Edward carried the boxes and bags up the steps of the house behind Debra. She held the door for him as they went inside. They walked to the couch. Edward put the boxes down then they sat down on the couch.
Ace came into the room. "I thought I might have to call out a search party."
"We were having so much fun we lost track of time." Edward said. He opened the box and pulled out a bow.
"You bought a bow?"
"Yes. Doesn't it look great?"
"I guess. If that's what you like."
"I just want to try it." Edward said.
"I'll stick with my gun." Ace said. "I'm going to bed. I'll see you in the morning."
"All right. We can practice after lunch tomorrow. I want to work the horses in the morning when it's cooler."
"All right." Ace said. "Good night."
"Good night, Ace." Debra said. Ace walked off to his bedroom. "I don't think he liked this idea."
"He's just jealous. He doesn't like to try new things."
"Probably so. Why don't we put these upstairs for now, so Justin won't get a hold of them? Then we can go to bed and get a good night's sleep."
"All right." Edward said. Will you lock up?"
"Yes, dear." Debra got up and locked the back door. She walked to the front door and locked it, then followed Edward upstairs.
Debra loaded the truck with the bows and other things she needed and drove out to meet Ace, Edward and Justin the next afternoon. She parked the truck next to Ace's and got out. She walked over to the men. "How's it going?"
"I beat Eddie." Ace said proudly.
"That's great."
"Do you want to take a turn?"
"Sure." Debra smiled at Edward. "The bows and stuff are in the truck. Joe helped me load it."
"Ok." Edward said as we walked up to her. He leaned close. "Don't let him psych you out, Darling."
"Don't worry about that." Debra said then kissed Edward.
"It's all loaded and ready to go." Ace said.
Debra stepped over to Ace. "Keep in mind, I haven't shot in years."
"Ladies first." Ace said.
Debra checked he weapon then took aim. She squeezed the trigger and fired. She fired again and again. She emptied the clip. Ace got up and did the same.
"Clear." Ace said as put his gun on the table. They walked down to the targets. "Are you sure you haven't been practicing?" Ace asked as he looked at Debra's target.
"I guess luck was on my side." She said. "You did good, too."
"Thanks."
"I told you, Jason trained me good."
"I guess."
"I didn't know it then, but he trained me for if I ever encountered my real father. I just thought it was our time together."
"What he did was prepare you for life and it made you a stronger person. I wouldn't want to mess with you knowing what I know."
"But you know me, Ace. You have underestimated me until I prove myself. On the outside, I am just this small pregnant person who doesn't look like she can do anything."
"Yes, that is what looks like, but not who you are. Don't let the crew or anyone get you down, Debra."
"I'm trying, but I don't have ranch experience and every time I do something, I feel like everyone is watching me."
"And that bothers you?"
"Yes."
"Why do you think they are watching you?"
"Because I'm pregnant and they think I'm too fragile to do anything."
"I don't think that's all they are looking at. They watch you because you are nice to look at. I admit, I have had to stop myself a couple of times because Eddie would kill me if he knew."
"If I knew what?" Edward asked as he walked up.
"Well, that is my secret." Ace said.
Edward looked at the targets. "You need more practice. Ace."
"Thanks, bro. That really doesn't help my self-esteem any." Ace said. He replaced the paper targets on the boards then walked away.
"Is there anything I should know about?" Edward asked.
"No." Debra said as she put her arm around him. "I did good, didn't I?"
"Yes. You can have my back any day."
"Thanks. I haven't really thought about everything that Jason and Edith taught me until lately. After they left me. I was so mad that I tried to forget everything. Now it all is starting to come back."
"That's good."
"Yes, and some of it is good out here."
"Yes, especially with aim like that." Edward said as they walked back to the table with Ace.
"Are you ready for another round?" Ace asked.
"Go ahead, dear." Debra said. "I'm going to practice with my bow."
"Ok." Edward said then kissed her. Debra walked away.
A while later, Edward and Ace were reloading when they stopped and watched Debra. "She's amazing, isn't she?" Edward asked.
"Yes, she is."
"Then why doesn't she feel like this place is where she belongs?"
"Probably because she always feels like she is being watched. When she first got here, you kept such a careful eye on her that she feels like she is always being watched."
"Because she needed to be." Edward said. "She was trying so hard to fit in here; she wasn't thinking about her or her babies. She almost lost them."
"I know, but she didn't and now that critical time is over and she's taking better care of herself, you need to back off, Eddie."
"I've never loved anyone like this before. I didn't know it could feel this way. We have a real connection and I don't want anything to happen to her or our children."
"I know you don't, but you also need to think about how she is feeling, too."
"All right. I will try."
"Good. And back off about what you think she can do. She has to see it for herself." Ace said.
"All right."
Debra turned around and looked at them. "Are you two enjoying the view?" She asked with a smile.
"Very much so." Edward said. Ace turned around and started to reload. "I love what I see." Edward said then turned back to the table.
"Caught in the act." Ace mumbled.
Edward elbowed him in the side. "Is that your secret that you were talking to her about?"
"Yes. I was telling her that is what everybody was watching her for." He said. "I was trying to make her feel better about being watched."
"I know everybody looks at her. It's perfectly normal."
"And on the outside, you would never know what she is capable of."
"I know." Edward glanced over at Debra. "She has such focus."
"Yes, and control." Ace said. "She barely flinched when she shot."
"I'm glad she's on our side." Edward said then took aim at the target.
"You need to relax more, dear." Debra yelled over. "And remember to breathe."
"Easy for her to say." Edward mumbled.
Debra walked over to her target with Justin. "Go ahead and pull it out." She said. Justin grabbed the arrow and tried to get it out. Debra grabbed it. "You have to pull it straight out." She said and helped him pull it out. They pulled out the rest of the arrows. They walked back over to where they were. "Do you want to try?"
"Daddy says I am too young."
"All right. Whenever you are using a weapon you have to learn to relax and breathe. It took me a long time to master that." She looked over at the men. "They aren't relaxed."
"But they are hitting the target."
"Yes, but they have to concentrate more to do that." Debra took an arrow and got it ready. "I relax and breathe and take aim." She said then shot the arrow. It landed on the center of the target. "See. If you are tense and hold breath," Debra said then got ready. She shot the arrow and missed. "Then you miss your mark."
"You know a lot about this, don't you?"
"Yes. I was trained by one of the best." Debra said. "Maybe I can teach your daddy how to do it." She said as she put down the bow. They walked over to the men. Ace was taking aim. Debra stopped behind him. "You need to relax more." She said as she put her hands on his shoulders.
"I know how to shoot, Debra."
"Yes, I know, but you could do better." Debra said. "Relax and breathe."
Ace turned around quickly making Debra stumble backwards. "When you are chasing a criminal, there is no relaxing to it. Your life is on the line if they are firing at you. If you take time to relax and breathe, you die."
Debra put her hands up and stepped back. "I'm sorry for saying something." She walked over to the truck. She opened the door and got a bottle of water out. She opened it and took a long drink. She heard Edward yelling at Ace. She pulled out her phone and sent a text to Edward. She finished her water and put the bottle in the truck She went over to where the bow was, picked up and started to shoot the arrows at the target quickly one after another. She shot them all then walked over to the target and retrieved them. She went back to the starting point and did the same thing. She walked up to the target and started to pull them out.
Edward walked over to her. He helped pull the arrows out. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine." She said she looked up at him. "I really need to mind my own business, especially when it comes to Ace."
"He needs to be more open to ideas."
"Do you want to give this a try?"
"Yes. I am ready to do this." Edward said as they walked back to the starting point. Debra instructed Edward and he did pretty good.
They practiced for almost an hour before they packed up and headed back to the ranch leaving Ace and Justin there. Edward parked the truck by the garage and walked Debra into the house. They went into the office.
"I'm going out to see the horses." Edward said.
"I'm going to lay here and rest for a while."
"All right, Darling." Edward said as he kissed her. "I'll see you at dinner."
"Be careful."
"I always am." Edward said then walked out.
Debra went over and laid down on the couch. She rested her hand on her belly and closed her eyes.
"How long as you going to stand there in the doorway, Ace?" Debra asked about an hour later.
Ace walked into the office. "I didn't want to wake you if you were sleeping."
"I was just resting." Debra said as she looked over at him. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm sorry for the way I acted earlier."
"Don't worry about it. You're right. I don't know what it's like to be chasing criminals. That's something I never wish to know."
"Debra, you are an extraordinary woman. You don't flinch when you're confronted. You would make a good cop." Ace said. "You have talents that normal people don't." Ace said. "I'm not talking about any gifts. I'm talking talents, like shooting, baking, things like that." He said quickly. "I'm sure we are just starting to see everything you can do."
"I was taught at a very young age." Debra said as she sat up. She looked at Ace. "When Edith and Jason left me, I spent the next several years trying to forget them and everything they taught me. I was trying to live a normal life like other people."
"They taught you well."
"Yes, and now for the first time in forever, I feel like I don't have to hide what I know."
"You should never hide what you know or be afraid of who you are."
"I have always felt like an outsider when I was around people. I didn't fit in with any social circle so I would walk away and be by myself. I don't feel as awkward here."
Ace walked over and sat down on the couch with Debra. "You belong here, Debra. I can't express that enough, but we are head strong men that aren't used to women knowing more than we do about certain things. I'm sure you'll grow on all of us in time."
"I'm still feeling like I have to prove myself to everybody."
"You don't have to prove anything to anybody." Ace said. "It will take us men time to get use to you being her and doing things that we don't expect you to be doing."
"It's been three months, Ace."
"Some things take a long time." He said. "Don't let that stuff bother you."
"I try not to, but it still does."
"Nobody wants anything to happen to you."
"I know. It's taking me some time to get use to people caring about me. I've been on my own for a long time."
"I can understand that." Ace said. "People need time to adjust to new things."
"I get it, Ace. Thanks."
"So, are we all good?"
"Of course. I wasn't mad at you for what you said."
"That's good. Now, Edward asked me to move the wedding gifts to the attic for you."
"All right." Debra said. "I thought he was going to put them in the basement."
"He said the attic would be better because it's dryer."
"Ok." Debra said. "I'll show you which ones can go up there." They got up and went upstairs.
By dinner time, Ace and Debra had a lot of the stuff put away in the attic. Ace went down to get Justin washed up and while Debra sat down and rested for a while. After a few minutes, she made her way downstairs to the dining room. She walked in and sat down. The men soon followed and sat down.
"How's it going with the horses?" Debra asked.
"It's going good. Since we know what the problem is, it's been easy to address it." Edward said. "What time do you have to go in to work?"
"I have to be there by eight to do my quals."
"Ok. Don't worry. Justin will be looked after."
"I'm not worried. I know he's in good hands."
"Can we make more cookies?" Justin asked.
"Sure, if you want to."
"And we can take a ride together in the afternoon." Edward said.
Mrs. Gardner brought in dinner out. "Sorry it's a little late."
"It's quite all right, Mrs. Gardner." Edward said.
"My appointment ran late." She said then walked out. She returned a few moments later with the rest of the dinner.
"Why don't you go home. You look tired. We can clean up."
"Are you sure? I don't mind staying." Mrs. Gardner said. "I would like to talk to you both anyway."
"Why don't you go home and rest and we'll come by later." Edward said.
"All right. Thank you." Mrs. Gardner said then walked out.
"I offered to make something, but she declined."
"She's a stubborn woman." Edward said.
They ate dinner and all helped to clean up. Debra did the dishes while Edward went into the office to do some paperwork. Debra finished and brought coffee into him. "Are you just about done?"
"Yes. I'm just finishing up with this email." Edward said.
He finished the email and sent it. He picked up his coffee. He took a drink then stood up. " Shall we go talk to Mrs. Gardner?"
"Yes." Debra said.
Debra and Edward laid in bed later that night. "What do you think Mrs. Gardner is going to do?"
"I don't know. She doesn't have any family of her own."
"I can take care of the house with cleaning and cooking. Once the babies are born, I might need some help, but that's months off."
"I know. She does have retirement plan so that's good." Edward said. "She's been a motherly figure in my life since I've been here. I don't know what to say to her."
"Well, her health is the main concern. We can't change anything, so she has to make that decision."
"We better get some sleep. We have babysitting duties tomorrow."
"Yes, we do." Debra said.
Debra got out of bed early in the morning. She dressed quietly and went downstairs. She went out to the kitchen and made a pot of coffee. She sat down at the counter and waited until it was done. She poured herself a cup then walked out onto the front porch and sat down.
Edward come out shortly after it got light out. He handed her another cup of coffee. "How long have you been up?"
"About an hour or so. I couldn't sleep, so I decided to get up."
"Are the children restless?"
"No. I kept thinking about Mrs. Gardner. When I first came here, she was the first one I could talk to. No matter how busy she was or what she was doing, she would stop and talk to me. I even asked her if you liked me."
"And what did she say?"
"She said if I have to ask, I should open my eyes."
"And you did."
"Yes, and my heart and there is no turning back. I love you, Edward."
"I love you, darling."
"I wish there was something we could do for her."
"I know." Edward said. He sat down on the chair on the other side of her. "We gave her some options and now she has to make the final decision."
"I know, but I want her to know that I can take care of things here."
"I'm sure she knows. Like she said, she knew about this for a while. I think she decided to tell us now because she knew we would take care of each other."
"And we will." Debra said as she reached over and took his hand.
"Yes, forever and ever." Edward said.
Ace came out the door. "I thought I heard voices."
"Morning, Ace. Did we wake you?" Debra asked.
"No."
"Is Justin up?"
"Not yet." Ace said. " Are you sure you'll be able to keep an eye on him? Maybe Julie should come and get him."
"He's not a problem, Ace. Do you not want him here anymore?"
"I don't want him to cause you two any problems."
"He won't, Ace. He's good practice for the future." Debra said as she put her hand on her belly.
"Justin is family, Ace. We will do what we can. We'll be fine." Edward said.
"I guess I'm just nervous about going back to work."
Debra got up and stopped in front of Ace. "Don't be. You're great at what you do. At least that's what I've been told." She said. "I'll start breakfast."
"Isn't Mrs. Gardner coming?"
"We gave her the day off." Edward said.
"I'll call you when it's done." Debra said as she went into the house.