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When they exited the store, Tex asked, “What are you budgeting out and saving for?”
“An apartment to rent, then school.”
“Oh, you mean to go to college?” Kendrick asked.
“I’m one class shy of getting my degree.”
“Really, in what?” Lou asked before Tex could.
“Accounting and finance,” she told them, shocking Tex.
“You’re pretty smart then?” Kendrick said to her as they crossed the street and headed to the lake and park.
“Well, with most other things apart from choosing men I guess,” she said and then exhaled.
“Hey, I didn’t mean it like that,” Kendrick said to her. They approached an empty bench in the shade that overlooked the water and sat down.
“It’s okay, Kendrick. It’s a decision I have to live with. I was stupid, and then I was stuck. He just kept pulling me under deeper and deeper.” She reached out and looked at Benny as she rocked the stroller.
“Benny’s my focus. Anything I could want or need can go on hold except for the things that can ensure he has a good life—a safe and happy one where he’s loved and surrounded by good people.”
“You’ll have that here in Salvation,” Kendrick said to her. Lou reached out and stroked her cheek. She looked at him and he stared at her lips.
“You can have that here, and my brothers and I can help.”
Her eyes widened and she looked down.
“Lou, don’t say such things to me. I heard about this guardianship stuff. I won’t be a burden to some men because it’s a rule of this town. I can make it on my own. I’m not taking handouts and being told that I need a man or men to survive,” she stated.
“Hey, it isn’t like that. It’s a rule to keep you and Benny safe, but it has to be approved by Ford. He wouldn’t assign someone to you just to do it. There are feelings, an attraction,” Tex stated.
She looked up at him.
“I don’t know how to feel. I don’t trust my judgment. I thought Murdock was a good man, a soldier, an entrepreneur who owned his own businesses. He treated me so good, and made me feel special. He was the only man I ever had sex with. Things changed the moment I allowed him to give orders, to make decisions for me and order me around, and started giving up my dreams. He made me quit school right before I finished the last class. He put demands on me. He struck me. He forced things upon me and it got worse and worse, and soon I was drowning and then I was pregnant. He kicked me, literally, while I was down on the ground in the fetal potion,” she said as tears rolled down her cheeks. Tex felt so angry and pissed off. His brothers were, too, but then Kendrick lowered down and took her hands into his.
“We aren’t him. Pierce and Frank feel this attraction to you, too. We know we’re older, and that you can get men closer to your age, but if you let us in, let us show you how good this could be, I promise you won’t feel any more pain, only happiness,” he said and then brought her hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
“Will you try, baby?” Tex asked, caressing her hair and then her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaning into his palm, then she lifted up and looked at Lou.
“I can’t promise you anything. I can only take it one day at a time.” Lou smiled.
“One day at a time sounds about our speed, too.” Lou pressed his lips to hers and then pulled back.
She looked shocked.
“Trust us, Vye. You can trust us,” he said and she nodded her head. She wiped away her tears and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon with Kendrick, Lou, and Tex McCann.
Chapter Four
“Is Mommy going to be okay?” Kenny asked Ford.
Ford smiled at Kenny, now eight years old, so bright and strong. He had gone through a lot at such a young age and seen more bad than good before coming here to Salvation.
Ford was tempted to rub that blond hair of his but knew that Kenny didn’t like that anymore. He was mature for eight, tall, too, close to his mamma’s height and he took being a young man of the house seriously.
“You know your mamma is as strong as can be. Doc says the baby is just taking its time coming, that’s all. She’ll be just fine.”
Kenny looked toward his younger brother, Waylan, and sister, Jessica. Evan was holding Jessica, who was two now, on his lap. Now Waylan, the six-year-old, was staring at Ford wit
