Live for Me (Hallow Ranch)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Abbie

The smell of lemon and blueberries filled my nose as I stepped into the main house, Beau coming in right behind me.

Unsure of what to do, I looked over into the kitchen, finding Mags, Harmony, and Valerie deep in conversation. Actually, from the looks of it, Harmony and Valerie were the only ones actually engaging in said conversation. Mags was leaning against the wall, his mind somewhere else.

Beau’s heat was against my back then. “You know,” he drawled, “part of coming into a person’s home means actually stepping into it, not hanging out in the foyer.”

I rolled my eyes, huffing a laugh. “You get on my nerves.”

Suddenly, the most beautiful sound in the world filled my ears, and everything else faded away. My eyes dropped to the floor to find the most gorgeous, chubby little baby girl crawling across the hardwoods, heading straight for me, cackling the whole way.

“NJ, get your little butt back here,” a young male voice chuckled, and not even a second later, Caleb rounded the corner, stopping in his tracks when he saw me.

I gave him a smile, which was quickly directed at the baby girl using the bottom of my dress to help her stand. My heart swelled at the sight of her tipping her head back, beaming at me. She only had three teeth, but God, she might give Beau a run for his money.

Her smile just took my number one spot.

“Hi, pretty girl,” I cooed, ignoring the urge to scoop her up into my arms and blow raspberries in her chubby little neck. She had a head of thick, dark hair like her parents. I could tell she was going to be tall like Valerie, and the longer I stared, the more I realized how much she looked like her. And like her mother, she had the most enchanting green eyes.

NJ cackled again and let go of my dress, standing on her own and clapping.

Beau made a warm sound from behind me. “She’s something, isn’t she?”

“That she is,” I murmuring, unable to pull my eyes from her as she waddled over to the stairs, wrapping her little fingers around the baby gate rods.

“A bah boo!” she said, laughing again.

“Hi, Abbie.”

My head shot up to find her mother stepping into the foyer, bending down and scooping up the baby girl. Valerie smiled at her and then turned that smile on me. “Have you eaten yet?”

“Love how you didn’t ask me if I’ve eaten yet,” Beau rumbled coming to stand at my side.

Valerie’s green eyes pinned him with a look. “I was getting to you.”

“Uh huh, sure.”

I bit the inside of my cheek as Valerie said, “Well come on. If we don’t eat now, the twins will start a riot.” As we passed the kitchen, heading down the hall to the dining room, I heard Mags grunt, “Fucking idiots.”

Harmony snuck in and linked her arm with mine as we made our way down the hall. “You, me, Val. Girl talk after.”

“Girl talk?” I parroted, looking at her.

Her blue eyes narrowed. “Val and I want to hear all about it.”

I looked over my shoulder to find Beau was no longer following us. Then, it was just the three of us in the dining room.

“Hear about what?” I whispered.

Valerie looked over her shoulder as she put NJ in the pink highchair at the corner of the table. “The ‘fuck-it’ moment.”

I blinked and slowly looked at Harmony, finding a sly smile on her lips. “The what?”

Valerie came to us, running a hand through her hair. “You know. The moment Beau’s control finally snapped.”

“The moment when he pulled his head out of his ass,” Harmony added.

“I don’t—”

“Denver’s 'fuck-it' moment with me was when I was about to leave Hallow Ranch for good, and he came flying up the hill on his horse, shouting my name. He hopped off Ranger like a knight in shining armor and kissed me until I was breathless,” Valerie said, sighing at the end of it.

“Enchantress…”

All three of us turned to find the man himself standing at the dining room entrance, wearing a look that would make any woman blush.

Harmony looked away from Denver and said, “My ‘fuck-it’ moment with Mason was—”

“Little Song, for the love of God, what the fuck?” The younger Langston brother appeared beside his brother then.

His wife blurted, “I was just trying to paint a picture for her.”

I bite my bottom lip and looked at the floor, trying my best not to laugh. While I appreciated their experiences, I didn’t intend on sharing mine with Beau. We still had so much to figure out, and I didn’t want to get my hopes up. I needed to get my stalker taken care of, and I didn’t know what the Hallow Ranch cowboys were going to do to the men who forced me out of town, out of Beau’s life.

Mason looked to the ceiling, and Denver pinched the bridge of his nose, grumbling, “Sis, that’s not a picture I want to see.”

“Okay, then leave the room,” Valerie countered as I looked back up.

Denver’s eyes landed on his wife, and I turned my head, clearing my throat. Harmony gave me a knowing look.

“Yeah, they can get intense,” she whispered, turning to face the massive dining room table covered in food, every sage-colored place mat set with delicate white china, the ends dipped in gold. I eyed the silverware, recognizing it instantly, the puzzle pieces coming together in my head.

This was Jane Langston’s silverware and china.

Harmony called my name softly, pointing to the two spots on the far end, by the window. “You and Beau can sit there.” I watched as her eyes lit up, a thought popping up in her pretty head, and she turned back to look at her bull rider. “Mase, I think we need to invest in a bigger dining room table.”

“Pardon?” he asked, raising a brow, closing the distance between them.

“You know, for when the rest of the cowboys finally fall in love.”

Mason’s eyes flicked up from his face, finding mine. “Love, huh?”

I pressed my lips together, Mason’s words from my first morning here echoing in my head.

Had Beau told them about us?

Did Mason still hate me?

Did Denver still want to me to let Beau go?

My gut twisted, the knife sinking deeper by the second, and when the bull rider pulled his eyes from mine, I felt like I could breathe again. He murmured something to Harmony, and I took that as my sign to head to my seat, scrunching my nose at little NJ on the way. She waved her hands and babbled, sending my heart into overdrive.

Six years ago, I wanted children more than anything else in the world, but when I lost Beau, that desire faded away. It wasn’t until last Christmas at Harris’ place that I’d finally came to terms that children weren’t in the cards for me. Even if I had met someone else, I wouldn’t—Beau was the only man I wanted children with.

That would never change.

At that moment, the man himself walked into the dining room, his father behind him. Beau’s blues were on me, pinning me in place, and I reached out for the back of my chair for support, my knees turning into jelly. His jaw was tight, his brow furrowed, his beautiful mouth set into a firm line that made my core clench. He held my eyes until he was in front of NJ’s highchair. Then, he turned his attention to the little girl, that firm line transforming into a miraculous smile that had my ovaries crying out shamelessly. I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry as he got down on his haunches, getting eye level with the child and poking her gently on her button nose.

Yeah, I still wanted children with Beau.

This was a different kind of torture entirely.

All thoughts of babies and happy-ever-afters with my cowboy vanished as Denver cleared his throat, his gray eyes finding mine. “Let’s take a seat everyone. We have a lot to discuss.”

Everyone took their seats, Mags coming into the room last, taking the seat directly across from me. I was grateful to Jigs for suggesting we eat first.

“I don’t know about anyone else at this damn table, but I’m due for a hot meal,” the old cowboy noted, ending the awkward silence.

All too soon, the meal was done, everyone’s plates empty, and while the conversations had been warm, everyone could feel the cold darkness lingering in the room—because of me.

“Abbie.”

Twisting my neck, I found Beau staring at me, the blue flame within his eyes bright, ready to burn it all to the ground. “Yes?” I whispered.

He slipped his hand into mine underneath the table, our fingers weaving together tightly. “It’s time,” he told me, not saying anything else.

Our silence led to me noticing the silence across the entire table, and suddenly, I could feel all their eyes on me. I looked out to each to them. Mags was sitting back in his chair, his arms folded over his thick, faded black work shirt, his long dark hair stopping just past his shoulders, making him look like a wild man. The short beard only added to his wildness, but it did nothing to hide the pain painted all over him. His dark eyes were on me and with a simple nod, I took that as permission to look at Lawson, who sat beside him. Lawson was different than his twin, and not everyone would be able to tell—at least, not at first. Lawson was rough around the edges. His brother, Lance, had his own set of demons, but there was a darkness in Lawson that made him stand out next to his brother.

On the other side of him was Valerie, whose green eyes were filled with patience and kindness. At the end of the table was Denver, who was leaning back in his seat, one elbow resting on the armrest as he stroked his dark beard, waiting. Across from Valerie was Mason, who wasn’t looking at me, but at my cowboy. Harmony was beside him, and she gave me a small warm smile before mouthing, “It’s okay.”

My throat thickened by the time my eyes landed on Jigs, but my mouth still moved, exposing myself.

“I don’t know how—I don’t know what—” I sucked in a breath, shaking my head as emotions slammed into me.

Beau’s hand cupped my face then. “Eyes on me,” he said softly.

“Beau, I don’t—I don’t…What the hell am I supposed to say or do here?” I asked, the heavy weight of panic settling on my shoulders as fear slithered at my feet underneath the table, slowly making its way up my legs, up my spine. Goosebumps scattered along my arms then.

“Just start from the beginning, Wildflower. That’s all you have to do,” Beau encouraged, his thumb brushing away the stray tear.

I nodded.

The beginning.

Okay.

I could…I could do that.

Okay.

I took a long breath, releasing the air slowly before diving into the worst night of my life.

Hayden, CO. Six Years Ago.

“Beau,” I laughed into the phone, making my way down the cereal aisle in Hayden Grocery. “We don’t need five boxes of chocolate cereal in the bunkhouse. Denver would kick me out.”

“Nah,” my cowboy replied confidently. “I wouldn’t let him.”

I rolled my eyes and stopped in front of the wall of sugary cereal everyone knew was no good, but you still bought it anyways. It was simple and tasted good. Was it healthy? Nope, and no matter how many times I tried to tell Beau that, he didn’t listen.

“Look, someone has been fucking eating my cereal, and I need a stash.”

I grabbed two boxes of his favorite and moved along. “Sounds like Denver needs to have a cereal meeting with his cowboys.”

“Denver has other shit on his mind,” Beau sighed. “Sure as hell doesn’t need to be worried about the bunkhouse food crisis.”

Another laugh escaped me. “I wouldn’t call that a crisis.”

“Wildflower, for once, take your man’s side,” he snapped, his voice light—happy.

“I’ll always take your side,” I said softly, grabbing some milk. “Is there anything else you need?”

“Just you, Abbie.”

“Alright, I’m heading to checkout, and I’ll be out there in a bit,” I promised, turning the shopping cart around.

“I love you, baby.”

Heat tinted my cheeks as I looked up to the ceiling, silently thanking the Big Man upstairs for blessing me with this cowboy. I smiled as I said it back, hanging up the phone. The sooner I paid for all this junk, the sooner I got to see him. I’d taken my last final earlier this morning, and after spending the afternoon with my friends in the city, I drove back home to spend the weekend with Beau.

I would be graduating at the end of the summer, and then, Beau and I could officially start house hunting. We’d already found an older home on the north side of Denver, but it needed a lot of work, and I wasn’t sure we’d have the time for that.

After checking out, I returned the cart, grabbed the four bags, and headed out into the parking lot. The moon was high, and down the street, I could hear the music playing from the bar. I smiled, knowing that tomorrow morning, Beau would drive me back into town for some of Miriam’s coffee.

I hummed a soft tune as I loaded the bags into the trunk, tucking them beside my old suitcase.

The last thing I expected was to have a hand cover my mouth from behind after I shut my trunk.

I cried out into the stranger’s sweaty palm as their other arm wrapped around my mid-section, dragging me back. I threw my arms out and then brought both of my elbows back, hitting my attacker in the sides. They grunted, and the hand fell away from my mouth.

I gasped for air and cried out for help. Then, two more men emerged from the shadows, coming straight for me. They were dressed in all black, masks covering their face, their guns raised at me—not at my attacker. I froze.

They weren’t law enforcement, but they sure as hell moved like it.

“Let’s go,” the one on the right commanded as the man behind me covered my mouth again, pinning my arms down with his other arm.

I felt his hot breath against my ear. “Try that shit again, and I’ll fucking kill you, bitch.”

My blood turned to ice as they forced me into the dark alley, dragging me all the way back by the dumpster. Once we were close enough to the corner, the man shoved me forward, and I fell onto the ground. I twisted and scrambled back, going until I couldn’t. I’d been cornered, and the three masked men crowded me. The one in the middle—the one who attacked me first—didn’t pull out a gun. Instead, he stared down at me, and even through I couldn’t see his eyes behind the mask, I could feel them. The other two men held a powerful stance, guns pointed at me.

“You make a single fucking sound, they get to shoot you until I say stop,” the one in the middle said.

I nodded rapidly.

Bile rose up to the throat as my imagination ran wild, picturing all the things that were about to happen to me. This was it.

I was dying tonight.

“Now, you’re going to fucking listen and listen good. Nod if you understand,” the man clipped.

Another rapid nod.

The middle man took another step closer, and I pulled my knees up, chest heaving. If I was dying tonight, there was no way in hell I wasn’t going without a fight. Suddenly, I had a new goal, one I’d never thought I would have to make.

The goal: bite that fucker’s ear off if he attacks me again.

He lowered himself to his haunches in front of me. “You see these guys behind me?”

I gave him another nod to keep him happy.

“These are going to be the men who kill Beau Marks if you don’t do what I tell you to do.”

My world nearly stopped, dread spilling into my bloodstream. All I saw was Beau, and slowly, carefully, I looked at the two men, still in the same position. Deep down, I knew they were professionals. They hadn’t said a word since we came into the alley; they seemed to follow the middle guy’s instruction and, based on their stances, I would guess they had a military or law enforcement background.

“Abbie,” the man clipped.

Shit. He knew my name too.

My gaze met his, and I nodded again, hot tears sliding down my cheeks now.

Questions—hundreds if not thousands—were firing off in my brain.

Who were these men?

How did they know Beau?

Did Hallow Ranch have something to do with this?

What did they want with Beau?

Had Denver done something? Or worse—what old enemies did John Langston still have hiding in the shadows?

“You’re going to leave that cowboy, do you understand me?” the man instructed, pointing at me. “You’re going to leave Hallow Ranch for good.”

I jerked back, eyes wide.

“You don’t, Beau Marks dies.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “These men don’t fuck around, Abbie. They’ll kill him before he even realizes they're there.”

My heart was about to burst out of my chest, the beat of it drumming in my ears now.

He leaned forward, getting right in my space. It was too dark for me to see his eyes, but oh, I wished I could. A man’s eyes told you everything you needed to know.

“You have until the end of the month to leave him. You understand me?”

Before I could stop it, the question flew out from my mouth. “Who are you?”

The last word wasn’t even off my tongue when the back of his hand connected with my cheek, the sheer force of his hit snapping my head to the side. Pain radiated through my cheek, a sharp sting lingering as I slowly looked back at him. His shoulders moved with every harsh breath he took.

“Fuckin’ told you to stay quiet. You need to listen,” he barked, making me jump.

I nodded again, bringing my hand up to my cheek, praying to God it wouldn’t bruise.

In a flash, the man’s hand was around my throat, holding my head against the rough brick. “You have until the end of the month. Do I make myself crystal clear?”