Chapter Eighteen #2
“There you are,” smirked Marcus. “Surely you didn’t think I’d just let you go, did you?
Not with all that lovely money you’ve inherited from your grandmother.
You thought I wouldn’t know about it, but then a letter arrived from your attorney.
You weren’t there to open it, so I did.” Grabbing her arm, he shoved her into the house and closed the door behind him.
“Show me our house, Ellie.”
The old fear was back, threatening to paralyze her, but it was quickly replaced by anger. She yanked her arm out of his grasp. With her eyes on him, she edged toward the front door where Vivian had left the cat tree scratching post. “It’s my house and we are not engaged; I’ve returned your ring.”
“Of course we’re engaged, Ellie,” he said as he looked around him. “You’re going to be my wife. Who else would want a fatty like you? Mmm, the house ain’t bad, not bad at all.” He grinned as he peered into the living room.
“Please leave. I don’t want you here,” she seethed.
As he turned around to face her, the expression on his face had changed. He was angry. Well, that’s too damn bad, so was she. Facing him, she opened the front door behind her. “Get out.”
He lunged forward, but she turned, toppled the activity center behind her and ran out the front door. “Help! Help!” she shouted, ignoring the noise of Marcus falling and swearing behind her.
She raced down the stairs of the porch, her only goal to get as far away from Marcus as she could.
As she neared the street, she saw Rose and Arlene on their way to her house. “Help!” she yelled again.
Arlene had her phone out and Rose ran toward Ellie. The next moment, Marcus grabbed Ellie’s arm from behind.
With something that could only be described as a war cry, Rose rushed forward at full speed and threw her whole body at Marcus. Ellie fell to her knees just as she heard a truck pull up.
“Ellie!” a voice shouted.
Becket? But it couldn’t be him, he’d left to buy steaks. She had to be dreaming.
She turned her head and saw Rose sitting on Marcus’s back, pinning him down while he was swearing and cursing a blue streak.
“Ellie, sweetheart,” the voice that sounded very much like her Becket’s said again and firm hands lifted her up. “What the hell happened? Who is this guy?”
“It’s Marcus…” she got out before he rushed over to help Rose.
Arlene came up to them. “I’ve phoned Dawson, he’s…”
Before she’d finished speaking, the sound of sirens had them all turning toward the street.
The sheriff’s car pulled up, lights flashing, and Dawson O’Dell got out of the car.
“What have we got here?”
As the sheriff hauled Marcus up, Becket pulled Ellie close. With a sigh, she put her arms around him and breathed in his scent. Safe. With Becket there would always be excitement, but she’d never felt as safe as she did in his arms.
*
Becket was shaking with rage. Ellie was tiny and this big bully could’ve seriously harmed her. His first instinct was to punch the idiot in the face, but the last thing Ellie needed right now was more violence. Gently he cupped her face. His eyes roamed over her. “You okay? Did he hurt you?”
She shook her head. “I ran away.”
Pulling her close again, he kissed her. “Of course you did. You don’t ever have to worry about him again, okay? I’m here for you, so is my brother…”
“So is our whole family,” his mom said as she put her arms around both of them. “Willow phoned about ten minutes ago. She knew something was wrong at Ellie’s house. As I ran outside, I met Rose. She’d been for a run. That was when we heard Ellie screaming.”
“Coop called me,” Becket said, his eyes on Marcus. “He also knew there was a problem. Just a moment.” He walked over to where Dawson was helping Rose up.
“Thank you, Miss…?” Dawson said, looking at Rose.
Arlene approached and put an arm around Rose’s shoulders.
“This is Rose Dalton, she’s been staying in Laura’s house,” Arlene said. “I don’t think you’ve met her. She’s the main reason that man is on the ground. Rose, I’ve never seen anything like it!”
“Miss Rose Dalton,” Dawson said, tipping his hat. “That’s a name I’ve heard recently. You and I need to talk, don’t you think?” Grabbing Marcus by the arm he pulled him up. “Why don’t you and I have a nice long chat at my office?” he asked him.
“I came to see my fiancée,” Marcus began, but Becket took a step closer.
“She’s not your fiancée, is she?”
Marcus was still defiant. “It was all a misunderstanding.” Glaring in Ellie’s direction, he cussed. “Besides, who else would want that fat co—”
Becket grabbed his shirt before he could finish. “You don’t want to finish that sentence. Ellie is gorgeous and beautiful and funny and warm.” Pushing him away, he stepped back. “She’s family now, a part of Marietta and we look after our own. Don’t you ever come back here again, you hear?”
“You want to lay a complaint?” Dawson asked Ellie.
It was clear laying a complaint was the last thing Ellie wanted to do, but squaring her shoulders, she nodded.
“Yes,” she said. “That’s exactly what I want to do. I should’ve done it the first time he shoved me around.”
Becket walked back to her. “I’ll go with you. You’re not alone.”
Marcus was still cursing as Dawson put him in his car. “Thanks for phoning me, Arlene. I’ll be ready for you, Ellie. Miss Dalton, anytime that suits you.”
As Dawson left, Becket pulled Ellie close again. His hands, stroking her back, still weren’t very steady. He’d had such a fright, thinking something could’ve happened to Ellie.
“I’m so sorry,” Ellie got out.
“You have nothing to be sorry about,” Arlene said as she put a hand on Ellie’s arm. “Do you have dinner plans?”
“I was going to get us some steaks…” Becket began but his mom interrupted him.
“You and Ellie go and see the sheriff and I’ll talk to Hayden. He can grill some steaks and I’ll bring the rest. After what just happened, we need to be together as a family,” she got out, her eyes filled with tears.
“Thanks, Arlene,” Ellie said hugging his mom.
“You’re one of us now. We’ll make sure nobody, but nobody, ever harms you again.”