I was a bit surprised you guys liked the first chapter. It is and will be one of the emotional stories I have ever written.
Ashley sat on the bed shaking all over. "Kate, can you get Pogue for me please?" She looked up at her cousin's girlfriend trying to hold back the tears.
"Sure. I'll be right back" Kate rushed out of the room and hollered for Pogue at the top of the stairs.
"POGUE!" He heard his name and swore he never moved as fast as he did at the moment. He rushed up the stairs, taking three at a time.
"What's wrong?" He asked Kate at the top of the stairs as he caught his breath.
"It's Ash. She's shaking like a leaf and needs you." Kate explained in a hush tone as the boys along with Pogue's parents stood at the bottom of the stairs.
He nodded his head, saying he could handle it on his own and walked towards the room that belonged to one of the most important women in his life.
The guys silently went back to the living room but didn't focus on the TV. They had only heard of Pogue being that scared and worried one other time, when Chase had gone after Kate.
"You boys know the whole story right?" Pogue's father asked.
"Pogue just said she had been abused by her father." Caleb replied.
Micheal Perry took a breath, as if what he was about to say was the most troubling thing he would ever say.
"Her father was the who beat her, but it was her mother who would sit back and watch. Then when Ashley couldn't stand, because she was in pain her mother would whisper in her ear that she was worthless. That she would never find love cause they never wanted her in the first place."
"What?" Tyler asked appalled that anyone would do and say those things to their child.
"My brother in Law was running for a Judge's spot. They used Ashley to make him seem like a family man. Had I known..." he took a deep breath and blinked away a few tears. "had I known, I would taken her away from their and adopted her. She was always more of a daughter then a niece to me."
"I should have sensed something." Marilyn whispered perched by her husband.
"What do you mean sweetie?" He asked taking her hand in his.
"That summer she spent with us. She didn't wanna wear go near the water and then when her parents came to take her home, she hugged me so tight and said she loved it here."
Meanwhile upstairs, Pogue knelt in front of his cousin holding her hand in his. He hated the pained look in her eyes, wishing he could take her pain away. His parents had explained everything to him last night. Neighbors had heard the abuse for a while and tried to Ash out for just as long, but because of who her parents were police wanted hard evidence. The day she went down the stairs was all the proof they needed. One neighbor had been a SEAL in Vietnam and not only wrestled her father to the ground and restrained him and her mother, but also check Ashley for injuries and told her to stay conscious till the paramedic arrived. He had also been the one to stay at the hospital till Pogue arrived.
"Sweetie? You OK?"
"Its...just..." She took a deep breath. "this is the first time I'm going downstairs since...and I'm a little scared I'll freak out. Could you help me down the stairs?"
"You got it." Pogue took her uninjured hand and helped her off the bed. He and Kate stood on either side and wrapped their arms around her shoulders and waist.
"Guys." All three brothers stood when they heard Pogue's voice. Standing between Kate and Pogue was a 5'1 girl that looked like Pogue. They had same long brown hair, hers much longer, and and same brown eyes.
"This is my cousin Ashley."
"You can call me Ash for short. Everyone does."
"That's Tyler, we call him Baby Boy, since he's the youngest in the group." he pointed to Tyler who gave a shy smile and reached out to shake her hand.
"That's Reid. If he hits on you, you have our permission to smack him." He glared at Reid as he held his hand out to shake her hand instead of kissing it like he did with other girls.
"And finally, this is Caleb. The oldest and therefor leader of our group."
Caleb felt his breath lodge in his throat the second she stepped into the room. Her dark features blended with the soft tan in complexion. He took the uninjured hand she held out to shake it and felt the hairs on his arm stand up and his heart skipped a beat.
Once he regained his train of thought, he noticed the sight swelling of her face, the small wince she tried to hide as she took a breath and the brace on her wrist. Now he felt a sudden urge to beat the man who did this to her.
"Dude, you ok?" Reid's hand on his shoulder brought him back to reality. He shook his head and hoped he didn't make Ashley feel uncomfortable. He looked up and saw her and Kate talking in hushed tones.
"You ok?" Kate lead Ashley away after she had just shaken hands with Caleb. The moment their hands parted Caleb looked like he had just been bitten and Ashley got very pale and looked like her knees where gonna give out. She gave a quick look to Pogue and his parents who who saw Kate's concern.
Micheal and Marilyn were by their niece's side immediately.
Ashley took several deep breaths until she was able to talk. "I'm ok. Just felt this jolt when I shook Caleb's hand."
"Why don't we go into the dining room for dinner. Ashley, you still love Lizzy's roast beef?"
"Yes aunt Marilyn. I was actually hoping she was gonna make it soon." Ash replied with a smile.
As the teens went into the dinning room, Micheal and his wife shared a look with each other, then looked at Caleb and Ashley who were taking their seats at the table which were right across from each other.
It was one of those uncomfortable meals where the only noise was utensils hitting plates.
"So Ashley, I noted last night while the guys and I carried your boxes to your room you have a lot of books." Tyler broke the silence. "What do you like to read?"
"Horror, mystery, I have been getting into romances, but paranormal ones are probably my favorite." She answered, ignoring the choking sounds from Caleb.
"You one of those girls who think Vampires are sooo dreamy?" Reid joked.
"More of a shifter/werewolf kinda girl."
"What's you opinion of witches?" Caleb asked taking a sip of water looking at her in a way that made Pogue wanna kick from under the table
"Depends. We talking about good or evil? If's good witches or warlocks and the story line catches my attention, then I like them and if they're evil, well I'm rooting for the team that eliminates them." She shot back. After wiping her mouth, she asked to be excused and left the table.
After Ash had left the table, Caleb earned dirty looks from the whole table.
"Geez Caleb, way to make her feel at home." Pogue yelled as he and Kate left the table.
Pogue's parents just left the boys in silence, collecting the vacant plates.
Caleb rubbed his hand over his face and through his short hair. He knew he was an ass, but he was protective of his brothers and needed to know they could trust Ash.
"I know what you're thinking Cal. Do you trust Pogue?" Tyler asked his brother.
"I trust all you guys with my life. You know that."
"Well he trusts her, so you should too." Reid added then got up with Tyler and left him alone with his thoughts.
Meanwhile in the kitchen, Pogue's parents listen and looked at each with worry.
"When do we tell them?" Marilyn asked her husband.
"We'll wait till Ashley is settled. I don't wanna add to her stress, but it has to be soon." He noted his wife's worry and pulled her into his arms. "Don't worry hun. She's strong. She can take it."
