"Dad, you're hurting me."
A shot almost hits my dad on the foot, and my family realizes that Connor and his buddies are not playing a game here. They mean business.
"What do you think you can offer my daughter, Michaelson? She's got everything she needs if she stays with her family. I protect what's mine."
"So do I."
"Dad, please. I'm where I need to be. I don't want to accept those matches with your business partners. I found someone to love, and I want to spend the rest of my life with him."
"Sweetheart, you're going to suffer in this sad little town. Do what I tell you and come back with us."
"I don't know what part of no you didn't understand Mr. Ward, but she's said it out loud for you to hear and comprehend. She wants to stay here in Hunter's Peak with me. Now get your hands off her and step back."
I hear more rifles being cocked and I realize we are surrounded by men with guns. I didn't know being a park ranger came with such violence, but I'm glad for it. I feel my dad's grip on me loosen, and I try to move forward, but my brother still has me in his grip.
"Jackson, let me go."
All my brother's faces show anger and frustration that they've been outnumbered and outgunned. Outclassed, really if you think about it. This is not a game, though. My life is at stake. Connor walks forward, pointing his rifle towards my brother.
"If you've hurt her, I'll make you pay, future brother in law."
I pull against Jackson's grip and finally manage to get loose. I run towards Connor and stand behind him for protection.
"I suggest you gentlemen leave the same way you came. You have no business in Hunter's Peak."
I'm pretty sure my legs are about to fail me, when my family finally backs off and gets into their fancy car. They back up and turn around, and leave us in the dust. When Connor turns around, he catches me before I fall and pass out.
Chapter 9
Freya
Iwake up to a lot of faces looking down at me. I try to focus my eyes and fail, so I just close them back down. I try to think back to what happened and remember my family trying to get me to leave Hunter's Peak by force. I feel a cool damp cloth against my forehead and try to open my eyes again.
This time there's only one person in my view, and it's my mountain man. Who apparently goes around carrying weapons. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but I'm certain he saved the day today. Oh my God, I've got a lot of explaining to do.
"Yes, you do."
Wait, did I say those words out loud? From the look on his face I did, and I shut my eyes once more.
"Don't you dare, kitten. I know you're awake. Can you try and sit up for me?"
I open my eyes again and grab the hand he's offering me. When I'm in a sitting position someone offers me a bottle of water to drink. I gulp as the cool liquid goes down my throat. Is my family gone for good? Or will they try to take me by force again?
Connor is watching me intently, and I try and give him a smile but it fails.
"Can we go home, please?"
He still looks angry, but a moment of relief passes through his face before it's gone. I would have missed it if I hadn't been looking at him so intently. Before I know it, he's picked me up and is placing me on the passenger seat of his truck.
The drive up the mountain is silent, and my brain is going a mile an hour. I need to tell my fiancé everything. Will it matter that I didn't want to do what my family wanted to force me to do? Will he understand? We arrive home, and he goes back to carrying me as if we were just married.
Inside the house he takes me to the bedroom and starts taking my clothes off. I thought we were going to talk, but perhaps my mountain man needs another type of reassurance. When my arms are uncovered, there are deep purple bruises on both of them and Connor growls. Yes, growls like a feral animal.
"I'm going to kill them. I'll hunt them down and kill them myself."
I reach for his face and make him look me in the eyes.
"No, you're not going to do that, my love. I don't want you to go to jail."
