Chapter Nine
By evening, she was bored out of her mind. What can a person do at home the whole day? Fidgeting here and there, she waited for Blade to return from the marketplace. He and Brody had left immediately after lunch and yet hadn't returned home.
As she went to the kitchen to make preparations for dinner, the main door opened and Brody and Blade came in and slumped onto nearby couches.
Grandma looked from one to the other. It seemed as if they had fought some battle somewhere. Their clothes were dirty, hair all standing and tousled, Blade's shirt was torn.
"What happened to you two?" Asked aunt Olivia, the moment she saw them, taking in their appearance.
Brooklyn rushed out to the reception room and so did uncle Rob. Grandpa who was sitting with grandma asked,"Did you two fight?"
Aunt Daisy got them water to drink and they gulped down all the water. "More," croaked Brody. Brooklyn went to get more water.
After catching their breaths and drinking enough water Blade looked helplessly at Brooklyn. "They're here Brooks," he said in an anguished voice.
Brooklyn sat down on the chair nearby beside Blade's dad. "What do you mean?" Asked uncle Jamie, worriedly.
"Two people were asking for Brooklyn at the marketplace. We ignored them and went about with our work. We really thought that they would leave when they wouldn't get any information. We were so wrong. They started asking for the Summers ranch, for the 'Summers boys.' They know about us Brooklyn. They know where you're staying," said Blade, his eyes had a strange expression, as if he was in pain.
"But how?" Whispered Brooklyn. She didn't leave any evidence which they could trace to her.
"We called the sheriff to come immediately. In the meantime we kept tracking them. When they started escaping, we grabbed them. The sheriff and his men came on time and arrested the two. One of them was Keith Morris and the other, didn't look like him. So he couldn't be the other brother," said Blade.
"This was way too dangerous Blade. They could have killed you both. What made you both take matters in your own hands? That too without any protection?" Scolded uncle Rob.
"They know about us, what could we have done? We had to have them behind bars," Brody said.
"They will be bailed out. They have lots of connections," said Brooklyn.
"How did the other man look?" Asked Brooklyn.
"Black hair, jet black piercing eyes, around forty years old, bulging belly, average height," said Brody.
"I don't know him," said Brooklyn.
"So, that leaves your stepfather and Jeffrey, free?" Asked aunt Daisy.
"There might be more people involved. Let's not jump to conclusions," said uncle Jamie.
The sheriff called on the landline. He had informed the US Marshals Service. They would send an officer immediately.
"How did they find me? How do they know I'm here?" She asked the one question that was bothering her.
"That's a question only they can answer, sweetheart," said grandma.
Her aunts sent her upstairs to calm her mind while they prepared dinner. She took a shower, changed and was about to leave her room when Blade came in and locked the door.
He pulled her into his arms and held her close in a tight embrace. "Don't be scared darlin, you know I will save you come what may, right?" He said, his mouth grazing her forehead.
"I don't want to die," she said in a voice which was barely audible. They've found her and this time she wouldn't be able to get away.
"I won't let you. I can't afford to. I love you. I'll save you with my life, darlin," he said, crushing her tightly to him.
She put her hand to his mouth to stop him,"I love you too Blade. How can I survive if anything happened to you?" She confessed.
He grinned like a fool." I knew it. I am irresistible. You have to love me," he said, trying to kiss her.
She pushed him away chuckling,"Shut up. I am more irresistible and you love me more," she said, winking at him.
"That you are. So let's make love," he said trying to pull her to the bed.
"Blade, your whole family's around. Not now," she said, rolling her eyes.
"Then when, huh? I'll come to your room tonight," he said with a smirk and left the room.
They both had already taken their relationship to a new level with each other's confessions. They sat side by side at the dining table exchanging glances. His hand crept up to her thigh a few times. She slapped it away as a grinning Brody witnessed it all. He was sitting beside Brooklyn, happily munching on his food.
They had dinner and went to their rooms, tired. Brooklyn changed and got ready for bed. True to his word, Blade sneaked into her room after twenty minutes.
They made love till they were totally exhausted. "Wear your clothes, Brooks. You never know when mom and aunt Olivia will come in," he said. They wore their clothes and lay down in each other's arms to sleep.
In the middle of the night a weird scratching noise woke her up. Looking up she found Blade fast asleep. Turning to her side, she was about to sleep when her eyes fell upon the window. She froze when she saw that staring down at her through the glass window was Jeffrey.
Screaming in panic, she pushed at Blade,"B Blade there's a mman outside. I saw Jeffrey. I saw Jeffrey outside," she said, panic gripping her.
Blade woke up and went to the window. He saw the shadow of a man escaping through the ranch gates to a waiting truck.
He knew it wasn't possible to track him now, he had already left. So, they found out her room too?
The door opened and aunt Olivia peeped in followed by uncle Rob. "What happened?" She asked.
"One of her stepbrothers was outside the window peeping at her. They've found her room also. But how?" Asked Blade, reaching his wits end.
"They might have a tracker fitted somewhere or a camera," said Brooklyn.
"No, I don't think so, anyways sleep with the curtains closed. We'll discuss tomorrow," said uncle Rob. They left the room as Blade and Brooklyn tried to sleep.
