12. Stella
Chapter 12
Stella
“Nanny T, can you help us?” I asked.
I tried to lift the box of diapers up on the counter while holding onto the baby and not dropping him or the other stuff pressed between my bad arm and my body. This one-handed mess was killing me.
“Stella, how are you feeling? Is the baby doing well?” she asked as she set the box of diapers on the counter for me.
I grunted as I opened my arm and let the other things drop to the counter.
“We’re all good. I feel better. I’m getting there, at least. He’s doing awesome. Eating and pooping like a champ.” I snickered.
“Well now, that’s two things all babies do well.” She chuckled as she rang up my things. “Any luck finding Tracey a new truck?”
I made a face at her and nodded. “Yes, ma’am, it was delivered to the house yesterday. It’s hidden in the old barn. I want to surprise him with it, but only once his leg is healed. The damn fool would be trying to drive it now if I didn’t.” She smiled. I shifted the baby to lay against my shoulder when he started fussing.
“I’m glad that’s all squared away. I hope there’ll be no more of those episodes in the future.” She gave me the look, and I shook my head.
“No, ma’am, I promised Daddy. Well, I promised to never do that to Trace’s truck again. All other jerks are fair game. I have a reputation, you know.”
“Oh, Stella…” She chuckled and shook her head. “Your total is $74.11.” I pulled out the two $50 bills I’d slid in my pocket and handed them to her. Mrs. T only took cash, none of those card machines in her little corner store. That was alright with the locals. We loved this store. It was an icon of Burke. There were bigger stores and a Wal-Mart just up the road, but shopping here was comforting—familiar.
“Here’s your change, dear. Can you handle all of this?” she asked. I nodded. I held my bandaged hand out.
“Please slide those handles over my hand. I’ll carry them in my elbow. Do you have a bag big enough for this diaper box?”
“Hold on, I think I have one under here…” She ducked down and started digging under the cabinet. Townspeople always donated their bags from shopping to her. It helped keep down the costs she would incur having to buy them just to use. So there was no telling what she had under there. “Got one. It’s a sturdy bag, one of those reusable ones.” She got the big bag over the box and that too went on my arm. With my good arm holding the baby, I dragged the bags off the counter.
“Thanks, Nanny. See you later!”
“Have a good day, dear.” I was all smiles as I walked out of the store.
I looked at the road, and it was only then that I rethought my previous plan. I’d had Daddy drop me off and told him I’d walk back to the center. On a normal day that mile or so wouldn’t be an issue, but today…I really should have thought things through a little better. It was only about a block to the station. I could walk over and get a ride from one of the guys. Probably Derek, since his Jeep had a car seat in it already.
I checked for traffic and crossed the road. At least it wasn’t hotter than a whore’s vagina on Saturday night yet. The walk would do me and the baby some good. Fresh air healed the soul. I moved along with no problems until the baby started to fuss, again, then the smell hit me. I ain’t gonna lie, I gagged, as usual. This boy and his stinky butt smells.
Jesus, help a girl out.
I was almost to the station; I could change him there. I jostled the bags, grunting as they pinched my skin. I had to stop and let the bags rest on the sidewalk, while I held the baby and squatted. Jesus, take the wheel. I tried to stand and wobbled. The bags all hit the ground, and one of the diaper bag’s rings slipped off my arm.
“Dammit!” I squatted back down to try and get my hand back through it. The baby was protesting, he wanted his butt cleaned, and here I was wrestling with a damn bag. If I could just get my fingers to bend a little. I sighed and maneuvered my good hand around the baby, trying to wiggle my cell phone free. I got it just as I heard footsteps approaching.
“Here, let me help you,” a voice said from behind me.
“Thank—” When I turned to face the man, my heart leapt into my throat. I knew this guy’s face. His dark brown eyes bore into mine. For the first time in my life, I truly felt vulnerable. My thumb moved automatically over my screen to hit the emergency button. It went straight to the station. I could barely hear Anna answer as I started to speak.
“What do you want? Why—how are you here?” I moved back a step, the diaper bag half holding me in place since he still had a hold of it.
“I came to see you. Don’t you remember what I said the last time we were together?” he snarled.
I reacted to his threat when he moved closer. I kicked out, hitting him in the thigh. He took a stumbling step back.
“The police station is just up the street, you stupid piece of shit!”
“I’m going to kill you, slowly.” He moved closer. My heart was beating so hard my chest hurt. I had to protect this baby, no matter what.
“In your dreams, bozo. Fuck off before I have to beat you into submission—again.”
“You’re not so tough without your bat or that big meat head at your back, are you?”
Fucking hell.
“I’m not worried about me; I could beat your ass with my eyes closed.” The baby was crying even harder now. What should I do? What the fuck could I do? I was at a severe disadvantage. I couldn’t even reach for my goddamn gun because I was holding the baby. Why had I done this? Why had I put him in danger?
No, this was not my fault. I would not let this asswipe make me second guess myself.
He charged at me, with a crying baby in my arms! I spun, smacking him in the face with the bags hanging on my arm. His grunt as he hit the sidewalk made me grin. Jerk off! My cockiness cost me. He got up, and I didn’t see it until he hit my jaw, spinning me again. I hunched over, keeping the baby away from him. I carefully and quickly braced the baby against me with my bad arm, jerked up as his foot came at me, and dodged just in time.
I got in a lucky punch right to his nuts, or close enough that he cursed and dodged away. I was at a loss of what to do. I felt like I was spinning out of control. My head was buzzing, my stomach was churning, and all I could do was protect this baby in my arms.
“You stupid bitch!” As he spoke, his gun hand came up. I pulled my .45 from my back holster and fired off three rounds to his one. Fire burned through my shoulder, making me curse. The baby was screaming so loud now I couldn’t hear. I jerked up as he stumbled but bent over when he tried to hit me. I aimed for his legs, but dodging a foot coming at my face and bullets wasn’t that easy. I didn’t have a shot. I couldn’t do anything else, not while holding a screaming baby.
I did, however, lose my lunch. I was going to die while puking. Fabulous.
When a hand landed on my arm, I spun, trying to take his face off with the butt of the gun.
“Stel, it’s me. It’s me. Calm down.” Jacks stood there, murder on his face. “Where did he go?” I rasped out. My head was spinning. I needed to sit down. And I did, not that my body gave me a chance to actually do it. Nope, it took it upon itself to collapse onto the sidewalk. My knees were nothing but Jello.
“Hey, come on. You’re okay. Charlie and Lt. Dan went after him.”
“He tried to shoot me…” I sobbed. My eyes leaked whether I gave them permission to or not. He had hit me in some way or another. My shoulder was on fire, and I could feel warmth coating my shirt.
“Stella! Jesus. What the fuck happened?” Derek was at my side with a first aid kit. I sighed, but before I could say anything, another voice called out.
“Sissy! Sissy, what happened?” Carter was a little lopsided at first. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Then…nothing.
“Y’all, she’s fine, I assure you. The graze was small compared to what it could have been. It was about an inch thick. I got it cleaned, sewed up, and bandaged. Her hand is much better. It did get jostled in the fight—standoff, whatever it was. I removed the bandage, cleaned it, and rebandaged just her palm. She’ll have more movement now.”
“What about the baby?” I heard Dani Lynn’s voice.
“He’s fine. Not a scratch on him. He had a muddy hiney when he came in, and we took care of that too. He’s in the kitchen with Papa and Kaitlyn.”
“Well, that’s great, but I meant her baby. Jesus, that sounded bad. I should have said babies.” Dani Lynn sounded upset.
I groaned as I tried to sit up. It felt like my head had been used as a bowling ball. A hand took mine, and my eyes flew open. Trace. My sweet man was holding it to his lips. “You have to stop scaring me to death. The Reaper might take me next time.”
“It’s not my fault. He just popped up like a zit on picture day.” I rubbed my head, yelping when my fingers brushed my cheek. “That fucking bastard. I’m gonna kill him. He hit me while I couldn't defend myself. He shot me. The baby? Oh God, where’s the baby? Is Ethan all right?” I slid off the table, wobbled, and moved to the door, flinging it open. The crash against the wall wasn’t what stopped me. Nope, that was the blood-boiling pain that pierced me at the movement.
“Sissy!”
“Stella, calm down.” Shelby’s voice was lost when arms went around me so tight I couldn’t breathe. I swear my ribs squeaked in pure fiery pain under the pressure. The jerking only added to my pain, but I gritted my teeth, holding my arm gingerly as I wrapped them both around Carter.
“Can’t…breathe...” I wasn’t playing. I really couldn’t breathe. “Cart…”
“Carter, she’s turning blue, man, come on. Release her.” Trevor tugged him gently, and he released his grip enough that I could breathe at least. I held up a hand when he went to reach for me again. The kid was taller than me, but I just let him hang on for a minute longer. “Carter, hey, I’m alright. I think. Stop before you pop your niece or nephew’s comfy living space.”
He finally stepped back, his face red, lashes wet with tears. “When I find him.”
“Nope. That motherfucking dickless sack of horseshit is mine,” I snarled. “Mine!” I pointed to my brothers and the cops. “You hear me? I’ll have a warrant soon enough. I’m sure of it. If not, he’s still mine. Now, where’s my little man?” I shook my head. “Ethan, where is he? Is he okay—” I wobbled slightly. A strong arm went around me from behind.
Whoa. My head spun.
“He’s fine, princess.” Daddy came over and hugged me tight. He simply held me, and I let him.
“I’m okay, Daddy. He had an advantage,” I said, pulling back, “this time. Attacking me while I had an armful of baby. I’m gonna—Next time, I’m gonna cut his balls off and choke him with them.”
“She’s quite colorful, isn’t she?” a strange voice said from the crowd.
“Mister, you have no idea.”
A man came from the back of the waiting area, stopping beside Jacks and Charlie.
I narrowed my eyes. “And who the hell are you supposed to be?” He was decked out in cargo pants and a wife beater, with shades pushed up on the brim of a baseball cap, looking cocky. I felt Trace stiffen behind me.
“Jim Davenport,” he said, dipping his head.
“It’s all your fault!” It’s a good thing Trace was right there or he’d have never stopped me. That was the asshole who had put Trace and Chip in danger. They’d been called in to help his sorry ass.
“Stella!” Daddy’s booming voice sent a shiver of fear through me. I felt Trace list to the side and balanced myself to keep him up.
“Fuck. I’m sorry, baby. You okay?” Never mind the pain. I needed it to remind myself that I couldn’t kick this peckerhead’s ass yet. Give me a day or two. Then it was game the fuck on.
“I guess you’re upset with the way things went down. We are too; that’s why I’m here. I’ve been tracking Kurt since Ohio. Trace didn’t know I was coming. He figured out Kurt was coming, but not that I was on his ass. I do have a warrant for him.”
My body stiffened at that revelation. “You knew!” I turned, watching as Trace braced himself up on the wall.
“I wasn’t sure. That’s why I texted you earlier; we were worried he’d made his way here.”
I couldn’t deal with this shit right now. I turned and walked out of the room, making my way to the kitchen to find Ethan. I’d take him to the center and stay there for a while. If I didn’t, I might do something regrettable to my fiancé.