The Throwbacks: A Compilation Of Four Complete Dark Psychological Romance Novellas(14)

With everything ready, three hours before it was time to go fetch my woman, I cleaned myself up before heading into town to stock up on some things. Pregnant women needed healthy food, not the can crap I usually fed myself. I hadn’t gone shopping sooner because I wanted the stuff to be as close to fresh as possible.

The people in the store sure did have a lot of interest in what went into my cart but I didn’t pay them no never mind. I got all the fresh fruit and vegetables I could find as well as some Angus steaks, some fresh salmon and plenty eggs.

I had plenty fresh milk on the farm. I planned to slaughter a cow sometime next week since winter was coming on. I’d had too much to do to get things ready to bring her home so that’s why I hadn’t done it already. I didn’t think a city girl like her would cotton too much to the deer meat I had in the freezer.

I perused the aisles reading boxes to see what’s what before throwing it in the cart. When I reached the register the woman behind the machine was doing her best to see behind my shades.

With all the money I had you’d think I’d have traded up by now, but I figured if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

“Well Carter, you having outta town guests?” Well aren’t you the nosy one?

“No.” That wasn’t the kinda no that invited more questions and she got the message right quick and buttoned her lip.

She didn’t take offense, everybody know I ain’t much for socializing. But there was sure to be a lot of fodder for the old gossip mill, come tomorrow.

I ain’t never spent that much money on vittles before. I was more of a canned beans and luncheon meat kinda man, and here I was buying out the store of all the best meat and such.

Hopefully, she and whoever she blabbed to didn’t make too much of it. I knew for sure they wouldn’t dare trespass on my land to find out because they knew my gun was always at the ready.

I pushed the cart out to my old truck and loaded up before heading back to the farm. My heart didn’t even skip a beat at what I was about to do. I don’t see a damn thing wrong with it. As far as I’m concerned I have only the best intentions.

I was sure there might be some struggling on her part in the beginning but I’d wear her down yet. It might take a couple years at that, but by then I’d have me a couple little ones with my name, which is all I’m after.

After once again making sure everything was in place, I set out to capture my mate, and bring her home. I’d pieced together her routine from following her and from the things she’d posted online and congratulated myself on being the one to save her from certain disaster.

The way she was going, putting all her business out there for just anyone to see, it was a wonder some ill intentioned asshole hadn’t snatched her already and done who knows what.

You see I don’t see any correlation between that phantom someone and myself. Though I didn’t do much talking, I do a lot of thinking. In my mind the end justifies the means. I know what my plans are.

That I’ll be good to her and whatever children we have. I wasn’t just after sex after all, though I’ll maybe fuck her all day everyday for the first month or so. But after I get her with child I don’t see why we can’t settle down to a fine life.

That harlot that had been in my bed said something about my antisocial tendencies once. Whatever the green hell that means.

According to her, because daddy had kept me here on the farm away from the outside world my mindset was a throwback to the old ways. And since I got everything I learned about life from the old publications daddy had kept around, I tend to be stuck in the past.

She might be right, this had a lot to do with my tendency to not give a fuck. I’m pretty sure the men and women who formed this land hadn’t either.

I had a list of things I needed to pick up that I thought it best not to get in my neck of the woods, so I’d looked up some pharmacies on the way between the farm and the college.

If anyone thought it strange that a man was buying up folic acid and fertility suppositories they didn’t mention it. I left the place loaded down with bags and ignored the appreciative stares from the women I passed on the way out.

I’m not that green that I didn’t know women found me attractive. Some of the folks in town couldn’t see past the beard and long hair. Others, especially of the female persuasion certainly did on occasion compliment me. That’s why I never go anywhere without my shades.

I had one jezebel proposition me right there in the canned foods aisle of the Piggly Wiggly before I had it torn down. Told me just what she was gonna do to me, balls and all.

I heard one of the two I’d just passed whispering to the other as they went by me. ‘Did you see those muscles? I bet he could go all night and then some.’

‘I like the way he looked at me from behind those shades without uttering a word, makes my heart get to fluttering. I’m gonna have me some sweet dreams tonight, just from that one look.’

What in the blue hell? They weren’t even trying to be quiet. I looked around at them and they cackled like two demented hens while staring at my dick.

That’s what’s wrong with the world. They don’t know me or what kinda man I am all they see is the few muscles I’d gotten over the years from working on the farm.

I don’t put much stock in such things as looks, well not my own anyway. Angel was a beauty, but that’s not to say that I couldn’t have fallen for someone less attractive. Her ass just happened to be the one with my name on it is all.

I’m more interested in the kind of man I am inside. Daddy always said that a man’s mettle was measured by his deeds. Like the charities I donate to all over the world that no one knew about. Or the way I cried over that old hound dog after he’d died.

I’d even had the repairs done on the old elementary school after a tornado hit and the mayor had dragged his feet. But the town folk had no idea that I was behind that and a whole lot more, because I didn’t want them in my damn face with their shit. As far as I’m concerned those things, more so than all the zeroes in my bank account is what matters.

The more brazen of the two gave me a look hot enough to scorch and bit her fingertip. What the hell? “Has anyone ever told you that you look a lot like that guy in that TV show? What’s his name again? She turned to her friend who was looking at me like we knew each other. I was almost afraid to open the truck for fear they might try to grab me while my back was turned. For shame!

“Jaxx, I don’t remember his real name but you look a lot like him.” They got to giggling again and I jumped in the truck and got the hell outta there.





6





Carter





As I drove along on my way to my little mission, I got to thinking about those women and their reactions. You see I know I’m not what people think, though I don’t try to dissuade them from their way of thinking.

I never was the ignorant hick I pretend to be, and it wasn’t because of the money. Mama had been a real beauty, a woman of great taste, with a good head on her shoulders, and she’d loved daddy something fierce before she died.

They’d met at a horse show way back when daddy was doing the Rodeo circuit and daddy had brought her home and married her when he found out she was on the run from an abusive ex.

She’d given up her city life to settle down here in the middle of nowhere to have a family. Because they’d kept mostly to themselves, people came to their own conclusions, all of them wrong.

I knew all about the finer things in life. What mama hadn’t taught me I’d learned from books and now the Internet. I also knew that with my money I could go anywhere in the world, be anything I wanted. I just didn’t have any interest. The land was in my blood.

All I want is to live out my days right here on this little piece of heaven with a family of my own. And for that I’ve decided that I need Ms. Macy Denton to make it happen. She was the only woman to ever make me feel and I knew that counted for something. One day, she’ll be making eyes at me the way mama had with daddy.

I pulled up outside the correct building with a few minutes to spare and after locating her car, parked just one car over. When it was just about time for her to come out, I rode around the lot slowly as if searching for a parking space.

Barring an emergency the coast should be clear. I’d chosen to move now because she should be leaving any minute for her job at the all night diner outside of town. It meant I wouldn’t have to go inside and risk being seen.

My pulse picked up when I saw her come out the door with her head buried in her bag probably looking for her keys. “Oh baby that’s dangerous, you should always be aware of your surroundings.”

I watched her walk to her car in the poorly lit lot and eased my truck into place. There wasn’t a lot of light back there and the place was empty except for the two of us. I opened the truck door as quietly as I could and snuck up behind her.

She turned just as I reached her but it was too late. There was barely a sound as she went out from the slight pressure on the pulse point in her neck. I’d thought of using the chloroform I kept around the farm, but decided against it in the end.

I made short work of tying her up once I had her safely in the truck. I knew I couldn’t hang around there too long, so I just threw the sack over her head. I made sure she could breathe okay, before pulling out with her head resting on my leg. I was whistling by the time I turned the corner.