Page 23 of The Mountain Man's Determined Bride
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t live here and I have a job in Colorado to get back to. That gives you free reign to pursue him for yourself.”
“You’re just saying that.” But she must have believed a little because it distracted her enough to put the gun down on the table.
“No really, I told him to his face at the cabin that I didn’t want to have anything else to do with him ever. As far as I’m concerned, that puts me out of the picture.”
“No way will he give up that easy.” Margie was shaking her head but her wheels were definitely turning. “Are you sure?”
“Definitely, good riddens I say.”Damn this woman. I swear to all that’s holy, I’m never letting that man go if I get out of this. Now if I could only move.
Margie seemed to be thinking a little bit more as she moved away from the barn door, her attention wavered from her hostage enough that Morgan could scan the area for anything that might help defend her from the psycho woman. Along with noticing a clear path to her doorway to escape, Morgan also became aware that Margie was no longer holding the gun and had found a perch on some hay bales on the other side of the barn. When she heard scuffling on the other side of the wall where she was sitting, she knew her freedom was in sight. Lord she hoped that was Luke.
Keeping an eye Margie the entire time, Morgan quietly pulled out the cell she’d hidden in her inner coat pocket. She texted a message to her brother and Luke and waited a few more minutes. She was a little afraid to stand and be noticed and she’d have to attempt walking a few feet to reach her crutches but she knew she needed to try before Margie changed her mind about having a future with the man Morgan loved.
When the barn door creaked, Morgan turned quickly to Margie and sure as shit, she’d heard it too and was on her feetheading that way quickly. Morgan let out a scream and the door flew open to welcome a couple of Holly’s finest aiming at their target. She’d stopped dead in her tracks and raised her hands.
When she turned back, the relief she felt left a lump in her chest at seeing Luke and Tyler standing inside the door behind the sheriff’s men. Morgan stood carefully and painfully limped her way to Luke. He caught her in his arms as she sobbed.
* * * *
“You’re safe now baby, just let it all out.” Holding Morgan in his arms was the best way to end the horrible nightmare. “Why don’t we get you out of here and safe in my truck? Tyler’s got the police taken care of for now.”
“Can you please take me home?”
“Whatever you want honey. Uncle Bill’s waiting for you as we speak.”
“No, I want to go home with you. Please?” Luke looked at her in confusion.
“But you said… I mean I thought…” Morgan placed her fingers over his lips in the most loving way.
“I know what you thought and I know what I said but this is me using my prerogative to change my mind. I’m over all the accidents and kidnapping, I just want to go home with you and be loved. Can you do that?”
If Luke smiled any bigger, his face would break.
“Yes ma’am, I can do that.” He caressed her cheeks and touched his lips to hers, finally taking a little comfort in the idea that he might just get to do that as often as he wanted.
“Hey what do you two think you’re doing?”Tyler.He was Luke’s best friend and Morgan’s brother but he was also a nosy son of a gun. He jumped up on the side rails of the truck and stuck himself into the passenger window.
“I’m taking my woman home and you are not going to stop me.”
“Sheriff wants to talk to her, you gonna let him?”
“Nope, not today. Don’t you think she’s been through enough? I’ll take her to the station tomorrow…afternoon. After we wake up at some point.” Tyler’s knowing grin made Luke smile.
“Why do you guys always do this? I’m right here ya know.
Tyler hugged his sister through the window and shook his best friend’s hand. “Call me when you go and I’ll meet you there. Then he jumped down and smacked the side of the truck bed as Luke drove away.
Epilogue
Morgan was sprawled out in the recliner with her scratching stick stuck down into her walking cast when she heard a knock at the door. “Come in, door’s open.” She’d been trying to itch that same spot all afternoon, no way was she moving now.
“Hey sis, how the heck are you?”
“Tyler, hi!” Two months had passed since Morgan’s crazy release and abduction from the hospital. Margie was behind bars at the women’s correctional facility on the other side of the state. They’d had no problem throwing the book at her for attempted kidnapping, possession of an illegal weapon with no permit or something like that and a few other charges she didn’t know much about.
Her brother had gone back to work and Luke made fast work of moving all of Morgan’s things into his house for her long recovery process. The hospital arranged to have a nurse come out every other day to work on her therapy.
“So, what’s this I hear you quit your job?”