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One Man's Heart

By: GatorRick



There is no explicit description of sex in this story. 

*****

On the eleven o'clock evening news the weather forecast called for a severe winter storm to arrive late the next day. The storm was predicted to pass well to the north of where I lived. Tomorrow might be the last chance for a bike trip before the onset of Winter would shut down all riding until Spring. I decided to get up early and take a ride over to Bentonville, a small village some sixty-five miles away, have some breakfast and then take a leisurely ride back home.

Saturday morning arrived bright and cold. Donning leather chaps over my jeans and and zipping up my heavy leather motorcycle jacket with a woolen scarf around my neck I strode through the combination mud and laundry room into the garage. Fastening my helmet and slipping on my gloves I threw a leg over my Harley and the big fuel-injected v-twin cranked right up. 

Of my many toys this one was my favorite. It's a '04 Harley Heritage Classic Softtail, special edition blue with orange flames paint job, special chrome and leather handle bar grips with a chrome front end. A stage II exhaust system gave it a satisfying throaty rumble, not to mention improved performance.

Easing out of the garage I activated the remote closing the garage door and opening the wrought iron gates guarding the entrance to my driveway from the street. Once on the road in front of my home the gates closed behind me.

The morning was cold and crisp and I was thankful for my heavy leather chaps and motorcycle jacket. The road to Bentonville was through a national forest. Lots of curves and hills made for a pleasant, interesting ride. This early on a Saturday morning there was hardly any traffic on the road which made the ride even nicer. 

A little over ninety minutes later I arrive at my destination the quaint little town of Bentonville. As I stopped to fill up my Harley's gas tank across the street from the diner where I planned on eating breakfast I noticed a line of nine

choppers parked in front. Just before I finished gassing up I saw ten guys exit the diner. I guess one was riding double. They appeared to be the typical biker gang displaying the club name on the back of their jackets . . . 'Wildcats From Hell'. 

Eight of the bikers took off down the direction I came from. The remaining two seemed to be having a rather animated discussion. The smaller of the two had a full face helmet with a heavily tinted visor which I thought was odd. Most biker gangs just wear the smallest helmet the law allows. The bigger of the two got on his chopper and gestured for the other to follow. After a moment of indecision he got on and they left tearing out from the parking lot just missing a passing car.

I finished fueling my bike and rode over to the diner. Parking and locking the front forks I went inside. Taking a seat at the counter I picked up the one page menu. The waitress came over and asked if I wanted coffee and if was I ready to order.

Sounds good I told her. "Coffee . . black, no sugar, no cream. I'll have the two egg special over easy with bacon, hash browns, wheat toast, no butter just some orange marmalade." 

"Coming right up." She said turning to put the order slip on the pass through counter to the kitchen and then pour my coffee.

The television, mounted up on the wall in front of me, was tuned to ESPN so I watched clips of the previous night's college basketball games. Before the end of the first commercial break she returned with my breakfast. It was just as good as I remembered from the last time I was here. 

As I finished the last bite of toast a severe weather alert bulletin broke into the broadcast. The winter storm that was forecast to pass to the north had intensified and was now moving rapidly toward us. Heavy rain and sleet followed by a snowfall of eight to ten inches was now the prediction. So much for last night's weather forecast.

I decided it would be in my best interest to turn around and head back home. Hopefully, I would be able to make it before the storm broke. Paying the bill and leaving a healthy tip for the hard working waitress I picked up my helmet and gloves and headed out. 

Firing up my bike I headed back the way I had come earlier. The only bad part of the route back was the fifty miles of nothing through the national forest. If you were to have a breakdown, get stuck and not get some help you'd most likely die in this coming storm. 

As I headed back out of town I saw the dark storm clouds building in intensity behind me. The temperature had already dropped a good ten to fifteen degrees from earlier in the morning and with the storm behind me I hoped to be able to out race it home.

Twenty miles into the national forest and I had not seen another car or truck coming toward me. I hadn't noticed any headlights behind me in my mirrors either. Rounding a curve I saw a solitary figure walking along the road. It was the same guy I saw at the diner, the one with the full face helmet. 

Rolling up to him I killed my engine and shouted for him to get on. "There is a bad storm coming. I'll give you a lift to the next town."

He shook his head no and kept walking. "If you don't get on you will die out here!" I yelled at him.

With that he reluctantly climbed on behind me as I re-started the bike. With the noise from the exhaust pipes and the roar of the wind in our faces it was impossible for any kind of communication. 

Twenty miles from the village, where I intended to drop the fellow off, a cold, drenching rain began, forcing me to slow down considerably. I decided to just go to my home. It was much closer and I already felt my passenger, sitting closely behind me, begin to shiver from the cold.

Coming down the road I lived on I thumbed a remote by my left handlebar grip and the gates to the driveway opened. Thumbing it again, as I made my way up the driveway, the gates closed and the garage door opened. I rode inside, killed the engine and we dismounted. 

Listening to the popping and sizzling sounds of the rainwater as it dropped from the frame of the bike and hit the exhaust pipes I made my way to the door to the mud/laundry room. 

"Follow me," I said opening the door. "We'll go inside, warm up and wait out the storm before I drive you into town."

Removing my helmet and gloves I then took off my jacket and chaps. My jeans were still dry but my shirt was wet from where the rain had gotten down through my jacket collar. So I threw it into the washing machine.

Turning around I saw that the guy hadn't even bothered to take his helmet off. 

"Hey, what's the matter with you? You're already shivering. Get that helmet and those wet leathers off before you freeze."

When he unstrapped his helmet and removed it I discovered he wasn't a guy. He was a she and a very pretty she at that. 

"Okay, now the jacket and pants." I said.

"I can't. I'm not wearing anything underneath my riding gear." She whispered, obviously embarrassed.

Opening one of the cabinet doors that lined the wall opposite the washer and dryer I removed a pink sweatshirt and matching pants. 

"Here, these belonged to my wife. You are about the same size. Put them on. And here," I said handing her a towel with which to dry herself off. "When you finish dressing come inside. I'll make something hot for us to drink. What would you like coffee or hot chocolate?"

"Coffee will be fine," she replied still trembling from the cold.

Closing the door behind me, to give her some privacy, I made my way upstairs to my bedroom and found a dry shirt before heading back to the kitchen. I have one of those machines that grinds the beans and brews one cup at a time in less than a minute. Removing two coffee mugs from the cupboard I just finished brewing the first cup when she emerged wearing the pink sweat suit.

As the second cup started brewing I asked her if she took sugar and/or cream. 

"Black will be just fine," she answered.

Removing my cup from the counter I picked up a bottle of Napoleon brandy and poured a healthy amount into it. I held the bottle up and she nodded her head yes. 

Handing her a mug of the fortified coffee I said. "Let's go into the sun room. Its comfortable in there and you can relax and tell me a little about yourself and why you were out on the highway alone." 

"By the way my name is Scott, Scott Mueller," I offered. 

I led the way to the sunroom which also doubles as a greenhouse. One of my wife's passions was roses. There are almost thirty varieties growing in there and there are always flowers in bloom. I keep the temperature at a constant seventy-eight degrees year around and the humidity is adjusted as needed to prevent diseases and fungus. The air was filled with their scent.

Just as I offered her a seat my German Shepard, Gunner, wandered in to sit by my side. He looked at her and began to growl. 

"Gunner . . . No . . . Friend." I said to him.

He immediately stopped, went over to her and sniffed her hand before licking it. Returning to me he sat by my side and I began petting his head and scratching his ears.

"He's beautiful," she said. "How old is he?"

"Gunner is about two years old. We . . . I got him when he was just an eight weeks old puppy." 

After taking a sip of her coffee she said. "Where do you want me to begin?"

"Why don't you start with your name," I replied. 

She told me her name, Tracy Bennet, and then gave me a brief history of her life. I found out she was twenty-four years old and had her younger sister living with her after the death of their father. Her mom had died giving birth to her sister, Pamela, eighteen years ago. Pamela was finishing her last year in high school having to repeat the year she lost helping to take care of their dad while he, unsuccessfully, tried to recover from a severe heart attack. 

Tracy told me everything was fine until she lost her job. She continued on telling me she was out job hunting one day while her sister was in school. One of the neighboring apartments caught fire and the entire building was consumed with flames and had to be condemned.

She and her sister had no place to go. Then a friend of a friend of hers, Frank Stilton, offered to let them move in with him. She said it was okay for a few weeks until he bought that damn motorcycle. He changed becoming more demanding and wanting to control all aspects of both their lives.

He told her that he found a motorcycle club that he wanted to join and that they would be going to meet up with some of the club members that morning. She continued telling me that they rode to a diner in Bentonville and met up with eight of the club members. It was then she was told that price of his admission into the club was dependent upon her having sex with each of the members.

"Either put out or get out," she said Frank told her in the parking lot before they left. "What was I going to do? I had no choice. So I got on behind him and we left."

"We rode out of town and before he could catch up with the others I made a decision not to do what he wanted." She continued explaining to me. 

"We were in a really desolate area when I began to poke him in his back. He stopped and I told him I had to pee really, really bad. I walked into the forest and just kept walking away from him and the road until I found a place to hide."

"I could hear him yelling for me to get my ass back," she said. "I didn't move from my hiding place until I heard him re-start his motorcycle and leave."

"Then I waited another ten or fifteen minutes to be sure he wasn't going to come back before making my way to the road. I walked in the direction he had left knowing that if I saw him returning I could escape back into the woods before he could see me. Then you came along . . . and you know the rest of the story," she finished.

"What about your sister?" I asked. "Is she still at his place?"

"No," she answered. "She was going to spend today with one of her friends and then stay over tonight with her."

"I'd better call Pamela, she should be at her friend's house, and tell her what's happening. Do you have a phone I could use?" 

"Sure," I replied handing her my cell phone. "Want a re-fill on the coffee?"

She nodded her head and I went back into the kitchen to re-fill the two mugs. Just as I finished rinsing out the coffee mugs Tracy came into the kitchen and handed me my cell phone back. 

"I have to get home right now. Pamela's friend told me that Frank picked her up thirty minutes ago. Frank told her that I had sent him to bring her back to the apartment. Please say that you will take me, please," she said almost hysterical.

Grabbing my jacket and a blanket for Tracy to wrap around herself we went into the garage. 

"Gunner . . . Come . . . Ride." I called to my dog. He eagerly jumped into the back seat of my Ford F150 FX4X4 extended cab pick up truck. 

"Get in and wrap up in the blanket until the heater kicks in," I told her. The rain and sleet had stopped and now just a gentle snow was falling. It appeared that the forecast for heavy snow might not materialize. Being sure that the garage door closed and the driveway gates did as well we headed down the road.

Asking for Frank's address I punched it into the on-board GPS and forty minutes later we pulled into the parking lot of a large apartment complex. I had no sooner found a parking spot when Tracy flung open her door and ran to a ground floor unit with Gunner right on her heels. Finding the door unlocked she barged in yelling for her sister.

A man almost my size appeared carrying a small suitcase. "She's not here, bitch. She's going to take your place at the clubhouse," he yelled stepping toward her menacingly with his hand raised as if to strike her.

"Gunner . . . Protect." I commanded.

Gunner immediately pushed past Tracy and attacked Frank. One hundred and twenty pounds of snarling and biting dog hit Frank right in his chest. He collapsed onto the floor and attempted to cover up his throat. 

"Gunner . . . Stop." I called out.

"Where is she, where is she?" Tracy kept asking. "Where is my sister?"

"I'm not gonna to tell you," Frank responded.

I walked over to his prone body, grabbed him up from the floor by his shirt, threw him on the sofa and said. "If you don't answer her right now I'll release my dog. Make it quick, answer her."

Gunner stood in front of him, bared his teeth and growled ominously. Frank quickly gave up the location of the clubhouse where Pamela was being held.

"The clubhouse is at the end of Wildcat Road. They're waiting for me and one other guy before anything happens," he told us.

"Tracy, go gather all of the belongings of you and your sister," I instructed her.

While she was gone Frank and I had a 'Come to Jesus' moment. 

"If anything happens to that girl you are a dead man. Do you understand me? When we leave here you stay in this apartment until I come back. My dog will be outside watching. If you even so much as stick your heard out the door he will attack and I don't think you will survive."

Just as I finished telling Frank what would happen to him Tracy re-entered the room carrying two large black trash bags.

"We don't have much. This is all of it," she explained.

"Let's go get your sister," I told her. 

Walking out the door I looked back and said. "Remember what I told you. Step outside and you're a dead man."

After putting the two bags in the covered truck bed we got in, Gunner taking his place in the back seat, when Tracy said to me. 

"I thought I heard you tell Frank that Gunner would be outside to make sure he didn't leave."

"I did." I replied to her as we left. "He won't take the chance to check and see if I was telling him the truth."

Punching in the coordinates of the gang's club house in the GPS we left the apartment complex. Then activating the the truck's cell phone link I made a call. 

Explaining the situation I said, "Dave, I want you to round up several of the men and meet me at the end of Wildcat Road ASAP."

"You got it, man. See you in less than forty."

Thirty-five minutes later I stopped in front of the gang's clubhouse. I told Tracy to wait in the truck as Gunner and I got out and started toward the front door. 

Stopping about twenty feet from the door I yelled. "In the house! Send the girl out and there will be no trouble."

The door opened and eight men stepped onto the front porch. One of them yelled back. "Who the Hell is out there?"

"Your worst nightmare if you don't send the girl out right now," I replied.

I took one more step forward and a motion activated flood light came on bathing Gunner and me in its glare.

"There's only one of you and a dog. It ain't gonna happen," the leader yelled at me.

"You had better count again, asshole," a voice from the darkness shouted.

Just then Dave and ten other guys stepped into the light. It didn't go unnoticed by the eight gang members that all of them were armed.

Taking a T-shirt, that I had removed from the bag of clothes belonging to Pamela, I gave Gunner the scent and commanded him 'Find'. 

Gunner raced by the eight men and into the house. A minute or two later I heard him barking furiously. I went inside and located Pamela huddled in a corner of a closet gagged and blindfolded. Her hands and feet were bound with duct tape. 

I dropped to my knees and gently removed her blindfold and gag. She looked terrified. As I removed the tape from her hands and feet I said to her. "Let's get out of this place. Tracy is waiting outside for you."

It took several minutes to coax her to finally leave with me. I'm sure she thought I was going to hurt her. Eventually, she listened to my calm voice assuring her that no harm would come to her and we walked slowly out of the house with her clutching my arm.

Stepping outside we were greeted by a half dozen sheriff cars with their blue lights flashing. They, evidently, had arrived while we were still inside. As soon as Pamela saw Tracy standing by my truck she broke away from me and rushed to her sister's open arms. Tracy quickly wrapped the blanket I had given her earlier around the both of them against the bitter cold temperature.

I immediately recognized the Sheriff, Don Paterson. He was a good and honorable man. He, also, was my former father. Shaking my hand he walked me away from the assembled deputies and my employees.

Looking into my eyes he gently asked, "How are you doing, son?"

"I'm doing better, pop," I replied. "Some days are still rough. But all-in-all I'm doing better."

"Scott, Emma and I are still worried about you. I hear-tell that all you do is go to work and then home to rattle around in that big old house of yours. That's not good for you. You gotta let her go, son." 

"Please do me a favor. Give Emma a call sometime soon. Will you do that for me? It will help her feel better, too."

"Now, Scott, tell me what's going on here?" He asked.

"Well it all started this morning when . ." I then quickly told him everything that had happen since I picked Tracy up from the side of the road. I finished by telling him where he could find Frank, the guy behind the kidnapping of Pamela. 

As I finished explaining the events to him I saw one of his female deputies talking with Tracy and Pamela. 

A few minutes later the three of them walked over to us. "Hello, Susan." I said to the female deputy. Susan was the Sheriff's daughter and my wife Barbara's older sister. "How are you?"

"Doing good, Scott, doing good. How about yourself? You're looking a whole lot better than the last time I saw you." She replied smiling at me.

Susan took her dad aside and spoke a few words with him for a minute or two.

The Sheriff then ordered his deputies to arrest all eight of the bikers. 

"Read them their rights. Charge them with kidnapping, unlawful restraint and conspiracy to commit sexual battery. Then lock them all up."


One Man's Heart



Turning back to me he said. "Scott, I'll need you to come down to the office tonight and give us a sworn statement."

Then, turning to Tracy and Pamela, he said. "You will both have to do signed statements tonight as well. We'll also want some photographs of your wrists and ankles showing the bruises left from tying you up," he said to Pamela. "This deputy," he said indicating Susan, "will bring you down with her."

"Okay, Scott. We will meet you there." 

I met with Dave and my men briefly before I left to head on down to the Sheriff's Office. Telling them how much I appreciated them covering my back I told them they could take the next week off with pay.

Dave replied to me, "Boss, it's us that appreciate you. You gave us jobs and our self respect back after we left the service when no one else would hire us. We'll always have your back."

That was followed by a chorus of voices echoing Dave's remarks. 

Dave Collins was one of the many friends I made while in the Corps. I first met him at Paris Island. He was my D.I. when I was a raw recruit. I met up with him again while serving a tour in Iraq. He was what I imagined my dad would have been like. When he retired, after over twenty years of service, things were tough for him finding a job. Returning veterans like him were deemed too 'gung-ho' for dealing with John Q Citizen. I gave him the job of organizing and staffing the new armed security division of 'Triple S'. 

Arriving at the Sheriff's Department, Gunner and I, were escorted by a deputy to his small office. After exchanging some pleasantries he turned a tape recorder on and said that my statement would be taped and then a written transcript typed for my signature. Forty-five minutes later I was finished and waited until he returned with the typed statement for my signature. Before leaving his office he told me the Sheriff wanted to speak with me before going home.

Meeting with Don out in the lobby he said to me. "Scott, please remember to give Emma a call for me."

"I will pop. First chance I get tomorrow. I promise," I said as he wrapped me up in a bear hug.

"Oh. By the way, Scott, when we went to pick Frank Stilton up he didn't want to leave his apartment. Something about a vicious dog waiting outside for him if he left. That couldn't have been this lovable old dog of yours, would it?" He said, chuckling and scratching Gunner behind his ears.

"I'll plead the fifth on that one, pop," I answered smiling back at him.

Driving home, with my dog asleep in the front seat beside me, I realized just how tired I was. It had a been a long, long day. Entering the house I noticed Tracy's leather jacket and pants still hanging in the laundry room and a thought struck me. Even though I had only just met her the house felt empty and I was alone again.

After taking a quick shower I noticed it was almost midnight. I went to bed and fell asleep immediately. The ringing of my cell phone on the night table beside the bed woke me from a deep sleep. Glancing at the clock I saw it was just after 1am. 

Seeing Susan's name on the phone display I answered. "Do you know what time it is?" I asked her in a not too friendly voice.

"Sure do but I would have never called you except we have a small problem. We were going to put these two girls into a motel for the night, but everything is booked solid. So daddy thought that since you have that big house you might be able to . . ."

"Okay, okay I know what you are gonna ask. Can you bring them out here or do you want me to come and get them?" I knew what the answer would be before she had the chance to speak.

"Never mind. I'll come get them. Give me about forty-five minutes."

"Oh, thank you Scott," Susan said ending the call. Rubbing her hands together, she thought to herself, now we let nature take its course.

I got dressed, threw some water on my face and a toothbrush in my mouth, then woke Gunner who was still sleeping by the side of my bed. 

"Come on buddy, we gotta go out again." He followed me downstairs into the garage, jumped up through the opened door of the truck and curled up in the passenger seat promptly falling back asleep. 

Heading down the driveway to the main road I noticed that the temperature display on the overhead console indicated it was fifteen degrees below freezing. Even though it had stopped snowing the icy roads made driving hazardous and the trip to the Sheriff's Office took almost an hour. 

It was just about 3am when I finally arrived and pulled up in front of the office. They must have been watching out the window because Susan, Tracy and Pamela came right out.

As I got out of the truck Susan came up to me and hugging me said, "thank you Scott. We appreciate you coming out on such short notice on a night like this."

I opened the passenger side door and both sisters quickly climbed into the back seat. Gunner still occupied the front passenger seat. Closing the door I walked around the front of the truck, got in and started the journey back to my house.

Driving slower than I would normally do because of the increasingly icy road conditions I knew we wouldn't be home for quite awhile. Glancing in the rear view mirror I saw the two sisters huddled together talking softly with one another. Five miles down the road Gunner laid down across the center console with his head in my lap and fell asleep. The next time I checked to see how the girls were doing they too were sleeping. 

It was well after four in the morning by the time I pulled back into my garage. As soon as I turned off the engine Gunner woke up and I let him out through my side of the truck. I walked around to the passenger side and opening the door announcing gently that we were home to wake the sleeping girls.

"Go inside and get warm while I get your things from the truck bed," I told them.

Taking Pamela's hand Tracy led the way inside while I retrieved their belongings. I realized, as I lifted the two plastic bags from the bed of the truck, just how little the two of them possessed.

Walking inside, I said. "There are five bedrooms upstairs plus my bedroom. You have your choice. One of them has two queen size beds if you would like to stay in the same room together. All of the five have their own bathroom facilities. It's your decision," I said leading the way upstairs.

They elected to stay in the one with the two queen beds. I couldn't fault their decision as I'm sure they were somewhat nervous and wary of me.

Putting their belongings down in the room I said to them. "I don't know about you but I'm exhausted and could use a little something to eat. If you are hungry come on down to the kitchen and I'll see what I have in the refrigerator." 

The two looked at each other and followed me downstairs into the kitchen. I offered them a seat at the kitchen table and opening the refrigerator door saying. "Okay, let's see what I've got in here."

As soon as we finished eating some scrambled eggs and toast the girls went upstairs to bed while I tidied up the kitchen. I then went upstairs to my room and fell into bed. The next thing I knew Gunner was licking my hand and whining that he needed to go out. It was already eleven o'clock. Going downstairs I let Gunner out to do what he needed to do. I made sure that his doggy door was clear of ice and snow so he could get back inside when he wanted.

Going back upstairs I showered, shaved and brushed my teeth. Putting on clean clothes I went back down to the kitchen. Remembering my promise to call Emma I picked up the phone and made the call.

******************

I woke up and for a moment I had no idea where I was. Then I remembered the events of the previous day. Looking over to the other bed in the room I saw that Pamela was still sound asleep. Getting up I went into the bathroom. There I saw two brand new toothbrushes, still in their cellophane wrapped packages, a fresh tube of tooth paste along with shampoo and shower gel on the counter. I decided to freshen up, shower and shampoo my hair. 

After drying my hair I went back out into the bedroom. Pamela was still sound asleep. Dumping the bag of my clothes on the bed I found something that wasn't too badly wrinkled and dressed. Quietly slipping out of the room I made my way downstairs. Just before I entered the kitchen I could hear Scott talking on the phone. He had his back toward me while he spoke. 

He was telling whoever was on the other end of the line that he was lost without her and lamented that he never got to say good-bye. 

"I know, mom, I know . . . . . (pause) Some days are better than others. I'm trying," he said.

He listened for a few moments to the other person and then replied. "When did Susan tell you . . . . (pause) Oh, this morning. Yes, it's true. Two sisters. One is in her mid-twenties and the other is just eighteen."

Again he listened for a few moments before replying. "I don't know. I'll ask. Okay, mom. I've got to go now. I promise to call you and let you know."

(pause) . . . . "I love you, too. Bye. Yes, I'll call just as soon as I know. I promise."

With that he ended the call and sat there with his head down. I thought I could hear him crying softly, but I couldn't be sure. I made some noise and called out. 

"Are you in the kitchen?" I wanted to give him a moment to compose himself before I walked in on him.

******************

Hearing her I answered. "Yes. I'm in here. Would you like some coffee?" 

"Yes," she replied sitting down across the table from me. "I'd love a cup."

"Is everything alright? You look sad and upset," she asked me.

"Yeah. I just finished a long conversation with my mother. Actually, former mother-in-law now, I guess. It re-opened some unhappy memories in my life."

Tracy asked me if I wanted to talk about it. Sighing, I replied, "okay. Let me make some coffee and we can sit in the sunroom."

Sitting in the same seats as yesterday, I began. 

"Let me start from the beginning. You already know my name. My mother brought me to live in this house after my father died. He died when I was four years old. Mom tried to take care of me the best she could. Even with his life insurance and social security she had to work. She sold real-estate. It was tough on her, being out all hours everyday of the week."

"Finally, she had enough of it. Her parents were of no help. They were old and living in an assisted care facility barely able to make ends meet. Then she contacted my dad's mother and father. They showed up at our apartment shortly afterward. They insisted that we both come and live with them. Wouldn't take no for an answer. That was the best thing that ever happened for both mom and me."

"Mom died when I was fourteen. I never did know for sure what it was that killed her. A year later grandma died. They are both buried in the family grave yard in the back of the property. That left just grandpa and me. He got a house keeper, Mrs. Elliott, to look after me. She still works here. Comes in five days a week."

"When I turned eighteen I told my grandfather I wanted to join the Marines like my dad. He didn't like the idea, but he wouldn't stand in my way. Secretly, I think he was proud of my decision to follow in the footsteps of his only son."

"I spent four years in the service and made a lot of friends. While I was in I took quite a few college courses and when I got out I went and finished college on the G.I. Bill."

"It was there I met Barbara. We fell in love with each other and married when we graduated. I was twenty-four and she was twenty-three. It wasn't six months later when my grandfather died, leaving me this house. Barbara's dad was the Sheriff and still is. You met him last night. The woman I was on the phone with was Barbara's mother, Emma."

"After grandpa died I had him buried alongside grandma. Things moved along great for Barbara and me. I had a great job, still do, and Barb was an elementary school teacher. I was twenty-five when we decided to start a family. When she got pregnant I was thrilled as was the rest of the family."

"One morning, five months into her pregnancy, when we woke up she told me that she felt kind of funny. I wanted to stay home from work but she said to me she would be fine and I should go. All morning I worried about her and decided to leave before lunch, go home and check on her."

"I was less than five minutes from the house when my cell phone rang. It was her. She said she really felt strange and then I heard the phone drop to the floor. I ended the call and called 9-1-1 to request emergency help. When I got home I locked the driveway gates open for the EMTs and raced inside."

"Calling for her I heard Gunner barking. We had just got him three months ago and he was devoted to Barbara. I found her on the bathroom floor. There was blood all over. Gunner was laying next to her with his head across her chest. I fell on my knees and grabbed her hand. I knew she was already gone."

"I was less than five minutes away and I could't even get home in time to tell her good-bye and how much I loved her."

"Five damn minutes and I could't be there for her. FIVE DAMN MINUTES!"

"The EMT's arrived two minutes later and confirmed what I already knew."

"I buried her with mom, grandma and grandpa. When Gunner goes outside everyday he checks the entire perimeter of the property and then he goes and sits by Barbara's grave." 

I was devastated, unconsolable. For over a year I shut myself off from everyone. I'd go to work, come home and then sit and brood. Don, Emma and Barb's sister, Susan, tried and tried to help me. Finally, after pleading with me for months to seek help, I began seeing a counselor and started to heal. 

One thing I learned was that a lot of my depression was precipitated by guilt. Subconsciously I felt that as a man I had a duty to protect my family and since I wasn't there when she died I failed in that responsibility."

"Some days are better than others. I know now that Barbara wouldn't have wanted me to live like that."

Having said all that to Tracy the emotions that I had held in for so long re-surfaced and I began to cry softly. 

Tracy placed her cup on the coffee table and got up from her seat. Taking my cup, from my hand, she placed it alongside of hers. Then she sat very close to me and put her arms around my shoulders and neck. Pulling my head to her chest we sat there, not moving or saying anything, for several minutes.

As I composed myself I became aware of her heart beating and the smell of her freshly shampooed hair. She felt wonderful and I was reluctant to end the encounter. 

Then from the kitchen we heard. "Sis . . . sis . . . Tracy. Where are you?"

Pamela had woke up and come downstairs looking for her sister. Taking her arms from around me but not moving away from me Tracy answered her.

"We are in here. Come through the kitchen and family room to the sunroom."

When Pamela entered I got up and asked if Tracy would like another cup of coffee and if Pamela would like one as well or, perhaps, a cup of hot chocolate. She opted for the chocolate. Picking up the cups from the table I went into the kitchen.

When I returned with the coffee and hot chocolate on a tray I found the two sisters wandering around admiring the roses.

"Oh. They are absolutely wonderful," Pamela gushed. "I love the smell of roses. They are my favorite flower."

Looking at Tracy I replied. "Yes, they were my wife's favorite as well. She spent so many hours in here looking after them. After she died I knew I had to continue caring for them."

As we walked around the room I told them the name of each of the different varieties. I cut several of the blooms and told them I would put them in a vase so they could put them in their room. "That way you can enjoy the smell of them before you fall asleep and when you wake up in the morning."

Looking at my watch I saw that it was after twelve. So I suggested we go out for lunch, my treat, and then to the mall as I needed to buy something for my twin nieces' birthday on Tuesday.

Agreeing to my suggestion the two sisters went to change clothes while I did the same. Coming back downstairs I saw on my indoor/outdoor temperature display that the outside temperature was a bitter 18 degrees. 

"Dress warmly. It's really cold outside," I shouted upstairs. 

When Tracy and Pamela came back down I noticed that neither one was wearing a heavy winter jacket. They were both wearing lightweight sweaters.

"This is all we have," Tracy said to me. "All of our winter clothes were destroyed in the fire. I have some money from the insurance in my savings account to get jackets for Pamela and me at the mall. I'll make do with what I have until I can find a job."

After making sure that Gunner had food and water we left. Leaving the garage we saw almost two feet of snow on the ground even though the driveway was clear and dry.

Pamela asked me when I found the time to clear the snow from the driveway. 

Answering her I explained that the driveway had system, similar to under floor radiant heating, that didn't allow snow or ice to lay on it. 

"I have a cistern buried below the frost line that holds five hundred gallons of water mixed with anti-freeze." A recirculating pump pushes fifty degree water and anti-freeze mix through a series of pipes embedded in the driveway. It keeps the pavement warm enough to prevent the build-up of snow or ice." I explained to Pamela.

That answer brought about some other questions from Pamela.

"Your house is huge. How much did it cost you? How long have you lived there?"

"Pamela! Don't be so nosey. It's none of your business," Tracy admonished her.

"Hey. I don't mind answering her," I said to Tracy.

"Pamela I didn't buy the house. It was my grandparents. I inherited it after they died. I've lived in that house ever since I was five years old."

For what ever reason I did not tell them that I also inherited my grandfather's business, Secure Security Systems. We make and supply electronic security devices for homes and businesses. If you have a security system provided by companies like ADT, Security Link or any of the other large firms the equipment most likely was manufactured by my company. 

A few years ago I added licensed and armed security personnel for those individuals who require that kind of protection. I only hired former veterans who have ended their service to our country. I put Dave Collins in charge to head up the operation. It has worked out well.

The rest of the trip was spent talking about the improvements I made to my home. Pamela was especially interested in the sunroom/greenhouse with all the rose bushes.

Walking the short distance to the entrance of the mall I noticed each of them shivering from the cold wind. 

"Let's get something to eat before we do any shopping. It is my treat," I told them.

After finishing lunch we hit the stores. Tracy told me she would buy some winter jackets and clothes for Pamela and a jacket herself. I went into the electronics department and bought two iPad tablets for my nieces. When I returned I saw that the two sister had an assortment of things to purchase. While waiting for the sales clerk to finish with three other customers Tracy said she would run over to the ATM to make sure she had enough money in her account to pay for their purchases.

When she returned she quietly said something to Pamela and they both began to replace their selections back on the racks from which they came. 

"What's wrong?" I asked. 

"My bank account showed only ten dollars in it. Thursday morning I deposited the insurance check to replace our destroyed property from the fire. There should have been at least three thousand dollars in it. When I checked the bank statement it showed a withdrawal of almost the entire amount. I didn't do it. The only other person who could have possibly done it was Frank. Somehow he must have gotten my password and the extra bank card I kept hidden and stole my money."




One Man's Heart



"Now we have no money, no warm clothes and no place to go. What are Pamela and I going to do? I just don't . . ." she began crying not being able to finish her thought.

"Well for starters. You have a place to stay. My house is more than large enough for the three of us. Secondly, I'll pay for these clothes. You need them now as it isn't going to get any warmer for the next several months." 

"But how can we . . . I ever pay you back. I don't have a job. I've been looking but, so far, with no luck." Tracy said to me.

"We'll worry about all this later. Let me pay for this now and then we will go home," I said escorting the sisters back to the sales counter.

On the way out we passed a shoe store and I ushered them inside saying, "you both need some cold weather shoes or boots. This is as good a place as any for that. Each of you pick out two pairs apiece. One for everyday wear and one pair for dress up occasions. No arguments." 

With the sister wearing their new warm winter jackets we made our way back across the parking lot to my truck. Each of them grabbed onto my arms on either side of me while carrying their bags of new clothes and shoes in their other hand. It was then that I realized that I hadn't felt this good in a long time. 

Once we reached home I settled down in front of the fireplace while the girls took their new possessions upstairs. They took turns coming back down to model their new outfits for me thanking me each and every time. It was a small price to pay for how good it made me feel. 

After a light supper the three of us sat in front of the fire and talked. Gunner curled up in front of the fire and was soon asleep. Around nine-thirty Pamela announce she was going to bed since there was school the next day and she needed to get up early. I told her I would drive her to school on my way to work. 

After Pamela had left Tracy started telling me about her job search. "I've gone just about everywhere with no luck," she explained. 

"Have you tried at Secure Security Systems? I work at 'Triple S' and after we drop Pamela at school I'll take you there."

"Do you think that they may have any openings?" She inquired .

"Well you never know until you apply. Do you have something appropriate to wear?" I asked.

"Yes. I'll just need to iron out the wrinkles. Do you have an iron I could borrow?"

"Yep. There's one in the laundry room. You go get your outfit and I'll set it up for you."

After she finished ironing I announced that I was going to bed. She said she would just straighten up a bit downstairs before going up to her room.

The next morning, as the two sisters were getting dressed, I made a call to my PA, Martha Sampson. I told her what I was planning and asked her to give a heads-up to, Harriet Johnson, my HR director.

I had no sooner ended the call when the two girls appeared Pamela dressed for school and Tracy in the outfit she had ironed the night before. Before we left I wrote a note to Mrs. Elliot explaining to her that I had already fed Gunner and not to let him pretend he hadn't eaten.

When we dropped Pamela at school I told her I would be by to pick her up later that afternoon when school was over for the day. Driving to work I parked in the employee's lot instead of my reserved spot in the covered garage. Walking into the building we were met by Sam, the front entrance security guard. 

Greeting me he said. "Good morning Scott. How are you today?"

"I'm doing good. How about yourself?" 

It appeared that Martha had gotten the word out to everyone. 

Walking to the elevators we went to the third floor where the HR office was located. Harriet saw us enter the office and she came over to greet me. I introduced her to Tracy and explained that she wanted to fill out an employment application. 

"Sure thing, Scott, no problem. I'll take it from here." 

"Okay. I'll leave her in your capable hands. Well, I better get on to work. You know how grouchy the boss can be on Monday mornings," I said winking at her. She just rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at me.

I made my way upstairs to my office and checked in with Martha. 

"I'm going out into the shop. If anything important pops up needing my immediate attention call me on my cell. Oh and Martha, thanks for giving everyone the heads-up this morning."

"No problem, Mr. Mueller, no problem at all. By-the-way, if you don't mind my saying, you look and sound so much better than you have for the past year."

I spent the remainder of the morning and early afternoon wandering around the shop floor speaking with as many of my employees as I could. I found out early on that if you spent time to listen to your employees and implement some of their suggestions morale always stayed high. 

After grabbing a quick lunch with Dave I saw the time was close to when school would be letting out. I called Martha and told her I would be leaving for about ninety minutes or so. She told me that Tracy was in her office and that Harriet wanted me to call her.

Arriving in front of the school I saw Pamela standing on the sidewalk waiting for me. There was no one else around and it appeared that school had been over for quite some time. 

She told me that school had been dismissed just before lunch when the electrical system malfunctioned and couldn't be repaired immediately. She had no cell phone and the school phones had died along with the electricity.

"Well we can't have you not being able to get in touch with your sister or me," I told her. "We'll have to fix that."

While we were driving home Pamela asked me a question. "Who exactly are you Scott? My friend Patty saw you drop me off this morning and wanted to know how come I was with the owner of 'Triple S'. Why didn't you say something to Tracy? Did you give her a job today?" 

"No, Pamela, I didn't 'give' her a job. If she gets one it will be on her own merits, not because I 'gave' her one."

It was then I remembered to call Harriet. I dialed her number and put the call on speaker so Pamela could hear what was said.

Without any prompting Harriet said to me. "Where ever did you find that girl. In all my years in HR I have never seen anyone so qualified. The accounting aptitude test, that even CPAs have difficulty in answering in less that a half hour, she finished in ten minutes. Her word processing skills are outstanding. I gave her a sheet with statistics and analyses and told her to compose a short synopsis. She returned with a report that was clear, concise and understandable for anyone to read and understand. She types at one hundred-fifty words a minute with zero mistakes."

"So did you hire her?" I asked.

"You better believe I did with your approval, of course. She starts tomorrow morning." Harriet replied.

"Where did you place her?" I asked.

"A girl with her talents would be wasted hidden away in a cubby hole. So I sent her up to your office as an assistant to Martha. You know Martha is talking about retiring in eight or nine months and Ms. Bennet would make an excellent replacement."

"Thank you Harriet. I couldn't have asked for a better outcome," I said ending the call.

"Pamela I could have 'just given' your sister a job. But how do you think she would feel about herself if I had done that? Now having 'earned' that job on her own merits her self-confidence will be off the charts."

I concluded by saying, "please don't say anything until I have a chance to tell her myself. Okay?"

"All right, I understand, Scott. I hadn't thought about it the way in which you just explained it." 

When we arrived home I introduced her to Mrs. Elliot and explained that she would be picking her up from school every afternoon. I, also, told her how Mrs. Elliot had taken care of me when I was even younger then she was right now. 

"I'll leave you two to spend some time getting acquainted with each other while I go back to work," I said walking out the door. 

On my way back to work I stopped at the AT&T store and bought two iPhones. I set each up the same as mine; unlimited talk, data and text messaging. The store tech told me if I put them on a family plan along with mine I would save a couple of bucks as opposed to stand alone accounts. The term 'family plan' had a nice sound to it I thought to myself as I left the store.

When I arrived back at the factory I parked in my reserved spot in the garage and went directly to my office. As I walked in Martha gave me a big grin and nodded her head in the direction of Tracy, who was busy in front of a computer screen and didn't notice my arrival. 

"Hi Tracy. What's happening?" I asked. 

Seeing me she jumped to her feet, ran over and gave me a big hug saying. "I think I got a job. I'm just waiting for the boss to return and give his final approval. I am so nervous I'm about to jump out of my skin waiting."

Looking her into her face with my hands holding her upper arms I said to her. "Don't worry about it, Tracy, you're hired."

"I wish I had your confidence. But until he tells me himself I just can't be sure."

"Tracy," I said more emphatically. "You are hired! If you want to be told that in his office then come with me," I said taking her hand and pulling her toward the closed door to my inner office.

"Scott, what are you doing? You'll get fired for barging into his office."

"I don't think I'm going to fire myself," I said as I led her inside. "Please take a seat," I told her, indicating a chair in front of my desk. Instead of sitting behind my desk I took a seat facing her in the other chair.

"Tracy, I have a confession to make. I am the boss and you really are hired."

"Wait a minute, Scott. You mean you 'gave' me this job?"

Before she could say anything else I said to her. "I didn't 'give' you anything. You earned it on your own. Here read this," handing her the report Harriet had placed on my desk earlier detailing her aptitude test scores and the comments she had made about them. 

As she read the report a big smile broke out on her face. Placing the paper back on the desk she leaned over, gave me a kiss on my cheek and whispered "thank you. I'll do my very best to live up to the confidence you have in me."

"I know you will," I whispered back. 

"Okay, now have you done anything about your bank account?"

"Yes. I called about it this morning. They told me they would investigate how Frank was able to make such a large withdrawal from an ATM. Meanwhile, they gave me a new account number and I have set it up with an entirely new password. I gave Mrs. Johnson the new account information for payroll for direct deposits of my paycheck if I were to be hired."

"Great." Getting up from my seat I went to the office door, sticking my head outside, I asked my PA to do me a favor. "Martha, contact payroll and tell them I am authorizing an immediate advance on Tracy's salary. Tell them to make it for five hundred dollars."

"Hopefully, that should be enough to carry you through until payday a week from this Friday." 

"Let's go home now. I've already picked Pamela from school and brought her there earlier this afternoon. She's with Mrs. Elliot, my housekeeper. She had a little adventure at school today. Nothing serious, but it needs to be addressed so it doesn't occur again." 

I then proceeded to give Tracy a brief synopsis about the electrical problem at school, the early dismissal and the problem it caused for Pamela. When we arrived home Mrs. Elliot, with Pamela's help, had prepared supper for us. When Mrs. Elliot left Pamela told us to sit down and she would serve dinner. 

After dinner Pamela and Tracy cleaned up the dishes and the kitchen while I started a fire in the family room fireplace. When they finished we all sat in front of the fire and Pamela filled Tracy in on all the details of today's adventure. She explained that she had no way to get in touch with either Tracy or me for help. 

Getting up from my chair I went and retrieved my briefcase and returned with it. Opening it I took out the two cell phones and handed one to each of the sisters.

I explained all the features that came with the phone and told them I had created a contact list for each of them with my cell phone number, the home number and my office number. In addition I, also, added Mrs. Elliott's number as well as Tracy's number on Pamela's phone and Pamela's number on Tracy's phone.

"Now, Pamela, if another situation arises you can call any of us for help."

The two of them were stunned to say the least. They each came over and leaned down on either side of me. Each gave me a kiss on my cheek and thanked me over and over.

For the next few days everything appeared to be working out just fine. Tracy and I dropped Pamela off at school on our way in to work and Mrs. Elliott picked her up in the afternoon. Then on Thursday morning I received a call from my former father, Sheriff Don Paterson. He briefly told me that Frank Stilton and the rest of the bikers had made bail and would be released that afternoon. I told him to hold on for a minute while I called Tracy into to my office.

"This call pertains to you as well as me," I said putting the Sheriff on speaker phone.

He repeated what he told me initially and then continued to say, "a couple of jailhouse snitches have reported that Stilton had made some threats against Tracy and her sister. I don't think he's stupid enough to follow through with them, but you never know. So until they go to trial I think it would be best if you and your sister continued to staying with Scott."

"When is the trial?" I asked.

"Their case is schedule to be heard sometime after the first of the year," he replied. 

"Is that okay with you, Scott? With the two of them staying at your house there is less likelihood of anything unforeseen cropping up."

"No, pop, no. It's not any problem for me. What about you Tracy? Are you okay with this?" I asked.

"Sure, if you think you can put up with two chatterboxes living with you for the next month or so."

"Great! It's settled then," the Sheriff said. "I'll step up patrols in your neighborhood, Scott. Try not to worry, Miss Bennet, you'll be safe with Scott."

After the call ended and Tracy went back to the office she shared with Martha I called Dave Collins and requested he meet me in my office ASAP.

When Dave arrived in my office I filled him in on the details of what the Sheriff had told me. "I'm not so sure of the Sheriff's assessment of Stilton's intelligence. He seemed to be out of touch with reality in the brief time I talked with him. I wouldn't put it passed him to try something."

"This is what I want you to do for me. I want you to put a team of our guys to follow me in from my home every morning. Most importantly, I want another team assigned to Mrs. Elliot when she picks Pamela up from school to take her home. Do on the QT. I don't want either of the girls to find out and become alarmed about the situation."

"You got it, boss. There will be a team in place by this afternoon to monitor Pamela's pick up from school. Do you want someone to follow you and Miss Bennet home in the evening?"

"Yeah. For a few days at least. I plan to start carrying again," I said, showing him my .45cal Colt.

"I wouldn't do that," Dave said to me. "If the girls see you carrying it's sure to alarm them. Let us do our job in keeping an eye on all of you."

For the next few weeks Dave and the teams did exactly that. After the third week, with no sign of any kind of trouble, I decided to curtail the teams following me. The resources could be better spent else where.

Ten days before Christmas I decided to take Tracy and Pamela into town to walk around the Christmas Market. Since everything was held outside on the town square we could take Gunner as he would enjoy the walk as well. After parking the truck we headed toward the square. I met a friend of mine who engaged me in a short conversation while Tracy and Pamela walked ahead.

I heard a scream and looked up to see Frank Stilton with one arm around Pamela's neck and the other hand holding a knife. Before I could react he stabbed her in her upper right shoulder. As he drew back to stab her again Gunner reached him, knocking him to the ground, and before I could stop him, he clamped his jaws around Frank's throat.

Tracy was screaming and was being restrained by a man I didn't recognize. I knelt down by Pamela's side and, using her scarf as a compress, I attempted to slow the flow of blood. Just as I was reassuring her that everything would be okay everything went black.

******************

As I was walking along a path, through a field filled with beautiful Spring flowers, a women approached me with the setting sun at her back making it difficult to see her clearly. When she reached out and grasped my hands I realized it was Barbara. 

Pulling her close to me I whispered into her ear. "Barbara I've missed you so much. I love you."

She replied. "I have always known that you loved me, Scotty. I have loved you since the first time I ever saw you. But I have to leave you now and I came back to say good-bye."

"Wait! No! Barbara please don't leave me, please, don't leave me. Take me with you."

I'm sorry, my love, but you can't come with me. You have a long life ahead of you. I'll always be with you right here," she said placing her hand on my chest over my heart. 

"Scotty, you will find love again. There is another who desperately wants you to love her. Your heart is big enough for both of us. Go to her and love her as much as you loved me."

As she pulled away from my embrace a blinding light struck my eyes. When I reopened them Barbara was gone.

******************

The bright light was back shining in my eyes. First one eye then the other. 

"He's coming around." I heard a voice say. "He still has a severe concussion, but I think he'll be alright. He just needs to rest."

I don't know how long I drifted in and out of consciousness before I finally woke up. Sitting next to my bed holding my hand was Tracy. Standing behind her were Dave and my PA, Martha. 

Tracy was the first to see me open my eyes and look around. "Thank God you're awake Scott. You are going to be just fine. You need to rest," she said.

"Pamela? What about Pamela is she . . . .?" I couldn't finish my sentence. I was so afraid they were going to tell me she was gone.

"Why don't you ask her yourself," said a voice I recognized as Mrs. Elliot's as she pushed Pamela into my room in a wheelchair. "I snuck her out of her room when we heard you were finally awake."

Tracy got up from her seat and shoved the chair away from my bed as Mrs. Elliot wheeled Pamela over to me.

"Are you okay?" I whispered hoarsely to her. 

"I'm fine. It took fifteen stitches and seven staples to close the wound. The doctors told me I was very fortunate that nothing vital was struck. I'm being released tomorrow." 

Then she asked about me. I told her I didn't know what happened after I tried to stop her bleeding. I've not spoken with a doctor since I woke up.

Just then Dr. Emerson, my long time physician, walked into the room. He asked everyone to leave before he examined me. After finishing he said, "Scott you are a lucky man. The x-rays show no skull fractures. Other than a severe concussion and a nasty bump on your head you're all right. I am going to keep you here for a few days, though, for observation and some more tests just to be sure. But I do expect to release you in time for Christmas."

Later that afternoon Don, Emma and Susan paid me a visit to see how I was doing. Susan told me that she was one of the responders to the altercation. It was touch and go for a while before I got there she said to me. Gunner was standing guard over you, Pamela and Tracy. He wouldn't let anyone come close. After he recognized me he settled down somewhat and I was able to lead him away to allow the EMTs to treat both you and Pamela.




One Man's Heart



"Where is he now?" I asked her.

"He's staying with me and the twins. You know how much they love him. I'm afraid you're going to have one spoiled dog on your hands when he goes home."

Don told me his office was investigating the incident and to expect a couple of detectives to stop by in the next day or two. 

The following day I was visited by two detectives from the Sheriff's Department. They wanted to know what happened. I'm afraid I wasn't much help. All I could remember was seeing Pamela get stabbed by Frank Stilton and me kneeling down beside her trying to stop the bleeding. I asked about Stilton and all they would say was he didn't make it.

When I asked them about everything that happened they responded that they had a few more witnesses to interview and as soon as they finished I would receive a copy of their full report. 

True to his word Dr. Emerson released me from the hospital four days before Christmas. Dave picked me up and drove me home. He told me that he had one of our guys drive my truck home and it was sitting in my garage. I asked about Tracy and Pamela and he said they were waiting at home for me. The rest of the ride was spent on bringing me up-to-date on everything that was happening at 'Triple S'.

As soon as I walked in I knew something was different. My home was decorated for Christmas for the first time since Barbara's death. There even was a ten foot tall tree in the family room covered with lights and ornaments. 

"I hope you don't mind. We asked Mrs. Elliot about how you decorated for Christmas and she told us you hadn't since your wife died. The three of us decided to surprise you." Pamela continued saying, "Tracy and Mrs. Elliot did most of the work since I'm not suppose to move my shoulder too much until the stitches are removed."

"That's not true, Pamela, and you know it. You worked just as hard as we did. I just wouldn't let you go up and down on the ladder when you wanted." Tracy exclaimed to her sister. Turning to me she asked. "Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful. Everything is beautiful." I said wiping a tear from my eye.

That evening we sat on the sofa in front of the Christmas Tree I told Tracy I had to tell her something. I saw the fear on her face before I could say another word. Immediately I moved closer and put my arm around her. 

"After Barbara died I didn't think I would ever find someone to love. I was wrong. I've fallen in love with you."

She buried her head in my shoulder softly crying. I tilted her head up and kissed her deeply. She responded by putting her hand behind my head, refusing to let our lips part. 

"Oh Scott. You don't know how long I waited to hear you say those words to me. I fell in love with you the first weekend we met." 

Unbeknownst to us Pamela stood in the door way watching as our lips met again. We spent the next few hours hugging and kissing each other. Later that evening Pamela confided in her sister as to what she had witnessed telling her how happy she was for the both of us.

On December 23rd I received the final report from the Sheriff's Office. Don and his two detectives came out to the house that afternoon to explain what their investigation revealed. As I opened the front gate to allow them to drive up to the house Gunner appeared at my side. He recognized Don but not the two detectives with him. He became protective of me until I gave him the it's 'OKAY' command allowing them to enter.

When we went into the family room Don commented on how nice the house looked decorated for Christmas. I told him that it was the work of Tracy, her sister and Mrs Elliot. I offered them seats and I sat on the sofa with Tracy and Pamela on either side of me. Don introduced the two detectives to Tracy and Pamela and they started to go over their report with us.

"I'm just going to give you a brief synopsis of the report this lengthy investigation produced. You really don't need to know all the biographical data of each of the witnesses. Since all of the witness statements were fundamentally the same I'll just relate one to you. It should answer all of your questions," the lead detective explained.

"This is the statement of George Wilson," he said and began reading.

******************

"My name is George Wilson I'm sixty-seven years old. I was sitting in my wheelchair just about a half a block from the town square on Main Street the morning of Saturday, December the fourteenth at about 11:30 am. I saw two young women, one looked to be in her early to mid-twenties and the other in her late teens or early twenties." 

"The younger one was having, what sounded like a heated argument, with a man. He had dark hair and a medium build. I couldn't hear what they were saying but when she turned to walk away he grabbed her around the neck and I saw him stab her in her upper right shoulder. It looked to me he was about to stab her again when this huge dog came out of nowhere and attacked him. The girl fell to the street as he tried to fight off the dog. That dog worked a number on him. He flat tore him up something good."

"Then this other man rushed up and knelt down beside her. He was using the girl's scarf holding it over the knife wound. All of sudden another guy, wearing one of those biker gang leather jackets, hit the fellow kneeling in the back of the head with a club of some sort. When the dog saw that he attacked the biker guy and put him on the ground."

"Meanwhile the older girl was being held by someone and she was screaming. The dog saw that and he went after him. He saw that dog coming at him and shoved the girl away onto the street. She fell next to the other two. He ran off like Hell and got away." 

"This all happened in less than a minute or two but I'm not sure. That dog stayed by the three on the ground and would let anyone get close. I wouldn't have tried. That dog had some big teeth and showed me he wasn't afraid to use them. When the cops and EMTs showed up the dog wouldn't let them get close either."

"Right then a lady Sheriff's Deputy showed up. She walked right up to that dog and called him something that sounded like 'Runner' or 'Gunner'. 'Stop . . . it's okay . . . stop'. Damned if that dog didn't sit right down and she was able to lead him away by his collar."

"The next thing I remember was the EMTs putting the man and the young girl on stretchers and taking them away. The older girl went with them. When the cops began asking if anybody saw what happened I gave them my name and told them what I had seen."

******************

Don leaned over to me and said, "we obtained this statement from him when my detectives interviewed Mr. Wilson later that afternoon. All the other eight witnesses gave basically the same account as to what happened. We were able to track down the other two and they're back in jail. No bond this time."

"Why did Stilton attack Pamela? What was his motive?" I asked.

"I don't know. He probably thought he could convince her to drop the charges against him. I guess he didn't realize that the charges were brought by the state. Once the DA saw the evidence we had he filed the charges. I would say that Stilton was dumb as a rock but that gives rocks a bad name." He replied to me.

"What happened to Stilton?" I asked the Sheriff. "I was told he didn't make it."

"When Gunner went after him he got him around the throat. The bite severed Stilton's carotid artery. He was DOS (dead on the scene)." 

"Anything going to happen to Gunner for killing him?"

"Not a thing, Scott, not a thing. He was just doing what he was trained to do. Protecting 'HIS,' family. Hell, he might even get a medal for it."

As the three laws enforcement officials rose to leave Pamela, Tracy and I thanked them for coming by and sharing the results of their investigation. After they left the three of us sat and talked about what we had learned. 

"Okay. It's over and done with." I said. "Let's focus on Christmas and enjoy the holiday. I invited Mrs. Elliot and her husband for Christmas dinner. She was going to come over and prepared it for us and then go back home. I told her that was foolish. She needed to stay and we would all enjoy her and her husband's company." 

Pamela piped right up and said. "That's a wonderful idea. I can help her so she isn't doing all the work by herself."

"Me too." Tracy echoed. "Do we need to go to the grocery store?"

The next day, Christmas Eve, Tracy and Pamela both asked if we could all go to church that evening. I remembered that the Lutheran Church, I sometimes went to, had a candlelight service. That evening around ten-thirty we left for the church. We arrived a few minutes before the start of the service and the church was packed. I saw three seats in a pew almost in the front. Moving toward them I was surprised to see Dave Collins, his wife, Darlene, and their nineteen year old son Brad sitting there. Dave had told me that Brad was working for a year before going on to college. 

We squeezed in with Pamela sitting next to Brad, then Tracy and finally me. Dave leaned forward and introduce his family to Tracy and Pamela just before the service began.

It was a wonderful service celebrating the birth of the baby Jesus with lots of singing and a inspirational Christmas message. The service concluded with the lighting of the individual candles that we were all given when we first arrived. Standing as we lit the candles the congregation sang 'Silent Night' signaling the traditional end to service. The first two verses in English and the last two in German. 

After the benediction we carefully extinguished our candles and with the words 'Go in Peace' we filed out. As I stepped into the aisle to allow Tracy and Pamela to leave I was pleased to see Brad follow right behind Pamela. As we walked out I noticed Brad and Pamela holding each other's hand. 

Exiting the church I was reminded that there was to be a gathering in the fellowship hall. The tables were filled with homemade cookies, cold drinks as well as hot chocolate and coffee.

While we were enjoying the efforts of the ladies of the church Tracy leaned over to me nodding toward her sister and Brad and said to me. "Looks like Pamela has found herself a boyfriend."

"She couldn't have found a better one." I answered.

After the holidays were over we went back to our daily routine. Work for Tracy and me and school for Pamela. Only now a certain young man picked Pamela up in the morning and brought her home each afternoon after he got off from his job. They spent a lot of time together under the watchful eye of Mrs. Elliot.

Tracy and I spent a lot of time together as well. Only we didn't require a chaperone. One day I took her up to the family graves, a short walk behind the house, located on a small knoll overlooking a meadow that stretched to the back of my property. It was then I introduce her to my family. We sat on a stone bench and I related to her the dream I had while unconscious in the hospital. 

On Valentine's Day I proposed and she accepted. We were married that June. 

******************

Ten years later I took my two small children Trace and Barbara, who were three and four at the time, to visit the family grave yard behind the house. The meadow was now filled with spring flowers.

Standing in front of each stone I explained to them once more who they were. 

"This is your great-Grandfather Thomas and this is your great-Grandmother Heidi. They are my grandparents and I loved them very much. This is where my mother, Marie, is buried. I loved her very much, too."

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly I said to them. "This is where your Aunt Barbara sleeps and next to her is your Aunt Tracy and between them is Gunner. He's the grandfather of your dog Sarge. Gunner liked to walk around the perimeter of the property every day and then he would come and visit the cemetery." 

"One day , shortly after you were born Trace, he didn't come home and I went looking for him. I found him laying here by Barbara and Tracy. He had lived a long life so I buried him here between the two women who had meant so much to both him and me. He's going to lay here forever, protecting them."

Stopping for a moment we sat on the stone bench while I wiped the tears from my eyes. I then re-told them the story of these special people and how much love I still have for them. 

My youngest, Barbara, looked at me and said. "Daddy, don't cry. Mommy loves you and so do Trace and me."

"I know sweetheart, I know. I love all three of you very, very much, too."

With that they both scampered off to pick flowers in the meadow with Sarge running alongside of them keeping them out of trouble. 

I remained sitting there by myself and began reflecting on all the memories that had happened to me over the past past ten years. 

******************

Barbara was right I did find enough room in my heart for another. Over the next three years of marriage the love between Tracy and I had grown even greater. Pamela had graduated from high school and had left to join Brad, at the university some three hours drive away.

We had purchased a VW Beatle convertible for Tracy to use as she wasn't comfortable driving the truck. She loved that little car and drove it everywhere.

I was at work one afternoon when a state trooper appeared in the office to see me. There had been an accident and Tracy was in critical condition at County General Hospital. 

On the way to the hospital the trooper told me what had happened. A twenty-three year old man, high on pot and texting on his cell phone, had run a red light. Even though Tracy was belted in and the side and front airbags deployed as designed she didn't stand a chance and was critically injured. The guy, who wasn't wearing his seatbelt, was ejected from his car and died at the scene.

Just before entering the emergency room I called Pamela and told her what had happened. She replied to me that she would leave school as soon as possible. I had to wait for quite some time before I was allowed to go in and see my wife.

Before entering her room a doctor stopped me in the hallway and told me that they had done everything they could for her but it was just a matter of time. I went in and sat beside her bed, grasping her hand, I told her how much I loved her. 

Looking at me she replied, "I know, I know you do. I love you so very much, Scott."

It seemed like just minutes later when Pamela rushed into the room. Tracy asked me if she could have some time alone with her sister so I stepped out into the corridor to wait. Several moments later Pamela summoned me back inside. Thirty minutes later Tracy was gone while I held her in my arms whispering how much I loved her. Somehow Pamela and I got through the next several days. We buried Tracy in the family graveyard next to Barbara.

Soon afterward Pamela said she needed to get back to school. When she left the house was deserted once more. Mrs. Elliott was getting on in years and had decided to retire so that she and her husband could travel. I had not found a replacement for her, as yet, when Tracy was killed and now I kept putting it off. 

Ten days later on Saturday afternoon, as I was working with the roses in the greenhouse, I heard the alarm signal go off that indicated someone had activated the driveway gate. Gunner accompanied me to the front of the house and I looked out the foyer window. It was Pamela. 

As soon as I opened the door Gunner recognized her and began wagging his tail furiously. Inviting her inside I said to her. "Wow! This is a surprise. What brings you home so soon?"

With a big sigh she replied. "Can we sit in the family room? I have to tell you something."

"Certainly, sounds ominous," I said leading the way. "Would you like something to drink? Coffee, tea?"

"I'd like a glass of wine, if you have some chilled."

Raising an eyebrow I said "okay". 

Returning from the kitchen with wine glasses, a corkscrew and a bottle of Riesling I sat next to Pamela, opened the bottle and poured two glasses. Handing one to Pamela I sat back and watched her take a healthy sip and then put the glass down on the coffee table in front of us. 

Clasping her hands together in her lap she turned slightly toward me and said. 

"I broke up with Brad."

"Oh, no. When? What happened?" I asked.

"The day after I returned to school from Tracy's funeral. On the drive back to school I realized that I didn't love him the way he deserved. I kept hearing in my mind over and over the last words Tracy spoke to me. I thought long and hard about it and decided I had to make a clean break from him." 

"So the next day he and I had a long talk with each other. I explained all my thoughts and feelings to him. After some discussion we decided to remain just friends."

"Scott, I want to come home."

"What about your classes? You are so close to graduating. Why do you want to give up everything you've worked so hard for over the past three years?"

"I'm not going to give all that up. I spoke with my professors, my advisor and the Dean of my college and got their approval to finish everything on-line. I can do everything right here and still graduate in two and a half semesters. The scholarship and loans I have will still covers all my expenses. I have thought long and hard about this decision." 

"Can I come home, please? Please say yes, Scott, please."

"Well, since you are almost twenty-three years old you're old enough to decide what you want to do yourself. I have no problem with you coming home if that's what you want, Pamela."

Looking at me, with a sly little smile on her face, she said. "I just knew you'd say yes. So I have all my belongings packed into my car. Will you help me move back into my old room?"

Laughing at her I said. "You always could twist me around your little finger. Come on and let's go get your stuff."

Working late into the night we finally got her settled back in her old room. We slept in on Sunday morning although Gunner woke me up to let him out around nine. I couldn't fall back asleep so I made myself a cup of coffee and sat out amongst the roses. Pamela showed up around ten and we decided to go out for a late breakfast/early lunch.

The following morning I was sitting in the kitchen having my coffee before heading off to work when Pamela walked in asking if I had already finished my breakfast. I told her I hadn't had any and would stop by the doughnut shop on my way to work like I did every morning.

"What time will you be home this evening?" She asked me as I was leaving. "I'll make dinner for us."

"Don't fuss for me." I told her as I left. "I'll stop by one of the fast-food joints and pick something up." 

The next morning I was surprised to see Pamela in the kitchen when I came downstairs from my bedroom. 

"Sit down," she instructed me. "Scott, doughnuts are not good for you every morning. You need to have a proper breakfast," she said. 

She turned back to the gas stove and plated up a bacon and cheese omelet. Placing it front of me, with a cup of coffee, she told me that she would be making my breakfast from here on out and not to argue.

"Also, I expect you home for dinner every night. We'll eat at seven so be here on time. Understand?"

As I thought back to that day little did I realize the changes that were in store for me over the coming year. In the next next few weeks and months I became aware that all of a sudden my dirty laundry disappeared and my clean shirts and pants were freshly ironed and hanging back in my closet. Clean and folded underwear and socks were back in my dresser drawers. My bed linen was clean and fresh every Friday. 

Pamela gradually took over all the house hold cleaning chores. I had been really lax in keeping things up after Tracy died and this was a welcomed change for me and I told her so.




One Man's Heart



When I asked her if doing all of these chores interfered with her studies she assured me they definitely did not. She told me she enjoyed doing it and it was a just small way for her to repay me for all that I had done.

It was a year since Pamela moved back home when she completed all the necessary course work to graduate with her Bachelors in Business Administration. At first she didn't want to attend the Commencement Ceremony. I convinced her that she should go since she would graduate with honors and she should be recognized for her accomplishments. She decided to attend.

I went with her and witnessed her cross the stage and receive her degree. As a graduation present I paid off all her student loans. 

When the ceremony was over I found someone to take a photograph of the two of us together. I told her how proud I was of her. She surprised me by hugging me and giving me a kiss on my lips. It wasn't just friendly little peck but a long lingering kiss. That photograph is framed and is hanging on the wall in the family room with a copy in my office. 

A few days later, as we finished cleaning up from dinner, Pamela said to me, "Scott we need to talk." 

She began by saying. "Do you remember the day Tracy died when she asked to speak with me in private? I've never shared with you what she said. She told me I had to take care of you and love you. Scott I have loved you when I first saw you that night when you removed the blindfold and gag and told me everything would be all right." 

"Over the past year I've made your meals, did your laundry and cleaned the house. I have done everything a wife would do except for one thing. So I've decided to move out . . ."

"Pamela . . . ." I interrupted.

"Let me finish, please. I have decided to move out of my bedroom and into yours. Why don't you ask me to marry you so I can say YES."

It was that moment when I came to realize how very much she meant to me over the past years. I knew I loved her. So I asked and she did say YES. We were married a week later. 

******************

Just then I heard my wife coming up the path towards me bringing my thoughts back to the present. 

"Scott. Are you up here with the kids?" 

"Yes, I'm here. The kids are playing down in the meadow. Sarge is keeping an eye on them."

When I saw her come into view she had six red roses in her hand. After placing one on each grave, including Gunner's, she came and sat in my lap telling me the stone bench was too cold for her to sit on. She wiggled around for a few seconds getting comfortable before speaking. 

"It's so peaceful up here. I can see why you visit them every day. I know you miss them but you do have the memories of them in your heart."

"Yes, I do along with you and the kids, sweetheart." Before I could say anything else the kids rushed up with a bouquet of flowers that they had picked from the meadow. 

"These are for you, mommy, they both exclaimed at the same time. Aren't they pretty?"

"Yes, they are very pretty. Thank you. It's getting late so we should head on home and I'll put them in a vase with water so that they will stay fresh."

As we made our way home I remarked to Pamela how full my heart was with my love for all of them. 

She stopped, kissed me and whispered in my ear. "Scott, do you have room in your heart for one more? You're going to be a daddy . . . again."

Kissing her back all I could say was, "Sweetheart, I have a really big heart. There is always room for one more."