Chapter Nine
When the sun came up, Ursala opened her eyes.
She felt warm and safe. It was almost a shock to her system as she had been neither in so long that it almost felt alien.
Then a scent washed over her, a scent from the past. She took a deep breath and smiled.
He always smelled like he’d just come in from the woods.
Could it be that she was really with him? Had that sexy dream been real? It couldn’t be true as she’d fantasized about him many times over the years. No one had ever made her body sing like Nolan did.
This whole lonely realization had happened before.
She would awake and in her twilight sleep, believing he was next to her.
Then an hour later when she woke up for the day, she would see that she had imagined it.
..again. So she now laid here and allowed the dream to fade again.
It was a habit, day after day, week after week. month after month.
Just lay there in bed and cry silent tears. Having to get used to the fact that she had lost him...All over again.
She felt his warmth along her back and closed her eyes.
Finally, she turned her head and stared at the man behind her in wonder.
She had dreamed of this day for a very long time and now it was happening.
Then the events of the day before came to her mind, the wreck and Nolan coming to get her.
Then he carried her to his room... She gasped a little.
The man beside her heard her and slowly opened his eyes. Then he smiled. He took in the look of wonder on her face. “Good morning, woman,” Crank greeted her softly.
Ursala reached her hand out to touch him, as if she didn’t believe he was here, in person. When she touched his cheek she had to close her eyes and just feel the relief that washed over her. “You’re real, you’re really here, aren’t you?”
Crank closed his eyes slowly then he opened them again and gazed into eyes that had haunted his dreams for a long time.
“Yeah baby, I’m real and I’m right here beside you where I should have been all along.
” He leaned forward and he gently kissed her lips.
“And now that I've found you again, nothing and no one will ever tear us apart again.”
“Good.” She trembled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, “Lord, I have missed you.”
Crank groaned and kissed her again. He deepened the kiss and it lasted until they both were breathless. He pulled back and gulped air into his lungs. “Damn woman, I love you.”
“I love you too,” she whispered. “I’ve dreamed of this day for so long. I can’t believe it finally came!”
“Believe it, woman,” Crank replied. “You are right back where you always should have been. In my arms and in my life. You will not be going anywhere.”
Ursala sighed and looking him in the eyes she whispered, “I’m not going anywhere big guy. I only ran the first time because your dad was insane. I couldn’t risk the baby and I thought he was mad enough to kill me.”
Crank nodded. “Yeah, I get that but he will never separate us again, so I hope you know you’re stuck with me now.”
She gave him a wicked smile and wiggled closer to him. “You know I don’t think you realize exactly what that means, not yet. But you will. I’m sticking to you like white on rice. Just keep looking behind you or next to you from now on darlin’ and you’ll find me.”
“Good, I can’t wait.” Crank whispered. “You’ve been haunting me for so long it’ll be ok with me to finally see you right here with me.
I can’t wait to relearn everything I ever knew about you.
Last night was just the beginning of my exploration.
And I can’t wait to finally get to know our daughter. I’ve missed so much already.”
Ursala closed her eyes and she felt the misery of all that he had missed.
When she opened them again, she spoke softly, “I tried to raise her so you could be proud of her. She’s a wonderful kid.
She’s got so much of you inside her that even if I’d wanted to, I could never forget you.
Just give her a chance. She’s got your stubborn nature and her own opinion just like you. ”
“I hope she’ll give me a chance too,” Crank whispered, part in fear, part in relief. “I know I’m not an easy man to live with but I hope she’ll give me the chance to be her dad.”
A quiet filled the room as they simply laid there and enjoyed the peace together.
“I wish I would have remembered the Crescent Moon Motel,” Crank said with regret in his voice.
Looking up at him, she sighed. “If you never saw my note, then how would you know to go there?”
“My father took your note.”
“Yes, he did,” she replied. “A man showed up at the motel 2 days later. He must have figured it out. He sent the guy to kill me.”
With a growl, Crank tightened his arms around her.
She went on, “Luckily, I had gone out to the corner store to get some juice. I saw him at my room door and then I took off. I went to a park and waited a few hours before coming back. When I did...I packed up and left town for good. At the time, nothing was more important than saving our baby.”
Crank closed his eyes again then he opened them and looked at her again. “It must have been hell, baby.”
Nodding, she replied, “Yes, it was. I couldn’t go to my family.
They would have been dragged into it. The day I had the baby was the hardest. I was so happy she was born safely and healthy.
But at the same time...You weren’t there to see her.
I had no one except the nurses to share my joy.
It was the happiest, saddest day of my life. ”
Crank stared at her with actual tears in his eyes. “That would be yesterday for me, the happiest, saddest day of my life. The day I knew I had a daughter and the day I realized I’d lost out on her entire life.”
Resting her forehead against his, she whispered, “Well, we are together now and I’m grateful for that.”
“Me too, after I destroy my father, we can get married and be a family. Because you were right.”
She stared at him. “I was? What was I right about?”
“About the notebook. I know that book is old but I began pulling strings I found and they led to another string which led to another string. My dad is in this mess right to the top of his head. Not only that but he’s dragged my two brothers into it as well.
The things in there were only the tip of the iceberg I’m afraid.
I’ve only gotten started with this and I found a slimy mess. ”
Ursala nodded. “His men have found us more often than is natural over the years. They almost caught us a few times. Then I figured out how to spot them before they could get close enough to snatch us. I had to sleep with one eye open."
Crank flopped back on his back and gathered her into his arms. “Well, you won’t have to live like that anymore. Thanks to a luscious brownie.”
She laid her head on his chest and moved around until his heart was pounding in her ear.
“It was so hard sometimes. There were days when I couldn’t let Reno be alone for even a moment because I was afraid she might get snatched away from me.
God, I was afraid for her. We never stayed in one place for long. We lived like hobos all the time.”
Crank listened to her words and the rage he felt for his father grew even stronger.
No one should have to live the life she had.
He would finally put a stop to this madness and bring his father and all that he’d built.
.. down. “You won’t ever have to look over your shoulder again,” he vowed softly.
“I’ll make sure both you and Reno are safe. ”
Ursala sighed. “That’s going to take some getting used to, I hope you realize that.”
Crank nodded. “Yeah, I realize that. Just remember that you are back where you belong.” He turned to look at her. He tipped her face up to his, “You got me now and every man here to stand with you. You and Reno will never be alone again.”
Ursala closed her eyes and released a breath. “That sounds so good, baby,” she whispered. “I will have a chance to live a normal life and so will Reno.”
“And it is going to be a happy life. I’m sorta set in my ways and all, but I intend to shower you with wonderful days and nights.
And this time I won’t stop until you two are safe forever.
My father will stand and be judged as will my brothers.
” He hugged her closer for a moment then he loosened his hold and told her, “I need to figure out all his secrets. I need to expose him to the whole world, then I’m going to strike the match and set fire to his sins. ”
“Good and I'll help you light that match,” Ursala snapped.