CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER SEVEN
Saylor was surprised to see how many people showed up for their wedding. She knew there were a lot of people on the property, but other than the wedding where she’d met Remington, she’d never seen them all in one place, focused on her.
It was overwhelming. When there was a moment that she could catch her breath, she ducked out and found a cool spot beneath the trees of the gardens. The fountain lulled her into a sense of peace and tranquility.
“You found my favorite spot,” said a deep voice.
“Oh, hello,” she smiled. “You’re George, right?”
“That’s right, honey. Are you feelin’ sad? I was sensin’ sad but no cryin’.”
“You’re pretty perceptive, George,” she grinned. “I’m not sure I’m sad. I knew my parents would be unhappy about this but it’s my life. Right?”
“That’s right, honey. It’s your life, and Remington’s. And soon, the two babies. You gotta live for y’all now, not your folks. Sounds to me like your parents got some issues that don’t involve you.”
“I have to agree, George. That’s my father’s name, you know,” she smirked. “You’re nothing like him. They were normal, or at least I thought they were normal, before we left California. Then they started hanging out with new friends and making all these odd choices.”
“Well, one thing I know for certain, honey, is that you can’t make others believe in what you do just because you want ‘em to. Do you love Remington?” he asked knowing the answer. He could feel it.
“More than anything in the world,” she smiled. “He’s the only man meant for me. I know that, even having very little experience with men.”
“You don’t have to eat every piece of chocolate in the box to know you like chocolate honey. You can taste one and know it’s your favorite.” Saylor laughed, nodding at the older man.
“I guess that’s true,” she giggled. “I don’t know how I got so lucky, George. I’m so grateful to Aunt Nell and Uncle Sor. They gave me a place to stay, a life I didn’t know I wanted or needed and then Remington came into that life and made it complete.”
“Don’t discount your own bravery, honey. It took guts for you to leave your folks and that place in Nebraska. You were obviously scared of somethin’.”
“They had stockpiles of weapons, George,” she said with a frown.
“It was like they were planning for doomsday and they planned to be the only people surviving it.
It terrified me. I first noticed in when I was in middle school.
I could understand why we would have so much food stored for just the half-dozen families that were there.
“Later, there were more families and more food stored, but then there were also weapons. I talked to Sophia and she told me about where she came from. It must have been horrible for her. I didn’t see anyone raping their own children, but they were definitely in favor of spankings, and I guess some would say beatings, for certain things. ”
“Did you tell Remington all of this?” he asked.
“Not yet, but I will. The boys, I guess they’re men now, the Yeager boys my father wanted me to choose one for a husband, they were everything the men here are not.
They were mean. Mean to the other kids, mean to one another, and I just knew they would be mean as husbands. ” George nodded, frowning at her.
“Stands to reason, honey. But you don’t have to worry about that now. You’re here and you’re safe.”
“Am I? I heard my father. I heard the anger and determination in his voice.” She rubbed her belly, feeling the babies move.
“You don’t worry about nothin’ ‘cept you, Remington, and them two boys. You let my boys handle the rest, you hear me?”
“He’s speaking the truth,” smiled Joseph Redhawk. He was followed by Trak, Nathan, JB, Tobias, Nate, Mike, and Quinn, Nate’s son home on leave. Bringing up the rear was Remington.
“Joseph is right, honey. I never lie. ‘Specially to a pretty girl,” he said winking at her. He stood and left the garden, knowing she was in good hands.
“You didn’t tell me where you were going,” said Remington hugging his new bride.
“I’m sorry,” she smiled. “I’m going to have to get used to all this protectiveness. I just needed a breather from all the excitement. And disappointment.”
“You cannot worry about your parents,” said Trak. “They have made their decision. A very bad decision. We will be visiting them soon.”
“Oh, that’s not a good idea, Trak,” she said shaking her head. “I saw all the weapons they had and ammunition. I think they’re all crazy and losing their minds.”
“You must understand that we have often been called crazy,” smirked Joseph.
“We have weapons and we have stockpiles of food but mostly because we have these beautiful gardens and don’t let anything go to waste.
We will visit the compound, Saylor, but not just because of you.
We want to make sure they don’t have something planned. ”
“You mean like that compound that was set on fire and all those people died?” she frowned.
“Like that or something worse. If everyone is there because they want to be, if no one is breaking the law, then we’ll be good with them living their life the way they want. They will just have to understand that you are off limits to them.”
“I-I’m pretty sure they broke the law getting those guns,” she said wringing her hands together on her lap. The men looked at one another and then back at her.
“Why would you say that?” asked Remington.
“My father and three other men would make frequent trips to Mexico. They always said it was for produce but they never came back with produce. They came back with crates of weapons that the boys would have to unload. I wasn’t supposed to see it but I was hiding from the Yeager boys in the loft of the barn. ”
“They meant to harm you?” frowned JB.
“I don’t know that for sure but they were mean and big. As big as Skull or Matt and Kev. Wide, thick, heavy men.”
“Men? They weren’t your age?” asked Remington.
“No. Gosh, no. When I was eighteen, they were twenty-six or twenty-seven I guess. It was another reason I didn’t understand my father trying to make me marry them.”
“Is there anything else we should know about this compound?” asked Trak.
“It won’t surprise you but they have cameras all around the perimeter of the property.
There was a big room with screens that someone watched all the time, sort of like what you have but not as sophisticated.
I spoke to Sophia, and just so we’re clear, I never saw babies being taken or sold, I never saw father’s abusing their daughters.
Not in that way, the sexual way. I knew they were given spankings or whippings with a belt but I was fortunate I never received that punishment. ”
“So, no children died on the compound?” asked JB.
“One for sure. But that was because he was using a combine that he had used a million times before. He knew what he was doing. His shirt sleeve got stuck and he lost his arm. No one knew anything about first aid, which is how I was able to convince them to let me study medicine. I know it’s horrible but it was my only way of being able to leave. ”
“It wasn’t horrible,” said Joseph, “it was very smart of you.” Remington held out his hand to her, pulling her against his chest, holding her tightly. Over the top of her head, he stared at the others, giving them a look that said I will protect her at all costs.
“It’s time to cut the cake, baby,” said Remington. “Let’s enjoy this evening and then begin the rest of our lives together.”