Cherished: The Mountain Man's Babies(19)

The next day, I realize just how hard my love has been working doing this on her own. She's nursing these babies around the clock, in between changing cloth diapers, hand washing them in the boiling water, hanging them to dry—it's a full day’s work—and she hasn't even fed herself. I notice her stomach rumbling, and ask what she's been eating.

"Canned beans and veggies." She points to her makeshift pantry. All home-canned goods—which is impressive, but she's burning through so many calories a day just feeding our children.

"You need some meat on your bones, woman. Some eggs at least."

"If I go to the store I’ll raise a lot of questions. Like, why is a woman with newborn triplets alone in the middle of nowhere?"

I nod. "I get that, baby, but I hate seeing you this way. Half-starved. And we need some tools. Do you even have an ax for firewood?"

She scrunches up her adorable nose. "No, I've been gathering sticks for kindling, for boiling water when I wash the diapers."

"Baby," I tell her, holding a cooing Andrew in my arms. "We're gonna need some more supplies."

Cherish folds her hands over her chest. "You think I need a man to survive? I've been doing just fine on my own."

"I know you have, this set up is impressive as hell, considering you already have so much on your plate. But let me go to town, buy some tools, talk to Jaxon about getting the utilities turned on out here. Hell, there’s an ancient stove and fridge—you just need the power turned on. You're roughing it more than you have to."

"I've been a squatter, James, I couldn't exactly call the utility company. I'm on the run, remember?"'

"You were on the run. You aren't running anymore. Jaxon already told me he has a job for me, so that's covered. We can fix this cabin up real nice, and hell, once we add another few bedrooms on the back, it will be home we can really live in. I can do that in no time."

"Nothing is ever that easy for us, James."

"It's different now. Now we are free from the past, remember? And when I'm in town I'll also find out about a marriage certificate."

Cherish purses her lips. "Is that a proposal?"

I shake my head. "Not officially. I need a ring first, for that." I pull a guitar pick from my jeans pocket. "But for now, take this and know I have been preparing for our life together for as long as I can remember."

She leans over and kisses me. "You better get me some carbs when you're in town too, forget the eggs and bacon. I want a donut and coffee. With cream." Her eyes light up at the thought.

I kiss her back. "You'll be okay up here while I go get some stuff?"

She smiles. "I've been here for a month, hanging on. I'll be okay for a while longer."

"I'll stop at Jaxon's and tell Harper to come over, is that okay? I'd feel better if you weren't alone."

"Okay, baby," she says, kissing the guitar pick, and slipping it into her skirt pocket. "I'll be waiting for you, now and forever."

I kiss her again, then the heads of our three babies, feeling like the goddamn king of this mountain. I have my woman, our children, and a place to make a home.

Now that we are together nothing can stop us.





Chapter Thirteen





I'm laying the babies down in their bassinets when I hear a car rumbling down the driveway. I look up, surprised that Harper could be here so soon. It seems as if James left less than 15 minutes ago.

My eyes sweep over the babies, and even though I'm surprised someone is here, more than anything I feel content—maybe for the first time in my life. Because it feels like my babies are going to be okay. They are safe, wrapped in their little cocoons, sleeping contentedly.

My feet are bare and the air is warm. But when I step outside, the feelings of safety vanish immediately. I pull the door tight, as tight as it can go, and I wish I had a key so I could lock it. Because what I see is terrifying.

I know that car, and I know the man getting out of it. And I know he has come for me.

He's not alone.

Behind him, there are men from our church––his church. Not mine. I've moved on, I let go of those demons and I'm walking in the light. I walked away from their oppressive chains—but here is George and the elders. They don’t belong here.

There's only space for love on this mountain. True, pure love. The love I have in my heart. And I will George to leave, to turn away and go.

But he has other plans for me. I blink hard, imagining him away, but when I open my eyes, he’s still there.

He walks closer, close enough to see my eyes, I know what is to come.

So, I do the only thing I can manage.

I run. I throw my body through the front of the door, the idea of him penetrating the space where my children sleep unfathomable. He bangs his fists on the wooden door and my body leans against the back side, bracing myself in the frame, wanting to keep this monster out.