“He’s dead. She shot him,” Detective Reynolds stated as Kenny took the gun from her hands, passed it to the detective then pulled her into his arms.
“Son of a bitch, woman, you scared the hell out of me.”
She held him to her. “Is he dead, Kenny? Please tell me that he’s dead and that he can never come after me again.”
He caressed her hair and her back as he hugged her to him. “He’ll never hurt another person ever again, baby.”
Epilogue
It was Independence Day. Lena had never really celebrated her twenty-first birthday and decided that today was as good a day as ever She hadn’t informed her men yet but planned on telling them after she sipped one of Abigail’s homemade margarita’s she was supposedly famous for. Lena watched as Sage engaged in friendly conversation with Doc. He had taken care of her when Kenny and Lena brought her back to Pearl with them. Sage kept thanking Lena for saving her life and for going back to Detroit to find her. She was thin, hungry, and had nearly been Triumph’s prisoner if she hadn’t arrived in town when she had. That was a trip Lena would never forget. She still had nightmares, but waking up in one of her men’s embraces made her feel safe. Kenny had made love to her and held her close as soon as they were alone back at the hotel in Detroit. The others were angry about what had happened and had shown their affection as soon as she arrived back in Pearl safe and sound.
Her priority was Sage and finding her some work. She already offered her the cottage to share especially since she spent most nights at Bryant’s with him and the others.
The estate was filled with townspeople coming to see the events unfold and the horse races and other entertainment. It was finally coming to an end as the sun was beginning to set, and before long, Lena would be sipping that margarita before the fireworks began.
Pearl was a beautiful and amazing place to live, and she never wanted to leave there again.
“Hey, sweetie, whatcha doing out here all by yourself?” Abigail asked as she carried a tray with a large pitcher of margaritas and some glasses.
“I was waiting for one of those,” Lena stated, and Abigail smiled.
“Go on and grab one,” Abigail said.
“Thanks. I never really had a chance to celebrate my twenty-first birthday. That was the night I left Detroit in a hurry.”
“What?” Abigail asked.
“Yep.”
“Well, Happy Birthday.”
“Whose birthday is today?” Doc asked as he and Sage joined the conversation.
Lena winked at Sage then caressed her cheek before hugging Sage against her side. Sage smiled.
“It’s a belated birthday, and I was just going to try Abigail’s famous margarita,” Lena stated as Abigail filled two glasses and passed one to Lena.
“Happy birthday, Lena.” Abigail said. Then they clinked glasses and Lena took a sip.
“Mmm. No wonder why people like these so much. This is good,” Lena said, and they laughed.
Doc and Abigail headed toward the back of the house where the BBQ was still going on and the ranch hands were celebrating a successful fair and safe event.
“So, what do you think?” Lena asked Sage as they stood by the large porch looking out toward the party.
“I love it here, Lena. I wish I could pay you back for everything that you have done for me. I would have died without you.”
Lena smiled at Sage. She was a beautiful young woman with long brown hair and big green eyes. She finally had gotten some color back into her face and was making up for lost time by eating three square meals a day. She looked so different and happ
y.
“There’s no need to pay me back, Sage. I had help when I first showed up in town by Abigail and Doc. It’s how things are done around here, and one day real soon there may be a place for other women to come to for help.” Lena had explained about Anna and Stacy’s idea for a shelter and bed-and-breakfast.
“I would love to be part of that. This is my second chance at life.”
“Hey, Sage, want to come with us to hear the band play?” Clay asked Sage as he and two other ranch hands a few years older than Sage asked.
“You take good care of her, Clay. That’s my sister,” Lena stated, and Clay smiled then nodded his cowboy hat at her.