Chapter 11

Edward woke up hearing a helicopter approaching. He sat up quickly and looked around.

"What's going on?" Debra asked.

"I don't know." Edward said as he found his pants. He pulled them on and hurried over to the truck. He opened the door and grabbed the radio from the center console. "Josh, what is going on?"

"Ace is coming in, boss. He's been trying to call you. I told him you didn't want to be disturbed, but he is almost here."

"I see him coming now. Thanks, Josh." Edward put the radio down and walked over to Debra who had already gotten dressed. The helicopter flew closer and hovered over them. Edward gave Ace a thumbs up and pointed towards the ranch. The helicopter flew off. Edward turned on his phone and checked his messages. "Shit."

"What’s the matter?" Debra asked.

"Ace is here with the ADA. They want to talk."

"Oh." Debra stood up. "I guess we need to go back."

Edward pulled Debra close. "Good morning, Darling. I hope you slept well."

"I slept very well in your arms. I always do."

"I love you. You don't need to do this if you don't want to."

"Yes, I do. I can't stop now."

"All right. Let's just throw this stuff in the back of the truck, then."

"I love you, too, Edward." Debra said then laid his head against him for a moment as she held him. Edward squeezed her. After a moment, Debra pulled back. They started cleaning up the campsite.

Edward pulled up to the house a while later. He shut off the truck and quickly got out. He hurried around the truck and opened Debra's door. He helped her out. He pulled her close and kissed her. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes. Why stop now?" Debra said. "I just want to change and freshen up first."

"I'll keep them company and get coffee and breakfast ready."

"I just want some toast for now. I don't know how much my stomach can handle right now."

"Ok." Edward said as he put his arm around her. They started up the steps to the porch.

Ace opened up the front door. "I'm sorry to disturb your time alone, but the ADA said she didn't want to wait."

"Just give me some time to get changed and I will talk with her." Debra said. She walked past Ace and hurried inside. She went upstairs.

Edward followed Ace inside. They walked into the living room. “Edward, this is Assistant District Attorney, Lisa Evans."

Edward shook her outstretched hand. "Hello. Welcome to my home. I'm sorry I wasn't here when you arrived."

"It's my fault. I wanted to get an early start." Lisa said. "How is Debra doing?"

"She's making progress. She's still recovering from her ordeal, but she has come a long way."

"It looks like she was doing great out there in the field." Lisa commented.

"We have gotten close, but she is still recovering. She is still very fragile, so I would appreciate it if you take it slow."

"Of course."

"If you'll excuse me for a moment. I need some coffee and something to eat. Can I get you anything?"

"No, I'm fine. Thank you."

Edward walked out of the living room and to the kitchen. He went over and poured two cups of coffee and started some toast for Debra.

Mrs. Gardner walked into the kitchen from the back door. "I'm sorry, Edward. Would you like some breakfast?"

"I'll just have coffee for now. I'm making Debra some toast, though."

"You need to eat too. I'll make you some eggs. It won't take but a couple of minutes."

"Thanks, Mrs. Gardner." Edward said. The toast popped up and he took it out. He placed it on a plate. He carried the toast and the two cups of coffee into the room and set them on the coffee table. "I’ll just go see what is taking Debra so long." Edward said.

Debra walked into the room. "There is no need, Edward. I'm right here." She said as she walked over to him. "Hello, I'm Debra. Nice to meet you Assistant District Attorney."

"Please call me Lisa."

"Al right, Lisa, what can we do for you? Debra asked as she sat down on the couch with Edward. She sipped her coffee.

"Well, Mr. Woodley's attorney and I have been going back and forth since charges have been filed. I won't get into details, but we did come up with a plea deal." She reached into her briefcase and pulled out a file. She opened it and pulled out a piece of paper. She held it out to Debra. "This is the best thing we could come up with. If you reject this, they said they would take their chances in court."

Debra took the paper and held it between herself and Edward. She started to read it. "So, are the others who reported it willing to go to court?"

"No. If it does go that far, we will have to reduce the charges to what he did to you."

"Only if I am willing to go to trial," Debra said then read the paper. She looked over at Edward then tossed the paper on the coffee table. She stood up. "He beats the crap out of me and dumps me in a ditch like a piece of trash and left me and my unborn child to die and this is all he gets?" She said as she walked around the couch.

"What? Are you pregnant?"

"Yes. I just found out on Sunday."

"Why weren't we made aware of this?"

"What difference does it make? He didn't know I was pregnant."

"It can make additional charges. You should have let Ace know."

"I'm still getting used to the idea myself."

"I need to make a few phone calls," Lisa said.

"There is a landline in my office," Edward said as he pointed towards his office.

"Thank you." Lisa said as she got up and walked back to the office.

"Well, I guess congratulations are in order?" Ace said.

"Thanks." Debra said. "It was quite a shock."

"I'm sure. How far along are you?"

"The ultrasound figures I'm about 8 and a half weeks. It’s from my last relationship in New York." Debra said. "He denies it is his."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Men can be idiots."

"It’s for the best though," Debra said. "Excuse me." She said then hurried down the hall.

"So, I see you and Debra are closer now?"

"Yes. We have gotten a lot closer and I love her, Ace."

"That's good. I am proud of you. So, I take it that you are going to raise it as your own?"

"Yes. I do love her, Ace."

"I knew that the last time I was here. I'm glad you finally figured it out." Ace laughed.

"So, is there any information on her parents?"

"No, I hit a dead-end, but I contacted other agencies to try to find them."

"Thanks. It means a lot that you are doing all this. I think it will help her move on."

"I'll do everything I can to help. So, can we come up on Friday and spend the whole weekend?"

"Yes, of course. I'll make sure your room is ready for you."

"Great. So, I guess she is having morning sickness?"

"Yes. She is having a tough time with it too. I'll be glad when she gets over it."

"That makes two of us." Debra said as she came back in the room. "Mrs. Gardner said your breakfast is done."

"Thanks, Darling." Edward said then headed towards the kitchen.

Debra sat down and ate some toast. She finished her coffee. She picked up her plate and cup and went into the kitchen. She placed the dishes in the sink. "So, did Ace find anything out?"

"No, but he contacted other agencies."

"Oh, Ok. He doesn't have to keep digging on my account."

"Debra, you don't know much about these boys. Once they start on something, they finish it. They will keep digging until they find them. They don't stop at nothing." Mrs. Gardner said.

"Thanks. I don't know anything to help."

"They won't give up. Are you all right? You don't look so well."

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm just a little tired." Debra said as she sat down next to Edward at the bar.

"Well, as soon as the ADA leaves, I want you to take a nap." Edward said.

"I'm fine. I don't need to be babied."

"You need to rest. I don't want anything happening to you."

"I'm fine for now. Can we go out and check on Misty?"

"Sure. I need to talk to Josh anyway." Edward said as he got up. Debra got up and they walked together out the front door. They walked out towards the barn but seen Misty in the corral. "It looks like Misty let Josh put her out."

"I think she finally figured out that everybody is friends here."

"That's good."

"You go see Josh. I'm going to go see Misty."

"Ok. I will be over shortly." Edward said then gave Debra a kiss. He walked off towards the barn as Debra walked over to the corral.

Debra stood at the fence petting Misty as Ace walked up. "It looks like you found a friend."

"Misty and I have a connection." Debra said.

"I can see that." Ace said. "The ADA wants to talk to you some more."

"Wonderful." Debra said sarcastically.

"I know you just want to put it behind you, but if you aren't willing to go to trial, there isn't much she can do."

"Are you giving the other women the same speech? Or is it just me. Are you just pushing me because I am with your brother?"

"Debra, I want what is best for you. I am an officer of the law and I want to put this man behind bars because he did the wrong thing. I have talked personally with all of the victims, but he went further with you. He left you for dead in a ditch in the middle of nowhere."

"Don't you think I know this?" Debra asked. "I was there. I lived it. You don't know what I went through. Ace, I've been through enough. I can't go through anymore."

"Then he won't get the sentence he deserves." Ace said. "You need to go to trial if you truly want justice."

"I can't." Debra yelled at him then ran off.

Edward ran out of the barn and over to Ace. "What happened?"

"I just told her that if she wanted justice that she needed to go to trial. She ran off."

Edward pushed Ace against the corral. "You have no right to push her into something she doesn't want to do in her condition. She's pregnant, Ace."

"I know, I'm sorry."

Edward let Ace go then ran off in the same direction that Debra did. He looked for her and called, but she didn't answer. He walked around the entire complex. He went back to the barn. He saw Josh and asked him to saddle his horse.

Ace walked up to Edward. "Any sign of her?"

"No." Edward said then turned and punched him in the jaw. Ace fell onto the ground. "If anything happens to her, I am holding you personally responsible."

Josh came over with Majesty saddled. "Do you want me to help you find her? I can call some other men in."

"No. She couldn't have gotten far." Edward said then mounted his horse. He rode out of the barn.

Edward found Debra sitting about 300 yards away from the barn a while later. He pulled his radio out. "Josh, I found her."

"Is she all right? Should I bring the truck?"

"She appears to be fine. I’ll let you know."

"Ten-four."

Edward rode over closer to Debra. He stopped a short distance away and dismounted. He walked over and sat down next to her. "Are you all right?"

"I just needed to get away from him or I would have punched him."

"Well, I did that for you. I was worried. Didn't you hear me calling you?"

"Yes, but I didn't want to stop. I'm sorry to worry you."

"Debra, you don't have to do anything that you aren't comfortable with. Nobody will make you do it. Not me, Ace or the ADA."

"But if we go to trial, he would get more jail time."

"Or you could be so scared that you can't testify and he would get off with nothing," Edward said. "I don't want you to have any more stress than you need."

"So, you think I should take the deal?"

"It is up to you, but if it was me, I would take the deal."

"Ok, I will take the deal," Debra said. "I guess I should go tell the ADA."

"I will tell her if you want me to."

"No, I should do it." Debra looked at Edward. "I love you."

"I love you too." He said then leaned over and kissed her. "You need to stop running away, though. You are going to end up giving me a heart attack."

"I'm sorry." Debra said. "Did you really hit Ace?"

"Yes. I'll do it again if he hurts you."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have put you in that position."

"You don't need to apologize. He was in the wrong for doing it and he knows it."

"I guess we should get back so we can tell the ADA. Then they can go."

"Yes, and so you can rest."

"Only if you rest with me," Debra said then stood up. She dusted off her pants.

Edward stood up. "Do you want a ride back?"

"You know I can't ride being pregnant."

"Actually, Josh would bring the truck to get you."

"No, I can walk, but thanks."

"Do you want some company?"

"No. You should ride back and mend fences with Ace."

"He deserved it."

"Yes, he did, but he is still your brother."

"Fine, I will be a better person and apologize."

"You are the best person I know."

"Thanks." Edward handed Debra the radio. "Call if you want a ride."

"I will," Debra said. Edward mounted Majesty and rode off.

Debra walked up to Misty where Edward and Ace were waiting. She started to walk past them. "Let’s do this."

"I'm sorry to upset you, Debra. I was out of line."

Debra stopped and turned around. She glanced at Edward then stepped up to Ace. She took a deep breath, then punched Ace in the jaw. Ace fell to the ground. "Now, we are even." She said. "Let's get this over with." She said then turned and started towards the house.

Edward helped Ace up. "I can't believe she did that."

"Remind me not to get her really mad." Ace said rubbing his jaw.

Debra stopped and turned around. "Are you guys coming?"

"Yeah." They both said then caught up to her. Edward put his arm around her, and they walked to the house.

They walked into the house. The ADA was sitting in the living room looking over some papers. Debra walked over to her. "We will take the deal. I'll sign anything I need to after I get a drink." She said then walked into the kitchen.

Debra came back out carrying two bags of ice. She tossed one at Ace and put the other on her hand. She sat down on the couch. The ADA looked at Debra then back at Ace. Debra smiled. "Don't ask."

"Ace?"

"We're good."

"All right." Lisa said. "Well, I talked to the DA and his lawyer. They are willing to add another year onto his sentence and his probation." She said. "I made the corrections already."

"Great. Where do I sign?" Debra said.

Lisa slid a paper across the coffee table. "Sign at the bottom. You also need to sign; Edward and Ace will be the witness." Debra picked up the pen and signed the paper. She handed the pen to Edward. He sat down next to her and signed. He handed the pen to Ace. He looked at Debra then signed the paper. The ADA picked up the paper and put it in a folder. "I'll file these on Monday. If you need anything else or change your minds before then, let me know."

"I won't be changing my mind." Debra said. She stood up and extended her injured hand. "Thank you for coming out. I apologize it took me so long to come back inside."

"That is quite all right." She said as she shook her hand.

"Well, whenever you are ready, Ace. We should really get back."

"Of course." He said then shook Edward's hand. "I'll see you Friday, brother."

"We will be here." Edward said then followed them to the door. He opened the door and watched them as they left. He closed the door and went over to Debra. "You look exhausted."

"I am a little tired."

"Let's go up and rest for a while." He said then put his arm around her. They walked upstairs.