Hiding in her room hoping that the yelling and screaming does not make it within her walls again, Dusty sits on her mattress on the floor with her arms around her legs rocking back and forth while humming. Dusty Rose is a 15 year old girl that is living with her mother and step-father. She is no stranger to abuse. Her step-father also has no boundaries of the abuse he inflicts on Dusty. Her father has never been in her life; she has no idea who he is. Her mother Laura refuses to tell Dusty who her real father is or if she knows where he lives. Laura swears that he is a no good piece of shit and that Dusty is better off not knowing him. 

Dusty has plans on leaving this life and moving away as far away from her mother and her mother’s husband as she possibly can. She knows that she has to plan her escape quietly. Dusty cannot tell anyone what her intentions are in fear that her mother will find out before she gets a chance to leave. 

Dusty works after school as a waitress. Her step-father orders Dusty to give him all of her tips and her pay check. But for the past six months she has been keeping money out of her tips. She cannot get away with that on her paycheck because he demands to see what she has made to make sure that he gets every single red cent. Dusty has managed to save around fifteen hundred dollars. She has the money hidden in a tin can down by the creek buried within dirt and rocks. She puts a special rock over the top so she knows she can find the money when she needs it. 

The day she decides to leave, therain is pouring down as Dusty is walking home from work. She hates the idea that she has to give that sorry bastard her hard earned money so he can go drink it away. She takes a deep breath before walking inside the house. She quietly opens the door in hopes that her step-dad Bully (as he likes to be called) is passed out and she will be able to grab her bag that she has packed and can sneak back out the door and finally be on her way to living her own life.

Dusty see’s Bully sleeping on the couch. Her heart starts pounding as she quietly closes the door. She turns and takes a step. The floor lets out a loud creak. Shit! She thinks to herself. Bully moves his arms then settles again. Dusty waits for the right time to sneak past him. She starts walking past him; once making it to the hallway her heart is pounding in her throat and ears so loudly. She would not hear him if she needed to at this point. Making it to her door she pushes it open. She walks into the room without shutting the door. Checking her watch to see how much time she has before her mother gets home from her drinking binge at the local bar, Dusty sits and listens for a few minutes. After not hearing anything from Bully, she decides that it’s now or never!

Dusty puts on a hooded sweatshirt over her wet clothes from work. She decides to take off her tennis shoes and put her boots on instead. Once all of this is done she listens again for Bully or her mother, and again nothing. She grabs the backpack that she packed. She then stuffs her last paycheck from the dinerin her front pocket of her jeans, takes a deep breath and heads for the living room. Dusty sees that Bully is still on the couch sleeping. She starts to walk past him her heart pounding once again. Then in a faint deep voice she hears the words she dreaded to hear. “Where in the fuck are you going girl?”

Trembling, Dusty turned around and said, “I’m going back to work. I took another shift.”

Bully sits up on the couch and says, “Well where the hell’s my paycheck?”

Dusty says, “I haven’t gotten it yet. Payroll wasn’t finished when I got off of work so I told them I would pick it up tonight after I get off.”

Bully looked at her then looked at the floor. Slowly he is getting off the couch. Bully walked toward Dusty. Once reaching her she could smell his stink breath and how he reeked of stale sex and alcohol. He grabbed her by the throat, then got in her face and says in an evil voice, “You better not being lying to me you little bitch!”

Tears welled up in Dusty’s eyes. Her voice shaken with fear, she says to him, “I’m not. You will have your money tonight.”

He then says, “What the hell are you doing with this backpack?”

Dusty says, “It is pouring rain and I need dry clothes once I get to work or they will send me home.” Bully just stared at her and kept holding her by the throat. Dusty says to him, “I have some money for you right now Bully, if you want it.” 

He let go of her and stepped back for a moment then Dusty reached into her sweatshirt pocket where she put money she had separated from her other money just in case this had happened. She handed hima wad of cash, then tells him that there was forty dollars there. That that was all she had made in tips earlier that day. Looking at the money in his hand he then looked at Dusty and smiled the most sinister smile. Next thing Dusty knew she is on the floor and her mouth is full of blood.

Bully started yelling for her to get her ass up off the floor. Dusty struggled to collect herself and get up like he had demanded. Once she is standing again. He hit her again. Once again she is lying on the floor spitting blood. She knew not to let him see her cry because if she shows weakness then his beating will be worse than ever. 

“Get Up!” He yelled again. Dusty once again got up off the floor. Expecting to be knocked down again, she flinched as he came close to her. He grabbed her by her hair and pulled her into his face. Using his other hand he started wiping her blood off of her mouth. He then kissed her and held her tightly into him where she could not get free.

The taste of his mouth made her sick to her stomach. She could feel her vomit coming up in her throat. Finally he let go of her, then says there is more where that came from tonight when you get home. He opened the door and pushed her outside so hard that she fell down the stairs off of the porch. He threw her bag to her and hit her in the face with it, bloodying her nose. 

Dusty picked up the bag and started to walk away from the house that she hoped she would never have to enter again. Using her sleeve to soak up the blood from hernose she walked to the corner store. She used the bathroom to clean all the blood off of her face, then cashed her check and used the phone to call her work. Her friend Holly was working and Dusty needed Holly to cover for her long enough for Dusty to get her money from the creek and catch the bus. Holly knew what kind of life that Dusty lives so when Dusty finally confided in her about leaving Holly was more than happy to help. Holly is older than Dusty by about five years. Dusty told Holly if she is ever able to pay her back for the help she definitely will. Holly told her not to worry about it.

Dusty got her money from the creek but she is not out of the woods yet. She still has to get out of town without anyone that knows her seeing her and telling her family that she is not at work. Dusty made it to the bus station which is on the edge of town about a half mile away. Dusty took every direction but the direct route to get to the bus, trying to convince herself that no one had saw her. Once at the bus station she buys a ticket under a fake name and age. The gentleman working has no idea who she really is and that she is only fifteen years old and on the run. Dusty is still not out of the woods yet. The bus does not leave for about a half hour. The man at the counter told Dusty that she could sit on the bus if she’d like to. She agreed. 

Dusty walked onto the bus to find that there are a few other people on the bus. Not anyone that she knows though;she walked to the back of the bus and got an aisle seat. She did not want to be seen from the window. She planned to get a window seat once she is far away from this hell hole that her mother has forced her to live in for so long. 

The driver finally entered the bus and announced that the bus will be leaving in five minutes and that everyone needs to be seated and ready to get on the road. Once the bus started moving Dusty’s heart started to pound like crazy. Is her fear going to consume her and she decide to have the bus driver let her off the bus? Or is she going to ride out the fear and get to her destination in Northern California and start her new life? The bus finally made it to the interstate and Dusty said to herself, no turning back now. You deserve your own life and you deserve to live a peaceful existence without her screwed up family. A smile finally came over her face and she leaned back in the seat, took a deep breath and relaxed. Dusty swore to herself that never again would she step foot in the state of Iowa once she crossed that state line.

By the time Dusty reached California she is exhausted but her fear of her step-dad is set aside, now a new fear has set in. Where is she going to stay? Where is she going to go? Dusty didn’t think that far ahead when she bought the ticket. 

The town is very small and has trees everywhere. She grabbed her backpack and her bag of food that she has bought on her trip and exited the bus. She and one other girl got off the bus. There is a benchalongside of the building so Dusty decided to sit there for a few minutes and collect her thoughts. The other girl came and sat next to her.

“Hi! My name is Kendall.” She then reached out her hand towards Dusty.

Dusty looked at her a moment then said, “Hi! I’m Dusty.”

“So, Dusty, what’s your story? Where’d you get those bruises?” Dusty automatically put her hand over her face.

Kendall said, “You don’t have to hide them on my account. She then stood up and raised her shirt for Dusty to see that she too is covered in bruises.

“Oh my, God!” Dusty gasped! “Who did that to you?”

Kendall looked away then grabbed herself a cigarette lit it, took a long drag then said, “My dad. What about you? My fucked up step-dad.”

Dusty asked Kendall, “so are you from here?”

“Hell No!” Kendall said to her. “I’m from Ohio. Do you have anywhere to go or know anyone here Dusty?” Kendall asked. 

“Nope.” Dusty said. 

“Me neither,” Kendall replied. “Now what?” Kendall asks.

Dusty said, “Well we need to find a place to stay for the night, and then we will find better housing tomorrow,” Kendall agreed. 

What Kendall did not tell Dusty is she is an 18 year old that is running from her pimp and not her father. Kendall had run away from home because she did not like the rules or her new step-mother after her own mother had died when she was 14 years old and has been on the streets ever since. Kendall is an average looking girl with short dark hair, an olive complexion, and dark eyes. Kendall bounces from state to state and pimp to pimp. She is from California though; in fact her father and step-mother live in the next town over. 

Kendall would not tell Dusty this little secret. “How long haveyou been on the streets Dusty?”

“Only a few days; well since I’ve been on the bus. So I guess tonight would be my first night.” 

“Oh!” Kendall says. Kendall looking at how sweet and innocent looking Dusty is with her fair skin, long dark hair, full lips, and blue green eyes. Dusty is about 5’1 with a curvy body and big breasted. To Kendall she doesn’t seem like she could take care of herself if she needed to.

The girls walked around town and then found an old motel that is run down with a vacancy sign. The girls went inside and asked how much a room was. Dusty gave a fake name and paid the thirty bucks for the room. When Kendall saw the roll of cash that Dusty has with her, Kendall knew she has to stick with Dusty to survive. They went to their room and cleaned up. Dusty checked out her cuts and bruises in the mirror. She promised herself she will never let another man lay a hand on her again as long as she lives. While Dusty is in the bathroom she separated her money so that she did not have it all in one spot and the majority of it would always be kept on her.

Dusty did not mind helping her new friend but not knowing her means, not trusting her and she is not about to put herself in the situation of not having any money. When Dusty left the bathroom she saw Kendall lying on the bed in her bra and panties, she is covered in bruises. Dusty put her bag down on the floor next to the T.V. stand then sat on the bed next to Kendall. Dusty told Kendall that she is going to find a job the next day andthat she is going to pay for two more days at the motel giving her time to maybe find something better.

Dusty looked at Kendall and said, “If you want we can stick together and try to conquer what we have been through. We can find jobs and maybe rent a place.” Kendall told her that that sounded good but that Kendall has no clothes other than the ones she has on and they have blood stains on them. 

Dusty told her, “I will loan you some of mine for tomorrow then we will go to a thrift store and get some more clothes and better shoes for working.”

Kendall asks, “What kind of job you want to get Dusty? 

“Well I have been waitressing for the past two years, so I thought I better stick to something I know. What can you do Kendall?”

“Well…” Kendall hesitates and says, “I’m a prostitute.”

Dusty looked at her and said, “Well you’re not one anymore; we are in a new town and we are starting new lives.” Kendall started crying and then told Dusty what had really happened to her and how she really got her bruises. Kendall’s story made Dusty’s story look like a walk in the park.

The next morning the two girls’ got up and got ready in clean clothes and went job hunting. Downtown they had found an old mom and pop diner. The girl’s walked in and sat down. An older lady came to their table and gave them menus. Dusty asked the woman, “Do you need any waitresses?”

The woman looked both girls up and down then she said she would be right back. They watched the woman go into the back then after a few minutes she comes back out with an older man. They walked up to the girls and theolder man says, “So you two are looking for work huh?”

“Yep!” Dusty says. 

“Do you have waitress experience?” He asks them.

“I have two years of waitressing experience.” Dusty says.

The man looks at Kendall and she shook her head no.

“Well can you start in the morning Dusty as a waitress?”

And Kendall, I can start you as a busser.

“Yes sir!” Dusty tells him. “Do you girls have a place to stay?”

“Well we are staying at the circle T Motel right now,” Kendall tells him.

The woman gasps, and then says, “Well not tonight you won’t be, that is a terrible place to stay. We have a one bedroom cabin with a loft that you are welcome to have as part of your pay. 

Kendall says, “Well we don’t have any furniture or anything.”

“That’s okay says the woman. It’s furnished.” 

Dusty asks, “Where is the cabin?”

“Oh honey, it’s on our farm about twenty miles from town.” 

“Then Kendall tells Dusty, “We will have to stay at the motel because we have no car to get back and forth.”

Then the man points at Dusty then says, “You got fifty bucks?”

Dusty says, “Yes.”

“Then I got a truck I will sell to you.” He reaches his hand out to her and says, “Do we have a deal?”

“Yes sir, we do!” Dusty tells him then shakes his hand.

Then the woman says, “Well I’m Lucille and this is Henry. Our last name is Moore and we own this Diner.” 

Lucille tells the girls that they can stop and pick up their belongings from the motel room on their way out to the farm later that afternoon. The girl’s told them all they have are a couple of backpacks, that they would go get them and meet them back at the diner at closing time. The girls asked where a thrift store is located sothey could get some things and Lucille told them up the street about three blocks on the right.

Dusty is so excited about what has taken place that she is talking Kendall’s ears off about it. Dusty bought the girls’ some clothes and shoes for working at the diner. About five thirty they met Lucille and Henry and headed for the farm. Once they reached the farm Lucille said that dinner would be in an hour and they are to wash up and come to the main house for dinner. Lucille headed for the house.

Henry told the girl’s to follow him to the cabin. It is nice. Henry told them that the couch folds out into a bed so that one of them could sleep there and one in the bedroom or there is a twin bed in the loft. He then told Dusty, “I will get your pickup truck running after dinner and you can follow me to town tomorrow.”

Dusty said, “Okay Henry, but I don’t have a license.”

“That’s okay,” he said. “My son is the Sheriff and I will call him and explain the situation.”

“Okay,” Dusty said. Henry left and headed for the house.

The next morning Dusty got up and got ready for her breakfast – lunch shift at the diner. Kendall is still sleeping on the couch. “Kendall are you going to work today?” Dusty asks

 Kendall told Dusty she is feeling really sick and thought she would stay home that day to rest and let her bruises heal. Kendall asked if Dusty will tell Lucille and Henry for her. Dusty agreed.

Dusty drove her new truck to work which is a black 1979 Ford four wheel drive. It is in very good condition. Henry told her that he has had the truck since he bought it new and hasonly used it for driving in the winter to the diner and on occasional trip to the auction. Dusty is so thankful for everything that the Moore’s are doing for her and Kendall.

After a long day of work at the diner Dusty headed back to the farm to check on Kendall, unaware of what she is about to find out about her new friend. Dusty went into the cabin only to find that Kendall is not there. Dusty went and looked around the farm for her in the barns and the main house. There is no Kendall anywhere. Dusty had a bad feeling come over her and she ran to the cabin and checked her bag and her hiding spots for her money. Most all the money is gone. Out of nearly two thousand dollars all Dusty has left is about five hundred dollars that she had hidden in her pick-up the night before. Dusty is furious that Kendall hustled her and stole all of her money after all Dusty had done for her.

The next four years of Dusty’s life has just flown by. She continued to work for the Moore’s and live in their cabin. They had taken her in like one of their own. The Moore’s are the only family that Dusty really ever had and she thanked God for them every day. Over the past four years Dusty has never seen or heard anything from her mother or step-dad until one morning when she is at work at the diner and he mother walked in. Dusty could not believe her eyes or how she had found her. When Dusty was under age the Moore’s let her work under the table but once she turned eighteen they put her on the books. Unknown to Dusty, her mother, Laura,has been using her personal information to get credit cards and bank loans in Dusty’s name. So once Dusty was put on the books at the diner then her mother knew right where to find her.

Laura walked up to Dusty and said, “Aren’t you going to give your momma a hug?”

Dusty started to tremble because she never thought in a million years that she would see that part of her life again. “No!” She told her.

“Laura,” said Dusty, “you have not seen me since you were fifteen years old. You just took off and no one knew where you were for years. All the worry I went through and I don’t deserve a hug?”

“No!” Dusty told her again. “I want you to leave,” Dusty told her, “before your husband comes in here thinking he is going to push me around again and I will have to shoot him!” Dusty tells her mom. 

“Oh Dusty, I’m not with that son of a bitch anymore. I got tired of him spending all of my money.”

“I don’t care about your situation or the reason you are here. I want you out of this diner and out of this town or I’m going to call the sheriff and have you arrested for harassing me.”

Laura laughed at her and said, “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Try me,” Dusty told her in a stern voice.

Overhearing the conversation between the two Lucille had called her son without Dusty knowing. Suddenly the door to the diner came open and there was Trevor, Lucille’s grandson, the deputy Sheriff.

Trevor walked up to Dusty and said, “Is there a problem here Dusty?”

“No Trev, she is just leaving.” 

Laura looked at Dusty and said, “You remember I’m your mother and you cannot treat me this way.”

Laura went to turn to leave and Trevor asked her where sheis staying and she said, “The motel up the street but she would be leaving town in the morning.” 

After Laura walked out Dusty looked at Trevor and said, “Thanks.”

Trevor sat down for lunch. Trevor has loved Dusty for a couple of years but really has not led on about how he feels for her. Dusty came to the table to bring his food and said, “So what can I do to thank you for running her out of here?”

Trevor laughed then said, “Cook me dinner.” Dusty felt butterflies really strong because she has secretly loved Trevor for quite a while.

Dusty smiles at him then said, “Okay Friday night I will cook you dinner at my place.”

“What time?” Trevor asked.

“Be there by 7:00.”

“I don’t know if I can because I get off work at 6:00 and I won’t be able to shower and get out to the farm by 7:00.”

Dusty looked at him real flirty and said, “Then shower at my house so you’re not late for dinner.”

Trevor smiled back at her and said, “Well maybe I’ll just bring an overnight bag.”

Dusty turns and looks at him then says, “Why, you won’t need anything to sleep in, and then she smiles, turns and walks away.

Dusty is so nervous because she has never said anything like that to him before although she has loved him for years. Dusty has never really been with anyone...not anyone that she loved anyway. Trevor left her a large tip on the table and gave her a sweet smile on his way out the door telling her that he’d see her for dinner on Friday. Dusty smiled and waved bye to him because her butterflies are so bad that she felt she might vomit. The rest of the evening at the diner was filled with the regularsfor pie and coffee so the night seemed to drag on forever. Thursday night Dusty could not sleep at all anticipating her date with Trevor. 

When Dusty got to the diner that morning for work Lucille was making fresh homemade pies. Dusty heard Lucille hollering for her so Dusty went into the kitchen to see what Lucille needed. “Dusty, I hear you are having a dinner date tonight with my grandson.”

“Yeah, that’s the rumor.” Dusty replied.

“Well then Dusty I don’t want you to be here all day. I want you to leave at 1pm instead of 4pm.” Lucille told her.

“Oh no Lucille, I don’t need to take off of work for a dinner date.” Dusty tells her.

“Yes! Dusty you will because I have watched the two of you kids beating around the bush over the past couple of years about the way you feel for each other and I want you to take off early today so that you can have everything ready the way you want it...besides if Trevor is anything like his grandfather, then honey you will need the rest!” Lucille laughs and continues to make her pies.

Dusty decided that she would take Lucille up on her offer and just stay until after lunch rush is over. Trevor came in during lunch he told Dusty when she has a chance that he has a certified letter for her from an attorney. Dusty wasn’t sure why an attorney would be contacting her. She finished her tables then went to Trevor’s table and he told her to sit for a minute and when she did he handed her the papers that he had been given to serve to her. Dusty glanced quickly over the papers not really comprehending what they are saying; she had to go take an order to atable, so she told Trevor that she’d be right back.

Lucille has gone to the table and Trevor told Lucille about the papers. Lucille went over to Dusty and told her that she needs to go read those papers that they are very important and that Lucille will take over Dusty’s tables. 

Dusty sat back down and started reading the court papers. All of a sudden she let out a loud, “Holy Shit!” Everyone turns and looks at her. Dusty starts laughing uncontrollably. Then looks at Trevor and asks, “Is this a joke?”

Trevor tells her, ”No, Dusty. It’s not; it’s legitimate.” Dusty sits quiet for a couple minutes thinking about the shitty life she had when she was younger, and how hard she has been working and supporting herself over the last four years and now she gets court papers telling her that she has not only inherited a cutting horse ranch in Colorado but she has also inherited over 50 million dollars! The biggest shocker of it all is that it is from her real father, someone she has never even met. 

Dusty left the papers on the table and then went outside. After giving her a few minutes Trevor went outside to check on her. Dusty is crying. Trevor grabbed Dusty into his arms and held her while she cried. Then Dusty says, “If I was so important to him that he would leave this kind of money to me then why was I not important enough to him to help me when I was young and be a part of my life?”

“I don’t know,” Trevor says to her. 

“Did I get this stuff because he died?” Dusty asked. 

“Yes.” Trevor answered. Dusty started crying again.

Then Trevor says, “Dusty this is your chance for a really great life. You need to take thisopportunity and live the life you deserve, and forget about all of the bad that has happened to you before now.”

Dusty is quiet for a moment then asks Trevor, “Does this mean that things will change with us?”

“No Dusty. Not at all. I don’t care that you got an inheritance. I liked you before I ever knew about any of this. Honestly Dusty, I have been falling for you for a couple of years; I just never said anything because I didn’t know how you felt.”

Dusty then looked up at Trevor and said Trevor, “I felt the same for you. I just didn’t think you would want me because I’m so much younger than you are.”

Trevor looked at Dusty then pulled her into him and kissed her so passionately that it made Dusty’s butterflies stir. Suddenly they heard clapping and hollering coming from inside the diner, as they turned and looked they saw everyone in the window watching them. They both start laughing too. They went back inside the diner and Lucille says to them, “It’s about time you two kiss. I’ve only been waiting for the last two years or better.” Lucille grabs the papers off the table then tells Dusty get out of this old diner, go live your life! Dusty hugged Lucille and then she and Trevor left together.

Three months later:

Against Trevor’s advice Dusty has decided to contact her mother. Dusty felt that she has lost one parent that she never even knew, so maybe she should make amends with the one parent she still has no matter how rotten she made Dusty’s life. Dusty figured that she is an adult now and no longer lived under her mother’s roof, so nothing bad could happen and she would call the shots. 

Dusty will be leaving for Colorado afew weeks before Trevor will head there to be with her. Trevor has given his two week notice to the sheriff’s office due to his plans to relocate with Dusty to her new ranch. Dusty decided to drive to Colorado in her new pick-up. She will be leaving in the morning. Trevor has some concern with letting her drive by herself especially knowing that she plans on picking her mother up in Boise, ID on the way there. Trevor has a right for his concern.

Dusty is standing in the kitchen getting a glass of water when she felt arms around her and a hand up her tank top. Dusty stood there and enjoyed what is taking place, anticipating the kisses on the neck that soon followed like clockwork. For the first time in Dusty’s life she is experiencing feeling a love for someone and them loving her in return. She feels completely safe with Trevor. Turning to face him she tells him, “I will miss you, babe.”

“I will miss you too,” Trevor tells her then picks her up and carries her into the living room. He lays her down in front of the fire that he built while she was in the shower. He starts kissing her legs and thighs until he finds his way to her sweet spot that he loves. Dusty lays back and enjoys what she has learned to love. Trevor started making love to her, both letting out a gasp. Kissing each other and caressing her, Trevor is in heaven. Dusty just smiled with pleasure while hearing him moan so loud; she knew she satisfied him! They laid on the floor in front of the fire wrapped up in a blanket holding each other and talking about what they each want out of life and outof the relationship that they are in with each other. Trevor gets up and tells Dusty he will be right back. He grabbed his jeans and put them on and then put on his boots. Dusty, worried and wondering why he is suddenly getting dressed and leaving; she asks, is everything ok, Trev? He just smiles and tells her that he will be right back. Dusty laid back down and watched the fire and the flames dance and change constantly and she thought that her life will be changing again just like the flames are moving and changing directions. The front door on the cabin came open and Trevor came back inside with the biggest smile on his face. Dusty smiles back at him and is curious why he is so happy.

Trevor walked over to where Dusty is now sitting up with the blanket wrapped around her naked sexy body in front of the warm fire and Trevor gets down on his knee. Dusty just looks at him and he grabs her hand and looks her in the eyes and says, “Dusty, I am in love with you and I have been for the past few years. You mean the world to me and I want to know if you will marry me?” Dusty is staring at him and then looks as he opens this little black box and sees the most beautiful white gold ring and diamond she has ever seen. “She looks at him and she has tears rolling down her cheeks and she says, “Yes, I will marry you Trev!” “I have been in love with you since I was sixteen years old.“ Trevor took the ring out of the box and placed it on her finger. He then put his hand behind her head pulling herin for a kiss. He tells her that he had bought the ring two years before and that he has had it in the glove box of his truck waiting for the perfect time to ask her to marry him. Dusty put her arms around his neck and hugged him and finally, she feels like she is finally coming home. No horse ranch or millions could make her feel this way, and she’d choose him over her inheritance.

“We need to set a date. Dusty says.” “I already did. Trevor replies.” You did? Dusty asks in a surprised tone.” Yes, and Grandma Lucille has already helped me take care of everything; but you have to postpone your trip to Colorado for a few days. Dusty is impressed with his secret wedding plans and agrees to postpone her trip and will call her mother in the morning so that she knows I will pick her up next week instead. “Next week? Trevor asks curiously.’ “Of course, you didn’t think you are getting out of a honeymoon did you? Dusty laughs.” Trevor smiles and says, Heck, the honeymoon is the only reason I’m marrying you, babe!” Trevor gives her a Cheshire grin to see her reaction. “Oh really? It is, is it?” Dusty says laughing. “Yep!, that’s right, it’s all about the honeymoon baby!” Trevor tells her while trying to keep a straight face. Dusty pushes him over backwards and crawls her naked body on top of him and gives him a passionate kiss and then gives him a few kisses on his neck and when she feels that she has accomplished getting his undivided attention; she gets up and tells him good night, Trev, see you tomorrow! He gets up and sees her heading for the bedroom and chases her down andshe is laughing and he picks her up and carries her into the room and shuts the door. Their laughter filled the little cabin.

The next morning Dusty gets up and gets herself ready to go to the small dress shop in town for a wedding dress that the owner Rachel told her about over the phone; it’s simple and sexy and that is what she wants. As she is leaving the house she got a call from Trevor and he asked her to meet him up at the barn, she agreed and said she’d be there shortly. She drove her truck up to the old rustic Dutch style barn that is a mixture of faded brown and gray barnwood with an old dark tin roof. The barn is in pretty good shape for as old as it is with its lifetime of history. The big door on the front of the barn is open and she sees Trevor walking towards her with a big smile on his face. He wraps her up in his arms and kisses her; then tells her to follow him. Dusty follows him inside of the barn and she is amazed at how beautiful everything looks. He has clear light bulbs on strands hanging from the rafters giving the barn a romantic feel. He showed her he built her an archway out of barnwood that is in a square shape with small silver crosses in each corner of the arch. He has barnwood benches he built for their guests to sit on and watch them get married. He also cleaned out the other side of the big barn room for a dance floor for their first dance. Dusty is soaking all of her joy into her soul as she looks around the barn at all ofthe work this man has done for her so that her wedding day is unforgettable.

Trevor walks up to Dusty and says, I picked to marry you in this barn because my grandparents married in this barn over 50 years ago and they are still very much in love today; they have built themselves a family and a beautiful life all of these years, and Dusty I want to build a life like that with you, I want to be in love with you 50 years from now and know that I am home with you and only you. Dusty reached up and kissed this handsome man that she is marrying the next day; she puts her hands on each side of his face and says, I do, I want more than anything to build a life with you that is a love affair that never ends. I want to be your best friend, your wife and the mother to your children and I am so ready to marry you tomorrow.

Trevor told her that the sunflowers for the wedding will be delivered in the morning. “She smiled, and said, you remembered?” “Yes, they are your favorite. He answers.” “What about the cake she asked?” “My Grandma Lucille took care of that. He answered.” Okay, she said. He wrapped her back up in his arms and asks, “Are you going to get a dress?” “Yes, I am leaving for town soon and going to see what Rachel has in her dress shop for me. I called her and she said she has something sexy and simple.” Sexy?” He says with a smile. Dusty laughs and says, “You’ll just have to wait and see when I show up to the wedding.” You never know, I might get a potato sack from the dinerand marry you in that sexy little number.” She says laughing. “Ohh…definitely sounds sexy to me, he tells her with a laugh.”

Dusty leaves the farm and heads for the dress shop. Rachel was right, the dress is simple yet, sexy. Trevor is going to love it! The dress is white chiffon that has a sweetheart top and thin spaghetti straps, it is form fitting showing off all of Dusty’s curves with a slit up one side going partially up her thigh so she can show off her tanned pretty legs. Rachel pulled out these pretty summer wedge shoes that have clear straps that sparkled. They are about 4” tall which Dusty loves because she is short at barely over 5’; Trevor is a very good looking man standing 6’4 he has dark brown hair and the greenest eyes, a muscular chest and arms but not extreme, just enough that he looks hot in and out of his sheriff’s uniform. Dusty thanked Rachel for all of her help with her dress, shoes, and jewelry. Next she went and got French tip nails; she didn’t want anything bright or extreme, she is going for simple and sexy. While she is at the beauty shop with Barb, she made a make-up and hair appointment for the next morning; she didn’t trust herself with doing her own make-up and hair on such an important day. Dusty walked into the diner and her customers start congratulating her on her upcoming wedding and giving her hugs and telling her that she is marrying a good man, and that they wish her many years of love and happiness. She thanked them all and then went into the kitchen and saw that Lucille and her daughter -in-law which is Trevor’s mom is baking her wedding cake and whenthey saw her standing there they escorted her back out into the dining area and said the cake is a surprise and she needs to wait until the wedding.

Dusty hugged them both and thanked them for all of their help and for loving her like they do. “Thank you, Lacey for all that you are doing for Trevor and I. She told Trevor’s mom.” “Oh, honey you are very welcome. I couldn’t have asked for a better woman for my son to fall in love with and marry; we love you Dusty, from the first day you walked into the diner 4 years ago.” Lacey told her in such a loving way. Dusty hugged her tight around her neck and told her that she loves her too, and that she is head over heels in love with her son and that his heart is safe with her.

Later than evening Dusty hears a knock on her door and answers the door and Trevor is standing there with two dozen yellow roses. “Oh my goodness, they are gorgeous! “Dusty exclaims.” Trevor says, not nearly as gorgeous as you, but they are close.” “You’re sweet talking me so you can stay the night tonight, huh?” He shoots her his sexy smile. Dusty reaches for the flowers and kisses him on the cheek then says, “I love you Trevor, but it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding and I’ve had a lifetime of bad luck and I don’t want to invite any of that kind of luck into our wedding day or marriage.” “Please, tell me that you understand. She asks.” “Trevor leans in and kisses her and tells her, well, we have until midnight, right?” “Yes, we sure do!” She stepped aside and let him into the cabin. Once inthe cabin Dusty puts the beautiful roses on her kitchen table and then walks over to Trevor and gives him a kiss thanking him again for the sweet gift. “Are you hungry?” She asked. “Sure, I can eat something, I haven’t had anything since breakfast at the diner this morning.” He answered. Dusty had pulled out a couple of steaks earlier that day to thaw; she seasoned them and asked Trevor if he could light the BBQ’er. He obliged and went out on the back deck. Dusty takes the steaks out to him and then tells him that she will make them a salad and some bread rolls to go with it. After getting the food all ready for them to have dinner, Dusty walked out to the table on the back deck and made it nice for them. She brought a cold beer for Trevor and a glass of Merlot for her. They sat down together after the steaks are finished cooking and said a prayer then started eating. They talked and laughed and made plans. “Dusty says, I love you Trevor and I just want to keep our life simple like it is right now; I don’t want my inheritance to change our way of life.” “I love you too Dusty and that is the last thing I want to happen.” He tells her. “Let’s just go out to Colorado and see what the horse ranch is and we can decide what our future plans will be from there.” He tells her. “ I think that is a great idea, babe. I have been very stressed about my inheritance and seeing my mom next week.” She tells him in a concerned voice. “Don’t worry, he tells her. You will be just fine and if you have an emergencycall me and I will be right there.” Trevor reached for her hand and kissed it and gave her a smile and told her to cheer up because in less than 24 hours she is going to be Mrs. Trevor Moore. She smiles a big beautiful smile at him and her thoughts go to their wedding, which is a big surprise because Lacey and Lucille refuse to let her help with the cake or the decorations; they want her to just enjoy being the bride.

After dinner Trevor helped Dusty clean up the dinner meal and the kitchen. He went and started a fire in the fireplace and dimmed the lights. He sat down on the couch and thought about marrying this beautiful girl the next afternoon and how much he is in love with her, but how he doesn’t want her to know that her meeting with her mother is concerning to him and that he has a bad gut feeling. He can’t go with her though, he has to work. Dusty has gone and changed into her cute PJ pants and a tank top. She came out and saw Trevor sitting on the couch watching the fire and curled up on his lap and laid her head on his chest.

“I always want it to be with way.” She says.

“I don’t want this to change because we have that piece of paper.” She tells him.

“Dusty, it will always be this way with us, that is what love is about and that piece of paper has so much meaning to me because I have to live up to the man that signed that piece of paper for the rest of my life.” He said.

“Dusty kissed him and says, how did I get so lucky to be loved by such a goodman?” I always thought I’d end up with a man like who my mom settles for because that is all I ever knew. I am so grateful that I left when I was 15 and that I was given the opportunities that your grandparents gave to me because they led me straight to you.”

“Dusty, babe you deserve a good man and you deserve to be loved because you are so much more than who you used to be in that house with a step-dad that abused you, an alcoholic mother and a real father that you never knew.” He tells her.

She wipes her tears off of her face and tells him that she wants him to stay the night. They don’t have to make love. He tells her, that he didn’t plan on going anywhere; superstition or no superstition, he is waking up to her beautiful face in the morning. Dusty smiles and gets up and stands in front of him and takes her pajama pants off leaving her standing there in a pair of lacey purple panties and then she took off her tank top exposing her breasts. He smiles at her and gets up off of the couch sweeps her up in his arms and carries her to the bedroom.

Morning came quickly and Dusty jumps out of bed! Trevor! She hollers as she smacks his foot on her way out of the bedroom. He opens his eyes and looks at the time. “Holy shit! I’m late!” He says. Jumping out of bed he puts his jeans and t-shirt on and ran down the hallway to the front door and pulls on his boots, he didn’t even untuck his jeans from his boots. He ran back to the bathroom where Dusty is in the shower, he pulls the curtainback and grabbed her and kissed her so passionate that her knees went weak. “He looks at her beautiful wet face and says, I have such a pretty girlfriend, but man oh man, my future wife is some kind of gorgeous!” Smiling he kisses her again. “There you go again, with all of that smooth country boy talk!” She says jokingly.

The wedding starts in an hour. Dusty is ready with her hair and make-up and nails to perfection. Lacey and Lucille helped her with her dress and gave her the sunflower lilac and yellow roses bouquet that they had made especially for her. Dusty has her long hair pulled up into a beautiful bun showing her pretty diamond earrings that she splurged buying that morning to match the simple diamond necklace she had bought from Rachel when she bought her dress. Her make up is so pretty and her smoky eye look makes her look unbelievably sexy, at least that is what she hopes her new husband will think. Dusty put her wedges on and they made her look very tall and Lucille says, “wow! Dusty, you look absolutely stunning in that dress and those shoes; my grandson isn’t going to keep his hands off of you!” “Dusty laughs and said, I sure hope not!”

Dusty is standing outside of the barn waiting for her cue to enter. Henry is walking her down the aisle to give her away to marry his grandson and she couldn’t be happier. They hear the music start playing and “Henry asks, are you ready sweetheart?” “Yes sir, I am more than ready!” Dusty is pleasantly surprised at how beautiful the barn is for the wedding and how many guests that showed up for them. She looks up at Trevor and he looks so damn handsome.He is wearing blue wranglers and boots with a white long sleeve shirt, black paisley vest, smoke grey felt cowboy hat and a yellow rose boutonniere. When Dusty reached him she sees he’s got tears in his eyes and that made her heart just pound so hard and when he grabs her hands into his and looked at her she had tears well up and he reached and whispered, “I love you.” Then wiped her tears away.

After the I do’s and the preacher told Trevor to kiss his wife, Trevor grabbed Dusty and dipped her backwards and kissed her like it may be his last and the crowd roared in applause and laughter. The cake is a three tier cream in color with sunflowers and lilacs and the cake is lemon ice with raspberry filling. The decorations are so beautiful Dusty thought. The beautiful archway is covered in sunflowers and ribbon. The food is a potluck style dinner and the music is a local country singer. Dusty is so grateful at how pretty her wedding is and how much love everyone put into making this an unforgettable day. “Their first dance is to the song, Are You With Me? which is perfect for them. Trevor held her so close to him and bent down and kissed her softly and says, I will love you just like we are right now, for the rest of my life.” “Dusty laid her head on his chest and for the first time in her life she knows that she is finally home, he is her home.” No fighting, no beatings, no hiding, no crying and no more running. She is home.

Trevor and Dusty thanked all of their family and friends for coming and sharing their special day with them. Trevor helped Dusty up intohis truck and then he got in on the driver side and closes the door. He tells her that he has a honeymoon surprise for her. “Oh, she says with a laugh, the infamous honeymoon.” “He laughs and says, hell yes, I’ve been waiting for this day all week!” He grabs her hand kissing it and then smiles at her and tells her that he loves her dress that she took his breathe away when he saw her walking down the isle and that is why he lost it and the tears came. “I am one lucky man, Dusty Moore!” He tells her. “She says, I love the sound of that!” 

Trevor drives them up the coast to a quaint little town on the beach where he made reservations for them for a couple of days. He knows that Dusty loves simple and isn’t into extravagant places or material things so he incorporated that into this honeymoon surprise. They drove out to this beautiful beach and there are a few small cute beach houses sitting several feet from each other facing the ocean. Dusty is pleasantly surprised at the thought that was put into this honeymoon for them and that he knew what she would love. They got out of the truck and Trevor grabbed their bags and they headed to the beach house that he reserved for them and it is beautiful, It’s a bluish color. almost a sea foam blue with white trim and a cute white covered front porch with furniture. They walked up onto the porch and Trevor sat the bags down so that he could enter the key code to unlock the door. He hears a beep and the door unlocks and he opens the door. He turns around and gives Dusty a big smile andsweeps her right off of her feet and carries her into the beach house. She is laughing the entire way. He sets her down inside and kisses her and tells her that he hopes that she loves the house and the honeymoon he has planned for her.

“Dusty says, this is perfect! I couldn’t have dreamt of anything better than this, thank you honey!” She kissed him and then turned to check out the house while he went onto the porch and grabbed their bags. Sitting next to the bed is a bottle of champagne on ice with glasses and a bucket of chilled strawberries with a note that read, “I love you my sexy wife, Trevor.” She held the note to her heart. Trevor was watching her and then walked into the room and wrapped her up in his arms and kissed her cheek. “Dusty says, this is wonderful, thank you babe.” “You’re welcome, he tells her.” “Babe, we have dinner reservation’s, do you want to change or wear that sexy dress and make me fight all of the men off of you? He says jokingly.” “She replies with, I want you to fight for my honor.” Then let out a silly laugh. He just shook his head because he knows that she is just as quit witted and funny as he is and he really loves that about her. “Alright then, the sexy wedding dress wins!” He tells her while checking out how good she is looking in her dress. They left the beach house and headed to a quiet Mexican restaurant in town. The place is very romantic with only a few other customers having dinner. Trevor tells the woman at the counter that they have reservations. She grabbed the menus and motioned them to follow her toa private booth in the back of the restaurant that has candles lit and the lights are dim. On their way to their table a sweet older woman stops Dusty to tell her how stunning she looks in her dress and that she likes that Dusty picked a dress that enhanced her beauty instead of the beauty of the dress. She and her husband congratulated them on their wedding. Dusty told her thank you for the wonderful compliment, that she genuinely appreciated it. Dusty and Trevor sat down at their table across from each other and Trevor grabbed her hand and just stared at his beautiful wife; his tears started to well up in his eyes again and he wiped them away.

“What’s the matter babe?” Dusty asks him.

“I just never thought this day was ever going to happen. I wanted it to happen, but never thought you’d choose me. I didn’t know that you loved me all of this time too. He tells her in a choked up sincere voice.”

“Trevor, I have dreamt of this day since I was 16 and now today, I am Mrs. Moore and you know what, that is enough for me. I don’t need any fancy inheritance or horse ranch. I just need you. I love you with every breathe that I take, and it brought me to this day with you right now at this very moment and I wouldn’t change that, ever.” She says in such a loving way that he feels each word that comes across her lips.

Their dinner was wonderful and so were the margarita’s, Dusty thought. After they got back to the beach house she asked him if he’d like to walk on the beach and watch the sunset with their toes in the sand? That’s sound good to mehe told her. They kept on their wedding attire and grabbed a blanket and started their walk on the beach. Once they got down quite a ways from the other houses they unfolded the blanket halfway and sat down. The sun is getting lower and the sky is starting to change colors and reflecting off of the ocean. Dusty suddenly gets up and takes off running towards the tide. Trevor follows and catches her as she gets into the water and starts kicking water at him with her bare feet. He grabbed ahold of her from behind and started swinging her around and laughing with her. He put her down and they started walking in the water a little ways from where they left their blanket. The sky is getting more glorious in color by the moment. They stopped and kissed while the waves hit their feet. Dusty turned and looked as the sun is hitting the water and asked “Trevor, have you ever seen anything this breathtakingly beautiful?” “He looked at her and said yes, I have, and I will see this beauty every day for the rest of my life.” She turned and looked at him and gave him a kiss. They went back to the blanket and sat down putting their toes in the sand and holding hands while they watched the sunset on the best day of their lives.

The following week after their honeymoon ended, Dusty got on the road. She promised that she would call Trevor once she got to Boise and picked up her mother, so that he knew everything was alright. Trevor has this strange feeling in his stomach about the mother. He does not trust her, especially after the first time he met her. 

Once reaching Boise she gets to the hotel thather mother is staying at and Dusty takes a deep breath and then heads into the lobby hoping that this is the right decision. Well, it’s too late now she tells herself after opening the lobby door. The gal at the counter asked to help her. Dusty gave her mother’s name and for the woman to call her mother’s room to inform her that she is waiting for her in the lobby.

The woman at the front desk told her that her mother said that she will be right down. Dusty’s conscience is telling her that it is not too late to get up and walk out. Dusty sat there for a couple more minutes waiting and she just has this bad feeling come over her. She decided to walk out and leave.

As Dusty reached her truck she heard someone hollering for her. Dusty turned around and there is her mother and some man. Dusty looked at her mother and then said, “I told you that I am only picking you up and no one else.”

Laura says, “I know Dusty, but he needs a ride back to the bar where he left his car.” The man is kind of young looking with tattoos, a short haircut with a goatee. He is about 6’2 or so. 

“Dusty please, ” her mother begged.

“Oh! Alright,” Dusty says. 

They all got into the truck and Dusty says, “I need to know where you are going.” So the man told her to start leaving the parking lot and head toward the freeway entrance. 

Dusty stopped the truck, “You are not coming with us to Colorado! I don’t care what my mother has told you!” Dusty said in a stern voice. 

The man said, “I know. You have to cross the freeway to get to my car.” Dusty still felt uneasyand her stomach is in knots, knowing she has done the wrong thing by having her mother near her.

Dusty pulled out onto the road and headed to cross the freeway when her mother let out a really loud laugh. 

“What is so funny,” Dusty asked her.

“Oh! Dusty, my dear, you are so gullible. Did you really think that Johnny isn’t going to come with us?”

Dusty tried to stop the truck to make them get out and then Johnny put a gun to Dusty’s head and told her to drive until he tells her to stop. Dusty turned onto the freeway. 

“Where are we going?” she asked them. 

“Well we are going to your ranch.” Laura told her.

“But you’re not.” Johnny said as he started laughing,

“What do you mean, I’m not?” Dusty asked.

“Mom, what is going on!” Dusty demanded. 

“You will know soon enough.” Laura told her. 

“So I take it. You had this planned all along…right?” Dusty asked.

Laura looked at her then said, “Did you really think that you are going to get all of that money, and I was going to get nothing?”

Dusty then said. “I’m here so I can help you mom!”

“Well Dusty, that just isn’t enough because I want it all; not just the measly little amount that you will give me while I watch you and your new beau live the luxurious life that I want!”

“Laura that new beau is now my husband and he is a Deputy Sheriff, so you better think this through a bit more! Dusty tells her.

“You married him? You’re dumber than I thought, you little brat! It doesn’t matter that inheritance is mine whether he is a cop or not!” Laura says in a sarcastic hateful tone.

“That is what this is all about, is the damn money!” Dusty screamed at her. 

Laura slapped Dusty across the facethen told her; “I am your mother and you will not scream at me, you little bitch!” Dusty has not been hit since that day when she was 15 years old when she got away from her step-father and now she is fuming!

As they are approaching an exit Johnny told Dusty to take the exit and not to try anything stupid. Dusty takes the exit; looking for a place to pull into and jump out of the truck, or finding a police officer for help. There is nothing there. Deep down Dusty knows what their intentions are, and she is scared to death. Dusty starts thinking of Trevor and how much she loves him and how hurt he is going to be over losing her and how she wished she had listened to him. Dusty has now put herself in survival mode. If they try to kill her; mother or no mother, she will return the favor.

Johnny has her turn down this long winding road. The road seemed to go on forever until a dirt parking area came up on the right side. Johnny told Dusty to turn into the parking area and turn off the truck. Dusty’s heart is pounding so hard right now because now is when she is going to have to really fight for her life. 

Dusty turned off the truck and when she did Laura reached over and grabbed the keys from the ignition. Dusty has one single spare key in her pocket because Trevor was worried she may get locked out and wouldn’t have a way to get back into the truck. All three of them got out of the truck. Johnny is looking around to make sure he doesn’t see anyone there before he starts pushing Dusty toward the trail head. Laura is rightbehind them after using the keyless entry to lock the truck. Then Laura tells Johnny that she has locked the truck; and that Dusty has no way to get back inside the truck, because Laura has the keys.

Johnny started pushing Dusty more and more until he finally pushed her toward the ground; suddenly he is on top of her trying to get her jeans off with no luck he is becoming very angry and then grabbed a hold of her shirt tearing it partially off of her. Dusty is struggling trying to get away from him. He then hit her in the face with his fist. Pain consumed Dusty’s eye socket and she could feel the blood running down her cheek into her hair. Dusty decided it is time to fight back and to fight like she has never fought before; she is no longer that frightened teen girl, she is a strong woman. She started hitting and kicking Johnny. Then Laura grabbed Dusty’s feet; and sat on them so Dusty could no longer kick at them. Johnny grabs Dusty’s bra and tries to rip it off of her but the bra clasp won’t break; the bra is just digging into Dusty’s skin. The pain is awful, but Dusty will not cry! Johnny is getting so mad at the bra and wanting to get it off of her, that he laid the gun down on the ground. 

Dusty sees the gun lying there; suddenly she grabs the gun and puts the gun to Johnny’s chest as he is sitting on top of her, she pulls the trigger. The look on his face is pure shock. Then she put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger again! 

Dusty screams, “Get off of me you son of a bitch!” She pushed himoff of her and pointed the gun at her mother. 

Laura is in shock that Dusty has the gun. “Honey, we are just playing with you,” Laura said in a pleading voice.

“Playing with me?!” Dusty screamed at her. ”Now that I have the gun, you are just playing with me! You were letting your boyfriend try to rape me!” Dusty screamed at her. “You are trying to kill me!” Dusty kept the gun on her; then ordered Laura to get on her knees.

“Why?” Laura asked.

Dusty is getting even more furious. “It’s your turn! I am going to shoot you dead!” Dusty screamed at her.

“Oh! No! Dusty!” Laura pleaded. 

“I’m not going to tell you again. I said get on your fucking knees!” Dusty shoved Laura to the ground while screaming at her. Laura got on her knees. Dusty put the gun to Laura’s head and then said, “Thanks for nothing, mom.” She then pulls the trigger.

Laura is screaming and crying so loud. Then Dusty pulls the trigger of the revolver again and once again there is no bullet. Laura put her head in the dirt sobbing, and Dusty ran towards her truck.

Once Laura collected herself; she noticed that she had not been shot and that Dusty is gone. Laura started running up the trail toward the truck too. Dusty reached the truck; her shirt pretty much torn off of her and her bra is hanging down with her breasts exposed. The blood from her eye socket is running down her face and chest. Her vision is blurry. 

Dusty reaches the truck; she starts struggling to get the key out of her pocket, suddenly she sees that Laura is running up the trail toward her. Dusty gets the key in her hand; and starts to put it in the lock, but she is shakingso badly that she can’t line up the key right. Finally she gets the door open and gets into the truck, before she could get the door closed Laura grabs the door; then grabs Dusty. Dusty is hitting her anywhere and everywhere to get Laura off of her.

Dusty grabs the gun off the seat believing that the gun is empty, she hits Laura in the head with the gun as hard as she could, knocking Laura to a heap on the ground. Dusty grabs the door and shuts it quickly then locks the doors. She has to hurry because Laura has her other set of keys. Dusty is shaking so bad that she has a hard time getting the key into the ignition to start the truck. Once the truck is started Dusty put it in gear leaving her mother lying in a hump on the ground. Soon as Dusty has cell service she calls Trevor and tells him what happened. He told her to call the local police and make a report and to go to the hospital. She agreed. Trevor is furious. He contacts the police in Boise, ID and lets them know that Dusty is a fellow officers wife and she has been attacked and hurt and one of the people that tried to kill her is not dead, but injured, but that the male perpetrator was shot twice with his own gun, or a gun that he had in his possession. The officer taking his report told Trevor that they will get right on this and will inform him once they have conformation of Mrs. Moore’s whereabouts. Trevor thanked them and then hung up the phone. He fell to his knees and started praying for his wife and for God to protect her and not totake her away.

Dusty pulled into the hospital; she sat in the truck not believing what had just taken place. She grabbed the gun and put it under the seat on the passenger side; she wanted the gun away from her until she can give it to a police officer, then she got out of the truck. Exhausted by having to fight for her life she walked slowly up to the emergency room doors. A nurse saw her and ran to her asking her what happened and helping her to a bed. The nurse ordered another nurse to contact the police. After a few minutes a woman officer came into the room and started asking Dusty what happened and informed her that her husband Trevor Moore had contacted them and started the report. Dusty told the officer that she left her mother lying in the dirt and the man that attacked her was lying dead with two bullet wounds, one to the chest and the other to the head. The hospital called Trevor to let him know that Dusty is in the hospital being treated for her injuries and that she has to have stitches over her eye and that she is bruised with numerous cuts; but that his wife is a brave woman and he should be proud of her because she fought hard to save her own life. Trevor is choked up and told the nurse that he knows she is strong and so very thankful for that. He also told the nurse that he is flying into Boise in the morning and to please let his wife know. The nurse told him that she would let her know and have Mrs. Moore call him.

After Dusty is treated for her injuries she did not want to stay in thehospital, she wanted to go get a hotel room and wait for Trevor. Against the advice of the doctor and nurses Dusty left the hospital; the emergency room doctor did call Trevor and let him know that Dusty is no longer in their care and that she left the hospital against their advice or doctors orders and she had told them that she is going to get a hotel room and wait for her husband. Trevor thanked them for calling him but can’t figure out why Dusty would leave the safety of the hospital, but he will find out when he can reach her.

Dusty got to her truck and unlocked the door climbing into the truck she closes and locks the door. She then laid her head on her arms on the steering wheel and started sobbing. Suddenly she hears something and before she knew it Laura is slashing at her with a knife. She is cutting through her hands as she is trying to protect herself. Laura then made a quick slicing movement with the knife at Dusty’s throat. Cutting her throat, Dusty falls across the seat. Dusty laid there and she can feel her blood draining and her life flashing before her eyes. Laura jumped into the driver seat and pushed Dusty down on the floor to keep her out of sight of others. Laura puts the truck in reverse and starts backing out of the parking place. She looks at Dusty lying there motionless on the floor board with blood everywhere. Convinced that she is dead from the gash to the throat, Laura continues to drive to exit the parking lot and head for the freeway. 

Dusty is clinging to life by a thread. The gash did not hit her carotid artery, but she is bleeding profusely. Dustyopens her eyes and then sees the gun lying under the seat. She could faintly hear the music that is playing on the radio. 

Dusty grabbed the gun; using what strength she had left to turn herself over so she could point the gun at Laura.

 Laura caught a glimpse of the gun being pointed at her out of the corner of her eye; she then laughs at Dusty saying, “You silly girl. You know the gun is empty!” Dusty pulls the trigger shooting her mother in the side of the head. Laura slumped over the steering wheel causing the truck to crash into another car in the intersection. Dusty looks at Laura’s lifeless body then says, “I guess it wasn’t empty after all, you greedy bitch!” 

Dusty can hear the sirens coming from the distance and is praying that they get to her in time. Within what seemed to her like an eternity an officer opened the passenger side door and found Dusty clinging to life. He started yelling for EMT’s to hurry that there is a girl with her throat cut, but is still alive! When the ambulance got Dusty to the hospital the on duty doctor recognized her and his heart just sank; he knew that he has a very devastating call to a husband that he wished he didn’t have to make, Dusty’s injuries are very serious and he doesn’t think she will make it through the night. 

Trevor’s phone rang and he sees that it is the hospital in Boise. He answers thinking it is Dusty deciding to let them admit her, he had no idea of the tragedy that will be coming from who is on the other end of the phone.

Trevor hangs up the phone and throws it across the room as he is screaming and cryingat the top of his lungs! He collected himself and found his phone and called his parents with the sad news. They are in shock. “Dad, can you ask Uncle Frank if he will fly me in his plane to Boise tonight?” “I can’t get a flight out on a commercial jet until 11 am tomorrow and the doctor told me that Dusty is in surgery and her chances of making it through the night are very small.” “His dad in a choked up voice says, yes, son I will call him. Hold tight.” “After a few minutes his dad calls and says, pack your bag you leave in fifteen minutes.” “Thank God, thank you God, Trevor says to his dad.”

Trevor and his mother and Lucille fly in the plane with his uncle Frank and his dad and grandfather Henry are driving to meet them the next day. Lucille is extremely upset. She loves Dusty like Dusty is her very own granddaughter. She tells Trevor, I remember the day that she and that other young girl walked into the diner. Your granddaddy and I knew that she was a runaway and must’ve been running from something bad with all of the bruises that were on her pretty face. When she asked me for a job, I just knew that she was a hard worker because she was set on changing her life even though she was bruised and beat. I knew the other girl with her was a bad seed and your granddaddy and I were thankful the day that she ran out on Dusty; it was unfortunate that she took all of Dusty’s hard earned money though. I never mentioned it to Dusty, but I heard about a year later that Kendall ended up in prison for drugs andburglary. The officers called me because our diner number was the only number she had on her when she was arrested. Lucille says, she hopes that girl never gets released because she ain’t no better than Dusty’s greedy momma. Trevor listened to his grandmother’s story and was surprised he has not heard the whole story before and it made him love his wife so much more.

 Trevor walked into his wife’s ICU room and his heart just sank. She has bandages on her right hand and arm, her left arm and across her throat. She is hooked to tubes and a respirator to help her breathe; the heart monitor caught his attention and he stood there watching her heart beating. The surgeon told him that they had to put her in a medically induced coma to give her body a chance to heal itself. He walks to Dusty and sits in the chair next to her bed and grabbed her small hand into his and raised it to his cheek and says, “if you can hear me babe, I’m here. I love you, please come back to me.” He sat there sobbing while holding her left hand and he suddenly feels a hand on his shoulder and turns to look and it is Lucille, she is visibly shaken and sad by the situation. “Trevor, she will come back to you, your love will heal her.” Lucille tells him as tears roll down her face. 

© Ashby Frost