For the Love of Anna (The Town of Pearl 1)

“You have to have patience. Am I the only one who saw over a dozen big ass cowboys and the fucking town sheriff? He don’t look like no hillbilly to me,” Jake replied as he lifted the binoculars again.

“Fuck this shit! As soon as she’s alone and we get a chance to grab her, let’s do it and get the fuck out of here. I’m all congested from the fields, and these fucking hick clothes are putting a damper on my style. How do they wear this fucking thermal plaid shit?”

Jake laughed.

“You’re congested because your nose is used to city air not fresh country air. It’s probably better for your health to live out here.”

“With the smell of cow shit? I don’t fucking think so.”

“Those men are always around her. We should wait until night when the workers are in their bunk houses or grab her at the restaurant.”

“The restaurant is too risky unless we enter through the back, light up the place with some gunfire, grab her, then speed out of town. There’re only three deputies. We could take out the tires on their vehicles first.”

“That’s a fucking stupid idea. The town has people everywhere. It’s like fucking Mayberry and shit. N

o. We take her here.”

“Those three men, including the sheriff, are fucking her, I just know it.”

“This is definitely a fucked-up town. We’ve seen a few women with more than one man. It’s a twist on polygamy.”

“It’s twisted, period. I wouldn’t let another man fuck my wife.”

“You’re so full of shit. You just offered Marcus Anna, and me, if I wanted.”

“She’s not my fucking wife. I was going to use her body to get back the money.”

“Bull fucking shit! As soon as you have the chance, you’re fucking her and keeping her for yourself. I’ve known you since fucking grade school. Now shut the fuck up, and use those two hundred fucking dollar binoculars you insisted on getting and hope tonight is the night. I want to get back to New York.”

Chapter 16

It was after seven in the evening. They had finished dinner and were sitting on the porch.

Stacy, Eric, and Ben had joined at Wyatt’s request. The sun had set, and the darkness filled the yard except for the soft glow of the lampposts that stood on the corners of Eric and Max’s house.

Stacy talked about plans for the nursery, and Anna made suggestions for colors and themes. They were giggling and enjoying the moment, and Wyatt felt sick to his stomach being the bearer of bad news.

As the conversation quieted down, Wyatt took the moment to speak. Everyone was silent.

“Anna, I received a call today at work.”

Anna and her beautiful, big, brown eyes focused on his every word. He loved her, damn it, and this sucked.

“It was from a detective in New York.”

“What?”

He watched her glance around at everyone’s faces, and instantly, she knew something was up. She clasped her hands on her lap and swallowed hard.

“It’s about your father.”

Anna sat frozen in place as Wyatt explained everything the detective had told him. She only widened her eyes once when he explained that she initially was a suspect in his murder, but then he was quick to explain how he made the detectives understand the true story. When he was finished overloading her with the information, she still showed no emotion or response.

Stacy caressed her hands, and Anna flinched at the contact.

“Anna, honey, talk to us,” Stacy asked, but Anna didn’t respond.

“Baby?” Charlie stated then Anna looked at each of them.