This Love of Mine (Raine Series #1)

CHAPTER 20

Madison

I wasn't sure how long we had been out here, but it could have been forever and I wouldn't have cared. Having Kayla next to me, was heaven on earth and I wasn't ready to return to hell. She was everything I never knew I wanted in someone. She was caring, compassionate and loving, even when she had never been shown that. With everything she had and would have to deal with, she still found it in her heart and soul to want me, without question. I was falling for this amazingly beautiful girl next to me, with every ounce of my being. Regardless of where we ended up, she would be mine one day, forever.

Since the first day I laid eyes on her, she had touched something inside of me that I never knew existed. She showed me how to care for someone completely. I knew better than anyone, that it had only been a couple of days, and I knew there were skeptical people who would question our relationship and how fast it had affected us, but those people didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was how Kayla and I felt.

I gently pulled her dress over her body, covering up the girl that I never wanted another man seeing. She was now mine, in every sense of the word.

I grabbed my cell phone out of my pocket to check the time. I noticed that it was now encroaching on one thirty in the morning and I wondered if her mother would come looking for her. Granted, where we were, you would have to search pretty damn hard to find us, but even so, I'm sure she could if she tried. As much as I would have given my right arm to stay in this exact moment, I didn't want her to have to take the brunt of any more acts of violence. I wanted to protect her, and I know I should've found a way to do so, but I was at a loss as to what to do.

I let my finger trace the thin line of her jaw, before leaning down and pressing my longing lips against hers. She smiled against my mouth, but returned the action with every emotion she had in her. When we pulled apart, my mouth opened and the words that followed were ones that I hadn't clearly thought out. They still carried the full weight of what I meant, but not thought out all the same.

"Come with me, pretty girl." I pushed back a strand of hair as I stared deeply into her eyes. I saw the shock of what I asked cross her face, but it was very brief and if I had blinked, I most likely would've missed it.

"You know I can't, cowboy. As much as I wish I could, I just can't." I could see the disappointment settle into her creased brow.

I brushed my finger over the lines of worry between her eyes and she finally gave me another breath taking smile. "You're going back anyway, why can't you go back with me?"

"I have too much baggage, no man should ever have to deal with that. Sure there is my momma, but if she is here after what she did, he will be showing up here sooner than later." She clutched her dress to her chest as she sat up to look me straight in the eyes. "Trust me, I want more than anything to be with you. You make me feel things I didn't even know were possible. You make me feel alive, for the first time in as long as I can remember. But, Wren doesn't just give up, and neither does my momma. I'm still in high school. You need to go to school, play ball, and make something of yourself. You don't need to be tied down to someone like me."

I couldn't believe the words that were coming out of her heavenly mouth. How could she think so little of herself, when all I thought was the world of her? Why couldn't she see the amazingly brave and strong girl that I see? Damn it, no! I was not going to let this happen without fighting for her.

Kayla was now standing in front of me, fully clothed. She was pulling her hair back into a low ponytail when I stood to meet her.

"Can't we just give this a chance?" My hands were settled loosely on her shoulders as I hung my head in defeat.

"Cowboy, you got your whole life ahead of ya. I'm just a blip on your radar."

I knew she didn't mean the things she was saying, but it didn't hurt any less. After what we had just done, I thought it would bring her closer to me, not push her a million miles away.

"But I care for you so much Kayla, doesn't that mean anything?"

"More than you could ever know." she whispered. "But it doesn't change the fact that, you deserve more."

"I deserve you."

"You deserve someone who can give as much as you can. I'm just not there yet." She started to make her way back towards her house. I had to run to catch up to her, and I gripped her elbow, turning her around to face me.

"Damn it Kayla, I deserve YOU! What part of that don't you get? I'm practically begging you to give me a chance." I pushed my hands back through my hair trying to regain my composure. "Please Kayla, just stay. Stay with me for another week and then we can figure this all out. Don't leave me, not now, not after what just happened." My mind was ready to explode. Who the hell was this girl in front of me and why was she pushing me so far away when mere minutes ago, she was all but climbing inside of me?

Her warm, delicate hand pressed palm down against my chest, right above my heart. And when she spoke the next string of words, my heart literally broke beneath her touch.

"Madison, I can't. Move on, please. I'm begging you not to come after me. If we were meant to be, then we will find our way to one another." She pressed a chaste kiss to my lips and then she was gone. I stood speechless and emotionless, as I watched her disappear into the darkness. I wanted to run after her. I wanted to hold her against me and not take no for an answer, but I couldn't. Something inside of me had died a little bit, and I knew this was a battle that I would never win. I pulled a smoke out of my front pocket and lit up. With every drag, I found myself growing increasingly angry.

I was confused, hurt, broken hearted and ready to kill that f*cker Wren and her mother. How could the strong girl I know, not be strong enough to stand up to the one woman who should never be left around her daughter alone? I wanted to scream. I wanted to hurt somebody and make it count. I started making my way towards my grandparent's house, when I heard a truck start in the distance. I pushed myself to keep heading towards the house, to not stop and go running after her.

I lit another smoke with the butt end of the previous one as I stepped up onto the back porch. I never smoked near the house, and my grandfather had always warned me that if he ever saw me, he would have my ass. Well he could have it tonight, he could rip me apart and tear me down, and I wouldn't give a shit. Not now.

I threw myself into the rocking chair and propped my feet up on the railing that wrapped around the porch. I took a long pull on my smoke and slowly let the air out, making small rings as I exhaled. It had taken all but ten minutes for me to completely shut down every emotion swimming inside of me. I lit up one smoke after another and as I neared the end of my pack, I heard a loud thump come from beside me. I didn't have to look up to know that my grandfather was standing right next to me, with a scowl upon his face that would have any man shaking in his boots.

"Can I help you?" I growled.

"Can I sit by you?"

I looked up at my grandfather in utter shock. "Excuse me?"

"Can I sit by you, son?" His voice was low and controlled. Not at all like the man I was expecting to come and have a stern talkin' with me.

"Um...sure." I pulled my feet down from the banister and pulled them into the chair, allowing my grandfather to pass. "Is everything alright, Sir?" I was suddenly worried and very cautious of the things coming out of my mouth. As pissed as I was, I wasn't in any mood to hurt the one man who had given me my life back.

"I can see you love that girl. I may be old, but I'm not blind. I knew the minute I told ya to stay away, that you would do the exact opposite. But, that girl has issues beyond your range of help."

"I'm startin' to see that, Sir. The only problem is, is I care for her more than any other girl I have ever known." I watched as the look on my grandfather's face went from understanding to excitement.

"Now I reckon that was definitely not what I was expectin' to hear come from ya. When did all this happen?"

"It doesn't matter anymore. She's leavin' tonight with her mother, of all people."

"I'm sorry, what did ya say?"

My grandfather was now in a very hyper aware position and I swear he looked as though he was going to jump over the railing and run towards the James' property.

"Her momma showed up when I dropped her off tonight. She was waitin' on the porch. I waited forever in the field for her to show up, but I watched as every light turned off and then, well, then she showed up. She said she has to go. Her momma told her that her grandparents called her to come get her. I dunno, Sir. I don't f*ckin' get it!" I half shouted.

"Language, son."

"Sorry, Sir." I flicked the end of my smoke onto the gravel drive and went to light another.

"You really think that's gonna help?" He was pointing at the cigarette dangling between my fingers.

"If this is the worst thing I do, then you should count your blessings."

"Well, I know for a fact that the James' would never in a million years call up that poor girl's momma and ask her to come get her. Never! She's a bad woman, has been for years. Something ain't right with this situation, Madison. I'm gonna call Jasper, you put that shit out and hustle your ass over to their house, now Madison!"

I jumped up out of my chair and started runnin' towards the hill. I wasn't sure if we were too late, but I damn sure wasn't givin' up. I crossed the small creek and picked up speed as I heard the engine of the truck I had heard before, rev up. I hauled ass through the trees and when I finally made it to the property, I jumped the fence and ran right around the side of their house towards the drive. The truck was still sitting there with the woman in the driver side, but no Kayla from what I could see. Instead of heading into the house to find Kayla to reason with her, I went straight to the source and swung open the passenger side door.

"You ain't takin' her. You hear me?" I was trying to catch my breath, as I glanced over at her mother.

"I don't believe that is any of your business young man. Now I reckon you better walk away from this truck, before I run you over with it. And trust me when I say, I will have no regrets doing it."

"F*ck you, lady. You think I don't know what you and her ex did to her? You are one sick bitch, thinkin' you can do that to your own child, and then she'll just come runnin' back to ya."

She threw the truck in park and came barreling around the front of the hood, straight towards me. "You little f*cker. You have no idea the things I am capable of."

"Oh I think I do." I put my hands up, ready to fend her off if necessary. Obviously, I would never hurt a woman, but if I could just push her off, then we would be good. I didn't have to do that though. A few seconds later, just as she was reaching me, a loud gun shot went off. She instantly ducked her head and covered her ears; I on the other hand, crossed my arms across my chest and stood staring at the cowering woman in front of me.

"Anne Marie James, you get your ass off of my property right this instant. You hear me little girl?"

Mr. James' voice boomed and echoed off of every tree and vast space around us.

"She is my daughter. You cannot stop me from taking her. She's mine."

"That's where you're wrong, honey. That broken down little girl inside doesn't belong to you or anyone for that matter. She is a human being, not a possession. But she will stay here, and I will fight you tooth and nail to make it stick. You don't deserve that little girl. She has done nothin' but love you unconditionally and you have done nothin' but beat her so far down, that she can barely stay afloat. If you wanna fight me on this, by all means, have a go at it. But I promise you one thing, darlin', you will regret the day you walked back into her life. Take that as you may. Now get the hell off of my damn property before I call the cops."

"You're gonna regret this daddy. I promise you that."

I was still standing by the side of the truck, when Anne, Kayla's mother jumped in and sped out of there faster than anyone I had ever seen. I watched as the taillights disappeared down the dirt road, before turning towards Jasper. His look wasn't welcoming, but the look in his eyes was thankful. I took a step towards him, but he quickly held up his hand, stopping me in my tracks.

"Look son, I appreciate what you and your granddad did here tonight, but that don't change anything with me. I don't hold anything against you personally, but I would prefer that you stay away from my grandbaby."

I hadn't planned on cutting him off, but I wasn't about to have this man dictate how I spent time with his granddaughter or whether or not I could. "Sir, with all due respect, I don't believe I can do that. See, I like her, a lot Sir, and I'm not willing to just walk away from her. If I have to prove myself to y'all, I have no problem with that, but I don't think I can respect your wishes and stay away from Kayla." I stood back, waiting for his reaction.

I was expecting him to shout at me, knock me down a few inches. Tell me I was out of my mind and it was never going to happen, but he didn't. He just stood there sizing me up, not saying a word. I started to get rather nervous when after about ten minutes he still hadn't said anything.

My mind went blank, as I started to wonder where Kayla was and where her heart was, as far as we were concerned. When I glanced back up at Mr. James, Kayla had somehow appeared by his side. My heart melted the minute those sky blue eyes met with mine. I wanted so much to reach out and touch her, to hold her close to me and never let her go. When she made no attempt to come to me, I questioned what exactly I was doing here.

"Sir, can I have a minute with your granddaughter, please?" My voice was strained and I was almost certain he could hear the nervousness in my tone.

"Y'all have ten minutes and then she needs to come inside. Don't make me have to come back out to get her, ya hear?"

I nodded in his direction, never taking my eyes off of Kayla. Her grandfather turned and kissed her on the top of her head, before heading back inside his house. I walked the couple feet that stood between her and me, but before I could completely close the distance she was making her way down to me.

I reached out for her hand, but she pulled back. I was confused at this point. We had had an amazing night, and yet she was still pulling away from me at every turn.

"Kayla, what are you doing?" I ran my hand down my face without looking up at her. If she was about to break my heart, I didn't want to see it portrayed on her face.