Love Begins with Fate (22 page)

“I was just…” Dylan tried.

“Miss Lodge, come over here.” Annie directed.

Dylan’s hands regretfully let go of Kelsey. She quickly scurried behind Annie. Thankful she wasn’t home alone. “James!” Annie called out. James, Annie, and Toby were the only ones that normally stayed in the house with Kelsey. When James had moved in Nick had moved out to one of the ranch hand houses, yet he had stayed in the main house for years. It had always seemed safer for there to be at least one man in the home, he figured. He had looked at Kelsey as if she was his sister or maybe even a daughter and looked at her mother like a friend who needed someone there.

“Annie? Kelsey?” James came running down the stairs. “I heard a scream and then I heard you cry out to me
, Annie is everything…” James stopped at the base of the stairs. Annie had the gun still pointed directly at Dylan and Kelsey was crying behind her. “What the hell did he do?” James growled out.

“Get him out of here before …” Annie snarled. “He tried to…”  Annie looked behind her slightly at Kelsey and sighed.

“He...” Kelsey mumbled but couldn’t get the words out.

James shook with anger as he stormed over to the couch. Dylan had his hands up and behind his head in defeat and surrender. “Kelsey
look… I don’t know what got into me.” Dylan defended.

“Boy
, get up.” James snapped from beside Dylan. “Get walkin,” James yelled as he kicked at Dylan’s butt. “Don’t you look at her!” He yelled as Dylan’s head drifted toward Kelsey.

“I’m calling the sheriff.” Annie said handing the gun over to Kelsey. “Don’t be
afraid to pull that trigger.” She said as she stormed away.

Kelsey slowly followed after James watching carefully of where Dylan was at the entire time. “Sit down.” James hissed as he pulled a roll of duct tape and a bundle of twine from the porch.

“What?” Dylan squeaked as he looked back at James.

“I said sit down!” James demanded.

Dylan looked around nervously and when James stormed over to him, Dylan’s eyes went wide. “Wait… no what are you doing?” He cried out as James tried to secure his arms.

“I am tying you up until the sheriff gets here. Sit down or I’ll make you.” James snapped.

When Dylan didn’t comply fast enough James clobbered the boy. James may have been a smaller man than Dylan’s big, young, and muscular size but James had the power of his wisdom. He had his share of fights and he knew how to throw a punch. Unfortunately, Dylan wasn’t so lucky. He was out cold.

James shoved the boy into place and secured his hands and feet with the duct tape and twine. Then he huffed and sat down on the far side of the porch glaring. “I’m sorry about this idiot
Kels. I shouldn’t have gone to bed with you still up.” James told her.

“Uncle James. It’s alright.” Kelsey muttered. “You couldn’t have known.”

“Where’s Parker and your brother? They should be down here protecting you.” James scowled. He was still glaring at Dylan’s unconscious form.

“They went home. I…” She began but that’s when the sheriff’s car came barreling down the drive.

He skid to a halt with dirt flying all over. Pushing his door open the beefy man stomped toward the porch. “Boy, are you in for a lickin.” The sheriff growled and then shook his head once he realized the boy was passed out.

He stepped up to the porch and sighed “Are you alright darling?”

“I’m alright now.” Kelsey admitted. “Thanks for coming.”

“Of course
” The sheriff said. He was standing before her in his normal everyday clothes. With his gun strapped around his hips and tennis shoes on. “I’m sorry I am not dressed ah… more sheriff like.” He shrugged.

“That’s alright.” Kelsey giggled shaking her head. The sheriff was one of their closest neighbors and Kelsey was so undeniably glad for that.

“He’ll be locked up and won’t be bothering you again. Do you need to get a restraining order against him?” The sheriff asked.

“He’s been working on the farm. We need to know who to contact about his things.” Nick said. The commotion had woken up many people and those whom weren’t sleeping
,  had begun to wonder toward the main house to find out what was happening.

“Well, I will call
yall in the morning with that.” The sheriff said. “Someone want to help me get this kid in the car?”

Nick, James, and the sheriff worked together to hoist Dylan into the sheriff’s back seat. Once they had gone, James and Nick
escorted Kelsey back inside the house. “As soon as that mother of yours comes around to get her things I’m movin’ back in this house. At least till you have a husband to protect you.” Nick demanded.

“I don’t know if that’s going to happen now. I screwed up.” Kelsey groaned. She
knew that he would forgive her, well at least she hoped so, but right now she felt really down in the dumps.

“I think tomorrow we are
goin’ to have ourselves a packin’ party.” Nick chuckled. “I’ll get some boxes from town and we’ll get Dylan’s things out of the back house” Nick told Kelsey.

She looked at him skeptically but shrugged. “Okay,” Kelsey sighed. “Thanks for your help. Thank you Annie.” Kelsey said hugging her. “I’m going to bed.” She knew that Nick would have everything taken care of for her. He was a good worker and great friend.

Nick watched as the girl escaped up the stairs before lying down on the couch. “Goodnight Annie.” Nick said as Annie smiled meekly and shut off the lights. He was going to stay inside for the night.

Chapter 36

When Monday rolled around finally, Nick and Annie went to town. Together they picked up groceries and boxes. After they returned, Annie set to making lunch while Nick and Kelsey took in the groceries. Noticing Kelsey was off; Nick sighed and pulled her to a stop. “You alright darling?” He asked.

“I’m just feelin
g a little down.” Kelsey told him with a sigh.

“You want to talk about it?” He questioned.

“Nick really, I’ll be fine. Thanks.” Kelsey mumbled as she strode away.

“Okay, kid.” Nick told her smiling slightly. “You know
Dylan’s not going to come back here.”

“Yeah.”
Kelsey droned.

She wasn’t bothered much more by Dylan’s horrid attempt, but she was beyond bothered still by
Parker’s leave. She missed his company.

After lunch Nick returned to the back house and packed up everything which was Dylan’s into four boxes and loaded them up into the back of his truck. Kelsey kept quiet nearly the entire day. Nick began to wonder and Annie began to worry. Kelsey’s mother had been a long time out of her life and that bothered Annie. She had prepared dessert on a plate and brought it out to the television where Kelsey had curled up.

“Darling, I brought you something to sooth your heart.” She chimed.

Kelsey looked up at Annie’s small gri
n as she held out a small plate “Your favorite.”

“Thanks.” Kelsey yawned excepting the delicacy from Annie.

“You’re going to bed upstairs tonight right?” Annie asked.

“I don’t know.” Kelsey mumbled.

“Don’t be upset.” Annie frowned. “Your brother called. I forgot to mention it earlier.” Annie announced. “He said your birthday celebration is going to be this weekend at your father’s home. You are expected there. I already booked your flight. It leaves at 10 am on Friday.”

“Annie…” Kelsey groaned.

“Listen dear…” Annie began, slapping her hand on her hip and being the adult in the situation. “I would love to go with you but I can’t leave the boys here alone. You are almost nineteen. You need to live a little, have some fun in your days. Now, you are going to the party and enjoying yourself and that’s final.”

“Fine
” Kelsey sighed. “I’m going to enjoy this and then I’m going to head to bed.” Kelsey muttered shoving a piece of cheesecake into her mouth.

She did as she had mentioned but before she could do that she had to call her friend. Dialing the phone
, Kelsey waited impatiently for Hannah to pick up.

“Kelsey!” Hannah squealed.

In the background she could hear Ryder talking. “Tell her she screwed up.” Ryder told her.

“I think she already knows
that Ryry.” Hannah replied. “Kelsey, I’m so glad you called.”

“I’ve missed you.” Kelsey whimpered.

“I haven’t been gone that long. Are you sure it’s me you’re missing.” Hannah asked with a slight smirk. Kelsey could hear her friend’s smirk through the phone.

“Maybe… not.”
Kelsey cried softly.

“I figured as much. He’s missing you too. He’s such a sweetie
, you know that right; other than your stupid brother’s thoughts.” Hannah told her. “Hey!” Hannah screeched.

There was shuffling around and Kelsey wondered what was going on. “Kelsey, it’s me Ryder.” Ryder said into the phone. “I know what I said about
Parker and I’m sorry. He’s really a great guy and I know what you said to him…” He paused. “You couldn’t have been more wrong.”

“I didn’t call for a scolding, Ryder. I called for comfort from my friend. Now can I talk with her again
?”  Kelsey asked.

“Fine, I’ll see you Friday.”
Ryder said.

“Love you to bro.” Kelsey told him before she heard more shuffling.

“I got it back. Stupid boyfriend.” Hannah giggled. “Any way what did you want to talk about?”

Kelsey began with telling her friend about her entire time with
Parker, even the parts about their engagement and the sex. She had then told her friend about the awful things she had said to him and then what had happened last night and the problems with Dylan.

Hannah listened like a good friend and after Kelsey had finally finished pouring out her
heart, Hannah offered her words of wisdom. “Why don’t you call him?”

“I can’t do that.” Kelsey mumbled. “I’ve got to get to sleep. It’s late.” Kelsey said quickly.

“Kels…” Hannah argued.

“Good night.” Kelsey said quickly hanging up the phone.

Afterward Kelsey quickly made her way to bed.

Chapter 37

Tuesday went by
quickly; nothing big happened, other than the sheriff coming over to view his foal. Kelsey was eating when there was a knock at the door. “I’ll get it.” Kelsey mumbled standing up from the table.

She made her way to the door tiredly. She had been sleeping an exceptional amount of time since
Parker had left, depression consuming her most likely. Pulling the door open Kelsey looked to the other side of it and smiled. “Well hello sheriff. What is the honor?”

“Well ma’am if you didn’t remember, you had called me a few days ago about my foal.” The sheriff said tipping his hat. “I had some free time and was wondering if I could see my new baby.”

“Well of course.” Kelsey beamed. She had been so proud of the beautiful babies and had been too distracted to visit them much. Nick and the other stable hands had taken great care of them. The twin foals had even been outside in the warmth of the sun a few times a day. “Let me just go let Annie know that I’m going out. Please come on in.” Kelsey told him.

Kelsey told Annie she was going out
, then walked with the sheriff out to the barn. “Well sheriff, there is something interesting I left out about the foal.” Kelsey told him with a chuckle.

“Oh.” The sheriff frowned. “Uh…”

“Don’t worry sheriff; it’s not that bad…” Kelsey shrugged. “Actually, it’s very good for me and maybe for you as well.”

“Well was it a colt or a filly?” the sheriff asked as he o
nce again stepped up beside Kelsey.

“Which did you want?” Kelsey asked.

“What?”

“Well sheriff. I know if you had one you were going to give it to your daughter and if you had the other…” She shrugged.

“Well, I guess it would be good either way as long as it’s a healthy one.”

“Well sheriff, let’s take a look at your new foal. Say hello to... the twins” Kelsey said opening up the stall. Sweetie whinnied along with the two babies.

“Two?” the sheriff questioned.

“Yes sir. We have twins.
A colt and a filly.” Kelsey said proudly.

“Well then.” The sheriff smirked. “I guess I am
gonna have to rethink one then aint I?” He told her. “Which are you going to sell me? They both are beautiful.” He said holding out his hand to the protective mother.

“Well though they are both stunning, and I could fetch a good price for either, I am sure that you will give either a good home. I was thinking if you are interested in both I could give you a discount.” Kelsey told him honestly. She had already made a good profit on one and offering a discount on the second wouldn’t do any harm but
providing a great home for it.