my woman. Back there, she was a married woman who’d had an affair and got knocked up.

She still missed her friends, my sister especially, and the father that she finally had reconciled with. I’d secretly arranged for the man and his family to come visit. Amy had no idea that I had planned it. The ranch was big enough that you could get lost if you didn’t know where you were going. On the day that they arrived, I met them at my aunt’s house and got them situated. My aunt was away on some trip with a couple ladies from our church congregation, so it was just Lucy there anyway. I think they were taken back at first at the size of my aunt’s house. It made me laugh considering that Amy and I were perfectly comfortable in our four bedroom double wide. Of course my mother had fixed it up over the years. We had a whole new kitchen and both of our bathrooms had been remodeled.

Once I had them all situated,
I took the golf cart back to my place to get Amy. When I came inside, I could already hear her crying. I rushed into the living room and found her curled up. Once I got to her side and pulled her into me, she looked up. “He called Conner. All this time had gone by and he picks today to just call and threaten me. Why can’t he just leave me alone. I don’t owe him anything.”

“What do you mean? You don’t owe him shit!”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. I shouldn’t have even answered after it said the number was blocked. He said that he’s been patient, but he isn’t going to wait any longer. He said he is coming for me.”

“Bullshit! He ain’t gettin’ near you.” I’d kill him with my bare hands if I had to. There was no way in hell he was getting anywhere near her.

“How do you know that? He could be right down the road. We don’t know.”

I walked back through the hallway and entered my old bedroom. Here lately it had just been for storage. I could hear Amy talking to me, but I had no idea what she was saying. I reached the cabinet in the back of my closet and grabbed out a few of my favorite pieces. When I came around the corner carrying two rifles and a handgun, I heard Amy gasp. “Ever used one of these?”

She shook her head and I almost wanted to laugh at the shocked look on her face. “They were in our house this whole time?”

“Locked up. Look here, you need to be able to protect yourself. If that bastard comes near you, I want you to know how to shoot his ass.”

She sat down on the couch, so I walked closer to her and handed her a handgun. She sat it down on the table like it was too hot to touch. “I can’t, Conner. I could never shoot someone.”

I sat down beside her and rubbed her leg. She looked right at me, so I rubbed over her belly. “This is my child too. If someone tries
to hurt either of you, I’m going to put a bullet in them. This ain’t no laughin’ matter, darlin’. This is as real as it gets. Now, I can either show you how to use it, or I can let John show you. It’s probably going to be easier if we get you somethin’ smaller to start out with anyway.”

“I’m being serious Conner. There is no way I can shoot a gun.”

I kissed her cheek and then the side of her lip. “Blaze, do you trust me?” I moved my nose around her neck and then up to her ear. As it glided across her skin, I could feel her swallowing. I had her attention.

“Yes,” she whispered.

I kept my lips close to her ear. “I need you to do this for me. You may never have to use it, but I need you to know how. Just do it for me.” This was not the time for her to get all stubborn on me. I needed her to be prepared for this fucker.

She nodded. “Okay. It just scares me so much.”

“Well, what scares you more? The idea of using a gun, or not havin’ protection if Rick comes near you.”

“Him! I’m scared of him!”

I stood up from the couch and pulled her into my arms. She looked right up at me. “I need my woman to know how to protect her family. It’s a southern thing. Ain’t you ever seen them old ladies on television? They chase the bad guys off their property?”

She giggled. “Are you comparing me to an old lady?”

I shook my head and laughed too. “No! I am wantin’ you to be able to handle yourself. I think it’s best if I have John do this with you. Maybe just knowin’ that he is the sheriff will make you feel better. In the meantime, I need you to come up to the main house with me.”

“What about Rick’s threats?”

“Amy, he ain’t here. The gates have security. Hell, he probably doesn’t even know where we are. He can threaten all he wants. It don’t mean he is really comin’. It’s been months. I’m sure he’s gotta be gettin’ desperate.”

“Why are
we going up to the house? Nobody is there but Lucy.” I had to come up with a good excuse to get her there.”

“I did something special and I want you to see it for yourself. Will you just come with me and stop tryin’ to spoil it. I promise you will like it and it may even take your mind off of the whole Rick thing.”

She finally agreed.

When we walked in that house and she saw her father sitting there, I tho
ught she was going to scream out of excitement. She turned around and smiled before walking over to give him a big hug. “When did you get here?”

“About an hour ago. Conner wanted it to be a surprise,” Her father explained.

She walked over and gave her step-mother and brothers a hug. “It’s so good to see you guys. I miss everyone so much.”

Her father walked over to me. “She’s looks good, Son. Thanks for taking such good care of her.”

“The pleasure is all mine, sir. Amy is very important to me. In fact, I asked you here for a reason. I suspect you have heard that Amy’s marriage to Rick wasn’t legal. As soon as the lawyers get everything figured out, I’d appreciate it if you let me make an honest woman out of her. I realize we did everything backwards, but I can promise you that I will continue to take care of her. She will never need for anything.”

He smiled and shook my hand again. “Conner, I don’t doubt that at all. Your family seems to run a very lucrative business. It pleases me very much that she found you. It would make me a very
happy man to have you as a son-in-law.”

My father would have been proud for me asking for her hand. I was just happy that the old man
said yes. He could have told me Hell no.

Amy spent the whole weekend with her father and his family. I showed him around the ranch and introduced him to Colt and Van, who were nice enough to make them a very nice
dinner that included my mother and John. It was the first time that I was able to spend some time getting to know Amy’s family, which I enjoyed very much. She needed the distraction and her father was a good reason for it.

When the weekend ended, they had to head home. Her little brothers still had school that they couldn’t miss. Amy’s father didn’t leave without giving her a check from the insurance company. While the building was easily repaired from the damages, they had opted not to turn it back into a salon, so Amy
received a check for what it would have cost to replace all of the furniture and equipment. I was guessing that she didn’t expect it.

Later that night we cuddled up in bed. “Thank you for bringing my family here, Conner.

“I’d do just about anything to see you smile. Well, unless it had something to do with me and a farm animal.”

She slapped me. “You are so sick!”

“Ahh, come on, Blaze, you know you love it.” I thought I had a pretty good sense of humor.

“You know what else I love?”

“The way I make you scream when I’m between your legs?”

She laughed again. “That and the way you always make me feel loved. It’s more than I could
ever ask for.”

“You better get used to it.”

She reached her hand down under the covers. I felt her fingers sliding inside the elastic of my boxer briefs. “I don’t think we’re going to have a problem pleasing each other. In fact, I think I owe you a little something for being so good to me.”

Her head slipped right under the covers. “Yeah, I can definitely get used to this.”

Chapter 25

Amy

After my father left, it was hard for me to not think about the phone call from Rick. In fact, once Conner left to work out on the ranch Monday morning, it was all I could think about. When someone knocked on my door, I got even more freaked out and screamed. I had been standing next to the kitchen window and they were close enough to reach in and touch me.

Come to find out, it was the local delivery man
with a package that I had ordered myself. I apologized to him for being so startled. I felt like a total idiot after he pulled away. It was that moment that I knew I was going to have to talk to John after all. Mine and my child’s safety was too important.

Miss Karen was very sweet when I called her to explain the situation. I had a feeling that Conner had
already filled her and John in on me learning to shoot. John picked me up that afternoon and took me to a gunsmith shop. I was shocked at how many guns were just hanging all over the place.

John realized my dismay. He put his arm around me and led me over to a small case.
“These would be a more comfortable gun for you to shoot with. We will get out one at a time and let you hold them. We need to make sure it feels right in your fingers and you can maneuver it quick enough to react accordingly.”