Cheyenne felt like she’d lost five hundred pounds. She felt lighter in her skin, giddy. As she crept from Sheridan’s room early the next morning, she felt like a teenager.

He’d tried to convince her to stay, to wake together. The kids already knew there was something going on. It seemed stupid to act like it wasn’t.

But she’d stuck to her guns, even as he tugged her nipples into his mouth and tried to convince her. Sheridan Lane was a big teddy bear. He’d held her as she’d cried her relief at claiming her womanhood back, and he hadn’t discouraged her from feeling everything she needed to. He seemed to understand what she was going through.

When he couldn’t convince her to stay, he told her he loved her and let her go. He needed to get dressed for work anyway, he said.

Oh, yeah. It was Monday.

Two more days and she would officially be off for summer vacation.

Cheyenne wanted to call Payton and talk, but it was way too early. Sheridan stopped her before she went to wake the girls.

“Why don’t you let them stay with Olivia? You can see them on the cameras and it’ll save you having to watch them while you’re in your meetings.”

Cheyenne debated for a moment, before nodding her head. “Yes, I think it might be okay.”

The girls had woken before they left anyway, and seemed excited to have another day with Olivia. The teenager, of course, tried to play it cool, but Cheyenne could see the excitement in her eyes as well. As they were walking out the door, Cheyenne heard her ask the girls if they’d ever played Xbox.

“Oh, jeez. My girls are never going to be the same again,” she sighed.

Sheridan gave her a hand up into the gold Sheriff’s department truck, in its special chalk parking spot. “Oh, whatever. I grew up playing video games. Olivia has pretty mild games. Nothing bad or gory.”

They chatted as they drove to work, Sheridan occasionally reaching over to stroke her hand or her hair, or arm, whatever he could reach. And when the day was ended, they did the same, recounting what had happened and just being together. Cheyenne basked in his attention.

The girls were happy to see them home and regaled them with what they’d done together. Nothing epic, just everyday normal stuff.

And as the night waned and the kids went to bed, the tension between Cheyenne and Sheridan built. They didn’t even pretend with the pool that night, just slipped into bed together, loving like they’d been apart weeks rather than days.

Cheyenne rested her head on his chest, listening to his heart recover.

The next day was just the same. They chatted on the way to work, she went to meetings. Normal, boring day. Until Grace called her cell phone just after lunch.

Cheyenne excused herself and answered the call. “Grace? What do you need?”

“Mama, he’s here. The man with the tattoos! He can’t get in the gate but he’s shaking them and Wulf is barking. What if he drives his truck through them?”

Cold terror flowed through her veins and Cheyenne reached for the phone on the wall. “Grace, baby, I’m going to call Sheridan with my other phone, okay? You stay right there. Do not hang up!”

Cheyenne pounded out the numbers of the sheriff’s department, her heart thudding out of her chest. Dispatch routed her call to Sheridan and she repeated what Grace had told her.

“Cheyenne, I am literally down the street from you. Run out and I’ll pick you up on the way. Don’t worry baby.”

Cheyenne could have cried as she took off running, leaving everything behind. Some of her friends asked her if she was okay, but she didn’t have time to stop. “We’re on our way, Grace. You stay on the phone, okay?”

“Yes, Mama.”

“Where are the other girls?”

“They’re with me. Savannah, no, stay here! Mama, Savannah is trying to get Wulf to come inside with us.”

“You tell her Mama says she can call from the door, but she is not to go outside.”

“She already did.”

There was rustling on the other end of the phone and Cheyenne could tell Grace was running. Then she was yelling at Savannah. A dog barked frantically in the background and metal pounded.

Then the line went dead.

Cheyenne screamed and looked down at the phone. Hands shaking, she pressed redial on the screen, straining her ears as she ran. Why couldn’t she hear the ring?

Sheridan’s huge truck slammed to a stop in front of her and Cheyenne almost smacked into it she was running so hard. She jumped into the cab, even as she pushed redial on her phone.

“I lost them,” she cried, tears flooding her eyes.

“Put your seatbelt on,” Sheridan ordered, and floored the truck.

Cheyenne had only ever ridden in one other vehicle running lights and siren, and that had been an ambulance. She didn’t remember much of that ride other than how rough and noisy it had been.

Sheridan drove like a bat out of hell, cursing at people to move even though there was no way they could possibly hear him. On one stretch of road, Cheyenne thought they caught air as they crested a rise, but he handled the truck like it was a roadster.

“Patterson is going to meet us there. He doesn’t live far from me, and Deputy Miller is a couple miles out.”

Cheyenne nodded, staring at the phone, waiting for it to ring again. The thought of her babies being out there with so little protection terrified her. She didn’t know if Wade would actually hurt them, but she didn’t want him anywhere near them.

Sheridan’s phone rang and he pressed the speaker button. “Yes,” he barked.

“Thomas Applegate says he loaned Wade more money last night for food, but he didn’t show up for work today.”

“Okay, thanks Marlene.”

Cheyenne pushed the redial button on her cell phone, but nothing happened. It didn’t even ring.

Panic clutched at her throat and she forced herself to breathe through it.

Finally, they were within the sight of the gate. Wade’s white truck was parked in the driveway cockeyed, as well as a shiny motorcycle resting on its side. Two men were rolling around on the pavement, exchanging punches.

As soon as he got close Sheridan slammed the truck into park and was out of the vehicle. His long legs got him to the fight in seconds and for a moment, there was a jumble of flying arms and legs. She couldn’t tell who was who. Cheyenne dropped out of the truck and stood to the side, looking up the driveway. She could see Savannah holding onto Beowulf’s collar, and the other three girls standing behind her. Their faces were pale and frightened but Olivia’s arms were wrapped tightly around Carolyn and Grace as she stood tall between them. The gate had stood firm and so had they.

Wade fought for as long as he could, but Paul and Sheridan eventually got him under control. Sheridan cuffed him and left him laying on the ground as he helped Paul to his feet. Both men were sporting bloody injuries, but seemed to be fine.

“Doll,” Wade cried, catching sight of her. “You gotta tell them. Tell them they’re my kids and I’m allowed to see them.”

“You’re not, Wade. I told you that.”

Cheyenne took a few steps forward, and recognized the look in his glazed eyes. “What did you take, Wade?”

“Nothing, Doll, just a pain pill for my hip. I swear.”

She had a feeling it was more than a pain pill. Probably more like half a dozen.

A siren wailed in the distance. Cheyenne skirted the three men and went to the fence, reaching through to reassure herself the girls were fine. They clutched at her hands. “I need you to go inside the house and close the door. We’ll be in in a few minutes, I promise.”

Reluctantly, the girls did as they were told, Beowulf still sticking close to Savannah’s side.

Wade pleaded with her until Deputy Miller arrived to haul him away. Sheridan instructed him to take Wade the next county over, so that there was no chance anything would happen to Wade while he was in their jail.

“You can’t do this, Cheyenne. You’re my wife. Why are you treating me like this?”

There seemed to be genuine bewilderment in his voice, but Cheyenne was so done with him. Sheridan looped his arms around her as the cruiser pulled away. “You okay, babe?”

She nodded and keyed in the code for the gate to open. “I’m going to go check on my girls.”

“I’ll be up in a minute.”

Cheyenne ran up the drive and into the house. Grace burst into tears and fell into her arms, blubbering about dropping the phone and breaking it. Cheyenne wasn’t worried about that. All of the girls crowded in for a hug, even Olivia, and it took a long time to reassure them that the man was gone. Maybe she should have allowed them to watch the cruiser leave with Wade inside it.

Beowulf bumped her leg and she made room to pat him as well as his plume of a tail swept back and forth. Daisy seemed highly unconcerned.

“You guys did great. I’m so proud of you.”

When Sheridan returned, his lips bloody, he had to reassure them he was okay. After he’d cleaned up they crowded around him as well, needing the reassurance.

It was a long time before the house finally settled down.

* * *

They were lying in bed three nights later when Sheridan asked her to marry him again. Cheyenne chuckled, her hand brushing over his pecs. “I thought you already decided we were engaged?”

“I did? No. I offered an engagement but you didn’t say yea or nay.”

“Hmph,” she murmured. “My bad. Yay.”

Sheridan craned his neck to look at her in the light from the moon outside. “Yay, as in hoorah? Or Yea as in yes, you accept my engagement?”

“Yeah, that one,” Cheyenne said, giggling. “Although we may have to wait to get married after Chad and Lora do. I don’t think Daddy can handle more than one wedding at a time.”

Sheridan chuckled. “That’s fine. I’m not in a rush. It’s a formality to me anyway. I won’t love you any more just because we’re married.”

Cheyenne glanced up at him. “I might love you more.”

Sheridan laughed, tickling her side. “You haven’t even told me you love me yet.”

“Whaaaat?” she drew it out playfully. “My bad again. I love you, Sheridan.”

He looked at her as if debating the truth of her words. “You sure?”

She nodded. “Positive.”

Sheridan leaned down and kissed her, deeply, before pulling back. “Glad I don’t have to deal with the crazy ex, though.”

They laughed together, but it was very true.

Wade had tested positive for opiates, so with the violation of parole charge, menacing, stalking, two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer and more, there was no way he was going to be bothering them for at least the next ten years.

Cheyenne had cried when he’d read her the laundry list of charges, then kissed him soundly.

“I’m so ready to live our lives the way we’re supposed to,” she admitted.

“Hmm,” Sheridan murmured. “Does that mean you’ll marry me?”

“Eventually,” she confirmed.

There was sudden cheering from the other side of the bedroom door, then the pounding of retreating feet. “You sure you want to take all of us on?”

He pulled her tight against him. “Absolutely.”