Page 15 of Peach

“Is this Petty Officer Robert Barclay?”

“Yes, sir. This is Petty Officer Robert Barclay.”

“This is Senator Unger. I was in the Navy for six years before I got my college degree and then my law degree and became a senator for the state of Georgia. My property is about two miles from where you are. My wife, Ginger, and a few of my staffers are on the way to your place. I’m terribly sorry your parents are no longer with us. I’m also sorry you’re having to deal with the downside of that area as you’re dealing with grief. I’ll make sure Sheriff Eason helps you get to the bottom of what is going on there.”

“Thank you, Senator Unger. I appreciate any help you can give us.”

"Son, I appreciate the heck out of you Navy SEALs. You guys saved my unit from sure death. I owe you my life. This will be taken care of quickly, and you'll have no more trouble."

The call ended, and a bunch of things happened at once. The sheriff and two deputies arrived along with Senator Unger's wife, Ginger. The woman didn't take crap from anyone, as was obvious when she told Sheriff Eason without any hesitation that if she saw anything wrong, her friend, the director of the FBI, ate lunch with her every third Friday of the month, and she had the man on speed dial.

Peach didn't like throwing around the weight of political and government leaders, but there was something about this area that was so wrong. Haisley would be harmed. He was sure of that after someone broke into the house to abduct her.

His mom found some reason to protect Haisley, and he would honor his mother by protecting this woman. It no longer mattered exactly why Haisley was here. He would keep her safe.

Chapter 11

The chaosthat erupted after the senator's wife showed up made her want to laugh. Eason was the big dog around here, but when the woman informed Eason that she was lunch buddies with the director of the FBI, Eason started hemming and hawing about stuff then he must have realized exactly what a mess he was in because he immediately began tossing around a bunch of yes, ma'ams and I'm sure this will be solved soon, ma'am.

Then she came over and sat with Haisley while she waited for the ambulance to arrive. Haisley wasn't ashamed of who she was, and she'd never really wanted to be anyone else, but sitting next to this woman, she realized how unpolished she was.

“Hello, my name is Ginger Unger. I’m staying with you to make sure you’re okay.”

“You don’t have to.”

"Yes, I do. Davey wouldn't let me live it down if I abandoned you. Just don't ever tell him I called him Davey. He says it makes him sound less serious, and as a senator, he has to be serious."

A laugh escaped Haisley, and she slapped her hand over her mouth. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s funny. So, dear, what is your name.”

“Haisley Beale. But I’m no one special.”

“Oh, trust me, you are. If you have a SEAL member protecting you, you’re special. You may not think you are, but you are.”

Haisley felt like a fraud. “He doesn’t really know me. I’m living here because his parents took me in when I ran into a bit of trouble. Then they passed away, and he just showed up to clean out their house. It’s not like he wants to protect me.”

Ginger put her finger on her lips and looked like she was thinking. "Let me tell you a little something about him. If that man wanted you gone from this house, he would have no problem getting you out of here. I shouldn't probably tell you this, but Davey is alive today because a group of six SEALs saved him and twenty-three of his Navy buddies. Those SEALs did stuff that is impossible. They did what twenty-four men couldn't. If a SEAL is helping you, it's because you have a purpose. You may not know it, but you are special."

The ambulance arrived, and Haisley felt bad that they'd come out. She was really okay. All this attention brought a load of guilt and shame. She wanted to tell them to leave, but Peach was there, demanding that they look at her before they examined the man who'd attacked her.

Haisley shook her head. “Really, I’m fine.”

“Let me get your blood pressure and see how your heart sounds.”

She swallowed over the fear and wondered if he would be able to hear the baby’s heartbeat. She had to tell them about the baby.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m really okay. It’s just—“ she glanced around, seeing Sheriff Eason wasn’t around and it was only Peach, Ginger, and the EMTs. “I-I’m having a baby.”

The EMT blinked. “Not right now, right?”

She shook her head. “No. Thank goodness.”

“Okay, well, with a pregnant woman, we really want to bring you in to make sure you’re okay and that the baby is okay. We don’t want anything to happen to you or the baby.”

“I just feel weird.”

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