Anger began to rise within his entire body, much warmer then the sun's hot rays that surrounded him. How could she! he thought, his stride turning into a faster pace. How could she make a decision without him! She could of course, but not when it came to the farmhands! There were ten of them total— nine now. The Harvest season was almost upon them, if they had any crops to harvest from the dry summer, and the burning flames that the sun gave them. He had not imagined any other season like this. Now it was late autumn, and yet the heat still thrived! Sweat tickled his nape, and he ignored it. Flint's face turned into a deep frown while thinking. How was he going to replace the farmhand so late in the season? Of course he blamed her hormones, she had become more cranky by each passing month. Even poor Nancy had been caught in the fire once or twice. Ace even threatened he was going to grab her and drop her off Cobra Island, leaving her there! A six month pregnant Jaye was more then even Cobra could handle.
He jumped the porch steps, banged the door and found her eating a large canister of pumpkin with artichokes and some ice cream, all at once. His stomach turned. He stopped in front of her, his eyes blazing. "Tell me," he said in controlled anger, "Just tell me why you let go of Roger when I need him to operate the machine for the corn?"
"I have my reasons." Jaye said after she swallowed. "It's done and over with. No need to discuss it now."
"Firing one of our workers is something to discuss right now!" Flint disagreed with his wife, sitting down right across. "Roger was one of the best we had! He knows farming inside and out!"
"I know that!" Jaye shot back at him. "I knows this farm well too!" She stood up.
Flint grabbed her by the arm and gently sat her back down. "Tell me why you had him fired?" he asked.
"It makes no difference now. It's done and over with," Jaye said and tried to get back up.
"It makes a lot of difference. I want to know the reason!" Flint retorted, his anger slightly rising.
"You'll just have to trust me," Jaye shouted back getting up off the chair and heading towards the door.
"Where do you think you're going?" Flint jumped from his own chair, and easily maneuvered in front of her, blocking her way. "Allie, how can I trust you, if you don't tell me?"
She looked as if he had just slapped her. "Thanks a lot," she said with hurt filled words. "At least I know where I stand in your eyes now." She tried to get around him.
He blocked her. "I'm sorry it came out that way," he immediately apologized. "Allie, tell me, did he do something? Did he do something to you?"
"It's not worth it, Dash. Just let it go!" Jaye exclaimed. "Please."
"All right, you don't want to tell me the truth, maybe he will," Flint stated, now moving away from the door and toward the phone.
"Fine you really want to know!" Jaye yelled at him. "He was peeping in your sister's window while she was dressing. I caught him and when I said something to him he tried to hit me with a piece of wood. He missed and I kneed him in the crotch and fired him!" She turned to rush out of the house.
"What!" Flint said in a stunned voice. He couldn't believe it. "You could had immediately called me or Brad and we would had taken care of him!"
Jaye stopped and looked at him. "And I know just how you would have taken care of him Dash, and that's the reason I did not call either of you. Nancy doesn't even know. I couldn't bring myself to tell her."
"Yeah, you are right on how I would had taken care of him," Flint agreed to her words, raking his hair with his hands. "I'm glad that you didn't tell Nancy, she may not take it well. She dated Roger a few times, but found him as she says, no IQ higher then a frog's."
"Now do you trust me?" she asked with a hint of hurt.
Flint walked over and touched her shoulder. "Hey, I will always trust you, just don't keep things like that all by yourself, all right?"
She laid her head against his chest and started to sob slightly. "Damn these stupid hormones!"
He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "It's all right, Dashie is here," he said soothingly. "Care to join me for some lunch?" He glanced down at her teary face. "But I'll just settle for a grilled cheese sandwich and some chips."
"Is that all you ever think about?" Jaye asked, her voice was tearful but he could also hear the teasing.
"Well, men are always hungry," Flint teased, leaning down and biting gently her ear. "See?"
Jaye jumped a little and laughed. "Alright, I'll fix us some grilled cheese sandwiches, chips and iced tea."
"Correction, I'll fix us some grilled cheese sandwich, but you can get the chips and ice te,." Flint stated wiggling his eyebrows up and down, causing both of them to laugh. He kissed her gently, then started grabbing the toast and cheese for the sandwiches, while whistling, 'A real American hero, G. I. Joe is there.'
Jaye chuckled as she got out the chips and then fixed them two glasses of sweet tea.
Flint put on the radio and started dancing while fixing up the sandwiches. In no time they had passed the time laughing, fixing lunch, and eating it. The conversation went from Cayden's school semester in college to the new baby and baby's room. All too soon, Flint stood up from the table, washed the dishes and was about to head out. "It's not too cold outside yet, why don't you go to Nancy's for the afternoon? The air will do you some good."
"That's a good idea," Jaye said. "I want to show her the paint cards for the baby's room, get her input." She stood up, rubbing her belly then a shocked expression came upon her face.
"What! What is it?" Flint cried out in pure panic, rushing over to her side, touching her stomach. "Is it the baby?" His eyes changed into fear. "Something's wrong!" He raced to the phone and immediately dialed. "Dancy, it's Nash! HURRY!" He hanged up before his sister on the other end could reply. He then dialed another number. "Henry, it's Allie, something wrong!"
The phone receiver dangled from the warrant officer's panic state and he raced back to his wife. "Don't worry, I'll take you to the hospital right away!" He began to lead her— more like shove— her out of the door.
"Dash, will you stop! I'm not going to the hospital!" Jaye growled at him.
"Wh-what? Why?" Flint asked bewildered, looking quite concern.
Jaye grabbed his hand and quickly put it against her belly. The baby was so small that this was the first time she or he could feel the baby kick. "That's why."
"It's moving! Kicking!" Flint cried excitedly.
"Yeah. Did you feel that?" Jaye asked, holding his hand to her slightly swollen belly as she looked at him.
"I sure did!" He let out a chuckle, feeling the slight movement. He bent down and kissed her passionately. "I love you, both of you."
"And we..." She put her hand over his tenderly. "Both love you."
"You better," he joked with a smile. "I better head to—" But his words were cut off as Dufus raced passed them, holding a blue piece of material. "Hey! Those are my boxers!" He kissed Jaye quickly one last time, and then raced out the door, following the door. "Get back here you!!"
Jaye chuckled and headed out the door. She walked all the way to Nancy's, taking in the beautiful day. She walked up the steps and opened the door. But before she could say anything she was pushed inside so hard she hit the ground face first.
"Don't move, lady," a low snarling voice came next to her ear, rolling her around and her green eyes met the brown ones of one Roger Harris which still raged with anger from their last encounter. His brown hair was ruffled, and his mouth in a tight thin line.
"Allie!" Nancy screamed from the couch, standing up to help her sister-in-law.
Jaye's hand went to her swollen belly. She glared at Roger. "Get the hell out of here!!" she yelled as she started to get up.
"I will," Roger snarled, "With Nancy."
Nancy trembled, rushing to her best friend. She knelt down, touching her hand on Jaye's shoulder, helping her up. She glanced at Roger. "I-I'm not going anywhere," she tried to bravely say.
Jaye got to her feet and snarled at Roger. "You'll take her over my dead body!"
Roger glared at her. "Nancy, get the rope, and I'll have Mrs. Beret Pants tied up."
Nancy stood right next to the farmhand. "Please..."
"DO IT!!" Roger barked loudly, taking a step forward.
Nancy slowly nodded and headed toward the kitchen. She slightly turned, watching the man continue to look only at Jaye. She sent her a double blink, then entered the room, headed for the one of the drawers on an old cabinet, took out the rope. She glanced back towards the living room, watching them carefully while she picked up the phone receiver, and dialed Flint's cell. She let it ring, and left the message SOS, before placing back the receiver. A hand touched her own, and she let out a short scream.
"Now, Nancy, you are not callin' that airmess pilot, are you?" Roger asked her, his voice raspy.
"No!" Nancy immediately answered. "The receiver fell from before when you answered it." Her hand starting to tremble.
Roger took the rope from her hands. "Move," he ordered, grabbing her hand and shoved her toward the living room. They stopped short, finding the room now empty. "Come out!"
Nancy glanced around, not knowing where her sister-in-law had hid.
"Tell her to come out!" Roger snarled.
"Allie!" Nancy called out, her entire body trembling. She knew that the other woman was an ex- military personal, but Roger didn't. Or did he? Ace had been a friend with Roger close to four years now. Roger probably knew that Jaye, Flint and Ace were G. I. Joes.
"Come out now, or she dies!" Roger threatened, glancing left and right.
Jaye had activated the speaker that would go out to the barns, the houses and the vehicles. "Now, now Roger," Jaye said in a tsking voice. "You wouldn't hurt Nancy. I on the other hand, you can't stand. How about you come find me and if you do I'll give myself up." Her voice went over the speaker.
Nancy nervously glanced around, finally spotting a shadow near the office's door. It had to be her sister-in-law, but a tug on her hand jerked her to towards the front door, causing her to let out a small painful cry.
"That won't work, Mrs. Military!" Roger growled, his keen eyes searching. "I know you probably setting a trap. I'm too smart for you."
"Well, that's a shock," Nancy muttered, trying to pull away. "Let me go!" Her demand was another jerk towards the door and another cry escaped her throat.
"You have one minute to show yourself!" Roger demanded, holding Nancy's wrist in a tight grip.
Jaye peeking toward the living room, took Ace's baseball from his office and threw it at Roger, hitting him extremely hard in the back of the head.
Roger turned around and took one step forward, heading from the basketball's direction when something hard crashed onto his head, and he fell to his knees, before falling to the ground unconscious.
Nancy glanced down at the fallen man, trembling. Her heart pounded quickly in her chest. "Well, I finally found a way to use Brenna's ceramic doorstop." She looked down at the broken pieces. "Allie? Where are you?"
"I'm right here," Jaye said, walking out of the study. "Come on, we need to get out of here."
Nancy wasted no time. She grabbed Jaye's hand and glancing down at Roger, she noticed he began to stir awake. "He's waking! Hurry!" she raced to the front door and darted out of the house, pulling Jaye with her.
"Take the jeep and go get help. I have to go and call the police," Jaye said, starting to run toward the barns.
"No!" Nancy stated, grabbing her sister-in-law's wrist. "I'm not leaving you with him around! I called Dash and used the SOS code."
"Let's go to my house then and lock him out," Jaye said, rubbing her belly, a nice bruise forming on her forehead.
Nancy nodded, taking the other woman's hand. "Hurry," she urged, starting to head for the jeep, but a loud banging noise made both women stop cold.
"NANCY!" Roger's voice roared from the porch.
Jaye turned around then got in front of Nancy.
"Come with me Nancy! I know you love me!" Roger cried out, starting to head towards them.
Nancy's features turned deathly pale. "Al—" Her voice was drowned by the thundering sound of hooves coming from their right. She turned and spotted Flint and Ace racing at top speed on two horses, one black, one white. Wilma and Pegasus! PEGASUS! her mind screamed, watching her horse come near them.
Roger turned to the sound and uttered a curse under his breath, then ran as fast as he could.
Ace jumped off his horse and checked on his wife.
"Not so fast, Roger!" Flint bellowed, making his horse burst into a quicker speed, edging close to the other man.
Roger's eyes widened, but continued to run, panting from his run.
Flint yanked the reins to the right, almost towering over the other man. The horse neared the farmhand, its breathing matching his rider's. With a swift move, Flint jumped off his horse and landed on top of the other man, both falling to the ground. "Brad!" he cried out, while making sure Roger did not escape.
"There's rope in the living room!" Nancy said to her husband.
Ace ran into the house and was out by Flint in no time and they secured their prisoner.
Jaye stood there next to Nancy with a hand on her belly and one rubbing the sore spot on her forehead.
"You both all right?" Flint asked in concern, finishing trying the knots. He glanced from one woman to another. "Smart move both of you on the SOS and the intercom. The sheriff is on his way."
"Good," Jaye said as she walked over towards the men.
Ace got up and pulled Nancy too him.
"H-he came in, I thought it was you—" Nancy started to explain, her entire body trembling from the ordeal. "He-he— said he wanted the money, and then –then he wanted me to go with him."
"What money?" Ace asked. "We don't owe him any money."
Jaye walked over to her husband and gently put a hand on his shoulder.
Flint took his wife's hand, while keeping an eye on Roger. "You all right?"
"Just a small headache. I broke my fall when he shoved me on my forehead," Jaye answered. One hand still rested on her belly and the other one rubbed the bruised bump.
Flint wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her close. "I'm glad you are safe," he said, glancing from her face to his sister's. "Both of you."
Nancy only nodded slowly, becoming silent.
Jaye hugged him back as Ace pulled his wife closer to him as if reassuring himself that she was safe. Sirens could be heard drawing near.
In a few minutes two police cars came rolling in the driveway. Sheriff Barney Fife climbed out, scrunching his nose and pulling his pants up. "Well, I see you got a dastardly villain, Faireborn."
Flint nodded. "Roger here broke into the Armbruster home, caused damages, endangered both women, and almost kidnapped my sister."
"Well, I say! That is a lot!" Sheriff Barney Fife said impressed, picking up the criminal. "Come on, you. Where you're going you are going to have nothing but beans to eat." He led Roger back to the police car, placed him inside and drove away.
Nancy glanced at the police car speeding further and further away from the driveway, and a shiver went down her spine from what had happened. She closed her eyes and shut off the memory. A soft neigh came to her ears and she slowly opened her eyes, finding her white mare before her. From all the terror, she had forgotten about her. "Pegasus," she whispered the horse's name, thunderstruck.
Jaye looked up at the sky. "I think we better be getting the horses inside."
Ace hugged his wife slightly. "I couldn't bare the thought of you and Pegasus parted any longer. I got a couple new students and I saved the money and bought her back," he whispered to her.
Nancy stared at her husband then at the horse. "Take her back," she said, her eyes showing no emotion.
"No. Why?" Ace asked, hurt and confused.
"Take her back!" Nancy left his embrace, taking a few steps away from him. She could see his eye at that moment. She knew what those eyes which she saw everyday for the past five years told her.
"Nancy—" Flint went to say gently, glancing at his sister to his brother-in-law.
Nancy whirled around, her chest heaving up and down, her brown eyes turning dark. "Take her back. We can't afford her!" She pivoted, touching the horse's mane.
Flint blinked. He glanced down at his wife. "Can you find out what's going on?" he asked her gently. "I'll speak to Brad. And can you take care of that bruise of yours?" He leaned down and kissed it very lightly. "Okay?"
Ace looked incredibly hurt.
Jaye nodded. "Nancy," she said as she went over to her friend. "Come on let's go inside. I need you to help me with my bruise."
"Yes, yes of course," Nancy said, taking the other woman's hand and walking back into the house, straight to the kitchen. She led Jaye to the chair, helping her sit, then went to the freezer, grabbed an ice pack from it, and wrapped it around with a towel. She returned to Jaye, placing the ice pack on the head. "Thank you for before."
"For what?" Jaye asked as she held the ice pack on her forehead.
"For coming in when you did," Nancy answered slowly, glancing down, not meeting Jaye's gaze. "I thought it was Harriet. She had come this morning--" She felt the lump in her throat, and her hands slowly shook. "She came to ask me and Brad to be the Godparents for little Heidi..." She fell to her knees, trembling. "He-he barged in, and wanted the money. I thought Brad had stopped, I thought—" Her hands covered her face, and she softly sobbed in them.
"Oh God, Nancy." Jaye knelt down on the floor next to her. "He has stopped. He's home every night. Believe me."
"No, Allie," Nancy said through her tears, dropping her hands from her face and laid them on her legs. Her trembling hand reached to one of her jean pockets and pulled out a crumbled note. "Here." She handed Jaye the paper.
Jaye took the paper, opening slowly, and her eyes widened, reading what it said, "I.O.U. $10,000."
Nancy's lips quivered. "It's-its his hand writing." She slowly stood up. "I lost him Allie, to money."
"Look at it, Nancy. That also looks like Roger's handwriting and he was pissed because I fired him that morning." Jaye told her.
"It-it doesn't matter, Allie," Nancy said, wiping her tears away. "He probably gambles because of me." She wrapped her arms around herself, walking out of the kitchen. "I pushed him to it. I must have." More tears danced in her eyes. "I blame myself, not him. He knows."
"Now why would you have pushed him to gambling?" Jaye asked as she once again pulled the older woman into her embrace.
"Allie, ever since we found out that I can't have a baby. Everything changed," Nancy poured out her heart. "I became so sad that I didn't let him in." She stopped from a moment, taking a deep breath and let it out slowly. "But we really don't talk about it. And if we do, he keeps asking me how I feel. You saw that outside. He held me more like a child, than his wife. Then we have a short conversation on the gambling. I tried to help him and I failed. It's best if I—" Her voiced trailed off, swallowing the last word, "leave."
"No. You can't leave. That's not the answer," Jaye said urgently.
Nancy slowly left the embrace, letting go of her sister-in-law. "It's too late. I'm going to Mom and Dad's in Hawaii for a while and then at Brenna's. My flight leaves... tomorrow," she said, the last word, coming out as a sob.
"Nan, please don't go. You can't leave me as the only female here," Jaye said, starting to cry.
Nancy walked over and wrapped her arms around her, just as she used to when Jaye and Flint had arguments, and she had to pick up the pieces and put them back together. "Please don't cry, but you know I tried to work this and I failed him and myself. I promise to come back for the baby. You know I keep my promises."
Jaye sniffled. "It's not going to be the same here without you."
"I'm going to miss you terribly, you're my best friend," Nancy stated, tears trailing down her cheeks. "I'll miss you all. Goodbye, Allie." She let go of the woman, slowly walking away, and up the stairs. By the next morning, Nancy Faireborn-Armbruster had left Faireborn Farms.