Susan slowly gets up off her living room floor. Every inch of her body was screaming in pain as she slowly stood up. She could feel blood sliding down the side of her face as she looks around at the mess surrounding her. All the furniture and appliances in her house were either broken or scatter from where they use to be. She moved very slowly, so the pain she was feeling didn’t hurt her so much. This was the last time she was going to put-up with the abuse from her husband.

She knew if she stayed here any longer, her husband would finish her off. She was so stupid to have agreed to marry him. She should have never been allowed to marry him, but the stupid state of Virginia allowed her to get marry at fifteen and eight months years old. She couldn’t blame them for her stupid mistake, but they shouldn’t have allowed her to marry. She had run away from the foster home she had been sent to after child protective services had taken her away from her alcoholic father. Her father had abused her and was unable to care for her. The foster parents she had been sent too was only in it for the money and barely gave her any attention or anything. So, she mostly did what she wanted to do.

The reason she had run away was because she had met her husband while at a friend’s party. They had hit it off right away. He had told her that he loved her and would always treat her nicely and shower her with gifts. For the first few months, he did everything he said that he would do. He always made her feel special and took care of her. Sure, there were times when he would lose his temper, but he always made up for it. The day she had run away to be with him, they spent a week in a hotel room and party every night. When she missed her period the following month, she became worried and bought one those home self- testing pregnancy kits and founds out she was pregnant. When she had told her boyfriend about it, it was like his world had lit up. He was so proud of her. They had gone the next day and gotten married. Her social worker went ahead approved her marriage license and consent. The next two months after that, her husband started to change. He was becoming more abusive towards her. She had seen him starting to take more of the drugs he was selling himself. It seemed that no matter what she did, it would set him off. She places her hand on her womb and tears slide down her cheeks. She had a miscarriage because of the punches she had taken to her midsection from her husband one night. She had felt the pain and discharge from her body.

Susan heads into the bathroom and takes care of her bruises and cuts. First Aid was nothing new to her. She had learned it when she lived with her father. After taking care of her bruises and cuts, she heads into their bedroom and reaches under the bed and up into the box spring and pull down an envelope she kept hidden there. It was her emergency money that she had kept hidden from her husband. She knew there was at least four thousand dollars in the envelope. Some of it had been money she had set aside from the money her husband gave her to buy groceries for the apartment. The rest of the money was from her winning from the scratch off tickets she had won. She never told her husband about them. She grabs a bag from the closet and starts filling it up with her clothes and music. She retrieves the spare keys to the new car they had just purchase and puts her worn leather jacket on.

She leaves him a note telling him that she wasn’t going to take it anymore and she was going to file for a divorce. She puts it, where she knew he would see it and leaves her apartment. She heads down stairs to the parking lot and over towards the 2012 Cadillac Escalade he had just purchase. She knew by the time he realizes she had taken the car, she would be long gone. As she gets in, she wonders where she should go. She starts the Cadillac up and heads towards the interstate. She had just gotten her driver license two weeks ago and this was only maybe the fifth time she had been behind the wheel of their new car. She had always like horses and decided to travel out west. It would be the last place her husband would look for her. She wanted to get as far away from her husband as possible and restart her life over. She programs the GPS unit in the Cadillac and plugs her mp3 player in the radio and listens to music as she travels.

Susan follows the direction from the GPS and doesn’t look back as she gets on the interstate and leaves the Hampton Roads area. She drives till she starts getting tired and pulls into a rest stop in Kentucky to get some sleep. She figures she could save money by sleeping in the Cadillac for the night. She pulls the Cadillac over to a seclude area in the parking lot. She gets out and heads towards the ladies’ room to freshen up and relieve herself. Afterwards, she heads back to the Cadillac and grabs a blanket she had brought with her and lays down on the back seat of the Cadillac. She programs the alarm clock on her cell phone to wake her up in six hours.

Susan wakes up when her cell phone starts ring. She takes a look at the number on it and notice it was her husband’s cell number. She cancels the call and goes back to sleep. She was tired from driving all night and from her injuries. When she had stopped to get gas a few hours ago the clerk had stared at her. She knew she had a black eye and her cheek had a big ole bruise on it. Even though she had cleaned the cut where her head had been hurt. It had started dripping blood again. She had cleaned it again and this time she put a bandage on it, to keep her hair from getting stuck and pulling on it when she brushes her hair. She ignores the repeated calls from her husband. After a while they stop coming. She finally drifts back to sleep and enjoy the peace and quiet inside the Cadillac.

Her alarm clock goes off six hours later. Susan opens her eyes and stares out the tinted windows of the Cadillac. Her mind was still a little foggy on where she was. She lays there and tries to get herself motivated to sit up. As she starts sitting up pain shoots up from places on her body where her husband had kicked her. Tears stream down her cheeks as she fights to overcome the pain. She reaches down to her purse, which she had put on the floor before she went to sleep and takes out a white pill bottle and opens it. She pops three aspirins into her mouth and swallows them. Normally, she would use water to make them go down, but she couldn’t find her bottle of water she had last night.

She slowly opens the door of the Cadillac and gets outs. She shields her eyes from the afternoon sunlight and heads towards the lady’s rest room to relieve her poor bladder. Once she was done doing what she needed, Susan heads out of the lady’s room and stops at the refreshment machines and grabs a bag of chips and a pepsi. She walks over to the huge road atlas of Kentucky. She figures if she drives all night like she did last night she could be in Nebraska by morning. Once she gets to Nebraska, she’ll take a day to rest, before continuing towards Montana. She heads back to her Cadillac and gets in. She checks her phone to see who tried to call her and notice most of her calls were her husbands. There was a call or so from her friend Kelly.

Susan dials Kelly’s number.

Kelly hears her ring tone for her friend Kelly going off. She pulls her cell phone out of her pocket and answers it.

“Hello!”

“Susan?”

“Hey! Kelly. What do you want?” Susan recognized Kelly voice. She holds her cell phone near her ear.

“Susan, where are you? Robert is out looking for you and he is in a foul mood right now.” Kelly knew that Susan and Robert fought sometimes, but her friend had never run away from him.

“Good! I’m tired of being beat on by him. I lost our baby because the bastard punched me in my abdomen several times.” Susan was happy when she found out she was pregnant. She thought the baby would finally make them a family and would make Robert get a real job, instead of being a drug dealer.

“Girl, right now he is combing the streets looking for you and that Cadillac you two brought. He’s more concern about that Cadillac then he is about you. He said that if I hear from you, I’m to call him. I’ve never seen him like this before Susan.” Kelly knew why Robert wanted the Cadillac back from Susan. It had the money, guns and drugs in it. He had let it slip when he was ranting and raving about her leaving him after all the things he had done for her.

“Are you going to call him?” Susan knew her friend Kelly. She feared her ex-husband. Kelly had once told her, that her husband had killed someone for taking something that was his. She hopes Kelly wouldn’t tell him, but then again, she didn’t care. There was no way he could track her. He didn’t know in what direction she would have gone or where she had gone. The only family she had lived down in North Carolina. So that could be the only place he could look for her at.

“Are you nuts? I would never tell the bastard you called me. Where are you?” Kelly knew she would never tell Robert where her friend was.

“I’m in Kentucky right now. I’m heading out towards Texas to live down there.” Susan was going to play it safe just in case. She hated lying to her friend, but she knew if Robert wanted to get the information from Kelly, he would beat her.

“Why are you going down to Texas?” Kelly couldn’t figure that out.

“Why not it’s the last place he would ever look for me. I wanted to get as far as possible away from him.” Susan could feel the tears sliding down her face.

“Good luck Susan. Call me if you need anything.” Kelly would miss her friend. She knew Susan wanted to get her life on track and get away from all the violence and drugs she was surrounded by.

“Bye Kelly.” Susan cancels the phone call and wipes the tears away with the back of her hand.

She starts the Cadillac up and starts driving down the highway. She plugs her cell phone into the charger and turns her music on. She stops at a McDonald after a few hours of driving to pick-up some dinner. It starts raining after a while and she turns the wipers on. Traffic had been heavy for a while, but it had lightened. She figures she would stay in Nebraska for a day or two to relax and see what work would be available in Montana. Maybe she should see if there was a rodeo or something going on. The gay rodeo she had gone to near Washington D.C. with her friend was fun. She smiles when she remembers the cowboys at that one chasing around a goat with a pair pantie and trying to stick them on the goat. It had been funny. She had fun that day watching the cowboys and cowgirls.

She listens to the music from her mp3 player and enjoyed the peacefulness the night brought as she drove. She wouldn’t have mind seeing what the places she passed looked like during the day time, but she had slept half the day away and didn’t want to stick around at the rest stop any longer. She hopes she is doing the right thing. The only thing she had on her now was the money she had hide from her husband and the Cadillac. She notices that the gas gauge on the dash was getting real low. She pulls off the interstate and heads towards the gas station she had spotted. The place looked nice and clean. She pulls up to the pumps and goes inside to pay the cashier and to pick up a few snacks to help keep her awake. She notices that there was a middle age woman behind the counter.

When Susan goes up to pay for her purchases the woman looks at her.

“What happened sweetie?” as she reaches for the items Susan had placed on the counter to ring them up.

“My husband did. We had gotten into an argument and he started using me like his personal punching bag.” Susan knew she was going to be asked a lot about the way she looked.

“You’re married? You seem way too young to be married.” Betsy couldn’t believe the young girl in front of her was married.

Susan raises her hand and shows her the wedding ring around her finger.

“We got married back in May of this year. I thought he was the most wonderful guy I had ever met, and I believed the lies he told me. So, I got permission from my social worker to get marry. She was more than happy to get rid of me. The first few months were wonderful. He showered me with gifts and took me out every night and brought me nice clothes. It wasn’t till I told him I was pregnant that his attitude changed. I thought he would be happy to be a father, boy was I wrong. He got extremely mad at me and started punching me in my abdomen. I lost the baby I was carrying and then he started becoming more abusive towards me. I finally got sick of him and left him two days ago.” Susan takes a deep breath.

The woman behind the counter looks at Susan. She could tell she was telling the truth. The poor girl looked so beaten and abused.

“Where are you heading?” Betsy bags up the items she rung up.

“I thought I would make a fresh start out in Montana. I’ve always loved horses, open spaces and ranches. I’m not much for the type of weather Texas always gets. I know Montana gets cold weather, but I don’t care.” Susan notices how much money she owes and opens her purse up and pulls out the amount she needed.

“Well good luck sweetie. I hope you find the life you’re looking for.” Betsy accepts the cash from Susan.

“Me too ma’am I hope my life will be better.” Susan takes her purchases and heads out towards the Cadillac.

Once Susan pumps the gas, she gets into the Cadillac and heads back to the interstate. She turns her radio on, instead of her Mp3 player and listens to the songs playing on the radio. She notices that her husband has tried calling her again. She presses the voice mail and listens to the messages he left. She notices they start off all nice and sweet, saying he’ll never hit her again and that he loves her. Then the next message was basically a repeat of the first one. By the time she gets to the fife one, he starts becoming more abusive towards her and starts calling her names. When she listens to the last message, he accuses her of stealing his money, drugs and that when he finds her; he is going to kill her.

Susan pulls the Cadillac over off the road and turns her hazards on as she gets out and walks around towards the other side of the Cadillac. She opens the back-passenger door and starts opening the cargo spaces under the seats and such. She searches the Cadillac and finds his stash of drugs, guns and money. Now she knew why he didn’t want her to drive the Cadillac. She tosses the drugs out into the field behind her. She leaves the guns where they are. She’ll have to find a place to get rid of them. As for the money, she takes a few bills out and places them in her pocket and leaves the rest where it is. She walks back around to the driver door and gets in and drives off, turning her hazard lights off.

When Susan notices dawn approaching. She stops at a truck stop to grab some breakfast. The place looked busy. She had brought a change of clothes to change into. The truck stops she had stopped at had showers, so truckers and travelers could refresh themselves. She pays for the use of one of them and strips out of her clothes that she had been wearing for the past two days. She examines her body in the full-length mirror in the dressing room. She notices her body was covered in ugly bruises all up and down her body and legs. She wants to break down and start crying, but it wouldn’t do any good right now. She heads into the shower stall and takes a nice long shower. The clerk had told her, that she could use it as long as she needed to. Susan suspected that the clerk had seen her bruises on her neck. When Susan gets done with her shower, she dries off and dresses in the only clean pair of jeans she had left. She had forgotten that most of the clothes she had packed were dirty.

Susan heads towards the restaurant part of the truck stop and grabs herself some breakfast. She figures she should be able to find a hotel room by this afternoon, if she drives for a few more hours. She sits and examines the map she had picked up. She had seen an advertisement for a rodeo that was going to take place the last week of August. That meant it was only a few days away. She figures she could get to where it is taking place at in the next three days. She calls a nearby hotel to it and reserves a room for herself. If she continues to drive like she has been doing, she could be there in two days and she could sleep in the Cadillac and then go to the hotel room she just reserved. She figures that she could have fun at the rodeo. She finishes her breakfast and packs everything up and heads out.

Susan pulls into a nice motel once she arrives in Nebraska and gets a room for one whole day. She had to argue with the clerk and tell her that she was legally married and that she was on her way to be with her husband. She spun a tale that there was no way the clerk would be able to figure it out. She parks the Cadillac and heads into her motel room. She was too tired to see what was on television. She kicks her shoes off and crawls onto the bed. When her head hits the pillow, she was off to la la land.

When Susan wakes up again, it was eleven at night. She checks her cell phone and notice that her husband had tried to call her again. She really needed to get another cell phone. She heads into the bathroom and does her business. Her stomach rumbles. She checks the delivery menus to check and see who is still open and making deliveries were. She found a sub shop that was still open and order a foot long, onion rings and a two liter of Pepsi. She figures the Pepsi would come in handy on the road.

Susan goes back out to the Cadillac to grab her night gown out of the bag of clothes she had packed. She should find a laundry mat tomorrow and wash everything. She heads back into her room, after making sure the Cadillac was secure. She goes and takes a shower and by the time she comes out, there is a knocking sound at her door.

“One moment” She grabs a towel and wraps it around her body and grabs the money out of her purse.

She walks over to the door and looks through the peep hole and notice it was the delivery driver with her order. She smiles when she notices it was a girl.

Susan opens the door “Hi. I guess that order is for me?”

Carol was surprised when the door opens. She had heard movement behind the door, but figure they would be a little longer.

The woman standing in front of her looked young and was wearing a towel wrapped around her body. She notices the bruising on the girl’s face and neck. There was even bruising on her shoulders.

“Yes Ma’am. You must be Susan Hensworth?” Carol gives the young girl a friendly smile.

“Yep, how much do I owe you?” Susan had grabbed a twenty out of her purse.

“Ten fifty ma’am” Carol hands the bag with the food and drink to Susan.

Susan hands the twenty she had been holding to Carol. She had notice the girls name on her name badge.

Carol looks at the twenty-dollar bill. She reaches into her pocket to get the change.

Susan notices what Carol was about to do “keep the change as a tip. Thanks.”

“Thank you ma’am” Carol couldn’t believe it. This was the best tip she has had all night.

“You’re welcome and be safe.” Susan waits till Carol gets back into her car, before shutting the door and sitting down on the bed to enjoy her late-night dinner.

She pulls her map out and looks at it. She locates where she is now and where she needs to be in two days. If she spends tomorrow here in Nebraska and leaves first thing on Saturday, she should be able to arrive late Sunday evening and check into her hotel room on Monday morning. She takes a bite of her sub. Susan finishes her sub and onion rings off. Just as she is throwing the containers away, her phone starts ring again. She picks it up and notices that it was her father calling her. She and her father have never been close. He was an alcoholic and a bastard. She mutes it and goes to the bathroom to relieve her bladder. When she comes back out of the bathroom, her phone starts ring again.
She checks the number again and notices it was her father calling her. She sighs as she answers it.

“Hello!” Susan was looking at herself in the mirror.

“YOU BITCH! I WANT MY CAR AND DRUGS!”

“Well, you’re going to have to go to the junkyard and get them and the car, if it hasn’t been crushed yet.” Susan had held the phone away from her ear when she heard the screaming coming through the phone. She wasn’t going to tell him that she still had the car or what she did to his drugs.

“YOU BITCH!” Robert was pissed at his wife.

“Well, if you hadn’t paid such a low price for the Cadillac, you could have gotten a better car. The engine blew up and it had to be towed off the interstate. As for your drugs, I have no idea where you hid them. You never trusted me with that.” Susan knew this was going to piss him off.

“I AM GOING TO KILL YOU. MY DRUGS WERE IN THE CADILLAC WITH ALL THE MONEY.” Robert was fuming and wondering how he was going to get out of this mess.

“Well, the junkyard has the Cadillac now. I don’t recall which one it had been sent too. The State trooper that had stopped to help me was distracted by the bruises I had on my face and neck. He asked me who did it and I told him you did. They have said they will be issuing a warrant for your arrest Robert.” Susan looks out at the Cadillac and smiles.

“I’LL KILL YOU, BEFORE I’M SENT TO JAIL.” Robert would kill his bitch of a wife. After all he has done for her this is the way she is repaying him.

“I would be a little careful about what you say on the cell phone Robert. I’m standing a foot away from the State Trooper that stopped to help me here in Texas.” She smiles when she says this. She knew this was going to piss him off.

“YOU BETTER HOPE I NEVER CATCH YOU HERE IN VIRGINIA AGAIN, BITCH. BECAUSE, I WILL KILL YOU MYSELF” Robert had to come up with some way to get the money to pay his supplier, because if he didn’t, he would be dead by the end of the week.

“Oh! I’m not planning on coming back, but you should be receiving my divorce papers by the end of next month.” As soon as Susan could, she was going to file for divorce.

She hangs up on Robert before he could reply. She was going to need to get a new phone. She will worry about that later. She pops two more pills into her mouth and lies down on the bed with the tv playing. She slowly falls asleep and falls into a deep slumber. She doesn’t dream at all that night.

Susan had driven all day Saturday and finally got to Montana early in the morning. She was bush and the only thing on her mind was getting a room for the night. She heads towards the Hotel where she had made her reservation at to see if she could add today onto it. The clerk at the counter was nice to her and went ahead and added today to her bill. She had paid for a week. She parks the Cadillac and grabs the suitcase she had brought back in Nebraska. She had manage to get a new number for her phone and she found a really nice western clothing store and brought several outfits, boots, hats and everything she needed to present herself like a cowgirl. She opens the door to her room and once she is inside, she heads over towards the bed and crashes, after slipping her new boots off her tired feet.

Susan wakes up later in the afternoon. She pats around on the bed near her body for her cell phone. She knew she had it when she passed out on the bed. She finally finds it and checks what time it was. It was five in the afternoon. Susan gets up and heads into the bathroom to take a shower and get ready to go out tonight. She wanted to meet some of the contestants that would be in the rodeo this week. She dresses in the cowgirl clothes she brought before she got here. She makes sure to only take two hundred dollars with her. Susan looks at herself in the mirror to make sure she looked nice. Susan takes her key card and tucks it in a pocket on her new jeans. She takes her cell phone and tucks that in her new purse.

“Ready or not, it’s time to party.” Susan heads out of her room and down to the Cadillac and drives over to the bar she had been told, allot of the cowboys and cowgirls hang out at.

She hopes there will be people there tonight. Susan finds a nice parking space and parks the Cadillac. She notices that her Escalade looks out of place with all the other vehicles in the parking lot. Susan gets out of the Escalade and heads inside the club. She finds a table and orders a non-alcoholic drink. She gets into a line dance and has fun doing that. An older cowboy comes walking up to her.

“Hey little cowgirl aren’t you kind of young to be in here?” An older gentleman in his forties looks at Susan.

“As far as I know, it’s not illegal to be here. I just can’t order alcoholic drinks.” Susan holds up her glass.

The gentleman just smiles at her “so what brings you in here tonight? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in here before.”

“I thought it might be fun. I wanted to meet some actual cowboys and cowgirls. Plus, mingle some and see if I could find a job. I’m new to the area.” Susan takes a sip of her coke.

“Where are my manners? My name is Jake Meadows. I’m the owner of Triple Bar Ranch.” He holds his hand out to Susan.

Susan accepts it and shakes his weather hand.

Jake watches the young girl. He notices the bruising around her eye and the marks on her throat she was trying to hide with the bandana around her throat.

“So where did you just come from?” Jake stops a nearby waitress and orders himself a long neck.

Susan waits till Jake makes his order before answering his question.

Jake turns his attention back to Susan.

“Virginia Beach, Virginia. I thought a change of location and scenery would do me some good.” Susan takes another sip of her drink.

“Well, I have to say being here in Montana is totally different than being in Virginia. How did you get here?” Jake accepts the long neck bottle the waitress brings him.

“I drove. I just packed up my stuff and drove all the way here.” Susan looks at the people behind Jake line dancing.

“Your kind of young to have driven here all by yourself? I thought you had to be eighteen years of age to have your driver license?” He takes a
swig of his beer.

“Normally, you would be right. However, since I was married” She holds up her ring hand and shows him her wedding ring “I was allowed to get my driver license last month.” She pulls her wedding ring off and let it sit on the table in front of her.

“It was one of the dumbest things I have ever done. I had to marry a jerk who doesn’t know how to treat a woman. I thought the bastard love me and wanted to have a family and go straight.” Tears were ready to leak from her eyes.

Jake could tell that this girl in front of him was ready to cry. He had a daughter at home almost this girl’s age.

“Why did your parents allow you to get married at such a young age?” He takes another swig of his beer.

“My parents had nothing to do with it. I was in the care of the state. They let me get married because I told them I was in love. I guess at the time I was in love, till the bastard started abusing me and caused me to lose our baby.” Susan closes her eyes and tries to calm down and stop herself from crying.

“So? I take it he’s still back In Virginia than?” Jake could see the poor girl was trying to put on a brave face.

“Yes! He doesn’t know where I went. I told him when I talked to him yesterday; I was heading to Texas to get away from him.” Susan reaches for her drink. She wishes it was a stronger one, but she knew there would be no way the bartender here would serve her anything stronger then soda. They had checked her ID when she came in.

“Why did you come all the way out here, instead of Texas?” Jake had spent some time in Texas. He thought the state was beautiful. That was where he had met his wife at.

“I don’t know. I guess because I love the pictures I have seen of Montana. The culture and the fact that there are still real cowboys and cowgirls here, enjoying the open fields and the blue sky over them. Texas is too hot for my taste. I think the temperature of Montana is more suited for me. I believe that people who live in cities get too caught up in punching a time clock and moving fast every day and don’t know what they are missing. Which is something I can relate too? I got so caught up in the moment of being with my husband, that I didn’t see the danger signs or the real him. I was too distracted with the gifts and attention he gave me.” Susan realizes what a jerk she had been to have trusted Robert.

Jake sits quietly and listens to this poor girl. He could tell she was hurting. If she had been allowed to drink, she would be drunk right now.

“So? Are you going to the rodeo tomorrow?” Jake figure she should change the subject.

“I was planning on it. I want to see how you real cowboys ride their horses and rope the cows. I figure I would be around for a week and hope I
could make some contacts with people that might let me come and work for them.” Susan wipes the tears that had started to slide down her cheeks away.

“Do you know anything about working on a ranch?” Jake might consider hiring her if she has any skills; if not maybe he’ll offer her room and broad, in exchange of learning about working on a ranch.

“Very little sir. I did some work at Circle L ranch down in Virginia for the summer, in exchange for room and broad. I enjoyed it. I learned how to handle a horse from one of the workers there and I mucked the stalls and feed the animals.” Susan had enjoyed that summer. She didn’t want to leave it.

“I’ll tell you what. I’ll give you a chance. I’m going to be in the rodeo this week. If you’re willing to help me and my hands out during the rodeo,
I’ll give you a job on my ranch and provide room and broad, along with a small salary so you can get yourself something.” Jake liked this girl.

“I’ll take the job, but keep your money. I have money for now. When do you want me to start?” Susan figures the money she is taking from Robert should be enough to live on.

Jake was surprised when she told him to keep the money.

“Where are you staying at now?”

“I have a room for the week at the Best Western a couple of miles away from here.” Susan knew she could extend it if she needed to.

“Okay! I want you to meet me tomorrow morning at 5 at the fairgrounds. Tell John who should be on duty tomorrow that you’re working for me. I’ll leave your name at the gate. Wear something you won’t mind getting dirty, because I am going to work you hard.” Jake reaches into his
pocket and pulls out a business card and hands it to her.

“If you have any trouble, call me.” He hands the card to her.

Susan takes it and looks at it and then at him “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. You may not like the work I’ll have for you tomorrow. Do you have a pair of leather gloves?”

“No sir.” She didn’t think about buying any.

“I’ll see if one of the boys has a spare pair to loan you.” Jake thinks he has a spare pair in his trailer that she could use.

Susan looks at Jake “Why are you doing this for me?”

“Let’s just say, I’m a sucker for a pretty face. Do you want to dance?” He stands up and holds his hand out for her.

“Why not” Susan stands up and takes his hand. She follows him out onto the floor.

Susan dances all night with Jake and even tries the mechanical bull. She does well on it. Jake introduces her to a few of his friends as a new employee of his that he is watching over. By the time one in the morning rolls around, Jake looks at Susan.

“You better head back to your hotel room and gets some sleep. You have a busy day ahead of you tomorrow.” Jake gives Susan a fatherly smile.

“Thanks Jake.” Susan stands up on her tip toes and gives Jake a kiss on his cheek.

Jake watches as Susan leaves the bar and heads out to the parking lot.

“Don’t tell me that you’re smitten for that little tart.” A well dress woman with long brown hair comes walking up to Jake from behind.
Jake turns around to face her “are you jealous of her Brenda?”

“Why should I? She’s a child and I am a grown woman, Jake.” Brenda moves close to Jake and rest her lightly tanned hand on Jake’s chest.

Jake just looks at Brenda” Maybe at one time your charms may have worked on me Brenda, but you’re barking up the wrong tree. I have no interest in you.”

“Oh, come on Jake. You’re still not mad at me for that little misunderstanding.” She leans like she was going to kiss him.
Jake steps back “I caught you in bed with Darrel, Brenda. How is that a little misunderstanding?”

Brenda just looks at Jake “Come on Jake, you know we weren’t really in a committed relationship at the time.”

“You may have thought we weren’t Brenda, but I know I did. Good night Brenda.” Jake turns and walks away from Brenda.

Brenda watches as Jake walks away from her. She was going to make that girl pay for moving in on her man.

Susan heads out to her Cadillac Escalade and climbs in. She couldn’t believe her luck. She starts the SUV up and starts heading back to her hotel room. She gets to go behind the scenes at the rodeo tomorrow and she has a job on top of that. She looks at the time on her center console display and it shows that the time is three in the morning. She needs to reset the clock for Mountain Time. She heads back to her hotel and up to her room. She calls the front desk to wake her at four in the morning. She strips out of her clothes and slips her night gown on and crawls under the blanket and falls asleep.

Susan stands against the railing and watches the bull rider as he tries to beat the other guy’s time. Her right arm was still hurting her from earlier this morning, when several bales of hay had fallen on her. She had shown-up to work on time like Jake had told her too. She had parked her Cadillac with the other employee’s car and the poor thing looked out of place with their vehicles. Everyone else’s truck or car were rusted, dusty, old and beaten-up. Here she was driving a new SUV and it was nice and shiny.

The men she was working with treated her like an outsider and commented on how much of a city girl she was. They even called her Princess, because of her SUV. She didn’t let it bother her as she did her job. Sure, she made mistakes and took the blame for it, but she was willing to do any job Jake gave her. She was going to prove that she would and could do any job she was given.

“Hey! Princess, you need to go and get the gear ready. Jake wants it all nice and shiny for his ride this afternoon.” Sam had been told by Fred that Jake wanted his gear polish and ready for his ride later. He hadn’t said that the new girl had to do it, but he figures since she is the low man on the totem pole now, she could do it.

Susan looks over at him. Jake had told her she could watch the bull riders, but she knew that when there was work to be done, she was to do it.

“Okay!” Susan walks away from the railing and heads towards Jake’s horse trailer.

She knew how to clean and polish tack. That was the first job she learned when she went to camp. She grabs Jake’s saddle and carries it over to a saw horse and starts checking it out. She notices that some of the stitching was coming loose in some areas. She fixes the stitching and gives the saddle a very good polishing.

“So, this is where you disappeared at. I thought you were watching the bull riding?” Jake comes walking up.

“I was, but Sam said that you wanted your saddle polish for tonight’s ride.” Susan looks up at Jake.

“I do, but I told Fred to do it. You’ve been working hard ever since you got here this morning and I felt you needed a break.” Jake examines his saddle.

“Well, I guess they felt since I was the low man on the totem pole, it was my job.” Susan starts putting things away.

“Well, you did a good job. Where did you learn to fix and repair saddles?” Jake was impress with the work she had done.

“First week of summer camp the guy that taught me, was an old bull rider. I would spend all day with him for the first two weeks learning everything I could about saddles and tackle.” Susan was feeling tired. However, she was enjoying herself.

“Are you hungry?” Jake looks at Susan and could tell she was looking tired.

“Yep, I could eat a horse right now.” Susan hadn’t had breakfast before she left her hotel room.

“Come on, let’s go and put some food in your stomach.” Jake wraps his arm around Susan’s shoulder and escorts her to a nearby vender and places an order for them.

Susan watches as the guy makes their order. He wasn’t holding anything back when he made their lunches. The container he put everything in was barely holding it.

“Thanks George.” Jake accepts their orders and he escorts Susan over to a table to sit down and eat.

They eat in quiet. Susan devours her lunch. She didn’t realize how hungry she was.

“Where you get the Cadillac, I saw you pull up in this morning?” Jake had to admit it was impressive.

“I took it from my husband. We had just brought it a week ago. He wouldn’t let me drive it, even though it’s in my name. So, I decided to take it when I left. I figure it was mine after all.” Susan eats what’s left of her sandwich.

“What type of work does your husband do?” Jake had some ideas, but he wanted Susan to tell him.

Susan looks at Jake “the type that gets you killed. I didn’t know till we had been married for a few weeks. That’s when I found out the truth. I was hoping by me being pregnant, it would make him change. I was wrong on both accounts. It only pushed him harder to sell his drugs and make a name for himself.”

Jake could see it in her eyes, that she was telling the truth.

“So, is that why you decided to leave him?” Jake takes a sip of the beer he had gotten with his lunch.

Susan looks down at the table and then back up at Jake “I think you already know the answer to that question. Make-up can only hide so much.”

“True! It can only hide so much. Like I told you last night Susan, your welcome to work on my ranch if that’s what you want. Are you considering getting a divorce from him?” Jake takes another drink.

“Actually, I was going to see what the requirements were for getting one here in this state. Because I really don’t want to go back to Virginia, besides his last departing words were, I’ll kill you if you come back.” Susan takes a sip of her ice tea.

“Sounds good, now let’s get you back to work.” Jake finishes his beer and stands up.

“Has any one ever accused you of being a slave driver?” Susan looks at him.

“All the time kiddo, now get up and get back to work.” Jake helps Susan up.

Susan and Jake walk back to where the animals are kept, and she goes back to work with the rest of the workers. By the time Jake let’s her go. Susan is sore, tired and smelly. She takes a shower at the fair grounds and changes into a clean set of clothes and has fun later at the fairgrounds. She stays till about midnight and goes back to her hotel.

The rest of the week for her was just as grueling as her first day. Not only was she doing jobs for Jake, but helping the other cowboys and cowgirls during the week. If Jake didn’t need her for a job or gave her some time off, she would volunteer to help during some of the rodeo events. The other workers she works with kept giving her the crappy jobs and things they didn’t want to do.

One day while she is taking care of the trash, Susan hears a crash and then a pure huge black horse appears out of nowhere and comes running towards her followed by several men. She could see that the horse was spook and scared. As the horse comes by, Susan swings up onto the horse and holds onto his mane and uses her legs muscles to control the horse. The horse starts bucking trying to get Susan off his back.

She tightens her thigh muscles and tries getting the horse under control. The first time she ever rode was bareback. This was nothing new to her. The horse keeps trying to buck her off, but Susan holds tight.

“I don’t think so boy.” Susan tightens her thigh and calf muscles and pulls gently on his mane.

The horse finally stops bucking as Susan tames him. She manages to get him under control. She turns him around, so she is facing every one.

Jake looks up at her like a proud father. The guys that had run after the horse stands next to him looking at her.

“Who would have thought?” The men that Susan works with look up at their Princess.

Susan looks down at the men that had come running after the horse.

“How much do you want for him?” She had a serious look on her face.

“You couldn’t afford him.” A big burly guy comes walking up to where Susan sat.

The horse starts acting aggressive and bares his teeth at him.

“I would say he doesn’t like you. I’ll ask you again, how much do you want for him?” Susan stayed where she was and petted the stallion on the side of his neck.

“It will cost you Forty-Five thousand little girl, non-negotiable.” The guy gives Susan an evil smile.

“Done, you’ll have your money in about thirty minutes. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go and get you your money.” Susan rides off on the stallion back towards Jake’s horse trailer.

When she arrives, she gets down off the stallion and ties him up at Jake trailer.

“You be a good boy till I get back.” She scratches him near his ears.

She walks out to her Cadillac and gets in it. She was glad for the tinted windows. There was no way any one would be able to see inside the Cadillac to see what she was doing. She goes to the secret compartment in the SUV and retrieves the money from its hiding spot. She’s going to need to go by the bank and set-up an account for the rest. As she walks back to Jake’s trailer, she notices Jake standing by her horse and petting it.

“What do you think?” Susan loved the horse.

“I think he’s taking advantage of you. Other than that, he’s a fine horse.” Jake turns around to look at Susan.

“Does he prefer a check or cash?” Susan hopes it was cash.

“Cash, why?” Jake gives Susan a worried look.

“Because, here is his money” Susan tosses a brown paper bag to Jake.

Jake catches the brown bag.

“Would you mind handling the transaction for me please? Because I think my friend here needs to be pampered some. Also, would you mind if I kept him near your horse?” Susan looks towards her horse.

“I’ll get you a stall. Do I want to know where this money came from?” Jake thinks he already knows.

“It was a departing gift from my husband along with other things. I’ll explain everything later to you Jake, I promise. I’m going to need your help with something I should have done when I first got here.” Susan was thinking about all the weapons she still had hidden in the Cadillac.

Jake looks at Susan “you do know we’ll be leaving in two days?”

“Yep! I can either do what I should have done by then, or when we get back to your ranch. I just know it needs to be done.” Susan walks up to her Stallion and pets him. She had always loved horses and now she had one of her own.

Jake steps close to Susan “What is it that you need to get rid of?”

“A cache of weapons, Jake. I got rid of that stuff when I learned it was in the Cadillac and I was transporting it. It’s part of some farmers fields right now.” Susan gives him a smile.

“Weapons!” Jake kept his voice low. “What type of weapons are we talking about Susan?”

“Handguns, AK-47’s, sub-machine guns one or two repeating shotguns. It was my husband’s side business, next to selling drugs.” Susan was petting her horse.

Jake stands there for a second and thinks “look, I know a gun smith that might be willing to buy them off you, no questions ask. He can either use them for parts or destroy them for you. Don’t do anything till we get back to the ranch, alright?”

“Okay!”

“So how are you going to get your horse back to the ranch?” He pets the Stallion as well. He was a fine Andalusian horse. A little underweight, but he would be well taken care of when he got back to the ranch.

“I was wondering if you could transport him back in your trailer. I notice it’s big enough for two, if not, I could rent one and drive him back.” Susan hopes Jake would do it. She had never driven with a trailer attached to the Cadillac before.

“I’ll do it. One more thing you’ll be staying up at the main house with me and my family as well. I don’t think it would be a good idea of having you stay down at the bunk house with the other guys. There not use to having teenagers who are of the female gender staying with them. Plus, my wife thought it might be safer and better for you up at the main house.” Jake had called his wife and explained things to her about Susan.
She even thought it might be better if she stayed up at the main house as well.

“Thanks” Susan had a smile on her face.

“You’re welcome. I better go and pay for your horse, because your time is almost up.” Jake walks off with the brown paper bag in his hand. He knew the guy Susan had brought the horse from and knew he would hold her to the thirty-minute time limit she had said.

Susan turns her attention back to her horse.

“So? What should I name you?” Susan borrows Jake’s horse brush. She was going to have to buy her own and a saddle for him.

Susan gives him a good brushing and attention. She could see scars where he had been abused by his former owner. She may not have grown up around horses like most of the people around her have, but she did spend a whole summer working on a horse ranch learning about horses and how to treat and care for them.

“You were impressive.” A woman Susan had helped a few times during the week comes walking up to her.

“Thanks.” Susan continues to brush her stallion.

“Where did you learn to ride like that?” Elizabeth had seen how Susan had swung up on the Stallion and controlled him with just her leg muscles.

“My mentor Greg Summersong taught me. He said if I wanted to learn how to ride a horse, I’ll learn bareback first.” Susan pets her horse.

The stallion just rumbles from the attention he was getting from this young girl.

“Well, I have to say you did well. I was impressed along with several other people I spoke too. Why don’t you join me and a few friends later tonight when you get off?” Elizabeth wanted to know more about Susan. She already knew that she was sixteen years old and had just started working for Jake Meadows. She knew Jake would look out for her. He was a good man and a good boss to work for. She had worked for him for many years, till she got her own place. Elizabeth had seen the SUV the girl had driven up in and wonders where she got that type of money. Plus, when she had told ole’ Garrigan he would have his money in thirty minutes for the horse.

“Thanks. I don’t remember your name.” Susan couldn’t remember this woman’s name. She knew her from helping her couple of days ago, but had forgotten it.

“Elizabeth Cunning. I own Buzz Woods Stables; it’s a small ranch down the road from Jake’s.” Elizabeth sticks her hand out for Susan to shake.

Susan accepts it “Mines, Susan Hensworth.” She returns the shake and then let’s goes.

“Sure, I would like to join you and your friend’s later Elizabeth.” Susan couldn’t believe she was making some new friends and she had only been here for a week now.

“Okay! We’re going to be over at the barn.” Elizabeth points out the direction towards a huge barn near the fairground that has been used all week.

Susan looks over towards it.

“I should be getting off in about an hour or so. Jake’s letting me get off early today, since I stayed late last night.

“We’ll when you’re done, come on over. Everyone is going to be there, and it should be fun.”

“I’ll be there.” Susan gives Elizabeth a friendly smile as she watches her walk off. She knows Elizabeth had to go and check on some animals she brought earlier today.

Susan goes back to work, cleaning out the trailer and laying down a light dusting of new hay for it. She cleans and checks everything. They were going to head out in two days. She had already packed up her hotel room and settle her bill. She had two days left on her bill that were paid for.

Susan doesn’t hear Jake as he approaches.

“Looks good and you’re the owner of a full-blooded Andalusian.” Jake holds the paper work out for Susan to look over.

She smiles when she reads the name they had put on his paper work. It read Midnight Chao’s.

Susan looks up at Jake “I would say that name suits him really well.”

“I have to agree with you. I got you the stall next to mine. That way we can see how your horse will do with strangers around him. Are you sure you’re ready for this type of responsibility?” Jake gives Susan that fatherly look he has taken towards her.

“Yes dad. I’m sure. I do have some experience with taking care of a horse.” Susan just shakes her head. She had notice that Jake treats her more like a daughter, instead of an employee.

“Did Elizabeth come over yet to invite you to the barn dance taking place tonight?” Jake had asked Elizabeth to invite Susan. She had been working hard this past week and he wanted her to have some fun, before they left.

Susan looks at him “Did you put her up to it?”

“Nope she had been looking for you earlier to invite you. You had been doing the trash when she came over looking for you.” Jake was lucky he had an excuse.

“Yes, she did. I thought I would go.” Susan figures she would enjoy it.

“Well, have a good time. My wife and daughter are coming to town and I am going to spend the night with them. You remember no alcoholic drinks for you.” He points his finger at Susan.

“Yes dad.” She steps on her tip toes and gives Jake a kiss on the cheek.

Jake just shakes his head and walks off with her ownership papers in his hand.

“I’ll put these in my files for you, till you get one of your own.”

“Thanks Jake.” Susan goes back to what she is doing and then goes to check on her horse, to see how he was doing.

“Hey boy” Susan walks up to the stall he was in.

Midnight Chaos sticks his head out for her and nudges Susan’s shoulder.

“I hope you are enjoying your accommodations boy. Once we get back to Jake’s ranch, you can run around with the rest of his herd.” She scratches on his nose and holds him to her cheek.

“You’re going to spoil the dumb brute.” A fellow Susan hadn’t seen before comes walking up to her and Midnight Chaos.

Susan watches as her horse bares his teeth at the stranger.

“I think you better step away from him. He seems to not like you at all.” Susan wonders why her horse didn’t like this guy. He was kind of cute and had that country accent to his speech.

“Well the feeling is mutual. I don’t like him either.” He looks at the horse. He had hoped that the dumb beast would have fetched more money, than they got for him from this girl. He knew his father had tried to pull more from Jake when he came to pay him, but Jake wouldn’t budge, plus they had all the witnesses around that would back Jake on the price and conditions his dad had settle on between him and this girl here.

“Do you know him?” Susan wonders who this fellow was and why her horse didn’t like him.

“Yep, he used to belong to my father.” He looks at Susan.

“Oh! Well that would explain everything then. I hope your father is happy with our arrangement. I think he is worth every dollar I paid.” Susan places a kiss on her horse nose.

Clarence looks at the girl standing before him. She wasn’t bad looking. He could see her fading black eyes. He wonders who she was. He had seen her around the fairgrounds and the rodeo helping. Some of the men had mention that she was sixteen years old and lived on her own. He knew she worked for Jake as one of his hired hands.

He wouldn’t mind getting her in bed and see how wild and tight she was. The last teenage girl he had, has left him wanting another one. Too, bad he had to beat the crap out of the last one.

“Well, you can have the dumb brute.” He gives the horse a sneer and walks off.

“What a jerk.” Susan looks at her horse “I don’t think you’re a brute.” She scratches his ears and gives him another kiss on the nose.

“Well I’m off Midnight. Wish me luck tonight.” Susan heads off towards the barn to have fun.

Susan freshens up before heading to the barn. She was going to enjoy herself tonight. She heads into the barn and spots Elizabeth right away. She heads over to her.

“Hey! Elizabeth.” Susan gives her new friend a friendly smile.

“It’s about time you showed up girl. I was starting to wonder if you were coming.”

“I wanted to freshen up some.” Susan was looking around the place.

Elizabeth smiles, she could see that Susan was taking in the place.

She gives Susan a little push “Go and mingle. Have some fun and let your hair down.”

Susan goes out and gets into a line dance with some people and then an old fashion square dance. She is asked on several occasions to dance with an older gentleman or a younger fellow. She has fun while she is out on the floor. Elizabeth invites Susan over to meet some of her friends and they step outside to cool off and walk around. Susan was enjoying herself. She couldn’t remember the last time she has ever had this much fun. She thinks the last time she did any of this, was after her and Robert got married. They had gone to a club they both liked and partied all night. She had gotten wasted big time that night and used a few drugs as well.

One of the guys in the group pulls out a huge rolled marijuana joint and lights it up. He passes it around the group. Susan passes on it. She and marijuana never got along. Another fellow leaves the group and comes back later with several long necks in his hand. Susan passes on that as well.

“Oh, come on Susan. One little sip isn’t going to hurt you, besides it’s a party.” Elizabeth holds the long neck to her.

“I promise Jake I wouldn’t drink any. I’m still underage and I am not going to get caught drinking.” Susan keeps her promises.

“Well, you smoke, don’t you?” One of the guys that had taken four drags on the joint looks at Susan.

“Nope, been there and done that as well. Me and marijuana don’t get along to well.” Susan takes a sip of her soda, she had gotten up and got.

“Why don’t we go back inside and do some more dancing?” Susan felt like dancing some more.

“Alright.” Everyone gets up and heads back inside the barn and gets involve in a dance.

Clarence spots Susan standing by herself. He had seen her out on the floor of the barn and she could really get down to the music. He walks over towards her.

Susan had taken a break from dancing and was watching her friend Elizabeth and her date as they danced out on the floor. It was a slow dance and it was for couples. She spots the guy she saw earlier in the stalls coming directly towards her.

When Clarence was directly in front of Susan “would like to dance?”

“Sure.” Susan walks out onto the floor with this guy. They start dancing to the music. He puts his hand on the small of her back and she goes along with his steps.

“You know, you never did tell me what your name was?” Susan looks into the guy in front of her eyes.

“Clarence Garrigan. How about you? You never told me your name either.” He looks into Susan’s brown eyes. He moves his hand down till it rested on her butt.

“Susan and it might be better if you move your hand back to where it was.” She reaches behind her and pulls his hand up, till it was off her butt.

He looks down at her “oh come on. What harm could it cause?” he moves his hand back down on her butt and squeezes it, while pulling her
close to his body. He forces a kiss on her.

Susan pushes him away and slugs him one “I don’t like being manhandle.” She walks away from him.

Everyone that had been around them looks at her and Clarence. His jaw hurt where she had punched him. He was going to make her pay for that. He turns and walks off.

Susan heads over to the refreshment table and has herself a cup of punch. As she is standing there, Elizabeth comes walking over with her date in tow.

“Are you alright Susan?” She had watched as Susan went out on the floor with Clarence. She knew he had a reputation of molesting girls and forcing himself on them. The reason no one did anything, was because his father could hire the best lawyers.

“Yea, I’m alright. I’m used to guys like him messing with me. Every guy that knows I’m under eighteen always wants to feel me up or get into my pants.” Susan knew she could handle it. She’s been doing it for a while now.

“Why don’t you come back on the floor with me and Bert.” Elizabeth really wanted Susan to have a good time tonight. She had seen how hard she worked around the rodeo.

“Okay” Susan heads back out on the floor with Elizabeth and Bert and spends the rest of the night in their company enjoying herself.

Susan notices that the party was dying down as she checks her watch. She couldn’t believe the time. It was two in the morning. She spots
Elizabeth and Bert getting ready to leave.

Susan heads over towards them “thanks for inviting me tonight. I really enjoyed it.”

“I knew you would. Everyone you helped during the rodeo thought you might enjoy it. We’re heading home for the night. Where did you park?”
Elizabeth was feeling the effects of the beer she drunk tonight.

“Back over on the other side where I normally park.” Susan wouldn’t mind stopping to check on her horse.

“Bert and I could walk with you, so you won’t be by yourself.” Elizabeth didn’t want Susan to walk along without any one to protect her.

“I’ll be okay. It’s not like I’m in Hunter Park or Pleasant Park with gang members roaming around. Besides, you’re about ready to fall over Elizabeth.” Susan gives her friend a friendly teasing smile.

Elizabeth looks at her friend. She really didn’t want to leave her by herself.

Susan notices Elizabeth’s look. She places her hand on her shoulder “really, I’ll be fine. I know how to defend myself. Now go home and get some sleep.”

Elizabeth warily does what Susan suggests.

Susan watches as her friend’s head to Elizabeth’s pick-up truck and get in. She then turns around and starts heading back where she had parked. The fairground was pitch-black and the only sounds you heard were the people leaving in their vehicles. Susan walks past where Jake had left his stuff set-up, to make sure everything was fine. Something hard hits Susan in the back of her head as she falls face forward onto the ground.

She tries to get back up, but she feels the weight of a boot pressing her back down onto the ground. She then feels her hair grabbed and she is yanked up onto her feet by her hair. She is pulled tight against the guy that had her hair and he holds tight onto her.

“You thought it was funny, didn’t you? Slapping me like you did you little tramp?” Clarence steps in front of Susan’s vision.

Susan looks at Clarence as he stood in front of her. She couldn’t believe what was going on.

“You deserved it you prick. You don’t go around treating women like they are some sort of pleasure toy for your own use.” Susan brings her heel down hard on the guy that was holding her and then flips him over her back like she had been taught in the self- defense course she took, while she was still in the foster care system. Just as she is running away, the sound of a bullet being fired sounds and hits near her feet. She stops running.

“Turn around and come back here.” Clarence orders her.

Susan turns around and starts walking back towards Clarence. She saw three people standing near him. The one she flipped, a burly dumb looking guy with a rough beard and short haircut. The other guy standing next to him and holding a gun pointed at her was a guy she had seen trying his luck at buck riding. He got thrown right out of the cute. He was a laughing stock that day. The other cowboys had teased him and had said she could have done better, after they had seen her act as a clown for a little while.

“Strip!” Clarence yelled at her.

“Go screw yourself.” Susan wanted to see if she could make him come closer to her.

Clarence and the other guy, the one that had held her earlier come walking over to her. The one she flipped earlier walks behind her and this time prepares himself for her tricks.

“I said strip, Bitch!” as he slaps her hard on the face.

“And I said no.” As she spits in his face and brings her right foot up and try to kick him.

The guy behind her pulls her backwards just in time and she miss. Clarence catches her leg and holds it.

“Oh! We can’t have you doing any of that.” Clarence slams her leg back down onto the ground and punches her in the stomach with his fist. He reaches up and rips her shirt off her exposing her bra underneath.

“Nice.” Clarence looks at her lightly tanned skin. He reaches forward and starts squeezing her young well-formed rounded breast.

Susan struggles against the guy holding her. She slams her head back against the guy behind her. Susan tries to hit his head, while she brings her leg back up to catch Clarence between his.

Susan misses hitting Clarence between his legs, but connects with the guy behind her, holding her. He lets her go and she tries to run again. Clarence grabs her by the waist band of her jeans and yanks her back. He yanks back hard enough to causes her to fall backwards on her butt. He then stomps real hard on her right ankle, till he hears it snap.

Susan screams from the pain as she felt the bones in her ankle break. The guy with the gun knocks her on the side of the head, knocking her out.

“Hurry up and get her undress, I want to see how tight she is.” Clarence was already dropping his pants. He was going to break this girl in. The big burly guy takes his knife out and cuts Susan’s jean off her, along with her bra.

They spread her legs wide open and Clarence gets between them.

“Give me the bottle!” Clarence holds out his hand for the bottle of whiskey they had brought.

The slim guy, the one with the gun goes and gets the bottle of whiskey they had been drinking from all night. He brings the bottle back to Clarence and hands it to him.

Clarence takes the bottle and opens it. He pours some on Susan’s face.

“Wakey, wakey bitch” He takes a sip of it and hands the bottle to the big burly guy.

Susan wakes up from having the whiskey being poured down her throat and face. It burned when it hit her eyes. Susan reaches forward with her hands and rakes her nails across Clarence face.

Clarence feels her nails dig in deep into his skin. She had nicked his right eye.

“You bitch.” Clarence grabs her hands and holds them.

He looks towards the big burly guy “Take her arms and hold them down.”

The big guy takes Susan’s arms and holds them above her head.

“Give me the gun.” He holds his hand out to the guy with the gun.

The guy gives it to Clarence. Clarence takes it and presses it to Susan’s shoulder.

“Don’t shoot her. She’ll bleed to death. I have a better idea.” The slim guy that had handed the gun to Clarence says.

He looks around and finds the perfect object to use. It was a block of four by four square wood. He brings it over and separates her arms.

“Hold her arm on the wood.” He looks towards the big burly guy.

The big burly guy uses his knees to hold Susan’s one arm down. He wishes they would just get this done. He wanted to try her young body out for himself. He holds Susan’s other arm.

The slim guy walks over and places his foot right over her wrist and slams down on it. There was a cracking sound as the bones in Susan’s wrist shatter.

Susan yells at the top of her lungs from the pain.

“Shut up bitch.” Clarence grabs her around her throat and squeezes, before the slim guy shoves what remains of her panties into her mouth.

Clarence then proceeds to raping her. He pushes hard and deep into her. Tearing her open and forcing his manhood deep into her young body.
He pounds her like a dog in heat. When he comes, he shoots a deep load into her body.

When Clarence is done, the slim guy lowers himself down between her legs and forces his manhood deep inside of her body. He proceeds to rape her as well. He twists, pinches, and bites her breast, leaving teeth marks that would remain in her breast, even after they heal.

The slim guy stands up from between her batter bleeding body and lets the big burly guy have her. He flips her over onto her stomach and positions himself at her anal opening takes her hard and deep in her rear.

Susan tries screaming past the remains of her panties they had shoved into her mouth when she was flipped over and then again when she felt the burly guy rip into her anal opening. She was screaming as he pounds into her virgin opening, stretching it to accommodate his huge member. Her abused breasts were hurting from the abused they received and being rubbed against the dirt and rocks under her chest.

The big burly guy makes her scream each time he shoves himself into her. He wanted to make her pay for what she did to him. He also wouldn’t mind branding her as well. He unloads inside her and passes her back to his friends. All three of them take a second turn on raping her. Clarence took her like his friend just did. The second guy didn’t like doing it that way, so he had flipped her back over onto her back and retook her that way. The big burly guy takes a second turn and just left her on her back as he forced his way into her already. As he was lowering himself onto her body, she tries scratching him in the face with her good hand, but he brushes her hand aside and slams his fist into her face, breaking her nose.

“Go get the branding Iron. I think this bitch needs to know what it feels like to be branded.” He forces himself into her abused body and pounds away like his friends did, as he pleased himself.

“Sounds like a good idea.” The slim guy pulls his pants up and runs off to get the branding iron.

Tears stream down Susan’s face as she is forced to endure the guy raping her. Her wrist, chest and ankle were hurting her. She could barely breathe with her panties shoved in her mouth or through her broken nose. She closes her eyes as she endures the pounding the guy was giving her. Her whole body was in pain and she couldn’t feel anything below her waist. She hears the slim guy coming back and then the sound of a hissing jet. She opens her eyes notice he was holding some sort of branding iron.

She had seen a few of the ranchers here at the fairground branding their livestock they bought with something like that. She tries screaming as the slim guy comes over towards her with it. The big guy was just finishing up with her as she felt him squirt into her body. She felt his weight lifted off her as he stood and looked down at her.

The slim guy looks down at Susan and then his friend “where do you want to brand her?”

“Right between her breasts, that way when she wears a low-cut dress or a swim suit, it will show.” He takes the branding iron from the slim guy.

Susan tries to move and scream, but with her ankle being broken and shattered. Her wrist was shattered, and wouldn't allow her to move that well.

The burly guy saw her trying to move away “grab her and hold her still.”

Clarence and the slim guy do as they were told and grab Susan’s arms and legs. The burly guy walks over and stands right above her. He then presses the branding iron right between her breast. He pressed as hard as he could, like he was trying to burn into her bones underneath her skin.

Susan screams from the pain and the smell of burning flesh fills her nose. She could feel the big burly guy pressing so hard onto her chest, trying to press the branding iron all the way to her rib cage. She feels as he removes the branding iron from her chest and as the other two guys let go of her arms and legs. She watches as they walk away from her and start drinking from the whiskey bottle they had poured on her face to wake her up.

She looks around to see if she could grab something to kill these bastards. She had felt her body down below being ripped and torn and she knew she was bleeding. She knew she was going to need to get medical attention right away. She spots the gun where Clarence had left it, when he started raping her. She uses her good arm to grab the gun. She pulls it around and aims it at the guys as they stood around talking about how tight she was.

They were each taking a turn at the whiskey bottle. She couldn’t feel anything below her waist. She fires the gun and hits the big burly guy in his mouth as the bottle explodes. Clarence and the other guy turn and try to charge her. She fires the gun and hits the slim guy in his leg. She aims at Clarence and hits him in the stomach. He falls on her and tries to get the gun away from her. She shoves the gun up in his groin and pulls the trigger, blowing his manhood to pieces.

The slim guy she had hit in his leg had gotten his hand on a shovel Jake kept at the trailer and smacks her hard across the face with it. She feels her cheek bone break and more pain shoots up in her head as the shovel connects to her already broken nose. She feels around for the gun, because she had let go of it to try and use her good hand to block the shovel coming at her face. She did feel Clarence knife still in his belt sheath. She grabs that, just as he moves Clarence body off her. She lunges up with the knife, burying it deep into his chest. She pulls it out again and lunges again with it. He falls on top of her body as he bleeds out on her. She lays there with pieces of Clarence lying between her legs and now this guy bleeding on her body, covering her with his blood. She feels his blood sliding down her body and into her wounds.

Susan uses her good hand to pull the remains of her panties out of her mouth, because she was having a hard time breathing through her broken nose. She tries to push the guy off her body. He was heavier then she thought, but she managed to roll him off her batter and bruised body. Once he was off her, all she wanted now was to get somewhere safe. She couldn’t feel anything in between her legs and her chest was burning with pain.

She was totally numb down between her legs and backside. Her chest, ankle and wrist were killing her. Her face felt swollen and she was having hard time breathing. She couldn’t locate her pants, where her cell phone was. She manages to turn onto her stomach, which caused pain from between her legs to flare up inside of her. She uses her elbows to drag herself over to the horse trailer. She spots the gun she had been looking for and grabs it with her good hand. She slowly drags herself over towards the trailer and once she is near it, she rolls back around to sit on her butt which hurt her even more and lean her back up against the trailers door. She was cold, in pain, stunk of alcohol and was covered in two different people’s blood. All she wanted to do was just go home.

She looks out at the three dead men who had raped her and starts shivering. She had the gun pointed at them. She knew they were dead, but she didn’t care. She felt feverish and wanted to throw up. It seemed that everything had been going wrong to her. First her marriage to Robert and then these guys ambushing her and raping her. What did she do to deserve this? All she wanted was a chance at a better life. She shivers and seems not to be able to stop. Tears start coming from her eyes as she yells out into the night. She hears a noise coming from her left and she points the gun towards the sound. She sees a light as a man comes walking out from between two trailers down from Jakes. He notices the three dead bodies and see’s Susan leaning against the back doors of Jake’s trailer. She had a gun pointed in his direction. He notices she was nude and covered in blood. Her face was bloody and the look on her face told him she was scared and frighten. He could tell if he moved towards her, she would shoot him.

“Don’t shoot. I don’t mean you any harm. How badly hurt are you?” Phillip wanted to go over and help Susan, but she wasn’t lowering her gun.

“Susan, I’m going to call Jake and the sheriff.” He backs up away from Susan. He stayed within her sight, so she could see him.

Phillip calls Jakes number first.

A few seconds later Phillip hears Jake’s voice “Hello?”

“Jake? It’s Phillip here at the Fairgrounds. You better get down here fast. Susan’s been attack and she’s not letting me near her to help.” Phillip spotted Susan’s thorn clothes near him. He could also see that her cell phone and keys were lying nearby.

“I’m on my way Phillip.” The phone goes dead after that.

Phillip call’s the Sheriff department “Alice answers the phone.”

“Alice, you better wake Samuel and tell him to get his butt down here to the Fairgrounds right away. One of Jake Meadow’s helpers has been attacked and I think she’s been raped.”

“I’ll have the paramedics down there in no time Phillip.” When did Jake hire a woman to work for him?” Alice hadn’t heard about Jake’s new hire.

“Earlier this week, it looks like she had a run in with Clarence and two of his friends.” Phillip had notice Clarence body with a big ole hole, where his manhood should be and Burt Shooters. Burt worked for Clarence father as a cow hand. The other guy he knew had just started hanging around with Clarence, after his failed attempt on the broncos.

“Alright, Samuel and the paramedics should get there about the same time.” Alice had woken Samuel up and relayed Phillips message. Two patrol cars had been dispatched to the Fairgrounds as well.

“Thanks Alice.” Phillip ends the call on his cell phone.

Susan had kept a watchful eye on Phillip. She wasn’t going to let another man get close to her. The gun made her feel safe. She had lowered it when Phillip had backed away from her. She had watched him when he made his phone calls. She notices he was keeping his distance away from her. Sirens could be heard approaching them.

Susan held tight to the gun as it rested on her lap. The patrol cars pull up near Phillip and Susan. Theirs headlight were lighting up the area.
Phillip walks over towards Deputy Lawrence car first. He knew he was the most experience person.

“Lawrence, you might want to take it easy. Her name is Susan Hensworth and she works for Jake Meadows. I think Clarence and his men raped her.” He was looking at Susan and Lawrence.

Lawrence looked at the dead bodies not too far from Susan as she leaned up against the horse trailer behind her.

Lawrence partner, Deputy Clair, comes walking up to the men.

“Dam, she did all that to them?” She couldn’t believe the way the men died.

“Yes. I would say she was justified in doing it. Look at her. She’s scared and frightened, and has a faraway look in her eyes. If anyone she doesn’t know approaches her, she’ll shoot them.” Phillip was pretty sure of his assessment of her.

When Jake pulls up, he notices two sheriff cars shining their headlights at where his horse trailer was parked. He saw the bodies and Susan leaning up against the backdoor of the horse trailer sitting on the ground for support covered in blood from head to toe. He also saw Phillip talking to Deputy Lawrence and his partner deputy Clair as well. He stops behind the Sheriff cars and gets out and approaches the group.

Phillip and Lawrence had notice Jake’s pick-up pull up behind the patrol cars. They watched as he approaches them.

“What happened?” He notices Clarence body with his manhood blown away.

“We think they raped her and she reacted in self-defense, but we can’t get close to ask her. Phillip said she’ll shoot anyone she doesn’t know, and we don’t want to hurt the poor girl, but if she points her gun at us, we have to defend ourselves.” Deputy Clair didn’t want to take the chance.

“Let me try. I’m her boss and she know me.” Jake glances over towards Susan. He couldn’t believe the way she looked.

Clair and Lawrence look at each other “Okay, but if she points her gun at you. We’ll have to respond.

“She won’t, trust me.” Jake starts walking towards Susan.

Susan had been watching everyone. She was getting tired and wanted to go home. She notices Jake walking towards her.

“Hey! Half- pint. What happened?” Jake walks up to her. He could see how badly beaten she was and the blood trail leading from where they raped her to where she was sitting, and the brand burned into her chest.

“Jake?” she was about to raise her arm, when she heard his voice.

Susan looks at him and tears start to slide down her cheek. She drops her gun and holds her arms out for him. Jake was the closest person she considers to be a father figure to her. Jake sits down next to her and pulls her bloody body onto his lap and holds her tight against him as she cries against him. The paramedics arrive and rush over to where Susan sat on Jake’s lap. She didn’t want to let go of him, but he managed to get her to trust them. He stayed by her side as they asset the damage done to her. They rushed her to the hospital followed by the Sheriff and Jake. The paramedics had to put her out, because she had several internal damages to her body.

Jake paced around out in the waiting room along with the Sheriff. The sheriff wanted to question her. Jake was concern about her. About three hours later, the doctor comes out.

“She is going to be okay. We managed to stabilize her. Her ankle needs a little bit more work, because whoever stomped on it did a really good job of damaging it. We had to rebuild her wrist, because all the bones were shatter. We managed to do something about the brand they burned into her skin. She’s going to have a scar there. She is going to walk with a limp, but other than that. She should be okay. As for her face and nose. She’s going to need plastic surgery. Her cheek bone and her eye socket has been damaged repeatedly. So, she is going to need surgery for that. She’s been forcibly raped and needed surgery to fix the damage done to her.” The doctor had been talking to both men.

“Do either of you know who her parents are?” Doctor Alvey needed to get their permission to continue.

“She doesn’t have any. She was married in Virginia, so she is considered an adult now and on her own.” Jake knew that much about Susan.

“Can we speak with her?” Samuel wanted to know what had happen. All the evidence so far pointed to Susan being raped, but the question was hanging the air, if she decided she didn’t want to have sex with Clarence and things went too far. He knew Clarence father was going to be mad his son was dead.

“She’s going to be out for at least a day Sheriff. Her injuries are too extensive and if she moves around from having nightmares and such, she’ll tear her stitches.” Doctor Alvey was thinking about keeping her under a little longer, but he knew she needed to be questioned about what happen.

“Can I at least see her Doc? I’m about the only person she considers family.” He knew Susan consider him family. They joked and such, but she trusted him and confided in him about a lot of things.

“Only for a little while Mr. Meadows. She’s in ICU, bed 4.” Doctor Alvey didn’t mind Jake seeing her.

Before Susan was put under for surgery, she had authorized Jake Meadows to make decisions for her.

“Thanks Doc.” Jake goes up to the ICU floor and over towards Susan’s bed.

She had a few machines hooked up to her and her face was bandaged up. He notices her left wrist was in a cast and her right ankle was in a cast as well. She was wearing the paper gowns all patients were given to wear. She looked so young and frail just lying there on the bed.

He takes her petite hand into his and places a kiss on it.

“Get well half-pint.” He heads back to the fair-ground to help with things there. He would stop by her hotel room and pick her things up and take them to his ranch for her along with her Cadillac and horse.

Susan stares out the window of Jake’s pick-up truck. Jake and his wife Rachel had come to pick her up from the hospital. She had spent a week there recovering from her injuries and getting counsel for her rape. She was still jumpy and didn’t like being by herself. She was told by the doctor that she needed to be careful, for the next few weeks. Her face was still bandaged up. They had gone in and done cosmetic work to her nose, cheek bones and eye sockets. All the hitting her husband had done to her face and the damage she took from the shovel during the fight had severely damaged her face. On top of that the injuries she had received between her legs were going to take time to heal. She clinches the big teddy bear the guys had given her tight to her. She has been using it allot lately for comfort.

Susan didn’t like being by herself any more. She wanted someone around her all the time. Even when she was in the hospital, she had a nurse stay with her, till she fell asleep. She still had nightmares and twitches of ghost pains. The sheriff had questioned her extensively till she started crying from reliving the event over again. Clarence father was a shame of his son’s actions and offer to pay all her medical bills and help her in any way he could. He even refunded the money for the horse she had brought from him as a gesture of good will.

Susan looks up towards Jake and Rachel. They were letting her stay at their place for free. Jake had order her not to be doing any type of work till she was fully healed. Not that she could. The doctor had told her to stay off her ankle for a few weeks. They had to go in and rebuild her ankle, just like they did her wrist. The slim guy that had stomped on it, when he had the big burly guy held it on that piece of wood, smashed every bone inside. They had to go in and literally rebuild her wrist with titanium and reattached all her tendons. He had torn them when he came down hard on her wrist. She had a scar on the back of her arm going from her hand up to almost her elbow. She could barely move it right now and it hurt.

The Sheriff had taken the gun she used to kill the men. It had belonged to Clarence, so she wasn’t charged with it. This reminded her of the guns hidden in her SUV. She needed to take care of them. Jake and Elizabeth had brought her SUV to his ranch. Phillip had found her keys and cell phone and had given them to Jake. They found what they could of her purse. There wasn’t much in it, so she didn’t lose anything.

Rachel had already redesigned the bedroom they were giving her, so she’ll have some privacy to herself. A friend of Elizabeth’s had come in and install new plumbing at Jake’s house, so she could have her own bathroom. Clarence father had picked up the bill for all this reconstruction at Jake’s house. She thinks Jake and Mr. Garrigan had a talk about what his boy did to his employee. Elizabeth had told her on one of her visits to see her that Jake was so furious with Clarence father, that he had a few spoken words with him. Everyone had thought they were going to have to call the sheriff on Jake.

Carol Ann, Jake’s and Rachel’s only daughter had come to visit her. She was a year younger then Susan and looked allot like her father. She was pleasant and friendly. She wanted to meet her older sister. She liked the idea of having someone her age at the house to talk with and get advice form. Susan had warned her not to count on her advice that much. Susan buries her face against the teddy bear as the tears start up again. Her counselor had said this was going to be common for her for a while. She tries not to press her face too hard to the teddy bear. Her face was still tender and swollen under the bandages.

“Hey half-pint, are you thirsty?” Jake had notice Susan crying again. He was trying to distract her some. They were still an hour and half away from the ranch. He knew she hadn’t been eating while she was in the hospital. The nurse in her room had to threaten her to get her to eat.
She looks up at Jake and in her little girl voice “I guess.” She was thirsty and her stomach had been growling some.

Jake pulls over at a mom and pop fast food place. He gets out and heads inside the place. Rachel turns around in her seat and looks at Susan.

“How are you holding up Susan?” There was concern in Rachel’s eyes.

Susan could see the concern in Rachel’s eyes for her.

“I don’t know Rachel. In some ways I feel I was responsible or I deserve it. If I hadn’t embarrassed Clarence in front of everyone at the barn, maybe he wouldn’t have attacked me.” Susan holds the teddy bear close to her.

“Susan, no woman deserves what happen to you. He just wanted to prove he had power over you. Did you tell Jake, that your husband tried to control you and beat you because you wouldn’t allow him to do it?” Rachel looks into Susan’s hunted eyes.

“Yes. He, he would abuse me and call me names.” Susan remembers the abuse she got from him. He even raped her as well. She had learned about spouse rape from her counselor.

“Would you have allowed what Clarence did to you, if your husband had done it?” Rachel was hoping she could get Susan to see it.

“No! I would had run out on him like I did or shot him like I did them.” Susan felt anger inside of her.

“So, I guess what you said earlier isn’t true then, is it?” Rachel was smiling. She had gotten Susan to realize that it wasn’t her fault for what happen to her.

“No.” Susan felt a little better, but she still felt dirty from them touching her.

Rachel reaches forwards and pats Susan’s hand.

Susan flinched when she felt Rachel’s touched.

Rachel had notice, but didn’t say anything. “Don’t worry about anything. We’ll help you through this.” Rachel gives Susan a motherly smile.

Jake comes walking back out with a huge bag of food and a tray of drinks. He opens the door to the truck and climbs in after giving the bag to his wife.

“I brought food for everyone.” He turns to look at Susan. “I’m tired of hearing your stomach growl back there. So eat up.”

Susan just looks at him with a guilty look on her face.

Rachel starts handing out the food.

“I remembered you liked barbeque, so I got you a huge sandwich and an order of onion rings as well, since I knew they were your favorite.”
Jake hands them to Susan.

She carefully takes them. Her left hand didn’t work to well, but she could still use it some.

“Thank you.” She puts the food on her lap. She accepts the drink from Rachel.

“Here are two pain pills for you Susan. I image your ankle and wrists are hurting you.” Rachel hands Susan the pain pills she was supposed to take every six hours.

“Thank you.” She pops the pain pills into her mouth along with the antibiotic pills she is taking.

Jake watches as Susan takes a bite of her sandwiches. The doctor had told him to make sure she ate. She had been refusing to eat at the hospital. Not that he blamed her, the food tasted plain.

Susan eats her lunch, which felt nice afterwards. She hadn’t realized how hungry she had been. The pain pills knocked her out, so she slept all the rest of the way to the ranch. She doesn’t stir, when Jake picks her up and carry her inside the house and to her room. He lays her down gently on the bed and put her wheel chair near her, since she couldn’t use crouches for support. He props her ankle up on a couple of nice fluffy pillows. Rachel makes sure two more pain pills were in the pill case they got her, along with the antibiotic pills she was require taking for her other injuries. They leave the door partially open, because they know she will freak out if she doesn’t have anyone near her.

Carol Ann had been working on her homework, when she heard her father’s truck pull up. She had watched from her bedroom window as he carried Susan into the house. She was still clinging to the stuff bear the guys had given her as a get well present. She felt sorry for Susan. Her dad had told her what happen to her. How the cheerful energetic girl he had met, had been replace with a person who he didn’t recognize any more. It was like she was withdrawing herself from everyone.

“So? How was the trip back?” She looks towards both her parents.

“It went fine. This was one of her good days.” Rachel looks at her daughter and was thankful she understood their concern for Susan.

“If I hadn’t order her to eat, I doubt she would have.” Jake was a little concern about her.

“Just give her time Jake. It’s been only a week and she’s been through so much. She can’t use her left hand like she used to, and she can’t get around without the use of her wheelchair because of her ankle. Combine that with her other injuries, she’s got a rough road ahead of her.”
Rachel could understand what Susan was going through. She used to be a nurse, before she decided to stay home and take care of Carol Ann.

“I’m going to go and make dinner, why don’t you go and check on the men and make sure they got the herd moved like we told them.” Rachel looks towards her husband.

He gives her a look of who’s in charge here. “Yes Ma’am.”

Rachel just gives him I am look. She loved her husband, but sometimes he forgets that she rules the house and the ranch was his.

Carol Ann looks towards her mother “who’s going to listen out for Susan?”

“We are. I got your old baby monitoring devices out and put it in her room. I’ll hear if she’s awake and needs anything.” Rachel was glad she kept the old baby monitoring devices.

“Now why don’t you come into the kitchen and help me make dinner tonight.” Rachel was looking at her daughter.

“Yes ma’am.” Carol Ann heads into the kitchen with her mother to help fix dinner.

Susan wakes up a few hours later. She didn’t remember getting out of the truck, but she recognized the wheel chair and the room from the pictures Elizabeth had shown her. She still had the teddy bear near her and the rest of her gifts from the people from the rodeo.

She closes her eyes and tries not to panic every time she thinks about the rodeo. Her counselor told her that she would have panic attacks off and on. She opens her eyes and releases her breath. She really didn’t need to freak out right now. The pain pills were dulling the pain of her ankle and wrist. They also were making her feel dopey and sleepy all the time. She was still dressed in the blue dress Rachel had dressed her in. The Doctors said she couldn’t wear jeans or any pants, except loose fitting sweat pants while she was healing in between her legs. She looks around the room. It was nice and peacefully decorated. There were things here that reminded her of a country side Inn. She tries to sit up some, using her good hand. She makes sure the pillows under her ankle were still supporting them.

She picks her cell phone up and checks to see if there were any messages. She smiles when she notices one from Elizabeth. It had a picture attached to it. She opens the picture and notice it was a huge banner the whole entire rodeo had done to wish her a quick recovery. It made her feel warm.

Rachel knocks on the door to the room before entering it. She notices that Susan had jumped some from the noise.

“I heard movement and thought I should check on you.” Rachel had the baby monitor receiver in her apron.

Susan gives her a weird look “How?”

Rachel points to a teddy bear sitting on the end table next to the bed.

“It’s a baby monitor. I used to use it when Carol Ann was little and figure, since you can’t get up and move around, like you would like. You could let me know when you have to go to the bathroom or if you wanted to come out into the living room with us.” Rachel sits down on the edge of the bed next to Susan.

“I feel so useless and dirty Rachel. I hate feeling like this.” Tears start to slide down Susan’s bandaged face.

Rachel wraps her arms tenderly around Susan and holds her tight. She pets her on her back.

“It’s going to be okay sweetie. You have a rough road ahead of you, but I know you’ll be able to overcome this. It takes time and you can take as much time as you need to recover. Jake, Carol Ann and I consider you family. So, you’ll have your family to help you.” Susan just starts crying even harder now. She felt that she didn’t deserve Jake and his family as her own. Not after what happen to her.

Rachel just holds her close and let her cry herself to sleep again. Rachel places the teddy bear she’s been using for comfort next to her. She was happy that Jake had told her everything about Susan. This poor girl needed a loving family to help her through her pain. Rachel walks out of the room quietly and heads back to the kitchen.

“How is she mom?” Carol Ann was concern about Susan as well.

“She’s holding on right now sweetie. It’s going to be rough for her. Between the physical pains she has and the Psychological problems she is
going to have to work through, Susan may never be the trusting person she used to be or be comfortable around people like your father said she was. She’s also going to suffer problems from killing the men that raped her. I spoke to her counselor and even she agrees that Susan is going to need time to heal. So all we can do is help her and be there for her. You might be able to distract her with your homework or something.” Rachel holds her daughter.

“I hope she gets better. From what father said, she seemed to be an amazing person.” Carol Ann wonders why something like this happens to people. Did she do something wrong or was it just one of those random things in life.

Susan sleeps through dinner and into the middle of the night. She does tosses and turn, but the pain from her ankle and wrist wake her up as she glances around the dark bedroom. The door to her room was slightly open and the teddy bear she has been cling to, was sitting next to her. She grabs it and holds it to her body. She was scared as she looked out into the room.

“Go away. You deserve what you got.” She was shaking and holding her teddy bear tight.

Rachel and Jake had heard Susan’s trembling voice over the baby monitor. They get out of bed and walk down to her room. Rachel sticks her head in and notices Susan staring at the wall across from her. Her face was pale white, and she was clinching the teddy bear tight to her.

“Go away, leave me along. You, you deserve what you got.” Susan’s face had a petrified look on it.

“She’s dreaming about those men she killed that raped her.” Jake had seen the same expression on several police officer friends of his back in Texas.

“Is it safe for me to approach her?” Rachel was worried that she might strike out.

“Let me do it. If she does strike out, I can take it.” Jake moves slowly over towards Susan’s bed.

“Susan. It’s me Jake. Look at me sweetie.” Jake steps closer to the bed.

Susan hears Jake voice, but it sounded like it was coming from far away from her. Her body starts to shake as the image of Clarence comes closer to her. She tries to swing her hand at the image.

Jake stands back as Susan’s injured arm misses him. She was going to hurt it more if she didn’t stop.

“Susan, stop it. You’re going to hurt yourself even more.” Jake was near her.

Susan backs closer against the headboard of the bed she was on. Her ankle sends pain flaring up her leg from her using it to push herself.
She screams out from the pain. The pain snaps her awake. Jake grabs her and holds her to his body. She sobs against him like a little girl holding onto her daddy.

“Make them go away, daddy. Make them leave me along.” Susan clings to Jake desperately shaking and crying. She had her swollen bandaged face buried against Jakes shoulder and cling to him for dear life.

Rachel grabs a tranquilizer pill “here sweetie, take this.” She gives Susan the pill and then a sip of water from her bottle she keeps on her night stand.

After ten minutes, Susan drops off into a deep sleep. Jake lays her down gently and props her ankle again. He covers her up and tucks her in. He places a kiss on her forehead. Rachel comes over and places a kiss on her forehead as well.

“What were those pills you gave her?” Jake was looking at his wife for an answer.

“They are sleeping pills. Her counselor thought she might need them. This isn’t the first time she woke-up scared like she was. The nurse, who watched her, said that they had to give her a shot in order to get her to sleep though out the night sometimes. If it wasn’t her screaming from being rape, it was from her shooting those men. I hate using them on her, because of how many pills she is taking, but she needs them ever so often to sleep. Once her ankle and wrist are doing better, I’m planning on weaning her off them.” Rachel really does hate giving them to her, but what choice does she have.

Morning comes early for both Jake and Rachel. Jake gets up and heads out to start work on the ranch and Rachel gets Carol Ann ready for school. She checks on Susan and notice she is still out for the count.

Around ten in the morning, the Sheriff comes out to the ranch. Lawrence gets out and heads up to the door of the house. Rachel had seen him when he pulled up. Jake was out in the field rounding up some buffaloes and horses they had. Rachel meets the Sheriff at the door.

“Well hello Tom, come on in.” Rachel opens the door for him.

“Thanks, Rachel.” Tom walks in and follows Rachel to the living room. He notices she has a baby monitor attaché to her apron.

Rachel notices where Tom was looking “It’s for Susan. I can keep an eye or ear on her if she needs anything. She can’t move around that well with a broken ankle and a broken wrist.”

“So? Would you like a cup of coffee or anything?” Rachel hopes the cookies she baked were ready.

“Coffee, please” Tom was looking out one of the windows in the kitchen.

“So, what brings you out this way today?” Rachel pours the coffee into a mug and adds a little sugar to it. She knew how Tom liked his coffee.

“Well, to tell you the truth. I have a message for Susan from the Virginia Beach Police department.” He takes a sip of his coffee. He had always liked coming out here. Rachel always had the best coffee.

Rachel pours herself a cup and sits down at the counter with Tom.

“She’s still asleep Tom. She had a rough time last night.” Rachel takes a sip of her coffee. It was the only thing keeping her awake this morning.

“Well, when she wakes up. Tell her that her husband is dead. He was found yesterday morning floating face down in the Chesapeake Bay and that he had been shot. Her friend tried to call her, but her number had been changed. So, she called the Virginia Beach police department and they tracked her SUV here. They called us and asked if we would relay the message to her.” Tom takes another sip of his coffee.

“I’ll tell her. She’s not going to be able to fly back to Virginia or drive. Her injuries are too extensive.” Rachel shakes her head.

“She’s been through too much lately. I know she doesn’t care about her husband. Jake said she left him, because he abused her.” Rachel had seen the marks when the Doctors had asked Jake and her about them.

“I know. I read her file. I was amazed that she had enough courage to shoot the men responsible for raping her.” Tom had read the report they had on her. The local newspaper had wanted to do a story on her, but Jake told them to go away while she recovered.

“She only killed two of them with the gun and killed the last one with Clarence knife. She told me when I asked her how she managed to survive. Unfortunately, she has been suffering from it. She has nightmares of them being in the room with her.” Rachel takes a sip of her coffee.

“I had friends that have gone through the same thing. Not the rape, but the taking of a life during the line of duty. These men are considered heroes by the public and the department, but they suffer from the taking the lives of others. Have you signed her up with a group to help her?”
Tom looks at Rachel.

“She has a meeting with a group of rape survivors next Thursday evening. Her counselor appointment is early in the morning, so she can go to the meeting. Her physical therapy is Friday morning.” Rachel was thinking about doing some shopping while Susan was at therapy.

“Well, let me know if you need any help. Betty has been looking for an excuse to get out of the house for a while.” Tom thinks about his wife.

“How is Betty?” Rachel and Tom sit at the counter talking about his wife and other things.

Susan watches the men work from the front porch of the house. It has been a month since she has been rape. She was still under doctor orders not to do any heavy lifting or spend a lot of time on her feet. She also feels sadness for the loss of her husband. She couldn’t go to the funeral or handle any of the things she needed to for him. Her friend Kelly had handled everything for her. She had told her friend that her and her husband could keep anything Robert owned. She didn’t want anything of it.

The nightmares of her shooting the three men were less and so were some of the flashbacks of her being rape. The group therapy she was attending weekly along with seeing her counselor every two weeks was helping her. She still didn’t like being by herself or out at dark. She knew Rachel was nearby, so it didn’t bother her to sit out on the porch by herself. Jake had taken the guns out of their hidden compartment and got rid of them for her. The money she had, Rachel had taken her into town and set-up an account for her at the same bank Jake and Rachel used. When they were in town, Susan clung to Rachel like a scared and frighten child. She still didn’t like being around strong aggressive men either. The only men she trusted were Jake, Elizabeth’s boyfriend and the men on the ranch. She missed her poor horse as well. She wanted to train and ride him, but she had asked Jake if he wouldn’t mind training him for her and to let Carol Ann or any one he trusted to ride him.

Clarence’s father paid her a visit earlier in week to see how she was doing. He normally came by every two weeks to check on her. He still felt responsible for what his son did to her and wanted to make it up to her. He had told her this while she was still in the hospital. He always brought flowers for her room. She told him, that he wasn’t responsible for his son’s actions, but he wouldn’t listen to her. He told her it was a matter of family honor and his son had ruined theirs. She knew Carol Ann’s birthday was coming up and she wanted to get something special for her little sister. She had been so kind and understanding to her.

A cold wind blows by her. She pulls the sweater she was wearing tighter around her body. She was tired of being cooped up in the house and in her bedroom. So, she had asked Rachel for help for getting outside today. She wasn’t using her wheelchair any more. It was still hard for her to walk with her foot in a walking boot. Jake had brought her a nice walking cane to use. It was hand carved and had horses running up it. The top of it was shaped like a horse head. Grabbing things with her left hand was still a problem as well. Her hand was going to take longer to use. It was a good thing she was right handed. She couldn’t drive, not that she would. She was still too scared to go out on her own.

She and Rachel had an appointment at a hair salon tomorrow. Her counselor thought she should go out and pamper herself some. So, she could start feeling like herself again. Susan was frightened about going out, but she promises Rachel she would do this. She also wanted to stop and buy Carol Ann’s birthday gift. The smell of baking apple and cherry pies drifted in the air. Susan smiles, she knew Rachel loved cooking. She was always cooking something, when she wasn’t cleaning the house. Rachel had started to put her to work as well. For one thing, she made her clean her room and her bathroom. It had become a mess and Rachel said she wasn’t going to clean-up after her any more. So, she came in and got her out of bed and made her clean the room. Then she gave Susan some light dusting and folding laundry to do. She had told her that she didn’t need two hands to fold laundry. She had shown her how to fold with one hand.

A bright smile appears on her face. Rachel was the type of mother she had always wanted. One who knew how you felt and would do everything she could to protect her baby and two the one that wasn’t going to let you get away with anything.

“What are you smiling about?” Rachel comes walking out of the house with a tray in her hand.

“How I liked the fact that you treat me more like your daughter, instead of a stranger.” Susan moves aside so Rachel could sit next to her on the porch swing.

“That’s because I think of you as my daughter. You may have been considered an adult by the Virginia courts, but to me, you’re a lost little girl who needs a mother.” Rachel sits down next to Susan and places the tray she had on a table next to the swing.

“I thought you might like some hot tea.” Rachel picks up the saucer with a tea cup on it. She had already made it like Susan liked it.

“Thank you, mom,” Susan accepts the saucer and teacup. She uses her left hand to steady the saucer. Her Doctor had said she needed to use it more.

Rachel just smiles to herself. For the past month, Susan has been referring to her as mom, instead of her given name.

“So? Are you still up to going out tomorrow?” Rachel takes a sip of her tea.

“Do I have a choice in the matter?” Susan already knew the answer.

“Nope, your counselor thought it might do you some good, to pamper yourself and interact with people outside your support group. Besides, Elizabeth is going with us and the two of you are good friends.” Rachel hadn’t told her that Elizabeth had been drifted to go with them.

Susan looks at Rachel “why do I get the feeling I’m being set-up by you?”

Rachel just gives her a smile. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Right, I guess we should take the Cadillac then. It hasn’t been driven much, except by dad. It’s also easier to get in and out of with this walking boot on then your car mom.” Susan looks over at her poor Cadillac. It has been sitting since she got here. Jake did drive it twice to fill it up the first time and to use it to buy some parts for his truck, when Rachel had gone to town. She had called the Cadillac dealership to get two more sets of keys sent to her and had given Jake and Rachel them.

“What’s wrong with my car?” Rachel looks at Susan amused look on her face.

“I hit my knee every time I try to get out of it. Plus, there’s not much room for me to stretch my leg out to relieve some of the pressure on my ankle.” Susan mostly sat in the back seat of Rachel’s car, but it was hard to maneuver her leg with the boot on.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me sweetie?” Rachel looks at Susan.

“Because you were doing something for me mom and I didn’t want to sound ungrateful.” Susan was telling the truth on this matter. A lot times she wished they either took the pick-up or her Cadillac.

“Well, tell me so we can make other arrangements. Have you decided what you want to get Carol Ann for her birthday yet?” Rachel knew Susan and Carol Ann have been spending a lot time together. Carol Ann would show Susan what they were doing in school and see if she wanted to help or the two of them would talk about things. She knew Carol Ann asked Susan a lot about questions on dating.

“Actually, I have. She’s been hinting at this dress she wants, so she can wear it to the Winter Dance. I thought I would buy it for her, unless you want to mom.” Susan looks towards Rachel as she sips her tea.

“That’s fine. I’ll buy the accessories for it.” Rachel knew what she was going to get for the dress.

“I wish I had you for a mother when I was growing up. I might have not made as many mistakes like I did. I really didn’t have a mother figure or even a father figure in my life after my mother had died of cancer. My father was an alcoholic and abusive. All I could think of was getting away from him. The foster homes I was set to were too restricted and all they really wanted was a baby sitter to take care of the younger children they had. I guess that’s why I ran off and married Robert. I didn’t realize how he was raping me in his own way and the abuse afterwards.” Susan shivers just from thinking about it.

Rachel places her hand on Susan’s left one “I think you are doing fine for someone who has been through so much. The thing is, you have me, Carol Ann and Jake now as your family and you’ll always be welcome here sweetie. There will always be love here for you.” She gives her hand a light squeeze.

Susan brushes away some tears that had started to slide down her cheek. Her face looked better since she had surgery on it. She almost didn’t recognize the young girl looking back at her in the mirror. The plastic surgeon had done a wonderful job on her face and between her legs as well. It still hurt occasionally, between her legs, but the pain was getting less and less.

The surgeon did a vaginoplasty job on her, because her rapist had done sever damage to her down there. They had bruised her cervix during their rough treatment of her and tore the lining of her vagina. The bruising was completely gone, and she had some feeling now. Before, after her attackers had raped her, she couldn’t feel a thing at all.

Rachel notice that Susan was in deep thought about something. She had come to know her facial expressions. That way she could predict when Susan might have an episode from her trauma.

Susan looks at Rachel “I’m alright mom. I was just thinking about all the medical work that has been done to me, to fix the damage that was done.”

“Okay sweetie.” Rachel just held Susan’s hand.

They both finish their tea in silent and listen as the school bus drops Carol Ann off at the entrance to the ranch.

Carol Ann notices her mother and Susan sitting outside on the swing. It was nice to see Susan outside, instead of in her bedroom like she normally was.

“So, what have the two of you been up too, while I was slaving away in school?” Carol Ann notices the tea cups and the tray.

“Talking about how much I wish I had a family like yours when I was little and what to get my annoying little sister for her birthday.” Susan gives Carol Ann a teasing smile.

“Mom and I were talking about getting you an old fashion chastise belt, so you don’t make the same mistakes I made.” Susan couldn’t help and tease Carol Ann.

Rachel looks at Susan. This was the first time she had ever teased Carol Ann.

“Ha! Ha! Sis, very funny” Carol Ann knew Susan was teasing her.

“So what homework do you have tonight?” Rachel looks at Carol Ann.

“I have two chapters I have to read for Social studies, a report to write in English and over a hundred math problems I have to turn in tomorrow.” Her teachers had loaded her up on homework this week.

“If you want, I could help you in math. I know you don’t like it very much.” Susan loved math, she hated Social studies.

“As long as she does the problems herself Susan, I don’t mind you helping her. You’re pretty good with math problems.” Rachel had checked over Carol Ann’s homework after Susan had helped her last time and her math was spot on.

“Yes mom.” Susan just smiles at Rachel.

“All right, let’s go inside and get dinner ready. You two can start on the home work after dinner.” Rachel gets up off the swing first and takes the tray inside.

Carol Ann helps Susan stand up and hands her, her cane so she could walk.

“Thanks.” Susan uses her cane to help her walk into the house with Carol Ann following behind her. Ever since the rape, Susan didn’t like any one behind her, but she trusted her sister.

Carol Ann takes her books to her bedroom and Susan heads into the kitchen. She notices the pies Rachel had made earlier today, while she was outside enjoying nature.

“So what are we having for dinner tonight mom?” Susan looks towards Rachel.

“I thought Shepard’s pie might be a good choice. Are you up to making it?” Rachel knew Susan still had trouble with her left hand.

“Yes ma’am.” Susan walks over and sits on the stool Rachel had brought around the counter for her to sit on.

Rachel brings her the ingredients and Susan follows the directions from a hand me down cookbook, Rachel mother had given her. There were recipes in it that went as far back as Colonial days.

“This book is old.” Susan was being gentle with it.

“That’s just a copy. The original is vacuum sealed and is locked away in the safe. That book has been in my family since they first came over here.” Rachel was proud of her families’ cookbook.

“It’s nice, that you can trace your family that far back. My own birth family, I don’t know much about. I knew my mother had a sister and a brother, but they didn’t like my father. My father has a younger brother and an older brother who is locked up in the federal pen. My mother wasn’t able to have any more children after she had me.” Susan reads the directions that were given for mixing the spices and cutting the onions up.

“Why didn’t you and your father get along?” Rachel had been curious about that. Susan had told her before about being place in Child protective care.

“Well, other than being drunk all the time, he’s very abusive. The slightest little thing would set him off. He would whip me so hard with either his belt or switch from outside. He would back hand me if I didn’t say yes sir or no sir. I always had bruises on my body from him grabbing me real hard and shaking me. We barely had any money for food, because he drunk most of it away. What we did have went into his truck for gas or for him to buy more alcohol at work. One of my teachers called child protective services on him. I was placed in a foster home. My first one was okay, the couples there were kind and understanding, but since my father wouldn’t forfeit his parental rights, I couldn’t be adopted. So I was placed in another foster home. The woman who I had been sent too, already had six foster kids living under her roof. I was there to act as a baby sitter for the younger ones. I went to school some days and would ditch the rest of the week with a few friends of mine. That’s how I met Robert. I went to a friend’s party and we hit it off. He wine and dine me and told me he loved me and such. We got in touch with my case worker and convince her I was in love and she let me get married, since it was close to my birthday. Things were fine for a few months afterwards and then Robert started abusing me. He, he..” Susan grips the counter where she is sitting. She could feel a panic attack coming on.

Rachel moves to Susan’s side and rub her back.

“It’s okay. Relax, take a deep breathe. I’m here with you.” Rachel holds Susan to her. She knew Susan still had the panic attacks, either because of the rape or the taking of the men’s lives she took.

Susan’s counselor had recognized the symptoms right away when Jake and Rachel told her about Susan talking to an invisible person. She had said that along with the Post traumatic Stress Disorder, she was also suffering from Post-shooting trauma. Susan had killed her attackers, but they had left their mark on her. She couldn’t even be around a gun, without breaking down from seeing it.

Rachel watches as Susan does as she is told to do. She takes a deep breath and holds it and then releases it. She repeats these steps over and over, till she has managed to quiet the attacks.

Susan turns towards Rachel with tears streaming down her cheek “Mom, when will this stop. I can’t even talk about how I feel, without being overwhelm with a panic attack.” She rests her head on Rachel’s shoulder and cries.

Carol Ann walks in and notices her mother comforting Susan.

Rachel looks at her daughter and in a low whisper “panic attack.”

Carol Ann shakes her head that she understood and starts working on the meal as well.

Rachel holds Susan for a while, then the two of them separate and start helping Carol Ann. No more is said about Susan’s past as she concentrates on making dinner. She loved cooking and buried herself into the preparations of making dinner.

The one thing she loved about living on the ranch was the isolation and quietness it brought. Susan stares out the kitchen window and watch as Jake and the men call it a day. She watches as Jake comes walking towards the house and through the back door, after stomping his feet off.

Jake notices his three ladies sitting around in the kitchen and the wonderful smell of dinner cooking.

“Well, this is a site to behold.” He stands there and admirer all his girls.

Rachel goes over and gives him a hug and a kiss.

“Hi daddy” Carol Ann gives him a hug as well. Susan tries to get up to walk over towards Jake, but her walking boot gets caught.

Jake walks over and gives Susan a fatherly hug. She wraps her arms around him and holds tight. He was the one that rescue her and watched after her while the paramedics worked on her. He gently tilts her head back to look at her eyes.

“How are you feeling today sweetie?” The cheerfulness he once saw in her brown eyes weren’t there anymore.

“I’m doing better. Mom and I had a little tea party out on the front porch today.” Jake, Elizabeth boyfriend, Mr. Garrigan and Jake’s farm hands were the only men she would allow near her.

They all head into the dining room and sit down for dinner. Carol Ann had set the table while they had been waiting for dinner to bake. Small talk is made about what needed to be done around the ranch. Susan starts feeling sick and chalks it up to her rape symptoms. The doctor had told her, she might feel sick. As everyone is sitting around the dining room table, the phone starts ring.

“I’ll get it.” Rachel gets up and heads into the kitchen to answer the phone.

Susan listens as she tries to hear what is said. She notices Rachel looking towards her and then her saying good-bye.
As Rachel walks back to the dining room table.

“What is it mom?” Susan knew there was something wrong.

Rachel comes over to her and holds her hand.

“I’m not sure how to tell you this sweetie, but your test came back.” Rachel bites the inside of lower lip. She doesn’t know how Susan is going to like this.

“You’re test show that you are pregnant Susan.” Rachel didn’t know how Susan was going to take this.

“How? How can I be pregnant? I took the morning after pill they gave to me.” Susan was upset. Not only have they taken her self-respect away from her, but they left something of themselves inside of her.

“I don’t know sweetie. “Rachel holds Susan as she starts crying.

Carol Ann looks over towards her father as she watched her mother hold Susan. She could see the anger in his eyes about this news. She knew he had come to think of Susan like a daughter. Heck, even she thought of Susan as an older sister. She was only a year younger then Susan. She wonders what Susan is going to do. Will she have the baby or have an abortion. She knew her parents value life and every time they had to put a horse or cow calf down, it hurt them.

Rachel helps Susan back to her bedroom and gives her a tranquilizer to knock her out. She comes back to the dining room table and sits down and tries to eat her dinner, but doesn’t feel up to it.

“I wonder what she is going to do?” Carol looks towards her folks.

“Who knows? I know at one time she wanted to have a baby, but that was from someone she thought loved her. She told me that she was mad and angry when she lost the baby from him punching her in the stomach.” Jack remembered the conversions. They had set down and had barbeque sandwiches at the rodeo.

“Her husband punched her in the stomach? Why?” Carol Ann didn’t know this about Susan.

“She thinks, because he didn’t want to have children. She wanted to have a baby, but he didn’t. Now the table is reverse on her. She wasn’t looking to be pregnant and having a child. She wanted to get her life on track. Now she has to decide does she want to carry the baby to full term and raise it? Does she want to get abortion? Or does she want to give it up for adoption? Either way, she’s got to make some sort decision and none of them are good choices.” Jake hated saying that.

He looks towards Carol Ann “I hope and pray you never have to experience anything like this sweetie.”

“I hope not either father, but if I ever did become accidental pregnant, I think I would keep the baby. I know how you and mom love children and sometimes wish you had more than me at times.” Carol knew she was their special baby.

“That is sweet darling. You’re right. I and your father wanted you to have sisters and brothers like we did to grow-up with, but it wasn’t in the greater design of things. If Susan does decide to have the baby, it will be loved in this house hold. Even if she doesn’t love it, we will.” Rachel wouldn’t mind having another child to rise. She loved children and knew how precious they were.

“I would recommend that you wait till you have a career, before thinking about having children Carol. Because, if I know your father right now. He’s ready to kill someone right now.” Rachel looks down at Jake who had become quiet.

Susan looks at herself as they pass the glass windows as they walk through the mall. She really didn’t want to be out today, after having the news she was pregnant dropped on her last night. She and Rachel had gone by her doctor’s office to see the results from the pregnancy test.
She had talked with her doctor, while holding onto Rachel’s hand. She was told that if she aborts the pregnancy, she may not be able to have children again. There was just too much scar tissue near here cervix. If she decided to have the baby, it would have to be delivered by caesarean delivery. Either way she was faced with a choice of having the baby and maybe giving it up or bring it up as her own. She knew Rachel and Jake would stand by her decision. Rachel had said whatever choice she made, she would stand by her.

They had gone to the hair salon Rachel had made an appointment at for them. She had to hold Rachel’s hand for support as the woman she had cut her hair. The scissors reminded her of the knife she used to kill the skinny guy. The women at the salon had seen the article done about the rape at the Fairgrounds and about her killing her assailants. They didn’t mention much about it or were careful, not to say anything about it. Afterwards, Rachel took her to a restaurant and they had a lite lunch.

Susan wanted to go back home, because she didn’t feel comfortable being around a large crowd of people, but Rachel was always near her and would hold her hand to comfort her. There were a few times her left hand would shake while she was sitting down eating. Rachel would grip it and give her hand a little squeeze to make her relax.

While they were shopping, Susan had to sit down. Her ankle was really bothering her. She did buy the dress Carol Ann had wanted, along with a few other things every girl needs. She even brought a new purse to go with it, with a gift card in it, so Carol Ann would have some money of her own to spend. When they went by the maternity section, she stops to look at some of the things there. There were a few things that looked nice that she had wanted for her first baby.

“Mom, do you know I almost brought something similar to that crib when I found out I was pregnant with Robert’s child?” Susan points towards a beautiful crib she had spotted that looked like the one she had wanted the first time.

“I really wanted to have something nice for my baby.” She stares at it.

“Now, I don’t know what I am going to do.” Susan didn’t want to blame the child growing in her, but at the same time, she wasn’t sure she wanted to be reminded of that night for the rest of her life either.

Rachel looks at Susan’s face and could see the conflict of emotions in her eyes.

“You still have time to decide Susan. Remember, you’re not in this alone. You have a family now that will stand by you and help you. Think of how Jake will feel being called Grandpa. It took him till Carol Ann was born to accept he was going to be a father.” Rachel had an amused look on her face. She remembers the day as if it was just yesterday.

Susan smiles some teasing Jake about being a grandfather would be kind of fun. “What about Mr. Garrigan if the baby turns out to be from his son?”

“Then he can either help you and enjoy his grandchild or back off entirely. Either way the decision is yours.” Rachel helps carries the packages they bought out to the SUV. They had taken Susan’s Cadillac because of how much space she had. Rachel gets behind the steering wheel, while Susan seats in the passenger seat and buckles in. As they drove home, Susan looks out the window and thinks about the choices she has. She had wanted a baby with Robert. Would she have stayed with him if she hadn’t lost her baby? Did she want to keep the baby growing inside of her, because she lost her first one and this one would make-up for it? Did she want this one, because the doctor said she would never be able to get pregnant again and at least this baby would mean she was a woman?

Susan turns in her seat to face Rachel.

“Mom? How did you feel after you were told that you wouldn’t be able to have any more children?” Susan was watching Rachel facial expression.

“I felt like my life pretty much ended. I wanted a big family and a son to carry on our family name. Carol Ann was a premature baby. She was born at 29weeks. I thought I was going to lose her, but she fought her way to the point where she could finally come home. You should have seen Jake. He didn’t sleep or eat. His older sister came down here and took care of me and the ranch. I was a mess. I was depressed and wanted to die. I didn’t want to go through life without my baby. I was envious of girls your age that could have as many babies as they wanted and angry at the ones that either had an abortion or gave their babies up. I asked why they should be able to continue to reproduce and I couldn’t? I was angry at god because he took what made me happy and a woman away from me. It took me a long time to understand why I can’t have any more children other than Carol Ann, than you came along.” Rachel glances at Susan and then back at the road.

“You may not have been born from me, but I sense that you needed or wanted a mother figure in your life. After what happen to you at the Fairgrounds, I knew it wasn’t by luck. I knew before then, when I first met you that you were going to be someone I would need to take care of. You had that lost lonely look in your eyes. I notice how you watched the mothers and daughters that walked around you or near you how much you wanted a relationship like that. That’s why I told Jake to tell you, that you were going to be staying up at our house, instead of the bunk house. We have more than one bunk house and you could had stayed in the other one. It is normally used by any women we hire. However, since we consider you family, your place was with us.”

Susan sat there in her seat stun.

Rachel gives Susan a motherly smile and then goes back to concentrating on her driving.

Susan sits back in her seat and felt that she had been set-up. She knew that was impossible. She thought about Rachel’s words and would think on the matter of having her unborn baby.

Susan notices that Mr. Garrigan’s car was parked next to Jake pick-up truck. She had forgotten he normally comes on Thursday’s to visit her.

“Should I tell him mom?” Susan was looking towards Mr. Garrigan’s car.

“That’s up to you sweetie. If you want to wait and make sure that the babies might be his son’s, then I would wait. If you want to tell him that you found out that you are pregnant, but aren’t sure which of the three men the baby is from, then you can do that. However, the final decision is yours.” Rachel thinks it might be safer to know who the father is and if she is going to keep the baby, before saying anything at all.

Susan sits back in her seat and thinks about it. She knows she’ll have to tell him sooner or later, but she isn’t sure what she is going to do about the baby yet.

“I think I’ll wait, till I figure out if I am going to keep the baby or not. I am still on the fence about having it. I would like to know who the father is before I do anything.” Susan looks towards Rachel.

“If that’s the way you want to do this, then I will support you on it.” She reaches over and gives Susan a hug. She gets out and walks around to the passenger side to open the door for Susan.

“So how was the shopping trip and Doctor appointment?” Jake wasn’t talking about the pregnancy test. He was concern about Susan’s ankle and wrist.

Mr. Garrigan was following behind Jake.

“He said I was getting better. Dr. Alvey thinks I can start physical therapy for my ankle next month. He still wants me to use my cane and this stupid walking cast. He told me I can’t get back into the saddle any time soon. My other problem is slowly healing. However, my wrist is still going to take about a year to get to the point where I can use it to even tie my shoes or braid my hair.” Susan watches as Mr. Garrigan comes up to help Rachel with the packages.

Susan looks towards Mr. Garrigan “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting sir. Mom thought it might be good for me to at least look like a normal girl, instead of hiding inside the house.”

He just smiles at Susan’s attempt at a joke “no my dear you haven’t. I think she did a good job in making you look better then you have lately. I like what you did with your hair. It makes you look older than you really are.”

“Thank you.” Susan blushes from the compliment.

“The main reason I came by other than to check on you, is that I am flying out tomorrow for a week on business. There is this nice full-blooded Andalusian mare I saw that I thought might be a good companion for yours. If you don’t mind me acting on your behalf, I could see how much they would be willing to let her go for and bring her back here to you. I think between the two, you could start a nice herd of your own.” Susan looks out towards her poor fellow. She hadn’t been able to spend any time with her boy.

“What do you think daddy?” Susan looks towards Jake. He has been taking care of her horse.

“He might be happier having a companion with him. If you’re going to do this, I’ll support you.” Jake knew Susan missed her poor horse.

“Let me get my check book Mr. Garrigan and I’ll write you a check.” Susan was about to step away from the Cadillac.

Mr. Garrigan lays his hand on her gently to stop her.

Susan tenses up some and then she remembers who is touching her.

“There’s no need Susan. I’ll handle everything.” Mr. Garrigan had notice Susan had tense some.

Susan looks at Mr. Garrigan “you don’t need to do this Mr. Garrigan. It wasn’t your fault and you don’t need to pay for this. “

“I know Susan. Still, what my son did and one of my hire hands did to you is unforgivable. I’m not trying to buy forgiveness from you. I want to do this for you. You lost something that there is no price that could be put on. Besides, how can you not let an old man like me not shower you with gifts? A pretty girl like you deserves nice things.” Mr. Garrigan was teasing Susan.

“She has nice things old man.” Jake walks up to Susan and stands by her.

“That she does. Still, let me do this for you Susan.” Susan looks towards Jake and then Mr. Garrigan. This fight she could handle, but the one that was going to be coming up in another two months was going to be the straw which broke the camel’s back.

“Okay Mr. Garrigan. I’ll let you this time. Just remember, one day I might ask you for a huge favor one day. Susan leans in and places a kiss on his cheek.

“Thank you for what you have already done for me. Now if you’ll excuse me, my ankle is screaming at me.” Susan steps past Mr. Garrigan and heads into the house.

She notice Rachel has already got a bunch of pillows ready for her ankle. She walks over towards the recliner she loved sitting in and takes a seat and prop her ankle up on the pillows.

Jake had follow behind her with whatever was left in the SUV. After he helps put the things away and the few bags that belonged to her, in her room. He comes walking over to where she is resting.

“I think that was a nice offer from Mr. Garrigan.” Jake sits down in his favorite recliner.

Susan looks towards her adopted father “I feel like I am taking advantage of him dad. He shouldn’t be doing what he has so far.”
Rachel comes in and sits next to Susan on the sofa.

“He feels guilty for what his son did to you sweetie. To him it’s a disgrace against his family name. His family name means just as much to him as ours does. There’s allot of old families around here. I think if you had been a street walker or rodeo follower, he might feel different about what happen. However, since you were employed by Jake and worked hard around the rodeo and are under age. He sees what was done to you as a crime. It goes against the cowboy code. So, he feels indebted to you. You haven’t asked anything of him, which he hasn’t offered to you. So, don’t feel guilty over what he asked to do for you.” Rachel reaches over and brushes a lock of Susan’s hair out of her eyes. It looked better than it has in the past month.

“How about my other problem” Susan looks at Rachel.

“What problem is that?” Jake had a puzzled looked on his face, as he looks at Susan.

“Me being pregnant, daddy” Susan couldn’t help, but wonders sometime.

“Why would that be a problem? We know who took advantage of you.” Jake was a little confused about what Susan was talking about.

“I’m talking about how to prove who the baby’s father is daddy. I know that the hospital did a DNA test of everyone involved in my rape for the courts to prove the shooting was justified. I just don’t want Mr. Garrigan to think that if the baby is from his son, that I want anything from him because of it or he might fight me to either prevent me from getting an abortion or to take the baby away from me if I decide to keep it.” Susan could feel the tears start to slide down her cheek. She didn’t want anyone to take her baby away from her. She places her hand on her tummy.

Rachel notices how Susan placed her hand on her tummy. She also notices the tears staring to slide down her face as well.

“No one’s going to take your baby away from you Susan. I promise.” Rachel looked towards her husband and he nodded his head in agreement.

“I know mom, it’s as much as I have been fighting on not wanting this baby. I find myself starting to want the baby now. I feel I don’t deserve this child, because of how it was conceived.” She starts crying.

Jake gets up out of his recliner and scoops Susan up into his arms and holds her like he did the night she was raped. He could feel her cling to him and crying against his shoulder.

“You have time to decide what to do sweetie. If you decide that you want to keep the babies, we will be here for you.” He gives her a hug and carries her to her room and tucks her in.

He looks down at her and she does look like a little girl just lying there.

“I like what you did to your hair.” He leans down and places a kiss on her forehead.

“Get some rest.” He turns and walks out of her bedroom. He leaves the door slightly open. She still didn’t like having the door shut all the way.

The following week they threw a sweet sixteen birthday party for Carol Ann. She had all her friends over and they spent the day horseback riding and playing games. While Carol Ann and her friends were out horseback riding and having fun, Susan inspected her new horse. Mr. Garrigan had brought her the mare they had talked about. She was a beauty and Midnight Chaos took to her right away. She hadn’t been named yet, so Susan named her Midnight Moon. She stood next to the fence petting her and Midnight himself. The farm boss, Gerald comes walking up to her.

“How are feeling, kiddo” Gerald had been told about what happened to Susan and hadn’t seen her much. He could understand why she kept herself barricaded in the house.

“Better.” She takes a breath and relaxes. She had gotten tense when he had first approached her.

“I still can’t go riding. God knows I want to. My poor boy here hasn’t been taken for a good run for a while.” She pets Midnights neck.

“Oh! He is just a big puppy dog.” Gerald reaches out and strokes Midnight’s neck as well.

“He’s more like a Rottweiler. You should have seen him. He was tearing through the fairgrounds like he was being chase by a cougar. No one could get their hands on him or get him under control. Then here I come and manage to get up on his back and calm him down.” She rubs his neck.

“I’ve heard the stories. They said you did it, like a pro. You made allot of cowboys’ that day look like an amateurs.” He had heard the men under him brag about her skills.

“I didn’t mean too. I just did what I thought was right.” She pets Midnight Moon.

Susan turns to Gerald. He was as old, if not older then Jake and had a grandfather quality about him. You could see some Native American features in his face and such.

“Gerald, if you don’t mind me asking, are you part Native American or Mexican?” Susan wasn’t sure

He just laughs. He loved the way she had asked.

“I’m a little of both. My mother is Hopi and my father is part Apache and Mexican. How about you? What is your family background?” He looks at Susan; he could see some Native American features in her. Her hair for one thing, was a dead giveaway. She had the hair coloring of a Native American and some of the facial features.

“I don’t know allot about my family histories. My mother died when I was young and I was raised by my father and then bounces from one foster home to another and now Jake and Rachel.” She looks over her shoulder towards them. They were setting everything out for the party.

“You care for them, don’t you?” He had seen how she looked at them.

“They’re the family I always wished fore when I was little. I feel lucky now that I have them in my life, but I wish I had them earlier. Maybe, I wouldn’t have made as many mistakes like I did.” She turns back around to look at Gerald.

She notices Carol Ann come walking up behind Gerald leading her horse brownie, who looked to be limping.

“Gerald, I think something is wrong with Brownie.” She had tears sliding down her cheek.

Gerald turns around and looks at Carol Ann and then bends down to examine Brownie’s hoof.

“She’s going to be alright sweetie. It’s just a minor heel injury.” Gerald looks back up at Carol Ann and gives her a fatherly smile.

“But I won’t be able to ride with my friends. All the other horses are out in the field.” Carol Ann was enjoying riding with her friends.

“Take Midnight Chaos, Carol. He needs a good run and he’s as solid as a house.” She pets her horse.

“But he’s yours and I’ve never ridden him before.” Carol Ann looks at Midnight Chaos. He was a big stallion and very strongly built.

“He’ll let you. He’s a big puppy dog.” Susan grips both sides of his head and places a kiss on his nose.

“You take care of my little sister, boy and do everything she tells you.” Midnight just snorts at her.

Gerald reaches out for him “come on Midnight; let’s get you all saddle up then.”

Susan watches as Gerald guides her poor boy to the gate with brownie limping beside Gerald on the other side of the fence.

She turns around and faces Carol Ann “go and have fun with him sis.” She gives Carol Ann a hug.

“Thanks sis.” She returns the hug and then hurries to help Gerald. Susan stands there and keeps the mare she was given company. She was leaning against the railing to relieve the weight from her ankle.

She pets her and scratches a favorite spot she had found. Not long afterwards, she notices Carol Ann riding off with Midnight. Susan stays and keeps her mare company, till her hurt ankle starts protesting. She heads back over towards the tables where Jake and Rachel had finish setting everything. Jake was barbequing on the grill.

“I saw Brownie limping, what happen?” Jake always gets concern over any injuries to the horses.

“She had minor damage to her Coronet and heel. Carol Ann walked her back, so Gerald could help her. I told her she could ride Midnight.” Susan reaches for a glass of sweet Ice tea Rachel had made.

“Do you think that is wise?” Rachel looks towards both Jake and Susan.

“Dad trained him. So he should be fine, plus he’ll take care of Carol Ann. He’s a big puppy dog.” Susan smiles when she says that.

“Maybe around you he is, but around anyone else, he acts like he’s the head stallion around here.” Jake had seen Midnight boss the other stallions around. He was forceful and willful.

“Will Carol Ann be safe with him?” Rachel didn’t want anything to happen to her baby.

“She’ll be fine mom. Midnight has orders to do what Carol Ann tells him and to take care of her. I have faith in him, which he won’t let me down.” Susan was sure he would be fine with Carol Ann.

Later that night the party continued on. Carol Ann had a sleep over with her friends. Susan stayed in her room and read a book in a rocking chair Rachel had given her to sit in. Her door was slightly open and she could hear the music they were listening too. It didn’t bother her. It reminded her of all the parties she and Robert use to have. Her sixteenth birthday was spent as a married woman. Now she gets to see what a real sixteen birthday is like. She falls asleep in the rocking chair with her ankle propped up. Her left wrist was getting better, but it was going to take longer them her ankle.

“Oh! I hate this.” Susan was on the floor of her bathroom, throwing up everything in her stomach. She had a light dinner last night, so there wasn’t much in her.

“It will end soon sweetie. I know it’s been a hard three months for you.” Rachel was holding Susan’s hair out of the way as she leans over the toilet.

“That’s what you said last week mom.” Susan hated the morning sickness she had. She never went through this when she was pregnant the first time. She was sitting on her cold bathroom floor in her night shirt with her ankle wrapped up. They had taken the cast off a week ago.

She still walked with a limp and was told not to overdo it. She was also nervous, because today, she had to tell and show Mr. Garrigan that he was going to be a grandfather to two baby girls. She was surprised to discover she was carrying twins. They had done a chorionic villus sampling to determine who the father was and to check the baby chromosomes. She vomits one more time and then wipes her mouth and slowly stands up with the help of her mother.

“Just think, next month this should all be over.” Rachel helps Susan up off the floor.

Her belly was already starting to show on her tiny petite frame. Susan just shoots her mother an evil look. The morning sickness had started back in October after she had found out she was pregnant, a week after Carol Ann’s birthday party. Since then, she has had morning sickness every day. She had hope it would be done by now, but it was still going on. Her doctor had cut back on her pain medicine. He didn’t want it to affect the babies growing inside of her. She also decided to go ahead and have the babies and raise them. So, Jake and Rachel were going to be grandparents and so was Mr. Garrigan. She hadn’t told him yet. He was supposed to come over and talk with her today at her request.

Susan heads back into her bedroom and start changing into a dress to wear. Rachel comes into the bedroom and helps Susan dress. She still couldn’t use her left hand while she dressed. Rachel knew it bother her about that, but the damage had been more sever then they thought to her wrist. Susan’s wrist was going to take more time to heal then her ankle. At least now she could limp around the house and yard. She still wouldn’t go out by herself at night. The last time she did go out, she nearly broke down in hysterics. She also avoided going near the trailer she had been raped near. It caused her to have flashbacks several times when she saw it.

Rachel brushes Susan’s hair. It had gotten longer since she had been living here. It used to be just below her earlobes, now Susan’s hair was almost below her shoulder blades.

Susan stares into the mirror in front of her. The scars she used to have we’re all gone and there were no signs that they had ever been any on her. Her eyes and cheeks were their natural color again. No bruising or discoloration at all. She smiles for the first time in recent months.

“What are you smiling about?” Rachel had watched as Susan finally smiled.

“I don’t look like a raccoon any more, mom. My skin is clear, and my face looks clean and free of bruises.” Susan couldn’t believe it.

“You just notice?” Rachel rest her head next to Susan’s

“Now you see what I and your dad have been seeing for the past few months.” She places a kiss on her cheek.

Mr. Garrigan had gotten Susan’s phone call last night. It was unusual for her to call him about anything. Normally, he had to plead to get her to go along with what he had in mind. He could understand how she felt about things, but his son had disgrace her. It was a matter of family honor that he looked after her and takes care of her needs. Even if the Meadows have adopted her as their own daughter. When she had asked him to come over this morning to talk about something important, he couldn’t figure out what it might be.

He pulls his sports car up behind her SUV. In the drive way and gets out. The weather had dropped some last night and there was a light dusting of snow all around him. He heads towards the door and just as he is about to knock, Jake opens the door.

“Morning Jake, it’s good to see you.” Anthony looks at his old rival. The two of them had been friends back in high school, till a girl came between them. He regrets what happened between them.

“You to Tony, Susan’s in the living room waiting to see you.” He steps aside to let Anthony by.

Anthony walks inside. The place was decorated for Christmas. He smelled fresh baked pumpkin muffins in the air. He turns to look at Jake.

“Do you know why she called me?” He was wondering why Susan would call him.

“Yes, I do, but I think its best if she tells you herself.” Jake closes the door behind him and then escorts Tony to the living room. He already knew where it was, but he figured Jake and his wife was going to be there for this as well.

As Tony walked into the living room, he notices Susan sitting in a normal chair, without her walking cast on. She still had her wrist covered up, but she didn’t have a cast or walking boot on. He also notices her cane near her as well. He gives her a fatherly smile and walks over to place a kiss on her cheek. He knew it had taken her awhile to allow any one she didn’t trust to do that. He knew she still avoid crowded places.
Susan allows Tony to kiss her on the cheek and watches as he takes a seat on the love seat. Jake and Rachel were seating a little to her left. There was a tray with a coffee pot, cups and condiments for fixing one’s coffee seating on a table between all three of them, along with the muffins he had smelled walking in.

“Mom thought you might like a cup of coffee, before we began.” Susan had already poured herself one.

“Yes, I would.” He gives her a smile.

Susan picks up one of the cups and starts pouring. “Would you like sugar and creamer or?” Susan looks at him for his answer.

“Two sugars please.” He watches Susan as she prepares the coffee and then sets it on a saucer along with two muffins.

Susan fixes his coffee and then adds two muffins to it, before handing it to him. She sits back in her seat. She waits while he tastes the coffee to see if it was right and to see what he thought of her mother’s muffins.

Tony drinks some of the coffee and found it was little stronger then he normally used, but tasted fine with the sugar added to it. Of course, he had to try Rachel’s muffins. He knew she was a good cook.

Susan sits and watches him, before sliding the envelope she had tucked in the seat next to her, so he couldn’t see it when he entered.

“The reason I called you here Mr. Garrigan is I got a call back in October telling me that the pregnancy test I took the last week of September came back positive for me being pregnant.” She was watches Tony.

“I thought they gave you a morning after pill?” He had a friend up at the hospital that told him they did.

“They did, but because for some reason, my body didn’t accept it. I don’t know if it is due to all the meds they had me on or what. Even the doctor I have can’t figure it out, but the test was done twice to support what they found out the first time.” Susan had the result in the envelope sitting on her lap.

“Do they know who the father is?” He leans forward and places the saucer on the table.

“Yes sir, they do. Here are the results.” Susan hands Tony the envelope.

Tony accepts it and reads the contents inside. He couldn’t believe it. His son got her pregnant, before she killed him. He looks back up at Susan.

“How far along are you and do you know the sex of the baby yet?” He still held the results in his hand.

“I’m four months pregnant and the babies are girls.” Susan places her hand on her tummy.

“Babies?” He wasn’t sure he heard her right.

“Yes, babies as in twins. You’re going to be the grandfather to twin baby girls that is if you would like too. That’s why I called you here this morning.” Susan pulls a second envelope from between the seat and arm rest and hands it to him.

He puts the first one down next to him and opens the second one and reads the medical report and then looks at the ultrasound that had been done as well.

He looks back up to Susan “I appreciate that you consider telling me. Will you be able to raise them on your own? Support them and give them what they need?”

“I’ve been asking myself those question and then some, since I found out that I was pregnant. I have a family now that loves me and will stand by me.” Susan looks over towards Rachel and Jake.

She turns her attention back to Anthony “as for the answers to your other questions yes, I plan on giving my girls a mother they can be proud of and to protect them as much as I can. They are as much a victim as I am. The way they were conceived will be a stain against them, but I plan on showing them I love them for them, not how they were conceived. If you want to be in their life, I would consider it a second chance for you. You could show them the right way to go through life.”

Susan sits there and watches Anthony. She hopes he will be part of their lives. He wasn’t too bad once you got to know him. Plus, he has been making sure she had everything she needed.

“What will happen to them, should you die giving birth or if you’re unable to care for the girls?” He knew Susan had suffer allot of damage during her rape, plus he didn’t know if she had a job or not yet.

“Arrangements have already been made for that, just in case. We will become the legal guardians of her girls, our grandchildren.” Rachel looks towards Anthony.

He was going to ask where they were going to live, but he already knew the answer to that question. He knew Rachel and Jake would never ask her to leave, once she became part of their family. They would do everything in their power to make sure the girls were taken care of. He looks towards Susan and wonder why she was asking him to be part of their lives? Did she want something or was her offer genuine?

“I do have a question for you Susan. Why are you asking me if I want to be part of the girl’s life, after what my son did to you?” Anthony knew he was obligated to Susan, but the babies were a different story.

Susan inhales slowly and looks directly at Anthony “because even though your son did something so wrong to me, I believe that the girls should know who their grandfather is and how kind he is. I know you feel responsible for your son’s actions; you never did me any harm. If nothing else, you have gone out of your way to make me feel like a member of your family. So, I would like for you to be part of the girl’s life. I want you to help show them the right way to go through life and if nothing else to make sure mom and dad don’t spoil them rotten.” She looks over towards Jake and Rachel with a loving smile on her face.

Anthony looks over towards Jake and Rachel and knew the girls would be in good hands with them. He looks at all the information Susan has given him and then back towards her.

“Would you mind if I thought about this some Susan? It’s not that I don’t want to be part of the girl’s lives; I want to make sure I’m doing this for the right reasons.” He was thinking about contacting his lawyer and let him look into this to make sure it wasn’t some sort of con job.

“Take as long as you would like Anthony. I and the girls aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.” Susan still had her hand on her tummy.
Susan, Anthony, Jake and Rachel sat and talked about Susan’s recovery and other things concerning ranching and such for a few hours.
When Anthony leaves, he takes the paper work Susan gave him and leaves.

Susan watches from the front porch as he drives away standing next to Rachel.

“Mom, do you think he’s going to want to be part of the girl’s life?” Susan was thinking maybe she was wrong about him.

“I think he is going to want to, knowing what I know about him, but he is going to make it legal. He is going to check into what you told him and then come back with a bunch of legal forms for us to sign to make it official.” Rachel knew Tony.

“Well, he can put whatever he wants in them. I know what I said was straight and to the point when I made it official for you and Dad to be my baby’s guardians, should I become unable to care for them. I want them to have the best life possible. I don’t want them to ever want for anything, especially a mother’s and father’s love.” Susan felt Rachel’s arm wrapped around her.

“We know baby. We know. Now let’s go ahead and get your laundry done and start design the nursery for my grandchildren.” Rachel smiles to herself. She was going to be a grandmother.

Susan follows her mother to her room and start getting her laundry ready for wash.

Jake had watched his wife and Susan as they talked by the door while they watch Anthony drive away from the house. He couldn’t believe he was going to be a grandfather. He slips his heavy jacket and gloves on and heads outside to make sure the men were doing their job.

Susan sits in the living room and folds her clothes while watching a movie. It didn’t have any violence in it, which she was thankful. She has come a long way since September. She was still recovering from her ordeal, but at least she could do normal things now, like laundry and cleaning. She tries to use her left hand, but there are times where her wrist doesn’t want to respond to her. The Doctor thinks she might have some nerve damage in it, since a bone chip had cut a set of nerve endings. They did what they could to fix it, but she was told she wasn’t going to have full feelings in her wrist.

The movie she was watching was the one called Montana. She had watched it at the girl’s group home she had been sent too. As she is sitting there, she feels her cell phone vibrate in her dress pocket. She reaches inside and pulls it out and notices it was her friend Kelly calling her.

“Hi Kelly, what’s up?” She folds the pillowcase she had pulled out of the basket.

“Nothing, I wanted to see how you are doing and how the weather out there in Montana is.” Kelly was on her lunch break and had thought about her friend.

“I’m fine. We had a light snowfall last night. Did you get the package I sent you?” Susan had mailed out her presents to her friend last week, hoping they would arrive soon. She had gotten all her shopping down with her mother’s help.

“Yes! It came on Friday. I love the homemade cookies and brownies you sent. I never knew you knew how to bake.” Kelly had loved the homemade cookies, candy and brownies Susan had sent her.

“You can thank my mother. She helped me make them. I’ve been learning a lot from her. So how is Steve doing at his new job?” Susan remembers Kelly’s boyfriend. He used to be into drugs and such like Robert had been.

“He loves it Susan. Thank you for putting us in touch with Mr. Harris. I have never seen Steve work as hard as he does for any one. Mr. Harris let us move into a house his great Aunt had left him here on the ranch in exchange for Steve working for him. He put me in touch with a friend of his that owns a feed store that needed someone to run his office and do his books.” Kelly loved working for Mr. and Mrs. Connors. They were nice people and appreciated her talents. Unlike her last employer, who had tried to seduce her and wouldn’t promote her unless she put out.

“Don’t thank me. It was my father’s doing. He knew Mr. Harris needed a hard worker and I knew Steve was trying to get his life back on track. I just put in a few good words for him. I always did like Steve; it was Robert who had held him back.” Susan had told Jake about Steve and how he was really a nice person, but because he had been busted several times for drug possession, he couldn’t get a decent job and support Kelly and their baby boy.

“How’s little Bobby doing?” Kelly had sent her the latest pictures of him. He was getting big and was already walking.

“He’s doing fine. I’ve had to child proof the house with Mrs. Harris help. She fawns over him like she is his grandmother. Which is just fine with me? You know how my mother is.” Kelly couldn’t believe she had shown up drunk and such on Thanksgiving at her house.

“I know. So, I take it, she has gotten worse?” Susan lays a pair of sweat pants she loves wearing down, after folding them.

“Yep, she won’t stop drinking or partying at all. I don’t want her around little bobby. I talked with a lawyer, should something happen to me or
Steve, that the Harris’s take him, just like you did with your adopted parents. I trust Mr. and Mrs. Harris.” She didn’t want anyone other than those two to raise her son.

“Why not your older sister, who lives in Charlotte, N.C.?” Susan remembered visiting her once.

“She got her own hoard to worry about. She’s got five children now and is working full time as a nurse. Her husband is a contractor and comes home late every night. I don’t think she can handle another mouth to feed or care fore. Mrs. Harris did promise that she would make sure
Bobby knew about his Aunt and cousins.” Kelly loved her sister, but she was already strained with having five children.

“So, how do you like living in the country?” Both Susan and Kelly were brought up in the city.

“It felt weird the first weeks out here. I was so used to hearing cars and people shouting at each other, that I was thinking it was all a dream.
Steve forgot about several items we needed for the house and hadn’t realize, you just don’t run down to the corner market to get it or that grocery shopping is almost an all day’s affair. Still, after we adjusted to it. I wouldn’t go back to live in the city again. I love the fresh mountain air first thing in the morning and the people are a lot nicer here, then back in Virginia Beach. I want to thank you again for the money you sent us to help us move, Susan. I don’t think we could have made it out here without it.” Kelly really did appreciate her friend’s helps.

“Any time Kelly. If you ever need anything, give me a call and I’ll do what I can for you. Have you been horseback riding yet?” Susan knew that Kelly knew how to ride. Both had been trained by the same teacher at camp. She was just a little better then Kelly.

“Yes! And Mr. Harris is letting me stable the horse I bought at an auction at his stables. Steve mainly rides him during the day, but Bobby and I have gone out on him a few times together. How are your horses doing?” Kelly looks at the picture on her desk of her friend’s horses.

“They’re doing fine. Midnight has calm down some and tries not to act as the head steed here on the ranch. Midnight Moon has fallen for her dark handsome lover. I expect a foal sometime next year. I am planning on giving it to Carol Ann as a present. I’ve bought a few more horses as well. Dad is working with them. Two of them come from a good jumper line and the other one is a mustang that I rescued that had been
abused. Dad and Gerald are doing what they can for her. She’s a nice mare and once she is doing better, I think she’ll be a perfect horse to let others ride.” Susan loved that mare she had purchased from her abusive owner. The poor thing was being neglected and was unkempt.

“You’re going to have a horse ranch of your own, if you keep buying horses Susan.” That was the one thing her and Steve had talked about, was a little ranch of their own. There was a hundred acres right beside Mr. Harris ranch that was coming up for bid and she was doing all she could to get a loan to buy it.

“Oh! Trust me. I’m not ready to run a ranch yet. Carol Ann knows more about running one then I do. I’m still learning. It will be a long time before I can ever do that. I’m planning on getting my GED sometime in March of next year and maybe take a course in land management or go to rodeo school. I still have to wait and see how my left wrist is going to be.” Susan hopes she can go.

“Susan, I’ve been meaning to ask you. Is the money you have, the money Robert left in the Cadillac?” Kelly figures it is, but she wanted her friend to be truthful to her.

“Yes. After I got off the phone with you the day I called you and you told me he was more concern about the car then he was about me, it got me thinking. So, I searched the Cadillac and found his hidden compartment in it. There were drugs, money and such. I empty the drugs on some poor farmers land and kept the money to live on.” Susan was smiling. It was in the middle of the night and she had empty the drugs and powder some poor farmer’s field with it.

She could hear Kelly laughing on the other end of the phone.

“Oh! I wish I could have been there. That is so funny. You poured out half a million dollars’ worth of drugs on some farmer’s field.” She was laughing her butt off.

“Yep!” Susan listens to her friend’s laughter.

Kelly gets herself under control and looks at the clock on her desk. She needed to start getting ready to close. The store would stay open till, ten at night, but her hours were till six and it was almost six now.

“Susan, I got to go, but I’ll call you later tonight, if you don’t mind.” Kelly was packing up her purse and shutting down her computer and making sure the safe was locked.

“I don’t mind. Just remember there’s a three hours difference between me and you now. So just remember that.” Susan sometimes had to remind her friend of the time difference.

“I will. Talk to you later.” Kelly cancels the call.

“Bye!” Susan waits till the screen shows call ended before sliding her phone into her pocket. She finishes folding up her clothes and hanging her dresses up.

Her stacks of panties were full brief or high cut and boy shorts now. She wouldn’t wear anything that showed her bottom off any more like she used to. She places all her folded clothes back into the basket and pick it up with both her hands. Her left-hand flairs up with pain, but her doctor told her she needed to use it more often in order to strengthen it. She grits her teeth and limps to her bedroom with the laundry basket in her hands. She sets the basket on her bed and reaches for the pain patch her doctor prescribes for her. She places the patch on her left wrist and starts putting things away.

Susan tries to look like she was having fun at the tree lighting they had gone to in town. She hated going out at night and didn’t want to be here, but because some of Rachel’s and Jake’s family had come to spend Christmas with them, she had too. The only reason she wasn’t freaking out right now, was because Jake held her close to him. He could tell she was uncomfortable and wanted to run back to the SUV for safety. She stayed close to Rachel and Jake everywhere they went. Her new Aunts and Uncles had been told why she was like this, but it still didn’t help her.

When they stop at one of the shops for some cookies and hot apple cider, Susan is fidgety. Rachel held her hand to keep her still. The morning sickness had stopped a week before, but there were things she had weird cravings fore. She reaches into her coat pocket and pulls out her bag of M&M’s and empty’s a few into her hand.

Rachel notices Susan pulling out her bag of M&M’s “baby?”

Susan nods her head yes, before putting them in her mouth.

“At least that’s normal, you are drinking all the juice from the pickle jar was just weird.” Rachel had seen Susan drink the juice from the bread and butter chips straight from the jar.

“Couldn’t help it mother, the babies made me do it.” Susan looks at her mother and smiles.

“Ya right.” Rachel just looks at Susan’s face hidden under her hood.

Rachel escorts Susan over towards a bench for her to sit down at. She knew Susan’s ankle was bothering her.

“Here you go sis.” Carol Ann hands a cup of hot apple cider with a cinnamon stick in it to Susan.

“Thanks sis.” Susan sips her apple cider. She loved this stuff.

Carol Ann sits down next to Susan.

Susan looks over towards her “why aren’t you with some of your cousins?”

“I wanted to help you.” Carol Ann blows on her cider before drinking it.

Susan just gives her sister a hug, being careful not to spill her cider.

“I’ll be okay. Mom is here with me and dad is going to come back and sit with me, while mom goes and see what good bargains she can get.” Susan glances at Rachel and smiles.

“You’re getting to know me too well young lady.” She points her finger at Susan.

Susan just smiles and turn her attention back to Carol Ann “tell you what, why don’t you go over to the candy store there and grab me about three pounds of gummy bears and something for yourself and our cousins?” Susan reaches into her pocket and pulls out a twenty and a ten-dollar bill and gives it to Carol Ann.

“Are you sure?” Carol Ann takes the money from Susan.

“Yes! Now go.” Susan watches as Carol Ann gets up and heads towards the candy store.

“Three pounds of gummy bears, Susan” Rachel was looking at her.

“Yep, I love those things mom. You wouldn’t know how much I have been craving them lately.” Susan loves her gummy bears and sour bears.

“You should have told me, I would have gotten them for you.” Rachel had just made a trip to Wal-Mart a few days ago.

“I know mom, but I forgot to tell you then. I figure now would be a good time to get them. Plus, it will allow Carol Ann to spend time with our
cousins.” Susan watches Carol Ann as she grabs a few of her cousins to go with her.

Jake comes walking over with three slices of hot cinnamon apple pie with whip cream on top.

“Here you go my ladies.” He hands a plate to his wife and Susan.

“Thanks dad.” Susan watches as he sits down next to Rachel.

“So, how are you holding up sweetie?” Jake looks over towards his adopted daughter.

“Do you want me to lie or the truth?” Susan takes a bite of her pie.

“Truth” Jake watches her.

“I rather be home safely tucked away inside the house right now, dad. The only reason I haven’t rabbited to the SUV yet, is because I am too
scared to walk there by myself.” Susan was telling the truth. She had a death grip on her mother’s hand.

“We did ask you if you wanted to stay home sweetie.” Jake recalls their conversion.

“I know that dad, but I didn’t think it would bother me so much. I was kind of hoping because you and mom were here with me, I could relax some, but I keep expecting someone to sneak-up on me and ….” She squeezes Rachel hand more. She was having a flashback of the attack.
She closes her eyes and tears stream down them. Jake comes over and wraps his arms around her and pulls her to him.

“Sshhh, it’s alright sweetie. I’m here.” Jake holds her as she starts trembling against his body.

Jake’s older sister Marie comes walking over fast to the three of them.

“Is everything okay, Rachel?” Marie was looking at Susan as she cried and trembled against Jakes body.

“Susan had a flashback. They come on in time of stress in her. Normally, I would give her a tranquilizer, but with her being this far along, we can’t risk it.” Rachel held Susan’s hand to reassure her.

“Why was she stress?” Marie couldn’t understand that.

“She hasn’t been outside at night since her attack. Even when we are home, she refuses to even step out on the front porch, unless one of us is holding her hand to reassure her. Being here at night and surrounded by people she doesn’t know, took its toll on her.” Rachel was worried about her adopted daughter.

“She looked like she was having fun.” Marie had seen her singing and sitting here enjoying her hot apple cider and pie Jake brought her.

“That’s because I’ve been holding her hand the whole entire time Marie. Susan hasn’t let go of me since we have arrived.” Rachel still had her hand.

“Do you want to go and take her home and we’ll bring Carol Ann home with us?” Marie was thankful they came in two cars. They had Rachel’s car and Susan’s SUV she was letting them drive.

“I think that might be best.” Rachel did feel a little disappointed. She wanted to do some more shopping tonight.

Jake looks at his wife “why don’t you stay here with Marie, Rachel and come back home with them. I’ll take Susan home and tuck her in.”

“Are you sure, Jake?” Rachel didn’t mind, and she knew that her husband could take care of Susan.

“I’m sure.” He stands up and scoops Susan up into his arms.

Rachel stands up and places a kiss on Susan’s cheek. She places Susan’s purse in her hands and gives Jake, Susan’s cane.

Jake carries Susan back to Rachel’s car and buckles her in. She hasn’t opened her eyes or anything. He sets her cane next to her and then walks around and gets behind the steering wheel. He drives them home. He glances at Susan every once in a while, and notices she has fallen asleep. Her head is buried against the corner of the car and her feet are tucked up under her on the front seat. She looks so childlike, like she is. When they get home, he carries her into her bedroom and removes her boots, her coat and tucks her in under the blankets on her bed. He makes sure her comfort teddy bear is within reach for her. He places a kiss on her forehead and leaves her room with the door slightly open. He knows everyone else will be coming home soon.

Rachel and Marie had watched as Jake carried Susan off towards her car. Rachel hopes Susan will be okay.

“Does this normally happen with her?” Marie looks towards her sister-in-law.

“Only when Susan is under a lot of stress. Her rape was very violent. She was gang rape by three men and then she killed each man herself
with their own weapon. She shot two of them and stabbed the third one. If the memories of her rape don’t cause her to have flashbacks, the killing of the three men does. Sometimes it could be the innocent smell of burning wood or the sound of a car backfiring or even the scene of people being killed in a movie. It triggers flashbacks and panic attacks in her. She doesn’t go anywhere near Jake’s guns or use any of the large butcher knives, because it could cause her to panic.” Rachel felt sorry for her adopted daughter.

“Why did she come tonight, if she knew it would cause her so much discomfort?” Marie felt sorry for Susan.

“Because she’s never had a true family and it meant a lot to her. Her counselor has been trying to get here to go outside at night for the past four months. The only time she will do it, is if me or Jake holds her hand and even then, it’s for a short distance away from the safety of the house or her SUV.” Rachel was proud she stayed if she did.

“Now I understand. I guess it makes since, most women might never come out their homes, if they went through what she did. So, I take it that you and Jake are planning on adopting her as your own daughter?” Marie had spoken to Jake about this.

“Yep! We just haven’t told Susan yet. I don’t think it would bother her; she’s been calling me and Jake, mom and dad since we brought her home from the hospital. She has us down as the legal guardians of her girl’s if something should happen to her and if she should be unable to make a medical decision for herself.” Rachel remembers the day. She had given Jake authority for her when she was rushed to the hospital after her rape.

“She seems to be a smart girl. How much do you know about her past?” Marie had a detective friend do a background check on her. He uncovered a lot about her, but nothing too bad. She had been arrested a few times for stealing, breaking and entering. The places that were listed were convinces store and a warehouse.

Rachel looks at Marie “I know all about her past. Sheriff Lawrence did an extensive background check on her, when they were investigating her rape. They wanted to try to make her look like some sort of harlot, as if she invited the men to have sex with her and then she changed her mind or something. Jake almost went through the roof, when he found out. She was the victim and those men were the ones guilty. In the end it was ruled that she acted in self-defense and her killing them was justified.”

“How is Anthony taking this? I knew his wife back in our college days.” Marie remembers Anthony’s wife, before her untimely death. She was killed in a car accident.

“He’s been very supportive of her. He has agreed to support his granddaughters and be part of their lives.” She knew Susan was happy when Anthony had told her that he wanted to be part of his granddaughter’s lives.

“That is good to know. I figure since he lost his wife and now his son, he would enjoy getting a second chance.” Marie had always liked Anthony. She would have married him way back when, but his wife was her best friend and she didn’t want to take him away from her.

The two of them spend the rest of the hours shopping and having fun with their family.

Jake had put a movie on and was watching it, when he hears Susan screams from her bedroom. He doesn’t rush in, but walks in carefully. She was on the floor with her back up against the wall like the way he found her that faithful night. It looked like she had fallen out of bed. She was crying as she sat up against the wall. She had her teddy bear in her arms and was holding it tight against her with her face buried against it. He walks over towards her carefully, so not to spook her.

“Susan are you okay, baby?” He was kneeling in front of her.

“Daddy?” Susan looks up when she hears Jake voice. Tears were streaming down her face.

“I’m right here sweetie.” He picks her up again and takes her back to bed. He rearranges her sheets and blankets. He tucks her back in.
Susan grips his hand “Don’t leave me, please.”

“I won’t. Let me move your rocking chair over here next to your bed.” He carefully moves Susan’s rocking chair next to the bed. There wasn’t much room in her bedroom. They had set-up two spare cots for Carol Ann to sleep in here with Susan and for her cousin to sleep in here. His sister and brother-in-law were using Carol Ann’s room and the boys were using the nursery for now. Which use to be his sister’s room when she was little?

Jake sits down in the rocking chair and holds Susan’s hand as she snuggles deep under her blankets and slowly falls asleep.

She always felt safe with either her mother or father here. She hated having the flashbacks and reliving the events of her attack. She holds Jake’s hand and her teddy bear as well. Ever since the guys gave it to her in the hospital, it became her life preserver, reminding her that she wasn’t alone, and that people love her.

Jake watches as Susan final falls into a deep sleep. He has come to recognize her light sleeping sounds and her deep sleeping sounds. When she is in her deep sleeping sounds, she will sleep for eight hours or more. Waking her up when she is like that was hard. He let’s go of her hand moves her rocking chair back like it was before. He notices the headlights of her SUV pulling into the driveway and heads towards the front of the house to help his wife and sister.

“Wake-up sleepy head, it’s Christmas!” Carol Ann was trying to wake Susan up. She wanted her big sister to enjoy her first Christmas with the family.

“Ugh! Does mom know you’re this annoying on Christmas morning?” Susan looks at her little sister.” She wanted to stay in bed this morning.
She wasn’t feeling to well.

“Come on sleepy head. Cindy and her brothers are already in the living room unwrapping their presents.” Carol Ann finds Susan’s house coat and her bedroom slippers.

“Okay, Okay! I’m up.” Susan starts getting out of bed. She slips her feet into her slippers and puts her house coat on. She follows Carol Ann into the living room where the other kids were already digging through the presents. They were looking for theirs.

Carol Ann runs over and starts digging through the presents and pull a few out for herself and Susan.

Susan had taken a seat in her favorite chair. She starts smelling the aroma of fresh brew coffee in the air.

“Mom is up, sis.” Susan looks over towards Carol Ann. She notices she had several presents out and ready to open them.

Jake and Rachel come into the living room and notice everyone up. Rachel hands Susan her cup of coffee. Rachel had Susan on one cup a day. Instead of the two cups she had gotten in the habit of drinking, since she has been here.

“Thanks mom.” Susan takes a sip of her coffee. She was tired. The twins had been active last night.

Carol Ann holds up a present that was from Susan. She opens it and discovers it was a brand new IPad. Carol Ann had been mentioning that she wanted one.

“Thanks sis.” Carol Ann gets up and walks over to Susan and gives her a hug.

“You’re welcome.” Susan hugs Carol Ann back.

Susan opens her presents as they are given to her. She gets everything she’ll need for the babies and something to keep her occupied around the farm and house.

Susan had gotten some special presents for Jake and Rachel. It was tickets for Jake and Rachel to spend two weeks courtesy of both their daughters in Florida.

When Jake looks at Susan and Carol Ann “we can’t leave you two alone.”

“Dad, I’ll be seventeen in May. Carol Ann is sixteen. I think we can behave ourselves. Besides Gerald will be around to make sure we don’t burn down the property. Also, once the babies are born, you and mom won’t have any time to yourselves, because you’ll be busy playing grandma and grandpa. I’m going to run the office and Carol Ann will be available if I have an afternoon appointment. If I have a morning appointment, Elizabeth has volunteered to help.

Gerald is going to make sure all the crews are doing their work while you and mom are gone. I’ll be riding and training under Gerald to learn the daily activities around the ranch. You and mom need some time together dad.” Susan looks at Jake.

“Besides, if I don’t start doing something around this ranch to earn my way, mom’s going to send me to an old folk’s home.” Susan was teasing her adopted mother.

They had talked about her learning to do things around the ranch and Susan had to agree. She was getting bored sitting around the house and not doing anything. She has learned to deal with most of her panic attacks. She still has them ever so often, but she knows what the warning signs were and how to cope with them. She needed to get back up on her horse and ride him. Gerald said he would show her how to ride him using one hand, since her left hand still didn’t have the strength to be used.

“How about this, you start coming with me every morning and I’ll show you what you have to do? If you can handle the job after that, then I and your mother will go on this trip. If you can’t you’ll refund these tickets and put it towards something else for me and your mother? Is that a deal with you girls?” Jake looks at Carol Ann first and then Susan.

“What do you think Sis? Is dad making a good deal with us?” Susan looks at Carol Ann. She knew that Carol Ann wanted to prove herself to them both.

“I say he is going to lose sis.” Carol Ann smiles and looks towards her father.

“You’re on Dad. I think Carol Ann and I will be able to do the job.” Susan already knew that Carol Ann already knew some of the stuff needed doing first thing in the morning.

“Alright, we’ll start after New Year’s Day.” Jake knew Susan wasn’t prepared for this.

“Fine, we’ll start the first day of the new year.” Susan knew what her father was trying to do, but she wasn’t going to back down.

The rest of the morning went by peacefully as Susan helped her mother make Christmas breakfast for everyone. She spent time with her new relatives and played some of the new games with them. She had a hard time, since her left hand wasn’t up to par. She slipped her coat on and steps outside onto the porch and look out towards the fields as the horses played about in the snow. The weather was affecting her ankle and her wrist, because of the metal they used in them. Susan heard the door open again and Jake comes and stands next to her.

“Watch you thinking about half-pint?” Jake could tell Susan was thinking about something by her facial expression.

“That this is my very first Christmas where I have snow for Christmas. It’s so beautiful.” Susan inhales and enjoys the feel of the cold air inside her lungs.

“I forget where you grew up at.” Jake rest his hand on her slender shoulder

Susan looks at her adopted father and gives him a smile.

“My greatest Christmas gift was when you and mom took me in. I know it was under unusual circumstances, but you don’t know how much this means to me, to have a family and a little sister as well.” Susan stands next to Jake.

“Well, it might have been under unusual circumstances, but I had planned on you staying here at the main house with us. The bunk house isn’t a place for a single teenage girl to be or see.” Jake looks down at Susan.

“Even for someone as experience as you.” He wanted to get that out before Susan could disagree with him.

They stay outside standing on the porch for a while. Susan watches as her two horses play and run around in the field. She really loved her horses and couldn’t wait to get back on them. She knew she was going to have to be careful being almost five months along with the twins.
She heads back inside the house to help make lunch for everyone and spend time with the family. Christmas never really meant anything to her before. Sure, she would spend it with some friends, but she didn’t have the family experience she has now. She just watches as everyone enjoys their gifts and gather around the table for Christmas lunch and Dinner combine.

Throughout the day friends of theirs, would stop by and exchange gifts with them. Susan got gifts for everyone she has became friends with and with the twin’s grandfather. Mr. Garrigan stopped by to see how Susan and the babies were doing. He brought gifts for both and for his old friend Jake’s family.

By the time Susan goes to bed, she feels exhausted and happy. This was the best Christmas she has had. She just hopes that she’ll be a good mother and do the girls right as she brings them up.

Susan was slowly starting to explore more around the property. Sometimes, loud noises would make her jump, but she had learned to deal with it. Between her counselor and her new family. She was adjusting and feeling comfortable to being left by herself. One of the hands had given her a puppy he had found. It was a cute little thing with black fur. He had one blue eye and one brown eye. Jake didn’t see any problems of her keeping it, but she had to walk, train and clean-up after it.

She names him Bear, because of the way he looked. She gets up early every morning to take him outside to do his business. At night, he sleeps cuddled up against her and when she has a bad dream, he licks her cheek, to let her know he was protecting her. Jake made a hand-made leather collar for him and got a dog tag in the shape of a dog bone made for him.

She was slowly learning to ride again. Jake or one of the ranch hands she trusted would help her up in her saddle on Midnight Chaos. Even though it was cold out, she still like to go out and be around her horses. She misses spending time with her horse. While Carol Ann is at school, she learns how to run the ranch. That way Jake and Rachel could enjoy the tickets she and Carol Ann gave them for Christmas.

Susan still needed to walk with a cane. She loved the handcrafted one she had been given with the horse on it. The handle was in the shape of a horse head with its mane looking like it was being blown back behind it, as if running.

Susan had gotten up early, because Bear had to go outside. She watches him as he played in the snow. It had snowed heavily during the night and it was at least two feet deep outside. That didn’t stop Jake from getting up and going out to the barn to feed the animals. Susan watches
Bear as he ran around in the snow. A smile appears on her face at his antics.

“You’re up early.” Rachel had spotted Susan outside with Bear on her way to the kitchen to make coffee.

“Morning mom. Bear woke me up early.” She felt Bear pull on his retractable leash.

Rachel saw Bear covered in snow. All his black fur was covered, and made him look like a little bear cub. Rachel pulls out her cellphone and snap a picture of him.

“Why don’t you come inside and help me with breakfast.” Rachel turns to head inside the house.

“Alright mom.” Susan follows behind her. She pulls on the leash to get Bear to follow her inside.

She stops him before he enters “shake for mommie.”

Bear shakes his body, so all the snow comes off, before he enters the house.

“That’s a good boy.” Susan hands him a treat from her robe pocket. She takes his leash off as well as she heads into the kitchen.

Susan drops little bits of food for him.

Rachel catches Susan dropping counter scraps on the floor.

“You’re spoiling him. You know that, right?” Rachel just looks at Susan.

“I know mom, but I can’t help it. He’s so cute and he has been behaving himself.” Susan kneels and scratch him at his favorite spot.

Rachel just watches as Susan scratches her puppy. She knew Susan wasn’t due any time soon, but she was getting bigger each day. The test had confirmed she was carrying twins.

Susan stands back up and help finish making breakfast and setting the table. Carol Ann and Jake finally joined them at the dining room table for breakfast. Bear darts under the table, waiting for people to drop food on the floor.

When no one is watching, Carol Ann slips Bear a few strips of bacon under the table. Not much is during breakfast, except school had been canceled due to snow. Susan doesn’t think if her Escalade could even be driven on the road as bad as they were.

After breakfast, Susan helps Rachel with the dirty dishes. She had some strength back in her left wrist, but not much. She could use it more, then she has been able to. Since, leaving the hospital the strength in her left wrist has slowly been building up in strength. She has been following her doctors exercise orders, but because of how badly damage it had been. It was taking longer to heal.

Susan has taken up a hobby of making homemade quilts. She had seen one while she was Christmas shopping and picked-up a book on how to quilt. She was currently working on one for the twins, then she was going to make one for Rachel.

She was looking forward and dreading their arrival as well. She was looking forward to being a mother, but scared as well. She knows, she’ll have Rachel’s and Jake’s support with raising them, but will she be able to be a good mother to them?

She just lets out a sigh as she works on the quilt she is making for them.

Susan watches the men as they worked outside in the cold. She felt sorry for them. She goes to work ordering the hay, and the feed the animals needed. Her belly has gotten bigger and she feels more tired than usual. The bear was lying near her desk as she worked on the paperwork.

Her parents had finally left for their trip she and Carol Ann had given them for Christmas. Her left wrist was hurting her. It still bothers her when the weather changes. Her doctor had said she was making great progress both physically and mentally.

Dark places still bother her some and she always carried a mag light with her. When she goes out at night around the ranch. She carries pepper spray and an asp baton with her. She knows no one will attack her on the ranch, but she feels safer having some sort of weapon with her. The damage done to her leg has healed, but she needs to use a cane when she walks.

Her childhood friend Kelly, who lives in Texas. She was pregnant with her second child. She misses her friend a lot. They grew up together and learned how to ride horses at the same ranch. Kelly was the closest person; besides Carol Ann who she considers as a sister.

Susan winces when she feels one of the twins kick her kidney. She had two months left before she was supposed to give birth. She was ready right now to have the kids drop out of her. She had an emotional roller-coaster about having the kids. They came into the world because of a violent event, but she couldn’t blame them for that.

The rest of the day goes by smoothly and by the time it was quitting time. She was ready to go and have dinner with her sister. Carol Ann was home and working on her homework.

“Hey, sis. What would you like for dinner tonight?” Susan was thinking about making stew tomorrow.

Carol Ann looks up form her books when she hears her sister’s voice.

“How about we toss a pizza in the oven?” Carol Ann knew they could either make a homemade pizza or open a few of the frozen ones.

“Pizza sounds fine.” Susan grabs a large supreme pizza out of the freezer and put it in the oven. Before puts it in the oven to cook, she adds a
little more to it.

While the pizza was cooking. Susan makes a chef salad for her and Carol Ann. Susan watches as Carol Ann does her homework while waiting for the pizza. After a few minutes, she hears the timer she set for the pizza go off. She pulls the pizza out and let it cool, before cutting it into slices. She sets it on the table between her and Carol Ann. She looks down at Bear who was watching her. She had filled his food bowl up.

“You have food.”

He just sits there and watches her, and Carol Ann eat. Both give him the crust off their slices. Neither one of them could resist Bear and he knew it. After dinner, Susan cleans the dishes and kitchen. She heads into the living room and works on the quilt she has been making for the twins.

She heads to bed after checking Carol Ann’s homework and answers a few texts her adopted parents sent her. They also sent a few pictures of their vocation. Her parents were enjoying the place.

Susan was happy that her parents were enjoying themselves. She heads into her bathroom and fills the tub up. She enjoyed just laying back and soaking. She looks at the scars from where they had to open her arm up to operate on it.

Bear lays down in the bathroom on the rug and waits for Susan to get out of the tub. Susan just smiles at her little-mixed mutt. He’s been enjoyment to have around her and can’t wait to see how he takes to the babies. She closes her eyes and enjoys the warmth of the hot water. She feels the baby kick again.

“Boy, you tykes are active today.” Susan couldn’t believe how active the babies were.

Most days, they weren’t so active, but today they were. She wonders if they were going to be born prematurely. She soaks for awhile and when the water starts getting cold. She raises off and gets out of the tub. She slips her favorite nightgown on and heads towards her bedroom.
She brushes her hair and crawls into bed. She grabs the book she’s been reading and for the next few hours, she reads.

Susan slowly falls asleep reading her novel. She closes her book and turns the lights off. Jake had put a nightlight in her bedroom, so she felt safer. She still had some nightmares of the night she was rape, but not as frequent as she uses too. She pulls Bear up to her and holds him while she slept.

“Well, it looks like you girls didn’t burn the place down while we were gone.” Jake checks the paperwork while watching Susan work on the budget for the Ranch.

“Ye of little faith. Did you actually believe me, and Carol Ann would allow the place to burn down?” Susan takes a sip of her coffee.

Jake just smirks and takes a sip of his own coffee. He knew Susan and Carol Ann wouldn’t disappoint him. He had enjoyed the vacation that his daughters had given him and his wife on Christmas. He had to admit, that as much as he loved Montana, he enjoyed the warm weather and blue seas of the Caribbean.

In a few months, the rodeo circuit will be restarting. Jake wasn’t sure if he was going to take part this year or not. It all depends on how Susan was after giving birth to her children.

Susan gets up and walks outside the office with Bear by her side. It was chilly outside as she went to saddle her horse. She was healed enough, that she could get back into the saddle if she wasn’t pregnant. She takes the UTV/ Utility vehicle out to the fellows. She had several thermoses filled with hot coffee for them.

Greg was sitting on top of his horse watching the herd. He had heard that Jake Meadows of Triple Bar Ranch was looking for ranch hands. He had done some checking around about Mr. Meadows and found that he was a good person to work for. Most of the feed store owners and fellow cowboys he knew had nothing bad to say about Mr. Meadows.

He turns around when he hears a vehicle coming towards him and the others. It was Jake’s oldest adopted daughter Susan. He had heard stories from the other ranch hands about her. How she had jumped onto a wild horse and rode it bareback. She had also tamed that same horse and had bought it from the parent of the man that had raped her. The same man whose children were growing inside of her right now.

Susan stops a few feet from Greg’s horse. She steps out of the UTV.

“I thought you guys might like some fresh hot coffee.” Susan grabs a thermos from the passenger seat, along with the cups she brought with her.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

Susan pours coffee for all the ranch hands. She’ll be glad when she can come out here and be with them. Even though she still suffers some from being rape, it felt good to be out of the house and back on the wide-open range.

Greg watched Susan as she stared out over the cattle and bison that was grazing. He could tell she missed this, even though she was a city girl. He had seen the Virginia tags on the Cadillac Escalade. She had the heart of a person who loved nature.

He was also smitten by her as well. He didn’t care that she was pregnant with another man’s babies. He admired her courage for wanting to raise the babies as her own. He knew most women who became pregnant after being raped, either aborted the fetus or gave the children away after giving birth to them. A very few would want to keep the children. To be reminded by looking at the child’s face who caused the child to be here in the first place.

He just keeps watching as she waddles from one cowboy to the next, bring them coffee.

As Susan is waddling back to the UTV. She notices the new guy they hired a few months ago watching her. She’s only interacted with him a few times and when she called around to check his references for her father, all of them had given him a good reference.

Part of her was loving the attention she was getting from him. While the other part of her was scared what he might do to her. She was still uncomfortable around men that didn’t work for her father or she didn’t know.

In her eyes, he was kind of good looking. He had that weathered look that all true cowboys who spend a lot of time out in the open range had about them. He reminded her of Hugh Jackman from the movie Australia. He had that type of look about him. There was something else as well, that drew her attention to him. Something she couldn’t put her finger on.

She waddles back to the UTV and heads back towards the house. She had to pee badly, and she was about to drop her panties out here in the open for the guys to watch her. She manages to hold it, till she reaches the barn. There was a bathroom in it. She parks the UTV and makes it just in time as her bladder relieves itself.

She’ll be happy when the babies are born. She figures she is due any time now. Once she is done in the bathroom, Susan heads back to the house.

Out on the range:
Larry rides over towards Greg as he watches Greg watch Susan drive off. A sly grin appears on his face. He has gotten to know Mr. Meadows adopted a daughter and liked her. He has watched as she healed from her ordeal.

“She’s a beautiful filly, lad.” Larry stops near Greg.

Greg turns to face Larry “that she is. I was thinking about asking her out after the babies are born.”

“You might have to wait awhile. She’s going to have her hands full raising twins.” Larry had overheard Mrs. Meadows talking about Susan to a friend of hers.

Mrs. Meadows was excited that she was going to have grandbabies to spoil. He has seen the look on her face before when she found out she was carrying Carol Ann. He had seen how she looked and watched after Susan. He had seen that motherly concern and protectiveness in her eyes.

“Well, if anyone can manage it, it will be her. She’s a strong independent woman. You wouldn’t think that someone who was born in the city, would have the spirit of a frontier woman.”

Greg wonders if she would mind him helping her with the babies. He’ll have to see what she needs and get it for her.

“I know what you mean. Wait till you see her ride a horse. I saw her the day she stopped a runaway horse at the last rodeo. She just swung herself up on his back like she has been doing it all her life and rode him.”

Larry didn’t believe a little small thing like Susan could handle a wild stallion, twice her size. That doubt was put to rest when he saw how she handle that horse. He was also surprised that she bought that same horse.

“Let me give you some advice, Greg. Take it slow and easy with her. She’s still healing from the rape and the injuries she got from the attack.
Become her friend first and see where that relationship takes you. I know she’ll appreciate that a lot.”

“I think that is the best advice you have ever given me, Larry. God knows, the other times you’ve given me advice hasn’t panned out.”

“I can’t help it if you are hard headed.” Larry just grins at him as he rides off towards the herd.

Greg follows behind him as he thinks about Susan and how to approach her.

Susan wakes up in the middle of the night from a sharp pain. The babies were ready to come and join the world.

“DAD!” Susan gets out of bed and grabs her shoes to slip them on. Her bag was already packed and near the door.

Jake and Rachel come running into her room. They could see Susan was in pain.

“Are the babies ready to come out Susan?” Rachel runs to her daughter’s side.

“Yes, ma’am. They are ready to come into the world.” Susan winces as another contraction hits her.

Rachel and Jake manage to get Susan out to his pick-up truck. Susan was ready to drop the babies. Her water breaks just as they pull up at the hospital. Jake handles the paperwork, while Rachel helps Susan to the room they were putting her in. The babies were ready to come.
It took an hour and a half for Susan to be wheeled into the delivering room. She was going to have the babies the natural way. Jake and
Rachel were in the delivery room as Susan delivers the first girl. A few minutes later, she gives birth to the second girl. At first she didn’t want to make any noises and wasn’t responding.

Susan was concern, as she watches the doctor try to get the baby to react. When they put the baby next to her twin, she started responding.
Susan was worried that something was wrong with the second one. She was hoping she was alright. She hadn’t realized it, but she had been holding her breath.

One of the nurses put the babies in her arms to hold. Susan just looks at her little angels and couldn’t express how happy she felt as she held them in her arms. She has always wanted to be a mother and now she’ll have two little girls to raise.

“They look just like you, Susan.” Rachel and Jake could see that the little girls took after their mother, instead of the man that raped Susan.
Susan looks up at her parents “you think so?”

“Yes, sweetie. Those two little angels look more like you then who their father is.” Jake knew Susan still hated the guy that raped her.

“I hope you don’t mind Susan, but I called Anthony, so he could know his grandchildren were born.” Jake didn’t know if Susan would be mad at him.

“That’s fine, dad. He needs to see his grandchildren. I won’t hold what his son did to me, against him or the girls.”

The nurses take the babies from Susan as she slowly starts to fall asleep. She does feed them before letting them go. Susan is taken to her hospital room, where she falls asleep.

Anthony Garrigan showed up to see his grandchildren. He stopped in to see Susan first, but she was asleep. The flowers he brought with him, he put near her. Rachel was sitting in the room with Susan.

“How is she, Rachel?” As Anthony watches Susan’s sleeping form.

“She’s fine Anthony and so are the girls. Have you seen them yet?”

“Not yet. I wanted to see how Susan was before I head down to see the girls.”

“Well, as you can see. She is out of it.” Rachel just looks at her adopted daughter as she slept.

“Were there any difficulties during their birth?”

“Nope, the girls came out alright. The second one didn’t want to make any noise until she was near her sister.”

“How do they look?” Anthony was curious.

“Like their mother. You should go down and see your grandchildren.”

“I will. What last name are they under?”

“Ours. Susan put the girls under our last name.” Rachel knew Susan wanted them to have her last name.

“I can understand that.” Anthony leaves Susan’s hospital room and goes a floor down to see the twins.

The nurse down in pediatrics was happy to show Mr. Garrigan his grandchildren. He was amazed at how much of their features were from Susan. He could see some of his son’s features in them, but they mostly had Susan’s features. He just stands there watching his granddaughters.

He doesn’t know if Susan has chosen a name for the girls yet. He wonders what she is going to name the girls. He felt so proud that he had grandchildren and vow to protect them and give them whatever he wanted.

A few Weeks Later:
The doctor had let Susan and the twins go home after a few days. Susan was told to take it easy. Some of her old wounds from her rape had reopened. It wasn’t anything too serious, but she has been placed on light duty. Between her, her mother and Carol Ann. They had their hands full with the twins.

Greg has stopped by several times to see how Susan is doing and to help with the twins as well. He has fallen in love with the twin girls. They had light brown hair and hazel eyes and took after their mother.

Susan named the girl Rachel Ann after her adopted mother and Kelly Ann after her best friend. She named Heather as the twin’s godmother. She could tell the difference between each girl.

“Cute little buggers, aren’t they?” Jake had stepped into the nursery to see how the twins were doing. He notices Bear laying near the crib watching everyone.

“They are that, Jake. They look just like their mother.” Greg had noticed that when he first gazed at them.

“They are going to be spoiled.” Greg looks towards Jake when he says that.

“That they are, Greg. They are going to be spoiled rotten, but they will know right from wrong. Susan will make sure of that.”

Jake stands at the crib and just watch the twins sleep.

“Where’s Susan?” Greg figure she would be nearby for the children.

“She’s taking a nap in her room. She’s been up taking care of the twins.” Jake had seen Susan breastfeeding both girls. She told him that she
was going to breastfeed them as long as possible.

“Come on, let’s go and get something cold to drink.” Jake leads Greg to the kitchen and grab a beer.

Susan looks at Greg as they stood before the preacher. She and Greg had been dating for a few months before he popped the question to marry.
She couldn’t ask for a nicer loving man. He treated the girls as if they were his own and he helped her out when she lets him.

The preacher finally pronounces them, man and wife. The two of them kiss and a lot of hooting and hollering followed afterward. They had the reception at Jake’s place. All her friends were there including her best friend Kelly. She paid the airfare for her and her family to fly out.

They party all night long. By the time everything dies down. Susan was ready for bed. She made sure not to drink too much alcohol, so she could breastfeed the girls. As she lays next to Greg, who was lightly snoring.

She gets out of bed and walks into the nursery where the twins were sound asleep. She just stands there looking down at them. She still couldn’t believe she was a mother and a married woman. She glances at her hand to admire her wedding ring. Maybe she was moving a little fast, but Greg proved that he was the right person for her.

She turns around and heads back to her bedroom finally feeling that life was going to be nice for now on.