Country Life

By Brenda Kennedy

Have you ever met someone you couldn't live without, but knew they would be better off without you?

Abel Lee has. He met Savannah Mae and he can’t live without her, but he is determined to not be with her until he is deserving of her.

Have you ever made a rash decision and realized it was a mistake?

Savannah Mae has. She made a decision based on inadequate evidence that may have destroyed her chances of a happily-ever-after life with Abel Lee.

Abel Lee keeps his distance from Savannah Mae as he tries to improve his life to be the man whom she deserves. Savannah Mae realizes she made a horrible mistake and wants to be back in the arms of Abel Lee.

Is Abel Lee hiding something in his past that could potentially destroy his future? Or is he everything that Savannah Mae thinks he is? Does the killer lurking the streets of Rose Farm, Ohio strike again? If so, who will be the next victim? Did the stalker return home after revealing the shocking photo to Savannah Mae, or is he lying in wait, ready to strike again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brenda Kennedy
• Release date: Mar 8, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310791642

Brenda Kennedy

Brenda Kennedy, an award winning and Amazon bestselling author, is a true believer of romance. Her stories are based on the relationships that define our lives - compassionate, emotionally gripping, and uplifting novels with true to life characters, that stay with her readers long after the last page is turned. Her varied, not always pleasant background has given her the personal experience to take her readers on an emotional, sometimes heart wrenching, journey through her stories. Brenda has been a struggling single mom, a survivor of domestic abuse, waitress, corrections officer, hostage negotiator and a corrections nurse. She is also a wife, mom, and grandmother. Even though her life was not always rainbows and butterflies, she is a survivor and believes her struggles have made her the person she is today. Brenda is the author of the award winning book, Forever Country (The Rose Farm Trilogy Book 1). She has been dubbed "The Queen of Cliffhangers" by her adoring readers because books one and two always have a cliffhanger ending. In Brenda's own words, "I write series that end in cliffhangers, because I love them. I always give away the first book in each series so you have nothing to lose by reading it." She was born and raised in Zanesville, Ohio and moved to SW Florida in 2006 with her husband Rex. They have a combined family, and she often jokes about not remembering what child belongs to who.

Book preview

Country Life

by

Brenda Kennedy

***

Book Two of the Rose Farm Trilogy

Copyright 2016 by Brenda Kennedy

SMASHWORDS EDITION

Dedicated with love and respect to David, George, and Frank

Book One and Book Two of the Rose Farm Trilogy end in cliffhangers.

Disclaimer: People and places in this book have been used fictitiously and without malice.

***

Chapter One

Savannah Mae

After awhile, Abel Lee stands to walk out of the room. I move over nearest to Sawyer Jackson. The mail he brought from the house is sitting on the bedside table. Most of it is junk mail, but a letter with no return address is tucked inside the advertising flyers.

I quickly open it and I’m shocked by what I see: a snapshot photograph of a person in a hospital bed. Ice runs through my veins at the image. I can’t tell if this is a man or a woman. The photo reminds me of how they described Megan Rose when they found her. They said she was unrecognizable. This person looks horrific. Who would do this to someone? Why are they sending me this photograph? I stare at the picture. The person is black and blue, and it looks like the person is on a ventilator. I look closer and the person’s right arm is in a cast. Is this a boxer he fought during his fighting career? I read the note enclosed.

Savannah,

Do you know who did this?

Your boyfriend, Abel, did.

Oh, my God! It’s a girl! Isn’t it? I think this is a picture of a girl, but I’m not sure. I can’t tell. The person is so beaten and battered, I can’t tell if it’s a male or a female.

Abel Lee walks into the hospital room. I got ahold of Ethan. He’s on his way.

I can feel the blood drain from my face. My hands shake, but I continue to clutch the photo and note in both hands. What’s wrong? He asks as he slowly walks closer to me. Did they get the test results back from the spinal tap? He looks fearful. I try to blink and swallow, but I don’t think I do either. I stare at Abel Lee. Is he capable of doin’ this? Savannah Mae, please, what is it?

I slowly lift my hands from my lap. I set the note and photo on the bedside table. D-d-did you do t-t-this? I stutter.

I watch him closely. He closes his eyes and I already have my answer, but I need to hear him say it. Abel, did you do this?

He opens his eyes and they are red. He looks broken. I can explain, he murmurs.

Abel, are you responsible for this? Yes or no? I demand. I need to hear the words. Please say no. Tell me you’re not responsible for harmin’ a human being this badly. Please don’t be capable of causin’ these kinds of injuries to anyone.

YES OR NO, ABEL? I yell.

He hangs his head and whispers, Yes.

I close my eyes and let the tears fall. Savannah Mae, you are an idiot! No wonder I’m divorced. I’m a terrible judge of character. You would think I would be more careful about who I’m with. It’s not just me; I have a son I need to look out for. What if Abel Lee is capable of harmin’ my son?

Get out, I say. I don’t need to think twice.

Savannah Mae, let me explain. 

I don’t look at him. I stare at the picture and the note on the bedside table. Abel doesn’t pick it up for a better look. He already knows who is it. He can explain? How? How can he even begin to explain how or why he did this? There is no explanation.

I said, get out! I want him to tell me he didn’t do this. I want him to tell me he has no idea who is in the picture. I want him to clear this up, but I don’t want an explanation. I don’t want him to be responsible for this. I don’t want to hear why he did this, or how he did this. I can’t be around someone who is capable of causin’ these kinds of injuries to a human being. I can’t expose my son to this kind of monster. If he is capable of causin’ these kinds of injuries to an adult, imagine the injuries he could cause my son — or me.

Abel Lee stands and slowly walks to the door. I wipe away my tears, and I lean into the bed and brush Sawyer Jackson’s hair away from his face. My sick boy. I love him and I will always protect him. I vow to be the best Mom and Dad that I can be. I vow to never put my son in harm’s way again.

The heavy wooden hospital door closes and I know Abel Lee is gone. I rest my head on my son’s pillow and cry.

Abel Lee

I could have explained about the picture, but Savannah Mae didn’t want to hear it. I should have been honest with her from the beginning. My past isn’t something that I just bring up and talk about. I have to time it just right. I have an explanation, but the person I tell it to has to want to hear it. Not everyone will understand. Not everyone will get what happened. My past is in my past for a reason. How can I move on if it keeps haunting me? 

When I saw the notecard on the bedside table, I was shocked. It was in the same handwriting of the person who’s been writing me. I still don’t know for sure who sent it, but I do know who was in the photograph. That image is burned into my brain. As hard as I try to forget it, I can’t. I dream about that face. The nightmares haunt me. That image is with me day and night. I can’t escape it.

I should have told her about it earlier in our relationship. I thought about it, but I could never find the words to tell her. The women I’ve dated since this happened, they don’t care. It’s all about prestige and money. I have millions and they wanted a piece of it — a big piece. Not Savannah Mae. She wouldn’t take my money even when I offered it to her for a tip. She doesn’t care about power and fame. Honesty and happiness and Sawyer Jackson are all she wants; it’s all she cares about.

I get into my car and wait. Wait for what, I don’t know. She told me to get out and I did. I didn’t want to add to her already bad situation. Her son, Sawyer Jackson, is in the hospital. He’s sick, and now she’s alone. I called her ex-husband and he’s on his way. I don’t want her to be alone when the results come back from the spinal tap they did on Sawyer Jackson.

Sitting in my truck in the dark, I have to wonder how many notes she’s received from this person? Is this her first one? If not, when did she receive the first note? How many has she gotten? When did she start getting them? How could the person have linked Savannah Mae with me?

My mind drifts back to when I first arrived in Rose Farm. When did I get my first letter from this asshole? I didn’t receive any until I got here, and then I received one in New York after the new year. Now, I’ve gotten three or four. Could it be that Savannah Mae has received that many, too? She never said anything.

I see Ethan pull into the hospital parking lot and for Savannah Mae’s sake, I’m glad he’s alone. His fiancé, Heather Sue, and Savannah Mae don’t get along too well. Heather Sue is the reason why she and Ethan divorced. He cheated on her with Heather Sue, and there’s nothing worse than a man who cheats. Well, I take that back. There’s nothing worse than a man who hits a woman. 

Savannah Mae

I go into the restroom and wipe the tears from my face. I’m not sure if I’m cryin’ because Abel Lee wasn’t honest with me, or if he pretended to be something he wasn’t. Or maybe I’m mad for bringin’ someone into my life and my son’s life who is capable of such a horrific act. Maybe I’m cryin’ because my son is still so very sick and his dad is nowhere to be found. I’m an emotional wreck and I just want this nightmare to be over with. 

I warsh my face and hands, and pray that I’ll wake up and find out the last two days were just a dream. When I open the bathroom door, Ethan is walkin’ into the hospital room. I glare at him and take my seat beside my son.

He follows me and asks, How is he? 

Like you care? I sit down and hold Sawyer Jackson’s hand like I have done all day today. I see the notecard and the picture on the bedside table, so I quickly shove them into my pocket. All I need is for Ethan to see that. That is something I wouldn’t be able to explain. I get a visual of Ethan takin’ me to court for full custody of our son, my son. I can hear people talkin’ about me bringin’ a monster into my life and puttin’ my son in harm’s way. I shiver and run my hands up and down my arms for warmth. Is Abel Lee a monster? If he did that to that poor person, then yes, he is a monster.

I came as soon as I heard. Ethan takes the chair on the other side of the bed. He looks worried. He should. I watch as he takes Sawyer Jackson’s hand, leans up, and kisses him on his cheek.

I’ve been calling you since last night, I finally say. 

He looks at me and says, Savannah Mae, I didn’t get any of your calls. I came as soon as I hung up from talkin’ to Abel. He called me a little bit ago and said Sawyer Jackson was in bad shape. 

I called you, and I left messages on your cell phone. Hell, I even left a message with Heather Sue. 

You left a message with Heather Sue? 

Yes, earlier today. Why didn’t you have your cell phone on you today? 

He thinks for a moment and searches his coat pocket. I left it at home when I left this mornin’. Dad and I were workin’ out of the garage today. We got some orders for oak dressers that we were workin’ on. I watch as he pulls his cell phone from his pocket and holds it up to his ear.

He’s found work, that’s good. Doesn’t explain why he didn’t get any of the messages I left for him. He places his phone back into his coat pocket. The doctor walks in with his nurse. My heart races. Ethan stands. I can’t. I don’t think my legs will support my weight.

What is it? I finally ask.

The doctor and nurse walk further into the room. The results came back from the lumbar puncture we did on Sawyer Jackson. 

The what? Ethan asks.

It’s called a lumbar puncture or a spinal tap. We went in and withdrew spinal fluid from Sawyer Jackson in hopes to find out what’s wrong with him, the doctor explains. The doctor looks at me and says, Your son has bacterial meningitis. 

Ethan sits down and I know this is a shock for him. He runs his hands through his dark hair and for a minute I feel bad for him.

Can you treat it? I ask the doctor. Please say yes. I know nothing about meningitis. I just know it’s not good. 

We can and it’s fairly easy to treat. He’s already on antibiotics through his IV. Now that we know what’s wrong with Sawyer Jackson, we know exactly how to treat him. We’ll give him different antibiotics and he should start responding fairly quickly. 

I sink deeper into my chair and say, Thank God. I don’t have the words to explain the relief that I feel. I look at my son and lean up from the chair to kiss him. He’s still lethargic. He hasn’t been himself or like himself since yesterday. You’re goin’ to get better, Buddy. Just hang on for a little bit longer. I cry. I cry from relief that my son will be okay. Nothin’ else at this time matters. Not Abel Lee and not Ethan. Just my son and gettin’ him well. 

Abel Lee

I sit in the shadows and watch as Ethan walks into the hospital. I’m glad he’s here for Savannah Mae and for Sawyer Jackson. She shouldn’t be here alone, and he shouldn’t be here without his daddy. Deciding there’s nothing else for me to do, I leave. I drive the backroads home to the farm. My mind replays the events of this evening. I want to fix this, but how? I wasn’t prepared for my relationship with her to end so soon. I didn’t have enough time with her. I want more time.

Thinking back, I didn’t realize that country girl could hook me like she did. Hook, line, and sinker. I smile. It reminds me of her telling me she won the Perry County Catch and Release event three years in a row. Explains how she hooked me, doesn’t it? 

I arrive on the farm, far sooner than I wanted to. The house is dark, and I’m glad my parents are already in bed. Just to make sure they’re asleep, I walk into the barn and visit with Bluebelle and Colonel. The horses both neigh when they see me. Bluebelle is a sweet mare. She’s always glad to see me. Colonel, it took him some time to get used to me. Now that we understand each other, he tolerates me. I feed them both an apple and a few sugar cubes.

After I prop myself up on the hay bale, I wish that I had my guitar with me. Strumming some chords would help. Playing some George Strait or Garth Brooks would help put things in perspective. Nah, who am I kidding. Country music would only make me feel worse. I don’t need to be listening to no love-struck or heartbreak songs tonight. I stare at Bluebelle and wish that she could tell me how to fix this mess with Savannah Mae. I knew my relationship with her was too good to be true. I also knew she would find out about my past, and it would destroy us. I watch Bluebelle and Colonel and they just watch me back. My mind drifts back to my first date with Savannah Mae. I took her on a horse ride with Colonel on Christmas day. He is massive in size and she called him a pony. He is anything but a pony. I knew that night that Savannah Mae was something special.

Savannah Mae is sassy and sweet all rolled up into one. She’s stunning and simple. She’s forever country, and she doesn’t care much for anything outside of her country life. Since I returned back to my country roots in November, I’ve learned so much in that short amount of time. Savannah Mae made me realize things I didn’t even know existed within me. I remind myself, I’m no good for her. She deserves someone far better than me. She deserves someone who can give her what she deserves. 

I stand and pet the horses one last time before making my way into the house.

I have a restless sleep. That’s a lie. I didn’t sleep. I had a restless night. I couldn’t turn my thoughts off long enough to fall asleep. I kept thinking of that note, that picture, and the look of devastation on Savannah Mae’s face. Or was it fear? She couldn’t think that I would ever hurt her or her son, could she? 

In the morning after the animals are fed, I shower and get ready for work. Momma is up making breakfast and Pops is watching the news.

Any news on Sawyer Jackson? Momma asks as I reach over and pour a cup of coffee.

No, I haven’t heard anything. I don’t want to tell Momma about the note or the picture. I also don’t want to lie to Momma, so I tell her the half truth. I didn’t hear anything, so therefore, it’s not a lie. 

I sure hope they find out what’s wrong with him. When you go to work, I’ll go to the hospital and sit with Savannah Mae. She removes the biscuits from the oven, and stirs a pot of sausage gravy. 

I don’t look at Momma, I look at my coffee instead. Ethan was there last night. They might want some time alone with Sawyer Jackson. Not a total lie, because Ethan was there last night. Whatever makes you feel better, Abel. I don’t want Momma going to the hospital with Savannah Mae, and I don’t want Momma to see that picture or the note. 

Momma stops and looks at me. Really? They called him all day yesterday and he never once answered or called anyone back.

Looking