Page 67 of Chasing Liberty

He pulled back his fist then rammed it into her jaw.

Through a haze she heard him say, “You are a fucking slut.”

“Stop, Reggie. This isn’t part of the plan,” came Lacey’s voice through a tunnel effect. “I told you, we get what we came for and move fast. We’re wasting time on her.”

“Shut up, Lacey”

“Let’s go, Reg. We don’t need her money.”

Liberty listened to the two bicker back and forth as she drifted in and out of consciousness. His hand was still twisted in her hair as he held her up. His face was very close to hers. “Where’s the money, bitch?” He spat in her face.

She became more aware. “I told you there is none.”

“I don’t believe you!” He lifted her by her hair and practically dragged her across the yard. “Take the gun, Lacey! If she runs again shoot her.”

Liberty could see the doubt on the woman’s face. Would she follow through?

“Get walking!” Reggie demanded.

Walking slowly, Liberty made it to the cabin and stepped over pieces of the splintered door. As she got beyond the threshold, she saw someone standing there about the same time she heard a loudthwap. It was Kaitlynn and she’d hit Reggie square in the face with a cast iron pan. He dropped like a fly.

“Are you okay?” Kaitlynn whispered.

“There’s one more.”

“What the hell?” Lacey came running in, saw unconscious Reggie, then started to back away but it was too late.

Liberty picked up the pot of still warm oil off the stove and tossed it into Lacey’s face. The woman bent over, screaming while holding her burnt face in her hands. She had dropped the gun somewhere.

Lacey started swinging blindly. Her face was red, and some skin was peeling away on her cheeks. Her eyes were closed tightly. “I’m going to kill you with my bare hands, you fucking bitch!”

“Hit her, Kaitlynn!”

“My pleasure.” She brought the pan down hard onto Lacey’s head with a sickeningcrackingof bone. She fell to her knees in a daze then onto her face. She was out like a light.

“You really are as bad ass as Betty Crocker,” Liberty said to Kaitlynn who didn’t seem a bit worried by what had just happened. Liberty was grateful she and Kaitlynn had put aside their differences weeks ago.

“I was driving by and saw these two snooping around the cabin. Townsfolk around here protect our own.”

Epilogue

Nine months later.

“He looks just like you.” Liberty held Waylon Samuel Ranks in her arms wrapped in a soft blue blanket. He was a month old and he was the cutest baby she ever did see.

“I think he looks like you.” Wyler was beside them, admiring his son.

“He looks like both of us.” She smiled at her husband. “Thank you.”

“For what?” Wyler asked.

“For giving me this life. I’m so happy that I feel like I could burst.”

He leaned in and kissed her. “Thank you, Mrs. Ranks, for making me the happiest man alive.”

“Would you two please get a room, lovebirds!” Freedom came strolling in.to the living room

“Where’s your husband?” Wyler asked.

---