Baby For The Mountain Man

“Yeah. I do.”

“Are you going back today?” he asked.

“No reason in putting off the inevitable. No matter how long I wait, it’s going to start a firefight.”

“Just stay safe. Okay? That’s important.”

“I will. I promise.”

I took a quick shower and changed my clothes, then watched as Travis’ body receded in the background. Having that night with him last night gave me a strength I had been waiting to possess. His body and his lips instilled within me a confidence I had yet to explore within myself. I was a little closer to establishing what I wanted for my life, with no help at all from my father, and now it was time to put my foot down.

The only control he had over me was the control I had willingly given him for the last twenty two years of my life.

I barreled up the driveway and saw my brothers in the yard. Their faces paled as they ran towards me, their arms flagging me down. Hunter had this surprised expression on his face as he opened my door, but Lorenzo interjected before Hunter could say anything.

“What the hell are you doing here? Father’s fucking pissed.”

“Why did you come back?” Finn said. “We gave you the money you needed.”

“Why don’t you give her space and let her explain,” Hunter said.

“I can’t leave you guys,” I said. “I thought that getting away from Dad was the solution, but it’s not. I want my brothers in my life. Which means I had to come back here. I can’t take you guys with me, but I can try to stand up to Dad.”

“This isn’t going to end well,” Finn said.

“We can’t cover your ass this time,” Lorenzo said.

“Don’t worry. You don’t have to. Just walk with me inside,” I said.

T

he four of us entered the house and my mother rushed to my side. She wrapped her arms around me, holding me close as she cried into my hair. She covered me in kisses as I stood there, my brothers all watching from the foyer.

Then, my father came around the corner with his face red with anger.

“Where the hell did you go?” my father asked. “And don’t tell me Cassie’s. Because I went there myself this morning!”

“I didn’t go to Cassie’s,” I said. “I was on my way to California.”

I heard my brothers groan in the corner as my father shot them a look.

“You were going where?” my mother asked.

“California,” I said.

“And why the hell did you think you could just run off to California?” my father asked.

“Something could have happened to you!” my mother exclaimed. “You could’ve been in a car accident. Or taken! Your father’s a wealthy and important man. Someone could’ve held you hostage somewhere!”

“You watch too many soap operas, Mom,” I said.

“You will not speak to your mother that way,” my father said. “She has earned your respect for trying to raise you to be a proper woman despite your insolent behavior!”

“I am my own woman and I can do as I please,” I said.

I saw my brothers gawking from the corner as my father clenched his fists. He was two seconds away from slugging me just to get me to shut up, but I didn’t care. My mother’s face was stunned into silence and I could feel my chest puffing out with confidence. I had said it, and now the cork had been popped.

“You have tried to get me to subscribe to a life I don’t believe in,” I said. “A life I’m not fit to live. I don’t want to be someone’s trophy wife, like Mom decided to be with you. I want to be educated on things. Like politics and finances and sex.”