Before Steven could say anything, Kade made his way to the bathroom. He did his business, brushed his teeth, then made his way outside to his waiting truck.
In no time at all he was on the way to the sheriff's office. Matt was always in on Saturday and early. Going through the reception area, Kade knocked on the door even though it was opened.
Matt looked up at him. "Why do I feel I'm not going to like this visit?" Matt said in greeting.
"Because you're not." Kade took a seat opposite him. "I need a favour."
"I'm the sheriff of Creek Valley. I don't do favours to guys about to cause trouble."
Kade rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to cause a lot of trouble. I need to sort something out for my woman and for Creek Valley as a whole."
"This has got something to do with Holly Walker and the Walker clan?"
"Yes," Kade said, not beating around the bush.
"I've had Steven's lawyer around here asking questions. You've stepped this thing up then."
"Her parents are fuckers, Matt. Holly came into work with a bruised eye early in the week. Her brother has told us she won't file a complaint."
Matt shook his head. "I had no idea. I've not had many complaints lately about the head Walker."
Kade cursed. "Has he ever been brought in for domestic violence?"
"No."
"Why the fuck not?"
"Because some people are afraid of the bastard. He lives out in that trailer park, and back in the day he was a tough nut to crack. There was a time when William was a good man, Kade. Then he got mixed up with that woman, Anita, and she's the one who turned his head to drink."
"Are you seriously making excuses for him?" Kade asked.
"No. I'm not. No matter the cause he shouldn't have let himself turn to drink. What do you need from me?"
"I'm not letting Holly go back there. He's hurt her one too many times, and she's mine and Steven's now. We're going to protect her."
Matt nodded. "That's good. It's about time someone took care of that girl."
"Her father takes her money. I'm guessing he's not going to like losing an income." Kade saw the sheriff getting angry. "The rest of her brothers and sisters are in danger when he finds out."
"And you want to take them out of harm's way?"
Kade nodded. "I was thinking we could go together to get Holly's stuff. You see how he reacts and deem whether or not he's a threat to her family."
"This could cause some problems, Kade. I'm not going to lie. William can be a hard man."
"Do I look like I give a fuck?"
Matt let out a sigh. "Okay, let me grab my things."
In a matter of minutes both men were leaving the station. Kade took his truck while Matt took his cruiser. Kade phoned through to John and warned him of what he was doing.
"I'm guessing Holly doesn't know," John said. "She doesn't like to cause trouble."
"Well I do. William is not hurting my woman anymore, John. I'll handle him the way I see fit."
John cursed but agreed to meet. Kade heard Eric whooping down the line. He smiled. At least one of the Walkers was happy with his plan.
When they pulled up outside of the trailer, four children from the ages of seven through to twelve sat outside. They appeared to be in their night clothes. Seconds after Kade cut the power from his truck, Matt turned up.
The kids looked scared, and there was shouting coming from the inside the trailer.
Showtime.
****
When Kade got home Steven was going to kill him. For the first time in his life, he was considering murder. His friend and lover was not known for acting rationally. Even as Steven cursed him in his head, he knew Kade was doing the right thing. There was no way they could let Holly go back there, and she wouldn't stay with them with her family at risk.
The only solution was to get her family out of harm's way. The only consolation Steven could find was the fact Holly was curled up beside him.
He hoped she woke up soon. He really needed to use the bathroom.
As if she heard his thoughts, Holly let out a sigh and rolled over. Her hand rested on his chest, and her eyes opened.
"Hey," she said.
"Good morning, beautiful." He leaned forward and claimed her lips. Her head still rested on her arm. "I really hate to do this, but I got to use the bathroom, babe, and you're stopping me." He pointed to his arm, and she lifted up.
"Sorry."
"Don't be sorry, and don't move. I want you here when I get back." He moved out of the bed, went to the bathroom and completed his business in world record timing. Holly was where he left her when he came back.
She lay against the pillows watching him.
"How are you?" he asked.
"I'm good. Where's Kade?"
Steven was going to give him the benefit of the doubt when it came to what he was doing.
"He had to run an errand. Kade didn't want to wake you."
Holly nodded and smiled at him. "I enjoyed last night." Her hand rested on his chest. The sweetness of her smile caught at him, and in that moment he hated lying to her.
"Me, too. You're not bothered by Kade and me together?"
"No, I thought it was hot."
"And before last night you'd never achieved orgasm?" he asked.
"No, never."
"Holly, baby, you know that's going to change, don't you?"
Her cheeks were a lovely red hue. "I think I get that now."
He was about to say something else when the phone rang. "I've got to get that. Put on one of mine or Kade's shirts and come down to the kitchen."
"What about the ranch hands?" she asked, nervously.
"They know not to come through to the main house. They'll start work. I'm sure Kade has left a list of jobs to do. He's like that as a guy." Steven claimed her lips and then groaned as the phone continued to ring. "I think I need to get an answering machine."
She chuckled as he walked out of the room. The sound eased his thoughts. Holly didn't laugh a lot. He couldn't recall a time while working when she'd been carefree enough to laugh.
He answered the phone in the kitchen. "Kade, this better be you."
"It is."
Steven let out a sigh of relief. He filled the kettle with water as he held the phone between his shoulder and head.
"What's going on?"
"We're at the trailer. William Walker is not a happy man. He's ranting and raving about Holly and that she's good for nothing," Kade said.
"Why are you phoning me?" Steven asked.
"Because Matt has warned me that if I start a fight, he'll arrest me and won't allow you to post bail. He doesn't want any fighting to happen during this. I've got William outside while the kids are getting their stuff and Holly's. I'm waiting for John to turn up, and I needed to hear your voice."
"And why did you need to hear my voice?" Steven checked to make sure Holly wasn't on her way down.
"So I can remember why I don't want to land my ass in jail. Is Holly awake?"
Steven was touched by his words. "I'm waiting for her in the kitchen. She asked after you, and she looked happy."
"Good. I'm hoping to be there soon."
There was silence over the line, and Steven heard William's voice ranting.
"She's a fucking whore. Only good for the money she has. It's my fucking money. I raised her. It's mine."
"I hear why you need to talk to me."
"If he doesn't shut up I'm going to spend time in the cell," Kade said.
Glancing at the stairwell again, Steven started talking in a rush. "Well think about this every time he starts ranting at you. While you're there listening to him I'm going to cook Holly breakfast, and then I'm going to take her upstairs and try those clamps out I found last night."
Kade let out a groan.
"Also, I'm going to have a taste of her sweet pussy, and if you're in jail I'm going to claim her virgin pussy tonight without you, and I thought you'd be the one to claim her pussy. I want her ass."
"You always were an ass man," Kade said.
"Think about that. I've got to go."
"Okay, treat her right, and I'll be home soon."
Steven hung up the phone as Holly appeared around the corner. She was wearing one of Kade's shirts. He didn't blame her. Kade was a large man, and he knew how to fill out a shirt. Steven, most of the time, liked to take Kade out of a shirt.
"It's the only one I could find."
There were a few stains on the front that Steven hadn't been able to get out during the laundry. Kade only wore the shirt to do odd jobs around the house that would get him messy.
"You didn't have to wear a stained shirt. Kade's got plenty of shirts, and he likes me to buy him plenty." Even though he spends a great deal of time naked rather than in clothes. Steven didn't voice the last part.