Chapter 20: Chapter 20

ANDIE

Andie rolled to find the warmth that should have been beside her, and her eyes flew open when she didn’t find it. She looked at the clock. It was only midnight. Maybe he went to the bathroom?

She stared at the ceiling for another fifteen minutes before she finally got up to go search for Eli. She checked the girls’ room first. They both were sawing logs.

A small smile touched her lips, and she pulled the door closed to a crack. She made her way down the hall, trying to hear any sign of Eli.

Nothing.

Where was he? She wrapped her arms around herself a little and walked into the living room. Eli was asleep on the couch.

One foot was propped up on the arm, and his other leg stretched out off the couch, the heel of his foot resting against the floor. He had an arm draped over his eyes.

She let out a sigh. He looked so smushed. She made her way over to him, and as she moved closer, her foot landed on something sharp.

She let out a yelp and stumbled forward, landing on top of Eli. The next thing she knew, she was pushed back onto the couch, her hands pinned above her head, and Eli’s muscular body was pressed against her.

“Andie, what are you doing?” he rasped out as his breath settled down a little.

“I came to find you. What are you doing?”

“Nothing.”

“Then come to bed, Eli, please?”

He huffed a little and slowly pulled away. He helped her up, knocked the toy she had stepped on out of the way, and then led her down the hallway to their room.

He lay down, then pulled her down on top of him. He kissed her forehead and wrapped his arms around her. “Go back to sleep, baby. I love you.”

“I love you too,” she answered sleepily as she snuggled against him. He still felt so tense beneath her, but she couldn’t keep her eyes open.

ELI

Eli held Andie close to him and rubbed her back gently. He stared up at the ceiling. He brushed her soft hair from her face.

He was glad she didn’t press him anymore about why he’d been out on the couch. Asleep nonetheless.

He was trying his damndest to protect his family. When he’d got the phone call from Levi about seeing someone on the property, his stomach dropped.

His plan had been to stay awake to make sure nothing happened or that he could spot the person Levi had seen.

But, no. His stupid ass fell asleep on that uncomfortable couch. He ran his fingers through her long, silky, soft hair again and kissed her cheek. He had to keep his girls safe.

Andie let out a whimper as she tried to move closer to him.

“Shh, I’m right here,” he whispered as he rubbed her back again. And today she was supposed to help Bruce and Rose unpack. Why did he ever agree to it?

He began to fall asleep too.

ANDIE

Andie jerked awake when Lily began to cry. She crawled over Eli and rushed to the girls. She picked Lily up and began to change her. Then she sat her down with some toys and proceeded to do the same with Lucy.

Afterward, she took them out to the kitchen and put them in their highchairs. She began to get their baby food ready.

At the pop of the lid, the strawberry banana smell wafted to her nose, and she felt her stomach roil. She set the jar on the counter. “Eli!” she yelled as she rushed out of the kitchen.

Eli came rushing out of the bedroom. “What’s the matter?”

“The girls are in their chairs. Can you… please?” She rushed into the bathroom and got sick.

Then, she finally could relax a little. Tears ran down her cheeks, and her throat hurt slightly.

She leaned against the tub, trying to settle her gasping. She shuddered a little. She must have eaten something bad. She was okay, though. She had to be.

She had to help Rose and Bruce today while Belle came to watch the girls. She slowly stood up, pushing the shaking feeling away as she moved to the white sink.

She turned on the water, splashing some on her face, then brushed her teeth. She ran a hand over her face, trying to compose herself, then headed back to the kitchen.

Embarrassment swarmed over her as Eli looked at her. She tried to walk around him, but he stuck out his arm and pulled her down into his lap, and they finished feeding the girls.

Eli gave the girls their bottles and wrapped an arm around Andie’s waist when she tried to get up. He pressed his other hand against her forehead and cheeks gently.

“You look a little flushed, baby. Are you okay?”

“Um, yeah, I’m fine. So what are you doing today?”

“Well, I guess I’m actually going to help the guys out today since I’ve been slacking because of a particular woman I love.”

She smiled faintly. “I’m sorry.”

“Oh, I’m not complaining.” He kissed the back of her neck. “Belle will be here soon. Guess we better get ready.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” She got out of his lap and grabbed the girls. Eli went to follow her, but she called out, “I’ve got it, Eli.”

She rushed out of the kitchen and to the nursery and began to get the girls cleaned up and dressed.

ELI

Eli stood there, unable to say anything. He put the spoons, trays, and bottles in the sink to be washed up. Andie was acting very strange today. He started the water and began to clean up.

Once he was done, he found Andie with the girls sitting on the bed. He lay down by them, and they began to crawl all over him.

He held them close as Andie changed into a blue tank top and a pair of cut-off jean shorts. She tried to snap them but couldn’t.

She let out a huff and stripped them off. “I told you not letting me do anything was causing me to gain weight.”

He smiled at her, his woman, and said, “Well, if you have, it doesn’t look like it to me. I think you look great.” Just then, Lucy grabbed his nose and said, “Da-da,” again.

“How about Mama?”

“Ma,” she squealed, making Andie turn around quickly.

He smiled up at Andie as she climbed onto the bed, and Lucy reached out to her. Eli grabbed Lily and sat her on his chest as Andie hugged Lucy.

“Baby, why don’t you just stay home with us like this all day?”

“Maybe tomorrow? We already arranged for Belle to come over, so we should stick to the plan, and it’ll be good to see Rose and Bruce.

“I was also thinking we could invite them and your parents for supper tonight.”

He adjusted Lily and sat up a little. He brushed his knuckles against Andie’s cheek, smoothing some hair from her flushed cheeks. “Only if you’re sure.”

“Yeah, why not? We can do something simple, get some pizzas.”

“All right, babe.” He leaned over and kissed her. “Why don’t you finish getting dressed? Then I will. We’ll wait for Belle, and while we wait, we’ll play with the girls.”

“Okay.” She smiled and kissed him again, but he felt like she was holding back a little. He let it go, and she got dressed.

She took the kids out to the living room while he changed. What could possibly be going through her mind? She was pulling away a little, and he didn’t know why.

He loved her. So they’d had an argument. It was what couples did. Not everything was going to be sunshine and roses. But she knew that better than anyone else he knew.

He dressed, headed out to the living room, and found her playing with both girls. He sat down and joined in for a while until Belle finally showed up.

They told her what they’d done so far and how their moods were and headed outside after he set the alarm. Eli walked Andie to her car. She went to get in, but he pulled her back to him.

“Baby, are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, really.” She wrapped her arms around him slightly, and he bent down to kiss her passionately.

“All right, babe. If anything happens, you let me know, okay? I’ll be there in a flash.”

“I know. Thank you,” she whispered and got into the car.

Eli watched Andie leave down the driveway, and he went out to the barn. There was something she was getting scared about, and he couldn’t get her to tell him. It was going to drive him mad.

Why couldn’t he make her understand she didn’t have to be alone anymore, that he was going to be beside her? He shook his head and headed into the barn. She just needed time.

ANDIE

Andie sat in the parking lot of the store. This was impossible; she’d been told she couldn’t have a kid, and then she was told she couldn’t have any more. And now she was late.

This made no sense. She tried to convince herself it was just the stress of everything that was happening.

But there was one way she could be sure without going to a doctor, who would probably look at her like she was crazy given her prior diagnosis.

She glanced around. She was so glad Eli let her go on her own to Rose and Bruce’s new home. It was the only way she was going to get away with this and not give him any false hope.

As soon as she walked into the store, she made a beeline to the tests and stared. So many thoughts flashed through her mind.

What if she wasn’t? Would she be disappointed? Would she be relieved? Would she have another chance to mother another child? How would Eli feel? Excited or upset?

She chewed on her lip as she stared at all the tests that lined the wall. Who knew there could be so many stupid tests for the same thing?

She reached out and grabbed the test she had taken when she had been pregnant with Lucy. She rushed to the checkout, paid, and left quickly.

Her heart was beating out of her chest. It was almost painful.

She didn’t know why she was so worked up. This wasn’t the first time she took a test, but there was so much more at stake this time, at least before she knew where she stood with the man who got her pregnant.

She made her way to her house, went inside, and hurried to the bathroom. She ripped open the package and foil and kept telling herself to expect a “not pregnant” because all of this was just stress.

Then again, what if she was taking the stupid test too early? She just wanted her brain to shut up. She took the test, closed the cap, and laid it on the sink counter.

She finished, dressed, and waited, sitting on the edge of the tub as her legs bounced with nerves.

When enough time had passed, she picked up the test, pulled her phone out, and took a picture of the word staring back at her. She couldn’t believe this. She called Eli and said, “We need to talk.”

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I just know we have to talk. I’m going to send you a picture.”

“Okay.” He drew out the word, sounding a little scared.

She pulled up the picture, sent it to him, put the phone back up to her ear, and started talking.

“Eli, I don’t expect anything. I hope you know that. I know we’ve said we love each other, and I do love you, Eli, so much.

“I’m sorry about my mood this morning, and I’m sorry I got sick and everything that’s been going on. This couldn’t be a worse time for this, but I need you to know.”

“Baby, breathe,” he said huskily.

“I’m trying.”

“Just give me a minute.”

She closed her eyes tightly as she waited for Eli to look at the picture. She heard some rustling, and then his voice.

“Marry me.”

Her eyes flew open. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Marry me,” he repeated.

“Wait, why?”

“Because it makes sense. You know this. I know this. Hell, those two little girls probably even know, so marry me.”

“This isn’t just because of the picture I sent you, is it?”

“No, of course not. Just helps some.”

“I’m not getting married because of the situation. I’m not weak. I don’t need to be married to have a baby. I already had one.”

“Baby, we’re having a baby, not just you. I know you’re so strong. I want to marry you because I love you. This just gives us more of a reason to hurry and make our life together.”

“I don’t know, Eli. I just… I think I need some time to think. I have to go before Rose and Bruce get home.”

“Wait, where are you?”

“My house,” she answered slowly.

“Are you serious, Andie?”

“Yes. I didn’t know where else to take the test. I’m sorry, Eli.” She closed her eyes as she heard a huff.

“Okay, listen to me. Make sure no one is around, get to your car, and leave. Go straight to Rose and Bruce’s. Just make sure no one is following you.”

“I will, Eli. I promise. I love you.”

“I love you too, but we’re going to talk about this later.”

Andie did exactly what Eli said after they got off the phone. No need to borrow any more trouble.

Her eyes darted around as she went to her car. She quickly got in and sat there for a minute, staring at her house.

Marriage? She just showed him she was indeed having their baby, and he asked her to marry him over the phone?

She took a deep breath, started her car, then cautiously drove to Bruce and Rose’s new home, watching for anyone following her on the way.

She made it safely and headed to the door. She knocked softly and kept glancing around her.

The door finally opened, and she was assaulted with a horrible, pungent floral smell. She quickly covered her mouth and nose.

“Andie! It’s so good to see you!” Rose Howell exclaimed in excitement.

“I’m sorry, can I use your bathroom for a minute?” she asked, her mouth and nose still covered by her hand.

“Sure, are you okay?”

“Um, yeah, bathroom?” She didn’t know how much longer she was going to be able to hold out.

Rose showed her the bathroom, and Andie rushed in and began to get sick again.

“Andie?” Rose went in and held her hair back. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, just a tiny bit under the weather. I’m sorry.” She didn’t want anyone but Eli to know in case this was just some stupid fluke.

“Sweetheart, why don’t you go home and get some rest?”

“But I really wanted to help.”

“It’s okay, sweetie. Your health is more important, especially since you have the girls now.”

“I’m really sorry, Mrs. Howell. We also wanted to have you and the Camerons over for pizza tonight. Can we go ahead and plan that so you and Mr. Howell can see Lily?

“If I’m not feeling any better, we can plan for another time.”

“Okay, that sounds good. We’ll see you later, dear.”

Andie felt like such a failure as she headed to her car. She grabbed a handful of breath mints and ate them as she drove home. She didn’t want to deal with Belle but didn’t know where Eli would be.

ELI

Eli was sitting in the saddle, lecturing himself. He was a moron. She’d sent him the picture with the test and the word pregnant in the window, and he’d asked her to marry him over the phone?

What was wrong with him?

Dale rode up to him. “Well, don’t you look thrilled?”

“Huh, what?” Eli jerked his gaze to his main ranch hand.

“You look like you’re going to be sick.” He stopped his horse beside Eli’s.

“Oh, Andie’s pregnant.”

“Oh.” His brow puckered a little.

“No, I’m excited about it, but I just… I asked her to marry me.”

“I’m sorry, what? Where is she?”

“I asked her over the phone. God, I’m an idiot.”

Dale choked back a laugh. “Well, you could always try again.”

“I’m going to have to, I guess.” He jerked his head up when he thought he heard the sound of an alarm, but it disappeared just as quickly.

He shook his head a little as he stared over the rolling hills of his land. How was he going to make up for his stupid proposal over the phone? What was wrong with him?

That was the least romantic way to propose, ever.

Something suddenly settled in his stomach, and it wasn’t good. He pulled out his phone and began to dial Levi.

He was supposed to be watching the house. Hopefully, nothing was going on there, and nothing was happening to Andie.

ANDIE

She took a deep breath as she pulled into the driveway by Eli’s truck. Just as she parked the car, she glanced around. There was no sign of Levi, and she wondered where he was.

Surely Eli would have had him posted again. She had just stepped out of the car and was headed toward the house when the alarm began to go off.

She rushed up the steps, stumbling a little, as she flew into the house and shut off the alarm. She heard the girls crying loudly and a loud scream. It sounded like it had come from the kitchen.

“Belle!”

She ran down the hallway, getting closer to the sound of the girls. She froze when her eyes landed on the terrifying scene.

She swallowed hard as she took in Belle’s scared look. Someone in a mask was holding her around the neck with a gun pressed to her head. It was him. Had to be.

“Let her go.” Andie tried to move closer.

“One more step, and she dies. Have you got the money?”

“No, I haven’t, and I’m not going to. You are not controlling this family! You already took two people away from it. Wasn’t that enough?”

“What?”

“You killed Candice and Caleb. Your bullets matched the bullets that killed them. You were sloppy, just not sloppy enough until now.

“Let her go. She’s got nothing to do with this. It’s me you want. Just leave the woman and the girls alone. You want me dead? Well, here’s your chance.” She glared at the masked man.

How dare he pretend not to know what she was talking about. She didn’t know whether to try to make him angry or calm him down. She certainly was neither one.

This asshole killed her best friend, her husband, and now was trying to use their little girl and Eli for his own gain.

“I want to know what happened that night. She was my best friend. I have a right to know. Why did you do it?” She moved a little closer, hoping the man didn’t notice.

She had to get him away from the girls and Belle.

“Andie, watch out!”

She went to turn, but a fist slammed into her face hard.

“It wasn’t him who did it. It was me,” the voice said.

She looked up, but his face was covered in a mask too, but she knew that voice.

That cynical voice had tormented her while beating her within an inch of her life, and here he was again, only this time she wasn’t letting him get the chance to possibly hurt her or any of her babies, all three of them.

She glared at him. “Why did you do it, Daryl?” she demanded.

He snatched her up by the hair. “Actually, that was a lucky accident. I just needed some money while on my way to Arizona.

“They were out late, and I didn’t expect the man to put up a fight, but he did, and hey, it cost both of them.”

She kicked him in the shin hard and slammed her fist into his nose. “You are an asshole. I hate you. You knew it was Candice.”

He slapped her hard, making her head whip backward. “No, bitch. Actually, I didn’t. You know how long it had been since I’d seen that woman? But apparently, they both deserved it since they took you away from me.”

“Shut up, Daryl,” the other masked man’s angry voice demanded.

Andie looked from one to the other. “Just let the girls and Belle go. It’s me you both want. Let them go,” she pleaded. She could probably handle one of them but not both.

She was in trouble, and she had no idea what to do. “What did you do to Levi?”

“Ha, that big bearded man? Smashed him over the head, came right up behind him, and wham,” Daryl answered. “He wasn’t too bright.”

She let out a breath. At least no one else had died unless they’d hit him hard enough to cause his death. Her heart pounded, and her throat began to close in a panic. What to do, what to do?

ELI

Eli began to panic. “Dale, Levi didn’t answer his phone. Belle’s not either. Come on.”

The men rushed back to the house, and Eli began to call Andie’s phone. She didn’t pick up either.

~Fuck.~

Something was wrong, very wrong. His heart leapt in his chest as he saw Andie’s car parked by his truck.

“Dale, go to the barn and get the rest of the hands. Tell them to come armed. Something’s not right,” he instructed and watched the man enter the barn.

He was so angry and confused. Where was Levi? He heard a groan come from the side of the house. He rushed over and saw the big man lying on the ground.

He dialed the cops and told them what was possibly going on. He knelt beside Levi and tried to talk to him, but he was too out of it to be any help.

He cursed some more and went to go inside when he heard the yelling. His stomach bottomed out. No. No. No.

ANDIE

“Just let Belle leave. Let her take the girls and leave. Let them leave first, then you get me. You both want revenge, apparently. What better way to get it than to take me?”

Andie knew this wasn’t going to work. “Hell, I only know who one of you are, so what does it matter? She has no clue who either one of you are. Just let them go.”

The masked man who was holding Belle glared at her.

She had to plan this just right. She had to get away from Daryl, tackle the other man, and get the gun away from Belle at the same time and pray it didn’t go off and hit one of the girls.

She tried to stay calm.

“You know she’s right, man. We could just let the woman go, let the one kid go. I mean, I don’t have a claim to that one, and I don’t want her.”

“But you don’t know which one is yours,” Andie reminded Daryl, “if either one of them is yours… you beat me pretty bad that night, Daryl.

“Who says I didn’t lose it or there was something wrong with the child? I mean, it was your sperm that impregnated me. You’re not the brightest.”

That earned her a harsh slap that knocked her down and sent her skidding across the floor. But she was now closer to Belle and the other man.

It had to be Tame. She didn’t know who else would want this to happen besides his stupid, drunk, drug-impaired ass.

She waited until Daryl came close to her, and she shoved her foot up against him and hit just the right spot.

He curled into a ball and held himself while Andie sprung to her feet and jerked the other man’s gun hand away from Belle.

“Belle, run. Get the girls, and go, now, please!” she yelled as she struggled with man number two. She shoved the man back farther from Belle and the girls.

She kept an eye on them, and Belle did as she said. She grabbed both girls and ran.

Andie got the gun slammed into her, and she momentarily lost her balance, and the man aimed at Belle.

“No!” Andie got up, shoved the man’s arm away, and pushed him out the sliding glass door in the kitchen as the gun went off, deafening her again.

ELI

Eli couldn’t mistake that sound. ~That was a gunshot!~

He shoved the door open and started to run in when Belle came racing out with both girls. He quickly caught her. “What’s going on?”

“Andie’s in there with two men,” she answered in a rush, trying to catch her breath.

“What?” He looked to Dale, who was coming up to them now. He watched Dale throw his arms around Belle and speak to her soothingly.

Eli kissed his baby girls and headed into the house, not caring anymore. He heard the sirens coming, but they were still a little too far away.

He rushed down the hall to the kitchen and saw one man curled into the fetal position. “Dale, get someone in here with rope!” he called over his shoulder.

He saw the sliding glass door was shattered. He took a deep breath when he heard the grunts and pants of breath.

He rushed to the broken door when one of the other ranch hands came in and tied the first guy up. He saw Andie struggling with the guy who had a gun again.

He cursed and didn’t know what to do. She was too precious to put in harm’s way to get the man off of her.

He walked out onto the deck and started toward the man to get him off of Andie. Suddenly, the man stood up and pulled Andie in front of him again, shoving the gun against her head.

Eli’s mouth dried at the thought of this man putting his woman and their children in harm’s way. He balled his hand into a fist before he pointed his own gun at the masked man.

ANDIE

Andie gripped the arm around her throat and tried to pull it away from her. This wasn’t good. Eli was going to get hurt if she didn’t do something.

She made eye contact with him and mouthed “I love you” right before she slammed her elbow into the man’s stomach and stomped on his foot hard.

He jerked back and away from Andie just enough but didn’t let her go yet. She tried to pull away from him, but he held her wrist tightly.

She screamed and slammed her fist into his nose. She was hit with the gun, knocking her down, but the man let go of her.

She then heard two gunshots. The guy stumbled back a little and then fell to his knees beside her. She moved away from him, the blood making her nauseous, and she screamed.

She then felt a pair of arms wrap around her and lift her up from the deck. She screamed again but then heard the unmistakable voice, and she turned her head to face him.

“Eli,” she sobbed out, leapt into his arms, and wrapped her arms and legs around him. He moved farther away from the body as he held onto her tightly just as Carl and Dean ran onto the deck.

Everything else seemed to move in a blur.

She explained her half of everything, and Daryl ended up confessing to it all and admitting they had begun to look for Andie but had just stumbled onto the town.

Finally, he confessed to killing Candice and Caleb.

Andie had to hold onto Eli tightly, preventing him from breaking Daryl’s nose.

Not that he didn’t deserve it, but she needed him now more than ever to keep calm and be there for her and the girls and the baby they had made.

She couldn’t believe both terrible men from her past had teamed up and were sick enough to come after her. But it was all over now.

Finally, everyone left, and they were able to clean up. Eli managed to put some plastic up over the door, which would more than likely be replaced the next day.

Eli made Andie cancel the dinner with his parents and the Howells due to everything that had happened. He just wanted her and the girls.

They had eaten a little pizza and were in the living room, where Eli didn’t let go of any of them. “Don’t ever do that again,” he said sternly.

“I’m sorry. I just knew I had to get Belle out of the way and the girls. They had nothing to do with it. It was me they wanted.”

“I know. You did a great job today, baby. I love you but don’t ever scare me like that again. We still need to have a talk, though,” he whispered in her ear.

She was sitting in his lap, leaning back against the couch arm. Lucy was snuggled against him, and Lily was snuggled against her.

She locked eyes with him. “What about?”

“We’ll discuss that later. More importantly, will you marry me? I’ll go get you a ring tomorrow, but I’ve known for a while I don’t want to ever be without you.

“I love you so much, and I want us to be a real family. I want to be Lily’s dad, Lucy’s dad, and I want to be your husband.”

“Not just because of the baby?”

“No, not just because of the baby. I want you in my life forever.

“From this day forward, I promise I will love you and cherish you and take care of you and our two girls, and whatever we have, hopefully, a boy, I am a little outnumbered.”

He chuckled as he laid his hand against her stomach.

“So, would you have asked me to marry you even if I wasn’t pregnant?”

“Of course. You complement me so well and keep me calm.

“I could have killed that fucker tonight and not thought twice about it, but instead, you let me hold onto you to keep me from doing something so stupid.

“He’ll get what he deserves. I should have and would have killed them both, but you kept me from doing that. I need you in my life forever, Andrea Nicole Malone. Now, are you marrying me or not?”

“Yes, Elijah Joseph Cameron, I will. I love you.”

They kissed each other passionately, and they cuddled there on the couch for a little while.

Andie perked up slightly and said, “So we are going to have a nineteen-month-old, a seventeen-month-old, and a newborn, all at the same time. God, I think we may need some help.”

“Eh, we’ll handle it, baby. One day at a time.”

She snuggled into Eli as they held the girls, and he held her, also. She had never felt so safe in her entire life.

Eli promised he would always protect her, even from herself, disciplining her when he felt it was called for, and she knew she had a lesson coming.

She wouldn’t have it any other way. She slowly began to fall asleep in his arms as he pressed his lips to her forehead. It had been such a crazy, long day.