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“She asked to come inside, and when I walked down the hall, she pushed me into the door frame.”
He watched as she touched her head. Anger rose up within him. Sarah had been crazy.
“That’s not all they found either,” Casey said. “Sheriff told me her entire house was filled with our stuff. Pictures of us in town or at the bar. There was one of you and Poppy at the bar a couple of weeks back. She was obsessed. Had already picked out her wedding dress, and stuff like that.”
“Seems Ben wasn’t wrong after all,” Parker said.
“I’ll make him a basket,” Poppy said.
“Why? He’s been a bastard to us our entire lives. We don’t owe him shit.”
“No, but he didn’t have to warn Parker either.”
“The sheriff apologized for not taking our information seriously. He’s known Sarah his whole life and never knew that she was so dangerous,” Casey said.
“Serves him right. Ben never went to the cops. He just took care of the cat she was hurting and kept that shit secret. Who’d have believed him though? They’d have assumed he was the person responsible,” Parker said. “I know I would have. He was my first thought when I heard about this.”
The sound of a truck pulling up had them all turning to see Elijah, Bruce, and Louise climbing out. Within seconds their parents were embracing them, kissing them all over their faces. Poppy was pulled into a hug as well.
“I’m so pleased you’re all right. I couldn’t believe it when Shawn called us. Why did you wait so long to tell us?” Louise asked.
“The sheriff hasn’t been gone long. He took Sarah into custody. With the state of her house, it looks like she’ll plead insanity or some shit like that,” Shawn said.
Parker wrapped his arms around Poppy, knowing that he could have lost her. She had changed his entire world. He wanted the future with her and no one else. When he pressed a kiss to her neck, she turned to smile at him.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little shocked, you know. She was so angry. So convinced that I’d taken her place.”
“This is your place, princess. Never doubt that. You’ve been our woman for a long time.”
“Did anyone have any idea of the lengths she’d go to?” Elijah asked.
“No one,” Casey said.
“One guy—Ben. He caught her years ago, and gave me a warning. The sheriff didn’t believe me.”
“Stupid mistake. I’ve a good mind to sue them,” Elijah said.
“There’s no need to do that, Elijah. They’ve done their job, and Poppy’s fine. Our boys are fine. Everything can go back to normal now.”
They all agreed. Parker saw the anger still on his fathers’ faces. They clearly didn’t like that their concerns had been overlooked, and that their lives had been in danger.
Parker was happy it was over. He pressed another kiss to Poppy’s neck, knowing he never wanted to risk losing her again. Seeing Shawn at the back door of the house, and his signal to hear Sarah ranting at Poppy had been the scariest moment of his life. He’d not argued with Casey. All he’d wanted to do was to protect his woman, and the only way to do that was to follow orders.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“I’m never better. It’s you I’m worried about.”
“I’m fine. A couple of bruises that will heal but I’m all better. I didn’t want her to take me away from you.”
“It’s never going to happen,” he said.
Casey and Shawn were there, surrounding her with their love. No one was taking her. Stitch lay down at their feet. Parker wouldn’t be taking his dog out into the field again. It was the first time he’d taken him, and look what had happened. His dog would have protected her, he was sure of it.
****
Two months later
“How are you doing?” his mother asked, popping her head around the door.
Casey stood in his bedroom, and turned toward Louise. “I can’t seem to get my tie on right.”
She chuckled, entered the room, and helped him to fix his tie. “Your brothers would have helped, you know.”
“I asked them to make sure everything is perfect. Poppy’s still here, right?”
“Of course she’s still here. She loves you, Casey. You and Parker and Shawn. I couldn’t have asked for a better woman to love all three of my sons.”
“You’re not sad we’ve not had three different weddings?”
“Not at all. I see how happy she makes all three of you. Even when you were growing up, she seemed to help you have this glow. I look forward to seeing you all as a family. I know you’re going to have a wonderful life together. There, all fixed.” She patted his chest. “You’ve a right to be just as happy.”
“I am. I love her, Mom. More than anything in the world. She’s my life.” He loved his ranch and his brothers. Poppy, she was his world.
