Chapter 27
Rowan still flinched when Bubba ran by him, charging the men he thought were trying to steal his jerky.
Granger, along with Tristan and Kord, was slowly rounding up the men who were either unconscious or injured on the ground and cuffing them.
The deputies had appeared just as Olivia yanked her high heeled shoe out of the guy’s chest. They’d cringed and even Tristan turned a little green— apparently that was a bit much, even for a former assassin.
Now the only threat remaining was Ingram.
Rowan and his brothers stepped to Ingram’s back.
Gator had gently stepped between Lydia and Sue Ellen to face Ingram.
However, if Rowan had to wager, he would bet Ingram was going to have a coronary before anyone could punch him.
His face was redder than the thin line of blood seeping from the wound Sue Ellen had given him.
Rowan caught Nell’s eye and she shook her head.
She knew what he was asking—did she need him to step in?
Rowan and his brothers would hang back for now.
Sue Ellen was gaining confidence and courage as she stood up for herself.
If any man was going to take Ingram out, it would be Gator.
Unless, Ingram reached for Nell. Then Rowan’s knife was at the ready.
“Look at you,” Ingram sneered at Sue Ellen. “Whoring it with this redneck. You’re pathetic. You’re stupid. Fat. You can’t even get me off anymore. No wonder you have to settle for this imbecile.”
“Gator is not an imbecile! He’s smart, dedicated to conservation, listens to me, treats me with respect, and makes me feel so valued. Plus, he’s a better father to my children than you ever were!” Sue Ellen yelled, shaking the knife at Ingram.
Ingram’s face darkened even further. He reached out, grabbing Sue Ellen’s wrist so hard she screamed in pain, and pulled the knife from her grip as he slapped her hard across the face with his other hand.
Everyone moved at once, but it was Nell’s foot connecting with Ingram’s balls and Gator’s fist shattering Ingram’s jaw that landed first.
Rowan and his brothers jumped back as Ingram dropped to the ground writhing in pain.
“My father, the mayor, and my cousin, the sheriff, will have both of your heads for this!” Ingram yelled through the pain at Gator and Nell.
“Damn it, I’m out of cuffs,” Granger muttered. “Kord, can you run back and get me another pair?”
Ingram’s eyes went wide with surprise. It was as if he just realized he was going to be arrested for this.
His sense of entitlement was astounding.
Ingram shot up from where he was kneeling on the ground.
His shoulder slammed into Gator’s midsection.
Gator grunted, but didn’t fall backward.
Instead, he grabbed Ingram’s waistband at the small of his back with one hand and Ingram’s shoulder with the other.
Gator gave a slight grunt of effort as he picked Ingram up and literally tossed the man over his shoulder.
Ingram landed on his back, and the whoosh of air leaving his lungs left him gasping for breath.
Gator turned, grabbed Ingram by the front of his shirt, and yanked him up so that his face was only inches from Gator’s.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t properly introduce myself.
My name is George Mercer, the fifth, and my father, the governor, will definitely have something to say about you and your family.
Especially how you abused the woman and children I love, while your family hid the abuse and covered up your crimes. ”
Rowan blinked and looked at his brothers. They all seemed surprised by this revelation, but none of the locals did. Sue Ellen gasped. Gator dropped his hold on Ingram and turned to her with a worried look.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” Gator, or George, said as he cautiously stepped closer to Sue Ellen.
“You love me? You love my kids?” Sue Ellen asked through tears.
Gator smiled so widely that pure joy seemed to radiate from him. It was clear he thought she’d be upset about the political relations he had failed to mention. “Yes, Ellie. I love you and I love your kids as if they were my own.”
Ingram was sputtering as Granger cuffed him.
The sound of cameras snapping pictures filled the area as Granger lifted Ingram up in cuffs and hauled him away. “What a great tour. It even ended in a pirate battle, although the costumes need work.”
Rowan turned to see Skeeter and Mary rushing forward from the group of tourists.
“I live-streamed it. Someone said that guy’s dad is a mayor,” a teenager said, pointing to his phone in which he was still live-streaming.
“Yes,” Nell said, stepping forward. “That man, being arrested for assaulting his former wife, is Judge Ingram Faust of Holland Springs. And his father is Mayor Graham Faust of Holland Springs. This gentleman, Gator Mercer, saved my sister from her abusive ex-husband.”
“That was real?” the teenager asked.
Nell nodded, but then sucked in her breath and grabbed Rowan’s arm as Gator dipped Sue Ellen back and kissed her. “I love you, Ellie.”
“I love you too, George. Although Gator fits you better. Is it okay if I still call you that?”
Gator responded with another dipping kiss as the crowd all cheered.
“Mom?” James Avery's worried voice cut through the cheering.
Rowan instantly shoved the camera live streaming down.
“Kids,” he whispered and the teen took the hint and stopped recording as James Avery and Tally ran forward, pulling Hunter with them.
Directly behind them were Landry Langston and all the kids.
Lacy and Leah armed with a sword and a dagger, respectively.
“Darn. We missed it,” Lacy muttered. “Whoa, Gator is kissing Miss Sue Ellen.”
Gator broke the kiss as he dropped to his knees to greet James Avery and Tally while Skeeter and Mary herded the tourists from the area.
James Avery’s eyes went right to the red mark on his mother’s cheek. His eyes narrowed and filled with tears as he launched himself at Gator. “You said you wouldn’t hurt my mom!” His little fists punched Gator’s chest and Gator just took it.
“James!” Sue Ellen cried out, but Gator shook his head.
“I kept my promise to you and your mother. The man who left that mark on her face just left with a broken jaw.”
James Avery’s jaw wobbled as he stopped hitting Gator and spun around. “My dad is here?” he asked, full of fear.
“Not anymore,” Gator reassured him. “Your mother, your aunt, and I took care of him. He will never hurt you again.” This time James Avery launched himself into Gator’s arms to hug him.
He tucked his head in the crook of Gator’s neck and cried.
Gator rubbed his back gently as Sue Ellen hugged Tally to her.
“I love you, Mr. Gator,” James Avery whispered.
“I love you too, Jamie. Can I ask you a question, and I want you to be honest with me?” James leaned back and waited. “How would you feel if I asked your mom to marry me?”
“Would that make you our new dad?” James asked.
Rowan watched Sue Ellen go absolutely still. Tally wiggled free from her mother and jumped at Gator. “I want you to be my daddy!”
Gator’s eyes misted up, but he kept his gaze locked on James. “I can be your stepdad, or I can just stay Mr. Gator. How do you feel about it, Jamie?”
James’s face lit up with such happiness that it was clear what his answer was, but then he looked at his mother. “But does Mommy want to marry you?”
“I’ll take her out on a romantic date and ask her soon. But I wasn’t going to do that without asking you two first.”
James threw his arms around Gator’s neck. “Yes! I want you to marry my mommy. You make her smile again.”
Tally giggled and threw her arms around Gator’s neck too.
“Well,” Nellie said, wiping tears from her cheeks. “We girls have a lot to talk about at our party. Maybe you guys can take James, and the girls will take Tally for a little celebration? Then we can meet up at Harper’s for dinner?”
“The guys can come back to our house,” Ryker suggested as the number of people had ballooned. The entire Faulkner family, Skeeter, Turtle, Reverend Winston, the entire sheriff’s department, and the Townsends were all there now.
“And the ladies can take the bar,” Harper called out. “This way, ladies!”
Nell turned to Rowan and he kissed her the second he could. “I love you. Go have fun,” he told her.
Nell kissed him again and gave him a saucy wink. “I love you too.”
The town separated and Rowan filled his car with people to drive out to Ryker’s. They all headed to the back patio where Ryker had an outdoor bar. Beers and bourbon were poured as the guys all found seats or sat on the steps.
“I guess it’s a good thing I have the addition to your house drawn up,” Ridge Faulkner said, holding out his phone for Gator to look at.
Gator angled the phone for James to see it. “Jamie, this added room here will be yours. What do you think?”
“Yay!” James called out as Damon swooped him up onto his knee and pretended he was on a motorcycle, much to James’s delight.
“How are you going to propose?” Turtle asked the question everyone was wondering.
“I was hoping I could do it on Skeeter’s ship.”
“Of course!” Skeeter told him. “I’m pretty good at decorating, but I might need some help.”
“We can help,” Landry said, nodding to his boys.
“Us too,” Rowan told him.
They talked and planned it out for the next two hours until Gator’s phone ringing interrupted them.
“It’s my dad,” Gator said, the smile dropping from his face as he stared at the caller ID.
“He probably saw the livestream,” Skeeter told him.
“Better get his over with. I’m sure I embarrassed the office of the governor.” Gator pressed the answer button. “Hi, Dad.” Gator paused. “You’re in Shadows Landing? With Mom?” He paused again. “I’m at Ryker’s house,” he said into the phone before giving his father the address and hanging up.