Page 25 of Snowed-in With The Mountain Man
"No!" Chellie's voice rings out clearly. "Not my daddy!"
Rick's face darkens momentarily before the smile returns, more forced this time. "Someone's been coaching her, I see."
"Someone's been parenting her for two years." Stella pulls Chellie closer. "While you were nowhere to be found."
He leans back, studying them both. "I made mistakes. I've admitted that. But I'm here now, ready to be part of her life."
"Why?" Stella's question is simple but pointed. "Why now, after two years?"
"I've changed." His expression shifts to something approximating sincerity. "I realize what I threw away. My family. My responsibility."
"And the ten thousand dollars you demanded for 'emotional damages'? Was that part of your changed perspective?"
His smile falters. "That was a misunderstanding. I was in a bad place financially."
"You threatened to sue for custody if I didn't pay you." Stella's voice remains steady. "That's not a misunderstanding. That's extortion."
Rick's facade cracks slightly, irritation flashing across his features. "Look, I'm trying to be reasonable here. I have rights."
"Rights you forfeited when you walked out." Stella leans forward. "I have texts, emails, witnesses to your abandonment. I have proof you haven't contributed a single dollar to her upkeep in two years."
"And I have proof you're shacking up with some mountain man." His gaze flicks toward me briefly. "Living in sin with my daughter present. No judge will look favorably on that."
"No judge will look favorably on a father who doesn't know his daughter's name." Stella's voice hardens. "Who only showed interest when he needed money."
Rick's pleasant mask slips further. "You think you're so clever. Running away to your hometown, hiding behind yournew boyfriend." He leans closer. "But I will get what I want, Stella. One way or another."
"And what exactly do you want?" she asks, voice steady despite the visible tremor in her hands. "Because it's clearly not a relationship with your daughter."
"I want what's mine." His voice drops, intended only for her ears, but in the hushed diner, it carries. "And I always get what I want."
"No, you don't." Stella's voice gains strength. "Not this time."
The door jingles again as my brother Colt strides in, his imposing presence drawing all eyes. He makes his way directly to Stella's booth, positioning himself beside the table. The intricate tattoos visible on his forearms and the hard set of his jaw make Rick visibly nervous.
"Everything okay here, Ridge?" Colt asks, his voice carrying the edge that comes from years spent in prison.
"Just a conversation," I say, standing, and crossing to their booth in three strides. "Mr. Carlisle was just leaving."
"I wasn't—" Rick begins, but Colt cuts him off.
"The lady doesn't seem to want you here." My brother crosses his tattooed arms, the metal worker's muscles prominent beneath his t-shirt. "And my brother doesn't look too happy either."
Rick's eyes dart between us, calculation clear in his gaze. "This is harassment. I came here in good faith."
"Good faith?" I can't remain silent any longer. "Is that what you call threatening the mother of your child? Demanding money to stay away from a daughter you abandoned?"
Recognition dawns in his eyes. "You must be the new boyfriend."
"I'm the man who's going to make sure you never threaten Stella or Chellie again." I keep my voice low, controlled. "Theman who's going to be there for every birthday, every skinned knee, every nightmare you caused by walking out."
"Big talk from a backwoods nobody." Rick sneers, desperation creeping into his expression.
"A nobody with two very protective brothers," Colt adds, his ex-con reputation clearly making Rick uncomfortable. "One of whom teaches troubled kids how to survive in the wilderness, and another who knows how to forge metal into just about anything."
Stella stands, pulling Chellie into her arms. "You're not getting money from me, and you're never getting near my daughter again."
From a nearby booth, Sheriff Miller looks up from his coffee. "Everything alright over here?"
