Chapter 52
I throw myself into Reid’s arms the second he walks into the main house at the ranch. We re-convened at the Andersen’s as command central. It was so generous of Liv’s parents to let us stay the night, since their house was so much closer to the bar.
We're blessedly alone, because I'm crying into Reid’s chest, soaking through the clean shirt his dad brought him. He's holding me like he’ll never let go, murmuring his love and apology into my hair. I pull back just enough to see his exhausted face.
“Why are you apologizing? You saved me.”
“Because I let him touch you. Hell, I wanted to have that asshole six feet underground before he could even lay eyes on you again. I’m so damn sorry for failing you, baby. Please forgive me.” His hands are shaking, from exhaustion or from emotion, I can’t tell.
I straighten my spine and look him dead in the eyes. “You listen to me Reid Andersen. You did not fail me. You have nothing to apologize for. I'll thank you for the rest of my life for believing me, lifting that pain off my shoulders, and defending my honor.”
I go up on my tip toes and punctuate every word with a sweet kiss. “I. Love. You. We will get through this. Whatever it takes, I can’t let you take the fall for this. I won’t.”
Reid leads me to the couch and settles me in his lap.
“Sugar, I accept full responsibility for what I did. I don’t care if I killed the motherfucker. I'd happily spend the rest of my life behind bars knowing you’re safe from him.”
I start to protest, but he interrupts. “The thought of only seeing you through glass is destroying me. But I'll accept whatever consequences they hit me with, and you won’t get involved, you hear?”
“Absolutely not! I won't—” I'm stopped by Reid’s warm hand covering my mouth.
“You will. The second you became mine this became my battle to fight. I take care of what's mine. And I accept the consequences of my actions.” He kisses my forehead and lifts me like a bride.
“What I will let you do is help me take a shower and wash last night off me.”
Wickedness in his eyes, he carries me to the shower, and we spend the next hour getting clean, dirty, and clean again.
It’s been three days since the incident. Perks of being a beloved member of a small town, James was able to pull some strings with the judge to get Reid bailed out quickly, and to get the proceedings started right away.
We're all sitting in the courtroom to hear the charges read against him, and for him to plead guilty or not guilty. Reid, James, their parents, and I have talked through every scenario, and they maintain that the best course of action is to plead guilty, take a plea bargain and avoid trial.
Reid’s goal is to keep me from having to testify about what Brett did to me all those years ago.
Little does he know, my goal is to keep him out of prison at any cost. Even if it means exposing my darkest secret.
The idea of Reid living in a prison cell, missing his family, and not seeing his horses makes me sick.
I can’t even consider the idea of not seeing him every day—not being able to go to his arms whenever I need his touch.
I'm bursting with pride as I gaze at Reid’s perfectly imperfect face. He doesn’t hide his scars anymore. I wouldn’t have blamed him if he felt the need to hide today, but he's sitting taller, stronger and more confident than I’ve ever seen him. I love this man more than I can ever express.
I look to the other side of the courtroom and am disgusted to see Brett playing the part of the victim and his Sheriff daddy sitting behind him with the entire police force backing them.
Greyson showed me the laundry list of sexual assaults Brett’s gotten away with over the years because as the Sheriff, his dad was able to sweep them under the rug.
Grey said he’d be taking care of that part of this ordeal.
I know nothing about law and order or blackmail, but Olivia insists her brother will handle it.
Hopefully, both Stevens senior and junior will fall from grace, and hit the ground hard.
Brett already took a beating from Reid. He's covered in lacerations and bruises.
His nose is splinted, and his eye sockets are black like a racoon.
I honestly thought he'd show up limping and bloody and make a spectacle of himself. But I should have known better. He tears other people down—he’d never make himself look weak.
The courtroom is packed. It isn’t every day that the former town golden boy nearly beats the Sheriff’s son to death under green twinkle lights and shamrock streamers. It looks like the entire town of Swiftwater shut down to spectate today. It’s standing room only.
James and Reid are both in suits waiting stoically at the defense table. The courtroom door booms open and Brett’s attorney strides to the prosecutor's table.
James explained to me how the hearing is likely to go so I sit quietly and wait for my opening.
My heart overflows with gratitude knowing the man I love is ready to take accountability for protecting me. He’s promised again and again to always take care of me, to fight for me.
Well, it’s my turn to take care of him. And I'll put up one hell of a fight.
I hear the cue I was waiting for, and just before the prosecutor can open his mouth to detail what his client “suffered,” I stand up on the bench I was sitting on. Delilah holds one ankle and Olivia holds the other, supporting me by the shafts of my pink-stitched cowboy boots.
What I'm about to do may have zero impact on the outcome. But I have to try. For him, I'd do anything. Reid is looking up at me, horror and concern written all over his handsome face.
I clear my throat and look directly at the judge. “Your Honor, before you ask me to sit down, I'd like the opportunity to say something.” The judge looks at me through narrowed eyes but ultimately grants me five minutes to say what I need to say.
She meets my gaze and gives me a nearly imperceptible wink. The boys want to keep secrets. Fine. The girls can too. The judge is a childhood friend of Olivia’s mom—but no one needs to know that. All is fair in love and war.
With her approval, I carefully turn around on the narrow bench to face the town, my girls carefully bracing my legs.
“Good morning. I know you came to see the sentencing, but I hope you’ll leave this courtroom with a new perspective.”
I look around, meeting the eyes of neighbors, acquaintances, and people who’ve never kept quiet about their distaste for my family.
“As most of you know, my name is Isabelle Tate. I’ve lived in Swiftwater all my life with my sister”—I look down at my twin, beaming up at me with pride and admiration—“and my parents.
I'm more than aware of how Swiftwater perceives my family, and I’ve weathered the judgmental looks and cruel words for twenty-five years.
For just five minutes, I'd like to ask you to put aside any preconceived notions and listen to me like I'm one of you.”
Murmurs fill the courtroom, but I push forward.
“I'd like to start by saying I planned on taking this information to my grave but in light of recent events, I’ve decided that it needs to be told.”
I have the entire town’s undivided attention. I look over my shoulder and smile softly at Reid’s horrified face and mouth I love you . I slide the morganite pendant along the delicate chain, warm from resting on my skin. I look out into the crowd and with a deep breath, I begin.
“When I was fifteen, a boy asked me to the prom, and I'd never been happier or more excited to go. As you can imagine, I shopped and primped and preened like every other teenage girl. The boy who asked me to prom is sitting at the prosecution table today—Deputy Sheriff Brett Stevens.”
Brett and his attorney object and shout at the judge for me to stop. She overrules their incessant whining and allows me to continue.
“The dance was magical, but Brett and his friends wanted to go to a ranch party. Trusting him, I went with them. Brett led me to one of the bedrooms and I was uncomfortable, but it never occurred to me that I was in danger.”
My sister has tears streaming down her face, and Connor, seated on her other side, is rubbing her back.
“He locked the door behind us, and I knew something was wrong.
My carefree, flirty prom date was gone. And in his place was a monster.
I won't be going into graphic detail, because it serves no purpose other than to feed your curiosity.
But I'll tell you that I was a fifteen-year-old girl trapped beneath a fully-grown seventeen-year-old boy, and that he violently sexually assaulted me.”
Gasps and denials ripple through the courtroom. Again, Brett and his lawyer try to silence me, but the judge again allows me to continue.
“As if penetrating my innocent body and drawing my blood wasn’t bad enough, Brett proceeded to spread vicious lies and rumors about me around school.
I know without a doubt every person in this courtroom has heard at least one such rumor about me.
I wish you would believe none of them are true, but that isn't why I'm telling you my story.
I'm telling you because I kept his crime a secret for the past ten years because no one believed that a girl like me could possibly be a victim.
“Yet here you all sit today, looking at Deputy Sheriff Stevens like he's a victim.
He's not a victim. He's a sexual predator.
The reason we're in this room today is because he was attempting to sexually assault me again, out in the open, at a bar filled with patrons.
The only reason I'm safe and able to stand before you today, is because one person did believe me. One person risked sacrificing his freedom, his reputation, and his family business to protect me.”
I point behind me at Reid. I don’t dare turn to face him right now, or I'll lose my composure.
“Reid Andersen protected me from Deputy Sheriff Stevens and prevented him from assaulting me, again.
Even if what I'm telling you today doesn’t have any legal impact on this case, I needed you to hear the truth about who the true violent criminal in this courtroom is.
With my whole heart, I hope that if nothing else, you can hold strong in your belief that Reid Andersen is a kind, generous man with infallible integrity and morals.
The same Reid Andersen who fixes your pipes when they burst in the winter.
Who repairs wobbly stairs and deck planks without ever being asked.
Who takes his own time and money to support the community of Swiftwater.
He's the true public servant. Not the criminal hiding behind a badge, with a Sheriff father burying his crimes.”
I pause—my throat choked with emotion. “Thank you for listening to me this morning.” And with that, I carefully sit back in my seat and am buried in hugs from my girls.
A heartbeat passes, two, three, before the courtroom erupts into chaos. Deafening clapping and cheering lights my entire body in goosebumps. The shouts of rage at Brett and his father fill me with deep, dark satisfaction.
The police officers who came in solidarity start filing out of the courtroom, wordless, shaking their heads in disgust.
Reid has turned to me and is looking into my soul. He doesn’t have to say a word. He knows what I’ve just done, what I’ve given up—but also, what I’ve gained. My freedom. Brett has no power over me anymore.
I can only hope that my confession grants Reid his freedom as well.