I promised a chapter a week and so far its all going to plan but now that we've hit the school holidays I'm going to be a bit more hit and miss with posting times so please bear with me.
Thank you so much for all your kind and encouraging words and I am loving your various theories on our heroine and her potential rescuers plus a few of the merry men so you should all soon find out whether you're right or wrong...
So, dear readers, brace yourselves - we're going in...
o0o0o0o0o
"I'm afraid there's nothing we can do, Ma'am. Your vehicle is beyond repair." The lead firefighter, who's badge said 'Donaldson' stated as he stood in front of Steph, towering over her at 6'6" plus.
She felt like saying "no shit, Sherlock" but her anxiety levels were rising so she just stood, holding Charlie's hand, numbly watching Donaldson's team as they put their equipment away.
Little fingers tugged on her own "Where we gonna sleep now, Mommy?"
Steph shrugged her shoulders, she really had no answers. In the last three years, just when she thought her luck was as low as it could go, it would take another nose dive. She wasn't sure how much more she could take but she'd be damned if she would throw herself on the mercy of anyone back in Trenton. She'd not spoken to a single person from there since that fateful day. She had no idea what they were all up to, not even her beloved Grandma Mazur… a lump got stuck in her throat and she squeezed her daughter's hand gently as she thought of her crazy relative, hoping she was still alive and giving everyone a run for their money.
"Hey, don't you worry, Little Thing. Uncle Lucas knows somewhere you can stay where you'll be very welcome and very safe." The old guy with the mane of silver-white hair who'd given them such a warm and comforting hug stated softly.
"Do you trust me?" he asked as he stretched out his hand.
Steph's spidey senses told her she should so she nodded, cautiously.
"Lucas Garcia at your service, Ma'am." He said as he handed her his drivers licence to confirm who he was.
At that moment Donaldson wandered over to let them know that he was leaving and that a tow truck was on its way to remove the debris "Ma'am. Oh hi Lucas, you ok?" He began. Steph nodded, holding the licence in one hand with the other one on Charlie's shoulder.
Lucas gave a smile of recognition "Yeah, just rescuing this damsel in distress. You know me, same ol' same ol" he explained with a smile and a soft chuckle.
"Best darn police chief we ever had." he said by way of explanation with a tilt of his head before adding "We're gonna leave now, ma'am but the tow truck is on its way and as there's nothing that can be done with the remains. It'll be written off so I'm gonna need your insurance details."
Steph nodded "Stephanie Maria Richardson, date of birth 10th of August 1986" she stated without flinching then proceeded to give him her phone and insurance details, knowing that if anyone was looking for her they'd not be able to find her through either fictitious set of information. In the beginning these details would not have rattled off her tongue so easily, she remembered with an inner smile at some of the looks people had given her when she stumbled over this most basic of information.
It was better that way Amy had told her when they set up her new identity at the women's refuge. Near enough that she would be able to remember it, but too far away for anyone to trace. Ranger's birth month, her birth date and a year younger, she could live with that. His first name sorta became her surname…
Once they'd completed the formalities Donaldson and his crew left and as they pulled away the tow truck arrived, quickly backing up to the once bright and shiny car. 'Garcia Recovery' it said on the side and Steph looked quizzically at Lucas, after all, he too was a Garcia.
"Family" he answered as he waved at the young man who jumped out of the driver's side wearing bright red coveralls - sandy blond hair, blue eyes and severe overbite. His passenger however made Steph flinch. He could have been Lester's younger brother but as she'd never met the Santos side of the family she was only guessing. Deciding to feign ignorance she stood and watched as the two men manoeuvred the towing rig under the front wheels then pulled the carcass onto the flat bed. Within ten minutes they were gone.
"Wanna tell me why you looked like you were about to lose your lunch?" Lucas asked nonchalantly as he pulled back into the traffic a few minutes later as Steph sat in Lucas' top of the line white Ford Ranger pulling the seat belt round both her and Charlie who was snuggled on her knee.
"The second guy? He just reminded me of someone, is all." She said, returning his feigned nonchalance while focusing on her daughter and waggling Bunbun at her.
Charlie had been remarkably calm, taking everything in as she'd watched the scenes unfolding. She was like Ranger when she did that. She had no doubt her daughter was going to grow up just like him and her heart clenched at the thought of him missing out for a second time. Only this time, he was not going to be able to step up and be her knight in shining armour as he had no clue she existed.
Lucas nodded in reply. He was not stupid, he could see that something about the truck had startled her and when Trey had jumped out from the passenger side she'd definitely gasped. He'd let it lie for the moment but something about what she was not saying troubled him. "softly, softly, catchy monkey" he thought as he drove towards his mother's place.
"Ok, so here's the thing." He began as he picked up speed and headed further into town. "My wife is out of town at the moment and I was on my way to my mother's to check up on her. If you've no better place to be, why don't we head on over together? I'm sure she'd put you up for the night, she's plenty of space."
"Are you sure? You've been so kind already." Steph asked, surprised that a complete stranger could make such a generous gesture. Since leaving the refuge she'd been on her own with very little help or support.
"No problems. She gets a little lonely now Dad's gone and the place is big enough so why not?"
Steph tilted her head as she considered her options. Maybe in a couple of days she would head back to Wyoming once she sorted out the insurance money from her car but right now and for some reason the gesture felt right and so with a shaky smile and determined nod Steph mentally reached out to grab on tight.
o0o0o0o0o
Taking a deep breath, Ranger picked up the phone, staring at the buttons as if they were going to bite him.
Over the years he'd tried so many times to call his precious Babe, but had always failed spectacularly. Every time he'd gotten halfway through the number sequence that was indelibly printed in his mind, he'd bottled out. He hoped she was safe and that one day she'd understand but not condone his accusations or actions. Forgiveness? Well that was never going to happen, he thoughts sourly.
Everything he'd thrown at her had been hurled through a jealousy filled, grief riddled haze but at the time he thought he'd had the evidence to back up everything he'd spewed out. Turns out he'd been wrong. So very wrong. She'd been the innocent victim in all that had gone down and he really, really wanted to tell her he was sorry. Sorry for breaking her heart, tearing their relationship to shreds…
But that was a conversation he'd probably never get the luxury of having.
There were other bridges he could mend, or at least attempt to repair to some degree. Parental love was unconditional, daughter love, however was not… He returned the handset to its base and walked backwards, away from it. He wasn't ready.
He'd try again later.
o0o0o0o0o
The large, carefully tended front yard was protected from the heat by two enormous velvet mesquite trees that led up to a sprawling soft salmon pink stucco covered single storey ranch style house. Stones of all shapes and sizes ran in front of the detached property where small flowering plants had been interspersed, seemingly randomly, between some of the smaller baked potato sized rocks. The careful, casual effect had obviously taken time, a seriously clever landscape gardener and plenty of money to affect.
"Welcome to my humble abode." Lucas said as he rolled up the drive towards the double garage that disappeared into the right-hand side of the home.
"Actually, that's not quite true" he continued as he put the car into park. "It was sorta mine… until I grew up and left home. Come on!" He finished enthusiastically with a flourish and a wink.
"It's beautiful." Steph said as she studied the exterior all the while clutching tightly onto her daughter who was studying the house from the safety of her mother's lap.
Lucas had coaxed them into his car and explained that as he was the retired local chief of police if anyone stopped them to complain about the lack of child's seat, he'd be able to deal with it.
With a call to his replacement, if needs be, he'd added with a knowing look.
"Mom knows we're coming and that you need a bed for the night." He began, knowing full well that once his mother had seen these two beautiful strays, she'd insist they stay as long as it took for Stephanie to get back on her feet.
"We'll get a car seat tomorrow." He added with a finality that brooked no argument.
o0o0o0o0o
Ten minutes after his first attempt, Ranger picked up the phone and tried again. Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he got as far as the sixth digit before slamming the phone down.
Running his hands through his non-existent hair, he tried again. Getting to the tenth before bottling it.
"This is ridiculous!" He yelled rhetorically. "How fucking hard can it be?" he added as he slumped to the floor he shaking his head to dispel the panic.
Finally he'd dialled all the numbers and could hear the phone ring at the other end. "Man up, Rangeman!" he thought darkly. "It's show time…"
"Rachel?" he asked tentatively as a woman's voice answered.
o0o0o0o0o
A small immaculately dressed woman opened the door just as the trio exited the car and made their way towards the deep porch that protected the front from the searing sun.
"Hello Lucas! Long time no see!" She teased with a warm smile. He'd been to see her only yesterday after he'd dropped his wife Angela at the airport. "What brings you to my door?" She asked her smile widening in genuine pleasure that went all the way into her eyes.
Although small in height she was soft and round and seemingly not a day over 50.
"Hi Mom. I come bearing gifts." He replied with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye.
"Really?"
"Yes really. Mom I'd like to introduce you to Stephanie and Charlie." He explained even as he gently ushered them forward.
"Stephanie, Charlie. This is my Mom, Delfia."
o0o0o0o0o
"You've got one hell of a nerve, Carlos!" Rachel began, hiding her surprise under the suppressed anger she knew she'd feel if he ever bothered to ring. He'd fucked up royally. Leaving Julie confused and angry when he'd stopped calling, just after Stephanie left.
Three.
Years.
Ago…
Admittedly he still sent money but the emails and phone calls that had been steadily building stopped completely and Julie had been way beyond hurt by his actions.
She didn't know the ins and outs of the argument that drove Stephanie from Trenton, but if he was being his usual martyred and tortured self, he only had himself to blame.
"Rachel, please!" He implored, his voice hitching as he tried to control the tears that threatened to fall. "I'm sorry. So…fucking…sorry." He whispered unaware that he'd lost the fight with the water in his eyes.
"Don't swear at me." Rachel replied, the wind completely gone from her sails as she listened to the anguish clearly etched into his voice. Even thought she was no longer incandescent with rage she would neither forgive nor forget the fallout as he abandoned Julie for a second time. "What do you want?" She asked warily.
"Just to speak to you. I can't even begin to justify my actions." He added softly. "I should never have pulled away when Steph and I broke up…"
"I heard you kicked the poor woman out of your building with nothing but a battered suitcase of clothes and a laundry basket." She growled out. "Oh, and a piece of shit car that probably only lasted to the end of the block. Though Tank tells me they found no evidence of it."
"Tank spoke to you?"
"Of course he did – Tanks speaks to me. Regularly! He's been keeping me up to date with your pity party and anger management issues. Aaaaannd Les might have whined about your idea of Rangeman discipline from time to time…"
"What the…!"
"Stop right there, mister!" Rachel interrupted "Don't touch that train of thought with a shitty stick, I mean it! Not that you deserve it but there are still a few people who care about you enough to let me know what is happening to the father of my child. For someone so selfish as to do what you did to those you purport to love, you are one really lucky guy who has better friends than he deserves."
"Ouch… I guess I deserved that." Ranger replied, rubbing the back of his neck with embarrassment before wiping the tears from his cheek. Dios! She'd never sugar coated anything before and it seemed like she wasn't about to start now.
"So. What do you really want? Because if it's to tell me that you're going permanently into the wind, never to return, I'm all for it. However, I think a certain troubled teenager might never recover. But. If it's to ask Julie to forgive you, you've got one hell of a challenge on your hands and a lot of growelling to do."
"Yeah. I guessed as much. I'm taking extended leave once Tank gets back from his honeymoon. Do you think we could arrange to meet and discuss what I can do to make it up to Julie?" he asked, hopefully.
Rachel burst into laughter and the sounds of her mirth flooded Ranger's apartment. "Good luck with that!" She finally gasped out. "You've heard the phrase Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, I take it?"
Ranger nodded silently and gulped audibly. "That bad, huh?"
"And some…"
o0o0o0o0o
Steph sank into the heavenly, clean sheets that Delfia had pulled out of a cupboard and Lucas had put on the queen sized bed in one of the guest rooms with a contented sigh. She couldn't believe her luck she realised as she thought about the kindness of these two extraordinary strangers.
The room was a good size, warm and welcoming and painted in muted tones but with enough knick knacks that it felt like someone cared about the space, even though it was clearly seldom used. Thick linen drapes in pale blue, ivory and aqua stripes surrounded the large picture window which looked out onto a large yard that was just as immaculate as the front one had been.
Fate had somehow put Delfia and Lucas in the right place at the right time and they'd realised she needed a friend. "See, you're on the way up." Her inner angel quipped as she clapped her hands together with delight. The pessimist, however, was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Shrugging away the negative thoughts she gazed over into the corner of the room where Charlie lay, sprawled across the mattress they'd put on the floor and barricaded with cushions in case her nightly gymnastics got a bit too carried away.
The biggest thing about the space was that for the first time in a long time she felt safe. Safe to protect and bring up her daughter. She knew it was just a temporary thing, but outside of when she'd first married Ranger, she couldn't remember a time where she'd felt so… peaceful. She really didn't want that feeling to go away again, and certainly not in the same abrupt and devastating way.
A smile flickered over her face. It felt weird. It seemed like it had been a long time since she'd used those particular facial muscles, she mused as sleep pulled her under.
In the kitchen, unbeknownst to her, Lucas and Delfia were deep in conversation.
"Poor girl." Delfia stated sadly as she glanced up in the vague direction of her spare room. "She looks so sad, so alone. Tell me again how you came to find her."
"I was driving down the 195 heading into town when I spotted a beaten up old Ford Escort. Couldn't have been doing more than 25 and I think it was struggling to stay at that speed. As we turned off the highway and into town I noticed it began to leak grey smoke from the exhaust which sprayed the ground behind it. I thought I'd keep an eye out as I was in no hurry. All of a sudden the grey smoke turned to deep black billowing clouds and suddenly the car began to shudder. Stephanie managed to get it into the curb before it died. She quickly clambered out, grabbing Charlie and making a run for it just as flames leapt from under the hood."
He stopped for a moment, resting his forearms on his knees before taking a deep breath and continuing.
"Mom, she looked so defeated, as if the whole world was crushing her down. The only things she had with her were her daughter and her purse. She hasn't said anything yet, but I don't think she has anyone left in the world who cares for her. Or her daughter. It broke my heart, Mom."
Delfia nodded, wisely. "Then it's decided. I'll tell her in the morning. She will stay with me until she gets back on her feet." She stated, crossing her arms across her ample bosom and nodding her head determinedly.
"I miss your Dad something fierce and it would be wonderful to have people staying here again. This house was made for a family and I miss the sound of children's laughter. I agree, Stephanie looks completely broken and I think she needs us as much as we need her. That little one, she reminds me so much of your cousin's son's daughter at the same age, excluding the riotous curls of course. I wonder what ever happened to him. Didn't he join the army or something?"
"Actually, you're right! Come to think of it she does look like Julie and even Carlos a bit but without her constant scowl or the depressed look he seems to constantly sport these days. No wonder his wife left him. Wouldn't it be funny if they were related?! Ha!" he smirked out. "Seriously though, Stephanie needs our help so tomorrow we'll need to make a list of things she'll have to go shopping for. Judging by the wreck she was driving I'd say money's fairly tight but I'm sure she's probably entitled to some financial aid so I'll look into that. Perhaps if she opens up a little we can find Charlie's deadbeat father and sort out getting money out of him."
"Careful, Lucas." His mother admonished. "There's a reason she's all alone. Her ex could be bad news. Maybe he's in prison. Maybe he beat her or God forbid Charlie, or harmed them in some other way. I think we need to be really careful how we go about doing right by her. I'd say she's been alone so long she doesn't know how to ask for help and if the ex is as big a bastard as I think he probably is, she'll not thank us for getting him involved."
"Yeah, you're probably right, she flinched when she saw a pick up truck from Enrique's fleet come to pick up the wreckage from the fire. And she definitely did a double take when she saw Trey, but she told me it was because he reminded her of someone, I think I'll get a guy I know at Rangeman to do a quick look at our fallen angel – he owes me a couple of favours - so that we can protect her. I'm sure it's nothing, but... Actually, Mom, I think I will stay the night, just to keep an eye on things. Angela's gone up early to help her mother and Celia organise Tia Maria's surprise 60th so I've a couple more days before I head up to Newark. Guess I've got a couple of days to help Stephanie get her life in order."
"That would be really helpful. I'm not so quick on my toes these days so a spare pair of hands to help our guests get settled would be useful. Anyway, I'm off to bed so I'll see you bright and early." She said as she stood up and wandered off towards her room.
"Night Mom!"
"Night Lucas."
o0o0o0o0o
"Oh Hi Dad – or should I say when the going gets tough the tough fuck off and drop their only daughter like a hot brick… deadbeat Dad" Julie said accusingly in the way that only a stroppy teenager can, as she stared at her father across the table at the local diner.
"Ouch. I guess I asked for that." He replied sadly.
"Yeah, You did. What do you want anyway? Lottie's meeting me to take me to the cinema to catch a movie in 10."
"What are you going to see?"
"No idea, but it means you have ten, no nine minutes to state your intent." She stated as she looked up from her phone, cocked her head and folded her arms as she waited for him to reply. Her blank face firmly in place. And what a blank face. If Ranger hadn't been so filled with remorse he'd have told her how proud he was of her and the young lady she was becoming.
As the silence lengthened she slowly and deliberately raised one eyebrow. "Well? I haven't got all day…Dad"
Taking a deep breath he leant back in the booth and played with the end of the straw in his drink. "I can't and won't go into the reasons why Steph and I split up as that's irrelevant, but I need to explain my subsequent actions…"
"Ha! That's easy. You fucked up. Throwing away one of two people who loved you unconditionally over some… thing. And you felt soooo bad you decided to screw over the only other person who also loved you unconditionally. Sucks to be you… Dad. Admit it, you're such a retard that you didn't see it. You still don't see it. Steph loved you Dad! She was your reason for living. She made you a better person. She made you re-evaluate everything you'd ever stood for. Everything you'd ever seen or done and yet for some… reason... you decided that the one adult in this whole wide world outside your army cronies who unequivocally had your back wasn't as perfect as you wanted them to be. You dumped her big time – I heard Tank tell Mom how she left with not much more than the shirt on her back and no dignity. How you threw her out. She was your wife not like Mom who you'd married out obligation but your real wife who you'd married out of love.
"I was once told my Dad was a soldier with the highest principles. I was told he was fair and listened to all sides of the argument. That he always looked for the good in his colleagues and teams. How he strived to support those in need and defended and protected the defenceless. I have no idea what Steph's crimes were but I sure as anything know that she didn't deserve the punishment you dished out.
"You are not the man I thought you were – you've become a monster. Once I worshipped you, now I don't even want to be in the same town as you. You are no longer someone I aspire to be."
Taking a quick look at her watch she stood. "I've gotta go now Dad. Make amends with Steph Dad and if she can ever forgive you then come talk to me. But not before." Turning to wave at the tall gawky girl masquerading as a twenty something who was waiting nervously at the diner's entrance, she stomped off to join her.
Ranger blinked as he sat in shock. Reeling from the vitriol his daughter had poured over him. Part of his was horrified at her argument and the disappointment and hurt that he had clearly caused. Part of him was so proud of the astounding dressing down she'd just given him in such a measured and adult way. One that few men had ever had the balls to try to do.
Rachel was right, it would be a cold day in Hell before she forgave him and allowed him back into her life.
Throwing a handful of notes down on the table that more than covered the bill he left, determined to prove to his daughter that he was sorry and that he was worthy of her time.
o0o0o0o0o
So, there we have it. For those of you who thought there might be a family connection...perhaps you're right. And who is our merry man? Who is Trey and how do the Garcias fit in?
All will be revealed...soon
R&R, it makes me type and edit faster.
Mwah