DEFIANT (A WESTERN BAD BOY ROMANCE) (17 page)

I
t's a dark
, cold, wet spring day. A freezing rain is pelting down and the roads are slick as shit. But I don't care. I'm speeding back to my office. I try calling Katie one last time in the irrational hope that her phone isn’t disconnected.

Sadly, it is. I don’t know how to get through to her.

I slide to a stop on the deserted street and run up the steps to my office. Then I'm flinging open the drawers of Jacey's filing cabinet, trying to find Katie's job application. It takes me a few minutes to locate it. She put her father's name under
Emergency Contact:
Gary Fischer. I know he's probably dying in a hospital—or perhaps he's already deceased—but it's the only lead I have to go on.

Finding her file I call the emergency contact number. The phone rings and rings and then goes to voicemail. “This is Gary. Please leave a message.”

Shit. I take a deep breath. “Hi Gary. My name is Clif Jackson. I'm your daughter Katie's former employer calling from Jackson, Wyoming. Something urgent came up and I need to speak to her. I’d call her personally but the number I have for her is no longer in use. Please call me back at your earliest convenience.” I give my number, say thanks, then hang up. I stare out the window at the depressing, gloomy day.

Only a minute later my phone rings.

Hallelujah! It’s Gary!

"Hello?”

“Hi Clif, Gary Fischer here. Sorry for not picking up, I didn’t recognize your number.”

“That’s ok, sir. Thanks for calling me back. I’d—"

He interrupts, "My daughter's getting married in three hours. You better get your ass in gear if you don't want to lose the best thing that's ever happened to you, son. You hear me?"

Oh I hear you all right. Loud and clear.

Half an hour later I'm on the company jet. We're sitting in a line on the runway, grounded.

This ain't going to work.

I pace up and down the cabin, getting more and more pissed by the second.

Three
fucking
hours.

The clock is ticking and I'm about to blow it. I finally open the cockpit door to speak to the pilot.

"How long ’til this storm lets up?"

"Don’t know. It’s not so much about the storm, it’s that the tower won't let us take off."

"Can you fly in this weather though? Is it safe?"

He looks at me cockeyed. "I flew off carriers in the Navy. I can fly in this weather. I just want a license when it's all said and done, and that ain't going to happen if I disobey the tower."

"I'll pay you to sit on your ass for the rest of your life. I'll do whatever it takes. Please, the girl I love is getting married in just over two hours to another man. I know she's making a mistake. And I have to be there to speak my piece. I know it sounds crazy, but you gotta roll with me. I'm begging you to help me out."

"Hell, I could go to Alaska. Be a bush pilot. There's no regulation, and I always wanted to. Only problem is I don't have a plane. Sorry, compadre. We're grounded till tower says OK."

"I'll buy you a plane, whichever one you want."

“Really?”

“Really. Here, I’ll write you a note in my own handwriting right now promising you.” I write the note and we shake on it.

Then we're moving. The engines whine higher and higher as we taxi around the line. The rain changes to snow, and it starts to flurry.

"If we have to fly around the storm we might not have enough fuel,” the pilot yells.

"Well, cowboy up then." I don't care. I'd literally do anything for Katie, even something as stupid as this.

The radio explodes to life as air traffic control orders us to stop. The engines roar, and soon we're taking off, leaving the valley behind. I watch Jackson disappear under us into the fog. Then I go back to the cabin and take a seat. When I reach for the liquor cabinet to pour myself a drink, I'm too nervous to even open the door, my hands are shaking that bad.

"We're cutting it close," the pilot’s voice crackles over the intercom. "Won't be much time for you after we touch down."

I know I'll make it in time. I have to, for
my
woman
.

"
I
don't know
if I can do this."

"Oh, sweetie." Jenni, my maid of honor, rubs my back warmly. "It's just cold feet."

"No, it's not. I don't think I can do this."

How can I explain I don't love Noah? That he's cheating on me? That I'm a hostage to his money? And worse: he doesn't even care if I love him anymore. He just wants my body, like a trophy. I can feel it when he touches me, and it makes me so sad.

Jenni sighs, like I'm being dramatic. It's been a long day already. "Do you need a minute?"

I nod, still hiding the fact that I'm about to break down. I feel ridiculous in my dress. Jenni flashes a smile from the doorway. "Everything will be all right."

No it will not.

I stare at the floor. What other option is there? The bills keep coming. My child needs a future. I just wish it could turn out better than this. I always did my best.

I pray to God to give me strength. When Jenni returns my eyes are dry. Let’s do this.

"
A
nd do you
, Noah Lee James, take this woman, Kathryn Anne Fischer, to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do."

I look over at my father. I haven't told him I'm not in love with Noah. His eyes are gentle, and I know he understands.
Follow your heart, Katie.
It's what he always told me, it was the only thing that mattered. And I’ve let myself down. Dad would never meddle, but he's always supported me, unconditionally. And in return, I've always loved him back. So much.

But I've hidden from him how expensive his care was. And he doesn't know the truth about Noah. No one does.

"If anyone present can show just and legal cause why they may not be joined, let them speak now, or forever hold their peace."

The silence stretches. I close my eyes.

"You may kiss the bride."

"
I
object
!"

Everything stops. People turn and stare.

I'm not too late.

Katie and Noah are at the altar, leaning in for The Kiss. There's a big diamond ring on her finger, and my heart sinks. The priest's face is frozen in surprise, along with everyone else's.

It's Katie who breaks the silence. She puts her face in her hands and starts to cry. The only sound in the church is her sobbing.

My heart splits in half.

And then I'm running down the aisle. Noah steps down to face me before I can reach the woman I love and take her in my arms.

"Who do you think you are? Look at what you're doing to Katie!"

I brush past him. If this weren't such a holy occasion I'd knock him to the ground.

“Don’t you think you’ve hurt her enough?
You're ruining her wedding, you fucking redneck.
" His fists are clenched and his eyes are simmering.

Guess I'll have to deal with the little hipster after all.

"You ruined her wedding when you put her on the back burner. You don't deserve her." Then I look past him and up at Katie. "Taylor was lying, Katie. She made the whole pregnancy bit up to tear us apart. I didn't get her pregnant. I didn't know until a few hours ago or I'd have come for you earlier. I'm so sorry."

She keeps crying.

I want to hold her so bad.

"I love you. And I can't let you do this without speaking my piece."

"I'm pregnant, you know."

The crowd gasps.

I stare at Noah in utter disbelief. His eyes go wide. He's scared, but he stays right there, rooted to the spot.

"It's not his," Katie whispers.

It doesn't hit me for a second. Then I'm blown out of the water by the revelation. I feel my lips moving, but for a second, no sound comes out. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was going to. But when Taylor told me she was pregnant...I...I just couldn't. I was afraid...and hurt, and I didn’t want to use the baby as leverage." She starts crying again.

"Goddamnit," Noah hisses. "No one cares. Just go back where you came from, you fucking redneck. You don't deserve her. Not only that, but you walked away when she needed you the most."

"No. You did. And I'm not above kicking your ass right in front of God and everyone."

Noah and I stare each other down. If he wants to fight I'll fucking destroy him. Then the light goes out of his eyes. He walks away, down the aisle, and out the door. Everyone watches him go, then they turn back to stare at us.

I pull Katie's face up to mine and kiss her hard. I lift her high up into my arms.

"You don't need leverage to win my heart, Katie. You've already done that. You're everything I ever wanted, you and the baby. Marry me."

I
t snowed more
last winter than anyone could ever remember. Now it's late July, and the mountains are still snowcapped.

I wash a glass in the kitchen sink and gaze out the window. No one told me Coal Butte was so beautiful in the summer, but it is, and all the flowers I planted in the yard are in full bloom now. It's heaven on earth.

Clif is kneeling in the lawn in front of Lynnae, helping her take her first steps. I know I should be outside with them, but right now, I just want to watch Clif from afar as he shares this beautiful moment with his daughter.

He's a good husband. And a flat-out amazing father. Lynnae steps forward, stumbling, and Clif catches her. I could watch them forever. Lynnae, so bright and full of wonder. Clif loves her more than anything. I know because his eyes light up at everything she does.

Lynnae reaches for Clif, her little body searching for balance. Then he's letting her go. She's walking all on her own. I could die, seeing the silly joy on her face.

I look away before I get too weepy and finish the dishes.

We're here for a weeklong vacation while Clif attends to some business. We split our time between Jackson, Coal Butte, and San Francisco. Yeah, being rich has its perks.

But I don't care about the houses, the cars, the electronic trinkets. I have peace of mind, a man I love, a future for my daughter. Clif always tells me I changed him. But he changed me too. He completes me, and I keep falling deeper and deeper in love with him.

"Hey, little darlin'." Clif steps in and wraps his arms around me.

"Take those boots off!” I scold jokingly. “You're getting mud in the house."

"Oops, sure thing," he replies with a sheepish grin.

He lifts my chin up to his and we kiss. No, I don't think I've ever had this much love. Most days, it feels like I'm overflowing with it.

Then I run my hands over my belly and smile. I just found out we’ve got another on the way. I'm going to tell Clif tonight after the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Caddis Flats. I want to break the news tonight over dinner with my father.

He got a new heart, and he's been doing amazing.

And me, well...I'm happy.

T
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