50. Chapter 50
Chapter 50
Colt
I clean Brynn up after making a mess of her, but I don't care. I would do it again, over and over. Her being home is the best ending to my day. "I'm so glad you are home."
"I am too." She snuggles into my side. Our sweat-soaked bodies plastered to one another. "I never thought I would ever want to be in Cedar Creek again."
"What changed your mind?"
Brynn clears her throat and sits up to look me right in the eye. "You."
I reach for her neck and pull her down to me. "I have never felt like this before." I kiss her lips, slowly, sweetly, reverently.
"Me either." Brynn lays her head on my shoulder. "I can't remember a time in recent years that I have been this happy. That is all because of you."
I squeeze my arm tighter around her middle, wanting to be as close to her as I can get. I kiss her temple and revel in the fact that she chose to come back. She is staying. She chose to stay .
"Goodnight, Firecracker," I say softly as her lids are closing and her breathing is even.
"Goodnight, Cowboy."
I fall asleep with the girl of my dreams in my arms and my heart full.
I wake with a start to a pounding on my front door. "Colt!"
I hear my sister's voice coming from the other side of the door. "Colt! Wake the fuck up!"
I look at my phone and it is three o'clock in the morning. Brynn stirs beside me as the pounding doesn't cease. I get up and throw on my robe and head to the door. The sight behind the door stops my heart.
"What the fuck, Callie?" Callie is standing there in her sleepshirt. One strap is barely hanging on. It looks like it has been ripped. There are scratches on her arms and a red mark on her face. She has Millie in her arms, and she is crying hysterically.
"Call the cops. NOW!"
I run to my bedroom and get my phone and call 911. "Yes, my sister has been assaulted. She has a restraining order against him." I continue to answer questions and give the dispatcher our address.
Brynn comes down the hall in one of my shirts. "What is happening?" When she sees Callie, she goes straight to her. "Are you okay?" Callie starts to cry and shakes her head .
"The bad man came," Millie whispers.
"I'll fucking kill him," I say as I press the phone to my ear. When the voice picks up, I speak two words. "Here. Now."
Less than ten minutes later, Blake is swinging my door open like a madman. "What the fuck is going on? Cops are all over the place." He takes in the scene, Callie and Millie are still crying, Brynn is holding them in her arms. I am pacing behind the couch and the murderous look on my face tells him all he needs to know.
Brooks appears in the doorway with Whitney right behind him.
"Let's fucking go."
"No!" Callie shouts at us. "You can't fucking do anything. He needs to pay."
"He is going to. I can fucking promise you that," I growl as I put my boots on.
Sheriff Carter appears in the open doorway. "I am going to pretend I didn't hear that, Mr. Wright." Shane makes his way inside and kneels in front of Callie. "I need a statement. We have every exit out of town blocked, he is not getting out of Cedar Creek."
While the sheriff talks to Callie, Whitney grabs Millie and takes her to my bed to get settled down. Blake, Brooks, and I step out on the small porch and start to strategize how we are going to keep Callie and Millie safe .
"I am calling a security company in the morning. I will have so much tech on this ranch it'll be like Fort Knox," Blake says as he paces the yard in front. His shoulders are tense, his fist clenched. "I should've kept her safe."
"It is not your responsibility. I am her brother. I shouldn't have left her in that house by herself."
"You guys need to quit blaming yourselves. From now on, we are a team. We will make this motherfucker pay and will keep the girls safe." I am glad Brooks can be the voice of reason in this scenario, because all I see is red.
Once the cops leave, everyone starts to disperse to the main house. Before Brynn and I go, I pull her into my arms. "I will do everything I can to keep you safe. I failed Callie, but I will try harder and will not fail you or her again."
Brynn cups my face. "You did not fail anyone. We are safe now."
I bury my face in her curls. "I need my girls safe."
"We are, Colt. We are." Brynn kisses my cheek, and we head to the main house. Momma Ann is already preparing breakfast casserole when we enter.
"I hear it's been another long night. You guys rest in the living room, and I'll letcha know when breakfast is ready. I'll grab the coffee."
Everyone thanks her and takes a seat. Blake is the first to speak .
"I've already called a security company I have dealt with in the past, and they will be here by ten. No one is going to come on this ranch without my knowledge." He looks at Callie, and she nods, giving him a small smile.
"Can't wait to see how that plays out," Whitney whispers to Brynn. I am probably not supposed to hear that, but Brynn is sitting in my lap.
Brynn giggles as Momma Ann brings coffee and mugs into the living room. "Alright everyone, get some fuel."
We pour ourselves full mugs of coffee as we decide on a strategy.
"Are you comfortable staying in the main house by yourself?" Brynn asks Callie as we sip our coffee.
"I am going to move in until we are sure he is no longer an issue."
All our eyes trail to Blake. He is sitting calmly, just sipping his coffee like he didn't just drop that bomb.
"What?" His eyebrows raise as we all throw our hands up in surrender.
"Thank you," Callie says and Blake nods.
It isn't much longer, after everyone's bellies are full, that Callie goes to lay down, Brooks heads to the barn, and Blake goes to his office.
Brynn stands from my lap. "I want to go take a nap. Join me?"
"Always," I say as I kiss her temple, and we make our way back home.