Her Rancher, Her Protector

Chapter 14 - Tyler

I watched as the woman I loved moved to Kurt. I knew once he got a hold of her, he wasn’t going to let her go. I refuse to let her go as well. As soon as she was only a couple steps from him, he pushed Cory away as he barked, “Go!”

Cory ran to me and I hugged the boy. I bent down. “I need you to go to your room and lock the door. No matter what, do not open it unless it’s for me or your mama. No matter what you hear, do not unlock your door.”

“Okay.” He said, softly.

He ran off and I stood. I looked over to see Kurt had a hold of Angel now. “Look, man, can we just talk about this.”

“No!” He yelled at me.

I looked over at Angel as she looked terrified. “Please. Don’t take her away. Cory needs his mother.”

“I need her.” Kurt hissed at me. Then he looked at me. “You love her, huh?” I didn’t speak as I was too afraid of what he would do to her as he had her. He moved his face close to her cheek and whispered, “Do you love him, baby?”

She looked at me, sadly, as tears flowed. I knew she didn’t want to betray me so I just nodded to reassure her. “No.” She said as she cried.

“Tell him.” He hissed against her cheek.

She cried harder and again I nodded to tell her it was okay. I knew that even if she said it, she wouldn’t mean it. I know what was in her heart. She sobbed out. “I don’t love you.”

I looked at her in pain, not cause she told me she didn’t love me. Cause she hurt saying it as she was forced to. Kurt looked at me. “Well, since you don’t love him, Angs.” He pointed the gun at me. “Than you won’t mind if he is gone.”

She looked terrified but I stood my ground. I was scared but not of being shot, but what he would do to her and Cory afterwards. I looked at her and said, softly, “I’m sorry.”

I was prepared. He started to pull the trigger, Angel yelled, “NO!”

She pushed his arm up as the gun went off. I waited for the bullet to hit me. Instead, nothing. She looked at him as he was pissed. “b***h!” He yelled as he slapped her across her face, hard. She fell down. I took the opportunity and ran to him. I tackled him on the ground. I fought with him to get the gun but to no avail. I was able to hold his hand down that had the gun so it wasn't pointing at anyone. I hit him a few times and he finally went limp. I stood up breathless. I got over to Angel and knelt next to her, “Are you okay?”

She nodded. “Is it over?”

“Yeah.” I smiled at her. “I promised you that I would protect you. But you saved me first. If you didn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to hold up my promise to you.”

She smiled at me and I kissed her softly. Then she pulled away. “I’m so sorry I said I didn’t love you.”

I cupped her cheek. “I know you do, baby. I know what is in your heart. I am just was more afraid he would harm you if you didn’t. I am glad you said it, god knows what he would have done if you didn’t.”

I looked over her as I made sure no other harm came to her. She noticed. She took my hand from her face. She looked at me, sincerely, “I am okay, baby. I promise.”

I smiled at this and stood up as I helped her up. “You go check on Cory. I am going to call the cops.”

Tears started to form in her eyes. They fell and I quickly comforted her. I hugged her. “Baby, it’s over. No need to cry.”

“I am not crying cause of everything that happened. I am crying because I can’t believe this is really happening. Cory and I don’t have to run anymore. We don’t have to live in fear anymore. Do you know what that feels like?” I pulled away and looked at her. “Tyler, it's because of you that we get to finally be free. Cory and I are free.”

I smiled at her and kissed the top of her head. “Yeah, you two are and you both will be mine now. I am never letting you two go.”

She smiled at this. She pulled away and wiped the tears away. “I should probably go check on Cory now. He probably is terrified.”

She moved away as I watched her for a moment. Then I turned around as I pulled out my phone. I started to dial 911, when I heard Angel yell, “Tyler! Watch out!”

I turned to Kurt to see him looking at me and pointing the gun to me. My eyes widened when I heard it go off. I waited for the bullet to hit me when I was pushed away. I stumbled and when I caught my balance, I saw Angel on the ground, holding her belly. I saw blood. Fear swarmed my body. I looked over at Kurt as rage now rushed my body. I stormed over to him and he looked terrified. He pointed the gun at me and went to fire. It jammed. I just gave him a sinister smile. I got to him and grabbed him. The fear was in his eyes. Without a word, I started to throw blows in his face. Over and over till he was bloody and didn’t stop till he gargled from his own blood. I stopped and dropped him. I threw him down on the ground as I grabbed the gun. I heard him moan in pain as I rushed my lady. She was still conscious. She looked scared and in pain. “Ty...Tyler. It...it hurts.”

I took her in my arms. I moved a hand to her wound to put pressure on the wound. “I know, baby. But you will be okay. I will get you help.”

“The...the baby. Make sure the ba...baby is okay.” She struggled to talk.

My eyes widened as I heard this. “Baby?” She looked at me and nodded, slightly. “You’re pregnant.” I teared up.

She gave me a sad look. “I’m sorry.” She breathed. “I wish I could have given you what you deserve. I know what a family means to you.” Tears fell down her face. “Take care of Cory for me. Let him know his mama will always love him.”

“No!” I started to cry as I got scared I would lose her and now our child. “You will not talk like that. You will be okay and we will have this baby and be a happy family. All four of us. And you will tell both of them everyday how much you love them.”

“Tyler.” She said, softly. More tears fell from her eyes as she cupped my cheek with her bloody hand. “I wish I could have done that, especially for you.” She started to sob. “I...I love you, Tyler. With everything in my heart.”

I couldn’t bear to hear this. She was the first woman I loved since Maggie and now I was losing her like I lost my wife. I cried harder as I held her. “I love you too, Angel. I always will.” I moved in and gave her a small, sweet kiss. When I pulled away, she gave me a small smile. Than her eyes closed as her hand fell off of my cheek. I cried harder as I feared she left me. I pulled her to me and held her tightly as I cried into her neck. “Baby, don’t go. I need you. Please. Please, stay.”