Chapter 8
Freya
Iborrowed Connor's truck to run some errands in town, but all the while I've been feeling as if someone is watching me. After an hour of that constant feeling, I decide to go to Connor, who is working at the park ranger's station today.
As soon as I park at the station a black luxury car rushes in, and my father and three brothers run out of the car. I start screaming for help before they get to me, but no one comes out of the station. I realize that perhaps I'm meant to face this by myself without my fiancé's help.
I stand my ground in front of the ranger's station and try to brace myself for what is coming. My family is not above using physical force to get me to do their bidding.
"Freya! You are coming back home with us." My dad says.
"I'm not going back there, and you can't make me." I scream at them, hoping someone hears me.
"We'll drag you back if we have to, Freya." One of my brothers says.
Before I know it, my father is grabbing me by the arm and pulling me towards the car. I struggle and scream as loud as I can. I get a couple of kicks in, but now a couple of them have me restrained. Suddenly, I hear a gun shot. My man has a shotgun and is pointing it at my family.
"Connor, help me."
I scream and keep struggling as best as I can. Connor's face goes red with fury, and my family starts to pull me back towards the car. Two more men join Connor and I can't think of their names right now for the life of me.
"Let. Her. Go."
"She's my daughter, and she's coming with me."
"Freya is old enough to make her own decisions, and she chose to come here. I'm not going to ask again. Let. Her. Go."
"What are you going to do, shoot me? Who are you to my daughter?"
"I'm her future husband. Connor Michaelson."
"Is this why you left us, Freya? To come live in the wilderness with a brute like this?"
"Dad, just let me go. I want to be here. I'm going to marry him."
As Connor and his friends come closer, I can see my family's fear on their faces. They don't know what to do. They obviously didn't come prepared for a fight like this.
"Dad, you're hurting me."
A shot almost hits my dad on the foot, and my family realizes that Connor and his buddies are not playing a game here. They mean business.
"What do you think you can offer my daughter, Michaelson? She's got everything she needs if she stays with her family. I protect what's mine."
"So do I."
"Dad, please. I'm where I need to be. I don't want to accept those matches with your business partners. I found someone to love, and I want to spend the rest of my life with him."
"Sweetheart, you're going to suffer in this sad little town. Do what I tell you and come back with us."
"I don't know what part of no you didn't understand Mr. Ward, but she's said it out loud for you to hear and comprehend. She wants to stay here in Hunter's Peak with me. Now get your hands off her and step back."
I hear more rifles being cocked and I realize we are surrounded by men with guns. I didn't know being a park ranger came with such violence, but I'm glad for it. I feel my dad's grip on me loosen, and I try to move forward, but my brother still has me in his grip.
"Jackson, let me go."
All my brother's faces show anger and frustration that they've been outnumbered and outgunned. Outclassed, really if you think about it. This is not a game, though. My life is at stake. Connor walks forward, pointing his rifle towards my brother.
"If you've hurt her, I'll make you pay, future brother in law."
I pull against Jackson's grip and finally manage to get loose. I run towards Connor and stand behind him for protection.
"I suggest you gentlemen leave the same way you came. You have no business in Hunter's Peak."
I'm pretty sure my legs are about to fail me, when my family finally backs off and gets into their fancy car. They back up and turn around, and leave us in the dust. When Connor turns around, he catches me before I fall and pass out.