Chapter 16 #2
“Fuck that stupid bastard. I told Hannah she couldn’t keep it. I warned her. I’m not paying to feed this harlot’s baby. You can find it a home or leave it in the woods for wild animals to tear apart, for all I care. Noisy fucking nuisance. That’s all babies are.”
Fuck, this jackass is cracked. Eve is his granddaughter. In fact, he’s the only grandparent Eve has. Not that I’d ever let this fucker anywhere near her.
I glance at Hannah, praying she’s able to stay relatively calm. I don’t want her accidentally getting shot. The way Vanguard is waving his gun around makes me nervous. He’s a loose cannon.
Where the hell is he planning to take her? I don’t see his truck or any other vehicle around. And then it dawns on me. He put something in the road to blow out my tire. He knew I would end up pulling over. He was waiting for us.
It’s going to be at least ten minutes before my brothers arrive. I left my phone in the truck. I’m going to have to diffuse this situation myself.
“It’s cruel to separate a mother from her baby, Presley,” I tell him. Mostly, I want to keep him talking.
He shakes the gun again and aims it at me this time.
Good. That’s better. I’d much rather he point that fucking weapon my direction.
“Shut the fuck up, you dickwad. I told her she couldn’t keep the baby.
She knew. It’s not my fault she spread her legs for my son.
God is going to punish her for her slutty ways.
One of her punishments is that she will never see that stupid screaming baby ever again. ”
Eve is getting louder. It breaks my heart, but I need to ignore her cries and get my wife back. And hope to fuck no one comes around the bend and rear-ends my truck in the meantime.
I tell myself Eve is safe in the middle of the truck. She’s secure in her car seat. Even if someone hits my truck, she should be fine.
Hannah is being so brave. She’s stiff, but she’s not fighting him. Good. That would only make things worse. I know she’s not resigned to her situation. I can see the fight in her wide eyes. Those same eyes are also pleading with me.
I’m going to get you out of this, honey. I promise . I wish I could tell her out loud, but I can’t take that risk.
“It’s not Hannah’s fault that your son took advantage of her, and you know it, Presley.
She’s innocent. So is her baby. Let her go so she can live her life and raise her child.
” I’m not going to give Vanguard enough information to even know the baby is a girl.
He’ll never earn the right to see or touch her.
He’s dead to Eve. He doesn’t deserve to utter her name.
“Not a fucking chance. What do you want with a stupid harlot like this slut anyway? Find yourself a city girl. In fact, why did you fucking Gallants come back, anyway? Didn’t you get the hint when your place burned down? No one wants you in these parts.”
“Gallant Mountain is our home, Presley. We live here. We’re not leaving for any reason. If you or anyone else has plans to chase us off, you will not win, and you will get caught trying. Might want to spread that warning around to your friends.” I’m rambling now. Buying time.
I know for a fact that most of the people living in this area appreciate us.
For one thing, we spend our money here, which helps the local economy.
For another thing, we’re able to provide expertise when needed.
On more than one occasion, we’ve helped a business owner solve a technical issue.
Very few people are snubbing their noses at us, as Vanguard is suggesting. He’s wrong.
“Shut the fuck up!” Vanguard screams. “Stupid city boy. Think you know better than anyone else. Well, you don’t.
You don’t make the laws. We make our own laws around here, and that includes grown-ups making decisions for their offspring.
Richard Sharp sold his daughter to me, and now she’s fucking mine.
So get the fuck out of here and forget about her. ”
Presley steps off the road and into the tree line. He’s squeezing Hannah around the neck so tight that she’s having to hold on to his forearm, and her face is growing red. She’s not getting enough oxygen.
The sound of an engine coming up from behind me scares the fuck out of me.
Please don’t hit my truck . I twist around at the last second, surprised to see the sheriff’s vehicle coming around the bend.
Luckily, he’s not moving so fast that he can’t stop.
He turns the wheel, causing his car to swerve into the other lane, and squeals to a stop.
I don’t need to explain myself. He can already see Vanguard holding my wife at gunpoint. I’m fucking grateful that he headed up this way after we left his office.
Sherman is out of the vehicle, gun drawn, in seconds. He’s hunched behind his open door. “Put the gun down, Presley! I know you don’t want to hurt anyone,” he shouts.
Vanguard looks a bit unnerved by the sheriff’s arrival, but he doesn’t back down. He grips my wife tighter and continues backing up. He must have his own truck parked not far away. Now that I realize he set me up to blow a tire right here, I’m certain he parked nearby.
“Whose side are you on, Sheriff? Don’t tell me you support these fucking Gallants returning to the area. Hoity-toity city boys. They need to learn that they don’t make the laws out here.”
“That’s true, Presley,” Sherman shouts. “ I make the laws, and you can’t kidnap a woman and force her to go with you against her will. Let her go. Then we can talk. If you feel you’ve been wronged, come to the station and file a complaint.”
I’m fucking grateful the sheriff is on our side. I was relieved when he took Hannah’s statement seriously and said he would look into it. He could have just as easily patronized Hannah and patted her on the head. After all, this small town is not exactly on the poster for progressive beliefs.
“I was just headed to your place to talk to you, in fact, Presley. Let Hannah go, and we can talk.”
“Fuck no. She’s mine. She’s coming with me. Girls can’t just run away from home because they don’t like the rules. They need to be dragged back and reminded of their place.”
“That’s ignorant, Presley. You sound like an old fool. You’re choking her. Let her go so we can talk.”
“No time to talk right now, Sheriff. Gotta get this wayward girl home. Come by in a few days. I’ll have my girl make us coffee.”
Jesus, he sounds like a fucking idiot. Vanguard is a level of backwardness that isn’t seen very often, even out here in this area of the mountains.
Of course, so was Richard Sharp. After all, he sold his eldest daughter to this old fart and then used his younger daughter, Rebekah, as his own personal slave, too.
The sheriff keeps trying to negotiate with Vanguard. While the asshole is focused on Sherman, I ease off the shoulder and into the woods.
Hannah follows me with her gaze. She even gives me a slight nod, so I know she’s paying attention.
I quickly drop lower and move along the brush, hoping to come up behind Vanguard before he notices I’m missing. I move as fast as I can, grateful that Sherman keeps babbling nonsense. The man is buying me time.
Finally, I’m able to climb up the embankment behind Vanguard. I’m not quiet about it, but Sherman keeps a running dialogue that’s drowning out the sound of breaking twigs and crunching leaves.
I inch up behind the motherfucker who has dared to touch my wife.
Vanguard seems to suddenly realize I’m gone and jerks his gaze all around the area in front of him. The moment he swings his gun out in an arc, I close the distance, lift my arm, and slam my wrist down on Vanguard’s shoulder.
The force is so powerful that he drops the gun. Before he can turn around to face his attacker, I twist his arm painfully behind him. Gripping him tight, I hiss into his ear. “Let my wife go, motherfucker.” I kick the backs of his knees at the same time.
Vanguard finally releases Hannah as he drops onto his knees.
With my free hand, I reach out to catch my wife and keep her from falling as she reaches for her neck. She’s gasping for air as I tuck her behind me.
Sheriff Sherman rushes forward. He’s got his gun held up, but he’s also shouting orders into his phone, calling for backup.
Seems a little late for that now, but at least he’ll have someone to help haul this jackass into jail.
The moment Sherman has Vanguard cuffed and pinned to the ground, I spin around and catch my wife. She’s sobbing, but she doesn’t go limp against me. She shoves at me. “I need to get to Eve.”
I sweep her into my arms and run toward the truck.