This chapter is a little shorter, but I really wanted to get this chapter up, and I think it ended pretty well.
THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS STORY! YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING! ;)
Please remember to review at the end!
Parker didn't know when she drifted off to sleep, but she did. She fell asleep in Eliot's arms, in Brownie's stall, and didn't move all night.
She felt something moving her hair, and she groaned as it continued to move over her hair. She nuzzled her face in Eliot's chest, trying to get away from whatever was messing with her hair.
A loud neigh ringed in her ears just as she moved away. She jumped and sat straight up, though she didn't leave Eliot's side, until…
Brownie was tossing her head up and down, and was standing up in her stall.
Parker let out a light scream of glee, waking Eliot in the process, and stood up.
"Brownie, you're standing." She stated with a joyful tone. She wrapped her arms around the mare's neck, and hugged her tightly.
Eliot stood up, and smiled at the sight. Parker was happy, and Brownie was alright.
They heard a laugh from the stall door, and Eliot turned to see Sheryl and Derek standing in the door.
"Brownie started to improve early this morning." Sheryl replied with a smile. "We didn't want to wake you until we were sure." She added, clasping her hands in front of her.
Parker smiled and let Brownie go. She stepped quickly towards Sheryl and wrapped her arms around the woman's neck. "Thank you." She whispered, as she squeezed the woman lightly.
Sheryl smiled and returned the hug. "You're welcome, sweetie." She whispered, as Parker pulled back, and went straight to Brownie.
Derek smiled and looked down at his wife. "I told you." He whispered, when she glanced up at him.
Sheryl narrowed her eyes, and tilted her head, but didn't say a word.
Parker giggled as Brownie bobbed her head up and down, and looked at Eliot with so much joy she didn't think she could contain it.
Eliot smiled, and walked towards her, and rubbed Brownie's face. He looked into Parker's eyes, and his smile seemed to widen.
Parker felt her face grow hot at the intensity of the stare, but her eyes never left his. She reached up with her right hand and grasped his right hand, which was still on Brownie's face.
Sheryl smiled to herself at the moment. She glanced up at her husband, and smiled as he winked at her. Everything was falling into place.
~Hours later~
Parker stood at the back window, and sighed as she wrapped her arms around her. Last night had almost been perfect. She had finally got Eliot to talk to her about what was bothering him, and then she had come so close to telling him how she felt about him, but then Brownie…
She closed her eyes at the scare she had received last night. She had almost lost Brownie, and it scared her. She was now almost positive that, whoever was after Eliot was trying to get to him through her. Should she tell him? What would he do? Send her away?
She shook her head at the thought. She wasn't going to leave him, not when he needed someone. No, not now. She couldn't leave him. She loved him. Yes, she did, and she wanted to tell him.
He had left to go check the cows after Sheryl had told them that Brownie was going to be okay. She just needed to rest and recuperate. No riding for a few days.
Parker was slightly disappointed, but Brownie's health was more important. She asked Sheryl, before she came to the house, how did she know so much. It had shocked her when Sheryl told her that she was a veterinarian. Though she didn't practice much, she did tend to the animals on the ranch, and in town.
Parker closed her eyes. She needed Eliot. Not the kind of need that a woman needs a man for, no, she needed him to hold her, to reassure her that everything was going to turn out alright, as long as they had each other.
She had been tempted to call the team when she got in the house, but thought about what Eliot said. He didn't want to involve them, not yet, and she would respect his wishes, for now.
She sighed as she touched her side. Her side had closed up, beautifully. In fact, she could take the stitches out any day she wanted to, at least, from what Sheryl said, and Parker wanted them out now. She hated whenever she reached up, she could feel the pull, but not as bad, and to top it off they itched. She wanted so bad to scratch, but Eliot had scolded her when she attempted to. She reached up with her right hand and touched her left cheek. The scratch was gone now, nothing but a scar. Every time she looked into the mirror, it was a blatant reminder of what happened. The hope she felt when she thought of Eliot coming to her rescue. The fear, when she doubted for a second. The joy when he came through the door. The love she felt when he picked her up, and carried her out of there.
She smiled as she thought of the love now. She loved him, and nothing was going to change that. She had already begun to show her love when she told him about Bunny. She wanted him to know, and in turn proved that she trusted him with her past, present, and future.
She turned from the window, and slowly walked into the living room. She missed Eliot. She wanted him there, granted she was used to him leaving every day, but today she needed him. Sitting on the brown leather couch, she pulled the cowboy throw from the back around her body, and snuggled into the leather. She would wait here until Eliot came back.
~X~
Eliot shifted his weight on the saddle as he watched the herd move around in the pasture below. He hadn't wanted to leave Parker, not when she had needed him, but he had to check the herd.
His check had proved useful. A young bull, one he had hoped would be a good sire, had been butchered. First Brownie now a young bull, a bull he had handpicked, and a horse he had raised. His suspicions had been confirmed.
Someone was targeting him, and he didn't like it.
He sighed as he surveyed the landscape. His eyes narrowed as he found nothing. Whoever was doing this, knew how to cover his tracks. The one thing that bothered Eliot was that he couldn't figure out who was doing this. He had made so many enemies, and now they were coming back to haunt him, and not just him, but Parker too.
He closed his eyes in pain at the thought of her being hurt or worse. He didn't know what he would do if anything happened to her. He should send her away. Tell her to go back to the team, but she wouldn't leave. No, he thought. She wouldn't leave, not now.
He could force her. Tell her that she means nothing to him. He could hurt her, but doing that would hurt him. No, he couldn't hurt her. He would rather die or be tortured than hurt her.
Picking up the reins, he wheeled Midnight around and headed back to the house. He did think about riding Hawkeye, but with Brownie still recuperating, Hawkeye had refused to leave. Eliot smiled as he thought of those two. In many ways, they reminded him of him and Parker. When Parker had passed out from her wounds, he had refused to leave her side. He remembered Sophie telling him that Parker was going to be fine. He couldn't tell them that Parker had gotten hurt because of his past.
He never told them. He was reason Parker had gotten hurt. He was reason she had gotten taken. Monroe's accomplice had picked up something that Damien had missed.
Eliot was vulnerable, and Parker was the chink.
They had all thought that Parker had been taken because Nate had decided to take down the rest of Monroe's empire, but they were wrong. She had been taken because Eliot had shown weakness. He had cared for Parker, and now he was hopelessly in love with her.
Whoever is after him probably knows it, and that was a risk he wasn't willing to take. He sighed as he made it to the barn. Climbing down from Midnight, he led the horse into the barn, and settled him down for the day.
Walking to the house, he thought over the words he needed to say to get Parker to leave. He wouldn't have her in danger. He wouldn't.
He opened the door, and paused when he saw her fast asleep on the couch. He smiled, put his Stetson on the hook, and walked over to her, taking in the sight. He bent over, and tucked the throw, which had fallen down her arms, up to her chin as he settled her down fully on the couch. She moved slightly in her sleep, but she didn't wake up, and at the moment he didn't want her too.
She'd been through a lot, and last night was not a picnic, especially sitting up all night on the hard barn floor.
He straightened and smiled as she moaned lightly. He turned on his heel, and walked into the kitchen. He smiled as he thought of the hamburgers they were supposed to have the night before. Sheryl had come in, and put everything up. He would have, but he didn't want to leave Parker.
He sighed as he grasped the marble tile. What would he do without her? He couldn't ask her to leave, and he couldn't make her leave. He needed her, just as she needed him.
He heard light footsteps enter the kitchen, and stop beside him. He closed his eyes as he felt arms wrap around his waist. He turned his head, and opened his eyes to see a smiling Parker gazing at him.
"I'm glad you came back." She stated, leaning forward to peck his lips lightly.
Eliot smiled, and returned the kiss lightly. "I couldn't stay away." He whispered, in a gruff tone.
Parker smiled, and kissed him again. "Is everything okay?" She asked, when she pulled back, looking into his eyes.
Eliot sighed. "I'll tell you later." He whispered, touching her face gently with his right hand.
Parker narrowed her eyes, and tilted her head. "Why won't you tell me now?" She asked, softly.
He sighed, and slowly shook his head. "Someone killed a bull that I handpicked a year ago." He whispered, softly.
Parker's eyes widened. "Oh," She whispered, dropping her arms to her side.
Eliot sighed and turned to the fridge and opened it up. With a quick movement, he grabbed a bottle of water, and twisted the top off.
"Are you okay?" She asked, as he took a swallow of the water.
He pursed his lips as he placed the bottle on the island. "Not really." He whispered, staring at the marble.
Parker sighed, and shyly placed her right hand on his back. "You still don't know who it could be?" She asked, in a quiet tone.
Eliot shook his head, and glanced at her. "No, I don't, and that's the problem." He stated, shoving away from the island, heading to the living room.
Parker's brow furrowed as she followed him, and watched as he walked to the window, placing his hands on the both sides of the frames.
Eliot sighed as his eyes closed. "I think you should leave, Parker." He stated, but in a low hesitant tone.
Parker's eye widened and her head began to shake. "No…" She paused, swallowing hard. "Ugh uh." She added with another shake of her head.
Eliot turned around and found her eyes displaying fear and pain. "Parker," He began, walking towards her and gently, but firmly grasping her upper arms. "Listen to me. I can't risk the thought of something happening to you, and if you stay here, there is a possibility that it could happen." He stated, peering into her eyes.
Parker shook her head. She knew that possibility could occur, but she knew that no matter what Eliot would protect her. It was a risk, but that was what they did. Take risks.
Eliot watched her slowly shake her head once again, as her eyes never left his.
"I can't leave you, Eliot." Parker finally said after a moment had passed.
He sighed at her words. "I'm not asking you, Parker. I'm telling you. You need to leave." He stated in a gruff tone.
Parker had enough. Everyone always told you that she needed to do this, do that, but not Eliot. He always accepted who she was and how she acted, and now he was telling her to leave. She could take the others, but not him. She wasn't going to leave him. He needed her, just as she needed him.
Narrowing her eyes, she stepped back from his grasp, and glared at him. "I'm not leaving, Eliot." She stated, in a firm tone.
He huffed as he ran his right hand through his hair. "Damn it, Parker." He stated, shaking his head. "It's not safe here, and I want you to be safe." He added, closing his eyes.
Parker tilted her head. "I am safe." She whispered, watching him. "I've never felt safer in my life than right here and now." She added, watching his eyes open to reveal the pain she had seen once before.
"Parker, whoever this is, is targeting things that I care about, and it won't be long before he makes it to you." He stated, his fists clenching at his sides. "I don't care if he hurts me, but if…" He paused, jutting his jaw forward. "If he makes it to you, it'll kill me." He added in a soft whisper.
Parker stepped towards him, and reached forward to grasp his hands in hers. "And if anything happens to you, it'll kill me." She whispered, gazing into his eyes. "I can't lose you, Eliot. If you force me away, it'll hurt just as much. I can't leave you, Eliot. Not now and not ever." She stated in a strong, yet slight weak tone.
Eliot searched her eyes. "Why?" He asked, wanting to know the truth. "Why do you want to stay when it could mean that you could get hurt?" He asked, seeing a light enter her eyes.
Without a word, she quickly closed the distance between them, and wrapped her arms around his neck. She turned her head and whispered the words she had so long wanted to say.
"Because I love you."
Eliot's world seemed to stand still. His arms had wrapped around her when she wrapped her arms around him. His heart seemed to pound through his chest.
Parker smiled softly as she propped her chin on his shoulder. He hadn't said the words back, but he didn't have to. He wouldn't protect her as much as he did, if he didn't. She knew that. So when he turned his face, and slowly pulled away to look into her face, she let the smile remain on her face.
"I love you too." He whispered, in a shy tone, but judging by the way her face lit up, he had made the right decision.
With the brightest smile on her face, she leaned forward and crushed her lips to his. He groaned at the yielding passion in the kiss, and opened his mouth as hers did the same. Her fingers wove through his long hair, and his right trailed up her body into her hair.
As the night began to cover landscape of the ranch, a new understanding past between them, as Eliot gathered Parker in his arms as they snuggled under the covers, he knew he would never ask her to leave again.
No, they didn't make love, but they knew after the declaration that something was different, and it would continue to be different, but they were okay with that. They knew that whatever came at them, they would face it the only way they knew how, together.
~In a Cave on the outskirts of Eliot's property~
Nicolas Conway threw a tin cup to the other side of the cave. He growled in aggravation as the sound ricocheted off the walls.
He turned to the picture sitting on a makeshift table, and frowned. He had failed. The horse was still alive, but at least there was one consolation. Eliot and his little thief had grown closer, if the view from Eliot's bedroom window a few minutes ago was anything to go by.
Nicolas smiled as he lifted the picture. "My first plan didn't work out, Bonita, but Eliot Spencer has strengthened his relationship with the little thief." He whispered, touching the picture with his other hand.
He sighed as he looked out of the opening of the cave, the fourth one since he began, and his brow furrowed.
"Soon, Bonita, soon, Eliot Spencer will know how I felt when he took you away from me." He whispered, as tears built up in his eyes.
"He should have never fallen in love." He whispered, glancing down at the picture. "Love is a weakness."
What did you think?
I hope it wasn't too soon for the declarations. After all they had been in this relationship for a month, and beside I thought it was about time, though they have not made love yet. This relationship is still progressing.
The next chapter will be up in a few days, most possibly this weekend!
Until Next Time...