Consider the Thorns: The Trampled Rose Series, #2

By Michelle Lynn Brown

Barbara Houlton is a best-selling romance author, known for her achingly sweet love stories. However, her own love-life is nothing to write home about. Raped on the eve of her high-school graduation, she was left pregnant and scarred, both emotionally and physically. She has learned to hide the physical scars, but the emotional scars that taint her soul become harder to hide each day. Sarcasm, avoidance and denial have become weapons to keep her monstrous past at bay. Barbara avoids her home town at all costs. She denies to all those who are concerned for her that there is anything wrong. And those who try to pass her protective boundaries are met with her cutting sarcasm. Her emotional scars make intimacy a frightening thing, and those who try to grasp this beautiful rose are quickly met with her thorns. Instead, she loves through her characters, embracing her romantic dreams with every book she writes, and convinces herself it is enough.

When her father falls ill, she is forced to return home to Hamilton, New Mexico, a small town that comes with big problems, the biggest of which is Steve Meston. Steve has had a crush on Barbara since high school. But he is no longer the awkward, shy boy from her youth. He is now confident, handsome and relentless in his pursuit of her, despite her best efforts to put him off. His patient and steadfast love back her into a corner, and she finds that all her weapons are useless against his sweet love. Now she must stop avoiding and confront her past, or lose the one man who was able to get past her thorns.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michelle Lynn Brown
• Release date: Jul 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781501408779

Michelle Lynn Brown

Best-selling author, Michelle Lynn Brown is a housewife, mother of three, writer, blogger, hopeless romantic, and a cuddly lap for one very large cat. She was born in Dayton, Ohio, but raised in El Paso, Texas. The Lord has blessed her with the opportunity to live in many locations, from Germany to Oklahoma, where she now resides. When she was a teenager, her mother used to take her to used books stores at least once a month. It was there she fell in love with the written word. As a writer, she uses this passion to share with others the joy of having a personal and intimate relationship with Christ. Like the flawed characters that grace her books, she has had many stumbles and struggles in her life. God's grace and mercy through these trials have kept her on her knees. It is from this humble position that she seeks to minister through her writing - not as someone who has it all figured out, but just someone who has figured out how wonderful and awesome God is.

Book preview

Dedication

To my dear friend, Marina, thank you for your never-ending prayer and praise. Your timely words and prayers always provide the boost I need.

To Debbie and Luci, I hear your words of encouragement every time I want to quit.

To my sister, Theresa, for your support, reassurance, and the effort you have taken in promoting my work.

To Lacey and Brenda, thank you for being great fans as well as friends.

Acknowledgment

This book would not have been possible without the grace and mercy of my Lord, Jesus Christ, who strengthens me daily. May these words bring glory and honor to You.

I would like to thank Angel for extending her knowledge of motorcycles, bike runs, and helmet hair. I couldn’t have completed the scene without your help.

Prologue

W hat’s worrying you , Barb? Is it Steve? The girl whispered as she leaned over the cup holder in the theater seat.

Barbara shook her head, No, he’s had multiple chances to ask me, Cindy! I don’t think he’s ever going to do it! Barbara nervously twirled her dark auburn hair over her finger. I thought I saw Bobby and his friends here.

Bobby is a jerk, but don’t let him spook you. She waved the notion aside, and then added, And Steve is crazy for you. Anyone can see that! Maybe you should ask him instead?

Barbara shook her head, There’s no way I could!

Cindy shrugged as if to say, suit yourself. Do you want some popcorn?

Barbara stood up and scooted out of the aisle, I’ll go get it. I’m too antsy to sit through a movie! I don’t know why we came here.

Because you were too antsy to sit at home, Cindy said with a chuckle.

Barbara was lost in thought as she stood in the refreshment line. Maybe he only thinks of you as a friend. The idea crossed her mind. She wanted to dispute it, but the fact was they were two weeks away from their senior prom, and Steve hadn’t asked her yet. Maybe she was crazy to think he actually cared for her.

As she stepped up to order the popcorn, she caught sight of a group of guys near the bathrooms. It was Bobby Swanson and his friends. More like meat-headed groupies. He’d become such a hassle lately, cropping up everywhere she was, making lewd comments. Earlier in the year, Mr. McKinley, her music teacher, had warned him to stay away from her. For a while, he stopped, but now that the school year was ending, Bobby was pestering her again, but his actions were more disturbing these past two weeks.

She dared a sideways glance, only to find Bobby piercing her with a malicious stare. She shuddered and averted her gaze, praying he would leave.

Once she had their refreshments in hand, she checked the bathroom area and was relieved to see he was gone. She didn’t want to deal with Bobby’s suggestive comments. The man made her skin crawl.

Despite his absence, she cautiously crept down the dim hallway toward their theater, which was at the end near the emergency exit. One of the overhead lights was out, casting the area she needed to walk through in darkness. The hair on the back of her neck stood up, and she tried to shake off the eerie feeling. It’s just because you saw Bobby. This is a busy movie theater. What could happen?

As she neared the entrance, something struck her lightly on her head. She whirled around to see who had thrown something at her, sending popcorn flying in an arc around her. Without the light, her eyes could barely pierce the darkness. She made out a faint outline of a man and heard a low chuckle.

Bobby!

She dropped the popcorn and drinks, trying to make a break for the brighter part of the hallway, and hopefully, all the way to the concession area.

She hadn’t gone three steps when a hand reached out and grabbed her, and before she knew it, she was pulled back against someone’s unrelenting body. Panic sent a scream racing to her throat, but before she could get it out, it was silenced by a hand reaching from behind and clamping over her mouth. She felt pain along her neck as the clasp from the man’s watch tore at the skin just below her ear.

When she heard his cold and menacing voice, she had no doubt who held her. She clawed frantically at Bobby’s arm as he said, No, Barbara. You’ve been running from me for two years. But school is almost out, and you don’t have your buddies to protect you anymore. It’s time you finally paid your dues.

She fought against his hold, but he was too strong. She could smell the alcohol on his breath as it fanned across her cheek. Vomit rose in her throat as she was lifted clear off the ground. He carried her out the exit door and shoved her into the rear of his waiting car. The seat belt latch dug into the small of her back, pain seared her back, and she felt something warm and sticky spread against her shirt as she fought to get him off her. His hands seemed to be everywhere at once.

She saw an opportunity to get free when he took his eyes off her to tell whoever was in the front seat to drive. But her efforts were immediately quelled, and his cruel laugh told her there would be no escape.

Barbara wasn’t one to give up so easily. When he leaned down to punish her mouth with a painful kiss, she bit his lip hard, tasting blood. He sat up, and she struggled to get free as he roared in pain. His hand came flying through the air, landing down hard across her cheek in a slap that caused her world to go black.

She woke up to a sharp pain in her head as she landed on the cool wet grass with a thud. Turning her head to look around, she saw she was on the school’s football field. But the movement of her pulsating head made her world dim in and out. She fought to remain conscious, not wanting to surrender without a fight.

When she finally fought her way through the darkness, she found Bobby hovering over her, hate and anger filling his cold gray eyes. With a grin that bore nothing but evil and malice, he ground out, I’m going to enjoy making you pay.

She was vaguely aware of his hands on her skin as she struggled to bring the world into focus. Through the fog, she tried to fight his hands, which seemed to be everywhere at once. She hit, kicked, and punched, hoping for one lucky blow that would set her free. When one landed, she scrambled to her unsteady feet and broke off in a run.

He laughed as if he enjoyed her fight. She didn’t get far when he grabbed her leg, dragging her back to him. She hit the ground face first, hitting the side of her head. She screamed in pain as he slowly dragged her across the grass and back underneath him. Her already throbbing head was jostled further as he yanked her across the hard ground. Something in the grass tore at the skin on her chest clear up toward her shoulder. She tried to grab the turf in an effort to stop him, but the blades just broke free in her hands.

When he rolled her over, she made one last effort to gain her freedom. She threw the handful of dirt and grass in his eyes and tried to run again, but there was no escape.

Within moments, she found herself once again pinned to the ground and back beneath his inescapable touch, subjected to his unavoidable breath on her skin, and victim to the violence that would inevitably rip everything precious from her. As if off in the distance, she vaguely heard fabric tear, and then felt the cool night air against her bare skin.

A sob fled her mouth, and she prayed for God to free her. Please, God, don’t let him...

But the only escape she found was the blackness that her throbbing head finally succumbed to. And when the darkness closed around her eyes, blocking out his leering grin, she knew she should fight it off and try to get free. But the darkness was winning, and she didn’t have the strength to fight.

Her last thought was of Steve, his sweet gentle nature, and his name whispered across her mind as she surrendered to the darkness and the relief it provided.

Blessed escape.

Chapter One

Steve stood in the corner of the hospital room, silent as he watched Barbara surrounded by friends and family. Everyone was focused on the baby girl wriggling in Kristina’s arms; everyone except Steve.

I was going to call her Hope because she brought me so much hope despite all the darkness surrounding me. But seeing all that has come about since I found out I was pregnant with her, I decided on Amari.

Amari?

Andrew McKinley answered Nathan’s question, Son, Amari means a miracle from God.

Steve looked down to hide the emotions that were shredding his insides. He’d been angry for nine months now, and hearing Pastor McKinley’s response to Nathan’s question didn’t help.

Amari couldn’t be a more perfect name.

Steve controlled the scoff of disbelief that threatened to erupt from him. How could everyone act like nothing was abnormal about this situation? Barbara was smiling and everyone was joyous, acting like her life hadn’t been destroyed before it even had begun.

He quietly excused himself and walked out of the room. Storming out of the hospital wing, he shoved his hands in his pockets and stomped out of the hospital. The bright sunlight stung his eyes...or maybe that was the tears that threatened to burst from them.

I feel like bawling like a little baby. He was man enough to admit that, even if only to himself. The absurdity and truth of his statement overwhelmed him. He was barely out of high school, the woman he’d loved for two years lay in the hospital with another man’s baby in her arms, and it was all because some stuck-up jock thought he could take what wasn’t his.

He kicked the side of the building in anger. Hey son, what are you doing here? Did you come to have lunch with me?

Steve turned at the sound of his father’s voice, feeling guilty at being caught in his anger. Barb had her baby.... the rest of his words disintegrated with his despair.

Ah, I see. And how is she doing?

Okay, I guess. Everyone is with her, cooing over the baby, and laughing with her. Sarcasm saturated his voice, but he was too angry to care anymore.

His father nodded his head, And you don’t feel like laughing or cooing.

It was a statement, not a question. His dad knew him all too well. I just don’t get it, after what Swanson did to her...how can she just laugh it up?

I was on-call the night she was raped, son. I saw the physical effects of what Bobby did to her, but it’s the inner scars that take longer to heal. What she needs is friends by her side, laughing when she wants to laugh, and when she wants to cry, shoulders that she can cry on.

He heard his father’s words, but anger surged through him as he remembered her battered face. I know, but...

Son, despite the reasons behind the birth, today is a day to celebrate.

Steve jerked his head up, Celebrate?

"We celebrate today because she could have made a lot of different choices when she found out she was pregnant. But she chose to keep the baby. We celebrate today because she could have chosen to let Bobby defeat her, but she is choosing to move on. But most of all, we celebrate because she is choosing to celebrate. His dad gave him a brief hug, and said, Just be there for her, son."

Steve understood the wisdom of his father’s words, but his heart was slow to follow suit. Their junior year, they had taken choir together, and that was when he’d fallen for her. She was quick to laugh, always teasing him about something. And she had the most generous heart he knew. Now, despite the smile she put on, he knew she was hurting.

As his dad started to walk away, Steve stopped him. You still want to have lunch?

You never need to ask, son. Why don’t you meet me in the cafeteria in a half-hour?

Steve nodded to his father and headed back to Barbara’s room.

When he walked through the door, he saw Barbara’s father hugging Nathan, tears streaming down the man’s cheeks.

I don’t know how to thank you, George said, brushing the tears from his face. He took a hold of his daughter’s hand. I wasn’t sure how she was going to go to college after.... Barbara’s father let the rest of the sentence drift off, and a momentary hush settled over the room.

It was Kristina who broke the silence with her quiet explanation. When the lawyer came to me, stating that the money was mine, despite the clause my husband had put in his will...

Deceased husband. Nathan corrected.

...Well, we just figured that it couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.

Nathan interjected again, God’s way of providing, despite all these hardships around us.

Did you hear that, Steve? Barbara said, and everyone turned to him.

Yeah, that’s great Barb. His tone held no enthusiasm, and he struggled to do what his father had told him. Celebrate with her? For what?

He shuffled into the room, Now you can become the English professor you always wanted to be. He tried to force some joy into his words, but they sounded flat and emotionless to his ears.

Nathan clapped the boy on the shoulder and said, We are heading for a bite to eat, Steve, do you want to join us?

No, sir, I’m meeting my dad in the cafeteria in a little bit. But thank you.

Steve watched as they left the room, everyone enthusiastic about this new turn of events. After they left, he sat in the chair next to Barbara. She turned her head toward him, and he could see the exhaustion on her face. He felt like a heel when all he could think about was how beautiful she looked. Her dark auburn hair spread out on the pillow underneath her, and though the skin underneath her brown eyes was slightly puffy and dark, it couldn’t diminish their beauty. Their color reminded him of their mahogany dining room table.

That’s romantic, he thought to himself. Your eyes are like my dining room table. He swallowed, and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down his slim neck. Do you need anything?

No. Her reply was soft, a whisper at best. Thank you for being here. She reached her hand out for his, and he took her small one in his. He looked down as his long, thin fingers wrapped around hers. Tall, gangly and awkward; that is how one of the girls in their class had described him. Awkward definitely was an accurate description of how he felt now. Dozens of things to say came across his heart, but none of them were appropriate. I love you, no matter how he