Page 47 of The Prez’s Daughter

“Yeah, I just ... I had hoped it wouldn’t go this way. Savage and I, we did think about talking to my dad, but I always put it off.”

“Why?”

“I wasn’t ready, and I just knew he wasn’t going to be happy about it, and...” She stopped and groaned. “I was trying to avoid this, because my dad is unreasonable. He only sees one solution, which is his, and he doesn’t for a second think he is wrong about anything. He has to be the one that is right.” She threw her arms up in the air. “It is how he has always been.”

“You know he means well, don’t you?” Maeve asked. “He does love you and he just wants the best for you.”

“Yeah, but he also thinks he knows who is best to love me, and that would be like me telling him that no matter how he feels, he should only love Mom, and trust me, I know how that story ends, and it never ends well. They can’t do anything but argue.” She sighed. “I’m so sorry. Let’s not waste this trip arguing.”

Maeve laughed. “We’re not arguing. We’re talking. I am not going to judge you for the relationship you have with your father. That is between you and your dad. I’m not here to judge.”

“How did my dad even get you?” Charlotte asked.

“I happen to consider your father quite the catch.”

Charlotte laughed.

The journey didn’t take as long as she thought it would, but she frowned when she saw the old sign for the Peterson Ranch, that she knew hadn’t been in operation for quite some time.

“Maeve, I don’t think this is a good idea,” Charlotte said.

There was nowhere to turn around, and as they came out of the long driveway, Andy was there, and the bastard shot out a tire. This was not good.

She noticed that Martha was also tied to a chair, and the older woman looked absolutely petrified.

****

Savage didn’t go to the mechanic shop as he promised Charlotte he would. The truth was, he was finally understanding his feelings for Charlotte, and he wanted to marry her, to spend the rest of his life with her. He wanted to grow old with her, have lots of babies, and fall in love. He wanted it all.

“You know, they serve the best damn coffee in Rivermont Ridge,” Doc said, surprising Savage as he took a seat opposite him.

They were sitting outside, and it was cold as fuck, even though the sun was out, but it still had a layer of snow on the ground that had gotten hard. He’d already seen a couple of the shop owners throwing down salt, in the hope of making it safer for people to walk.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said.

“Yeah, well, I had a conversation or two with a couple of women last night, and even though I want to take my gun out and shoot you, as well as stab you, I also know my daughter is going to be pissed at me if I hurt you any more than I already have.”

“So, you’re being nice?” Savage asked.

“I’m trying to come to terms with all that I have learned,” he said.

Savage could understand that.

“Charlotte has been my little girl for nineteen years, Savage. I want what is best for her. I did not expect to open that video and see you and my daughter making out as if you were a couple of fucking teenagers.”

“I intend to pay the sender a visit for invading our privacy,” Savage said. He didn’t like Lucas, and it would be easy to deal with him. The little shit was a bully, and bullies were easy to deal with, especially when you were bigger, meaner, and willing to do anything to get the message across.

“You and Charlotte, this is the real deal between the two of you?” Doc asked.

“Yes.”

“And I can’t sway you to anything other than that?”

“I love her, Doc. I tried to stay away. Trust me, I fucking tried, but I just ... she’s in there.” He pointed to his head, then down to his chest. “And she’s in there, and I know I fucked up. I should have come to you, but Charlotte wasn’t ready.”

Doc nodded. “I’m not saying I like this. In fact, I fucking don’t, and right now, I want to beat the crap out of you, choke you, and shoot you.”

“You pretty much want to kill me by any means necessary,” he said.