Finishing Touches
Three days had gone by since the break-in and attack on Jessica and Bailey. The women had been moved to the Walker Ranch, much to Missus O's soft muttering. But she knew the ranch was the place the girls needed to be to recuperate, she was however out there every day just to ease the burden on her friend Sissy, though Sissy didn't find it a burden at all. She enjoyed having the town's beauties in her home again, it was like old times, when the small group would run around and play in the large ranch home.
"Sissy, I wonder what will happen to the man," Wanda asked. Her fingers worked another bead onto a needle and she stitched the seed pearl onto the bodice of a wedding gown. "I don't like killin'; never have, but I wouldn't mind it."
Sissy smiled softly. "Wanda, he'll be put away for a long time. The girls are safe now and the boys aren't going to let anything happen to them."
The two best friends worked in silence for several more minutes, before the sound of the crashing screen door filled the air. "Mom," Tom said in greeting, kissed her cheek and then did the same to Wanda. "It looks like you're in your elements," he said and fingered the soft silk. "Whose is this one?"
Wanda slapped at his hand scowled. "Go wash those grimy things before you stain it. It's Bailey's and I'll not have you marring the cloth before the lass gets to wear it."
"He'll have it tore off her before you know it," another deep baritone voice said. Mitch Walker, Tom's twin and the other groom to the houseguest living in his mother's home walked in and kissed his mother's cheek and then greeted Wanda as Tom had, with a customary peck.
He could feel the heat of the old woman's blush and knew he had embarrassed her. He smirked and winked at his mother, who shot him a look of ‘behave'. He feigned innocense and moved to her side. "You've both been working like slaves to get these dresses done. The girls said they'd be fine with store-bought ones."
"Oh no they will not " both women declared almost simultaneously. Tom and Mitch chuckled, but knew it was no use arguing. The two women were bound and determine to get the hand made wedding gowns done and though they were working hard, they weren't working alone. Jessica and Bailey had also added their Home Ec. skills from Highschool and had stitched up the lace onto cuffs and hems. They had both decided to throw themselves into the wedding, the dates now rushed forward, because both men wanted their women safely tucked in their beds and behind locked doors.
The phone rang; Mitch squeezed his mother's arm and told her he'd answer it. Tom asked where the girls were and was directed out to the barn. He left Mitch to answer the phone and kissed both women goodbye. His face hadn't stop beaming since Bailey had agreed to marry him by the following Friday. It was now Monday and he'd have his woman in his bed in just five days. They'd been celibate since the attack, something Bailey had wanted and though Tom wanted nothing more than to make love to her and wash the memory of Jonis's touch away he had agreed.
He stepped into the barn and saw the two women stroking the flanks of one of Mitch's horses. He knew Mitch would be moving the stud to his ranch in a few more weeks, so it was good that Jessica was getting to know the animal. He watched the two women, best friends since Elementary School and was awed by how precious each one was to him. Jessica, he thought he could have loved, and he did love her, but not in the way he did the woman that stood beside her. Bailey had always had a place in his heart, one he denied for a long time.
He had seen her on her knees, taking in the cock of Jonis and inside he had raged. Now, looking back how could he have thought the act he was seeing was anything but forced. He knew she loved him and he wanted to make up for the split second doubt he'd displayed. He'd apologized many times, and she had accepted it, but still he couldn't wait to show her how much he loved her and would never doubt her love for him again.
"Hey," Mitch's voice reached him at the same time that his hand dropped onto his shoulder. "Let's talk." Tom raised a brow and followed his brother toward the railing of one of the outer corals. He had just caught Bailey's gaze and he raised his hand in greeting. The two men disappeared and Tom felt the tension in his brother.
"What's up?" he asked, then remembered the phone had been ringing when he'd left the house. "Who was on the phone?"
Mitch took a look back, making sure no one had followed them out of the barn. He pushed his fingers through his hair and stared at his brother. "How's the slice you took from Jonis?" he asked. His eyes glancing down to where he knew bandages covered the wound the man's knife had formed in the tussle at Jessica's.
"It stings, but I've had worse, what's up? You look a little green," Tom said. He felt a knot forming in his gut and he could almost hear the words forming in his twin's mind.
"Jonis was being transferred from the county jail, up to the courthouse and he got a hold of the Deputy's gun, shot him in the leg, then grabbed some passerby," Mitch said. He spoke low, his voice full of menace. "The Deputy will be okay and the hostage was found outside of town missing the car he had showed up to the courthouse with and looking like a bull ran him over, but he's alive. No sign of Jonis. Ma's gonna call the girls in and have them help with the dresses."
"What are we supposed to do?" Tom asked.
"We are supposed to stay out of trouble and wait here with our women," Mitch growled low and rolled his eyes, "but that's horse shit and you and I know it. Jonis is gonna come back to the Valley and finish what he started if we don't find him and deal with him ourselves."
Tom grimaced. "Mitch we can't take the man's life, even if we find him."
"Fuck yes we can, if its self-defense."
"If what's self-defense?" a womanly voice called out.
The two men groaned and turned to face the owner of the melodious words. "Hey babe," Tom said pulling Bailey into his arms and holding her tight. He kissed her brow and stepped back. "Mitch and I were just talking about how nice it would have been to finish off that asshole."
"I see," she answered back.
Jessica came up next to her, rubbed Bailey's back and then squeezed Tom's arm. "We'd all like that." She walked around and gave Mitch a hug and a kiss. "Bailey and I are going to finish up a few details on the gowns and then head into town for a trip to Becky's shop."
