Kim
Two Years Later...
I SETTLED FOZZIE in his stall... the one at my grandma’s ho... and closed the door. Knight and I had moved his horses here as well after we were married, and our one-year-old daughter Cambry sat in her stroller in the barn alley watching . "My future little Olympian, huh?"
She grinned up at . "Wozzie."
I giggled. "Yes, darling, Wozzie."
After making sure the horses were settled, I wrapped blankets more securely around Cambry and set off toward the house, mories flooding my mind.
So much had happened in the last twenty-four months, starting with the arrest and subsequent confession from my uncle. Even though my uncle had confessed to raping , I asked that it be kept out of the record. We were dangerously close to the statute of limitations end date, and I wasn’t ready to drag all of those mories up, especially considering how hard and long I’d worked to get over it. I felt that I didn’t care what he went to jail for, just so long as he went.
My mother, however, decided she was going to fill in on her horrific childhood with my uncle and the years of abuse she’d suffered. Apparently, there were other accusations by other girls in the past, but they never went anywhere... the families were either bought off, threatened... or both.
When my uncle was arrested, my mother had been interrogated in connection with the fire, but she knew nothing about it (before-hand, anyway). She had admitted to that she’d killed my first horse, but only because my uncle had threatened my life... it was or my horse. So she put into place the plan to get out of the country and swore she’d never let him manipulate her... or touch ... again.
I couldn’t say all was forgiven between and my parents, but things were softening. Bart would never get out of jail, which helped (a little, anyway) heal the wounds he’d inflicted.
My wedding had been a pretty intimate affair. Just like Dani, I was married on her parents’ property, with her dad giving away, which was sothing I wasn’t sure he’d agree to. He really wanted to give my father a chance, but I wasn’t there yet. So, Warren had walked down the aisle, crying almost as much as he did when he gave Dani away, and his sweet kiss on the cheek had been the start of a perfect ceremony.
I had invited my parents’ and they’d behaved beautifully. What I would find out later, was that Knight had had a little pow-wow with them before the ceremony, setting down so strict ground rules that they followed. All in the na of "nding bridges" and working toward the forgiveness they wanted to earn. I was too happy to care what they wanted, but I had to give them credit, they were trying.
Unlike Dani, however, I’d spent a shit ton on my dress. Total overkill, I’m sure, but I wanted Oscar de la Renta, so I paid for Oscar de la Renta.
Mack got a license online in order to officiate, and we had all our close friends surrounding us. I t Knight’s parents for the first ti the morning of the wedding and decided, as much as I liked his dad, his mom was soone to watch out for. That woman could shatter glass with her lethal stare.
Our honeymoon consisted of one month in Europe, which was exciting to see through Knight’s eyes. As calm, cool, and collected as he was, he geeked out on the different approaches to Veterinary dicine between the USA and England... not to ntion Italy and France. We hit all the pertinent tourist spots, but having lived in Switzerland, I was able to share so out-of-the-way places I’d loved as a kid. Knight appreciated the chance to see sights tourists didn’t normally see.
Three weeks after we’d returned ho from our honeymoon, we moved into Gran’s house. The Sadler’s had used the fire as an opportunity to readdress what they wanted in life. They chose to move back to Iowa to be close to Linda’s family, so I paid their moving expenses since it was because of my family they had to make the life-altering decision.
The repair process had brought to light a few issues which might not have been seen had the entire back part of the house not been incinerated, so I made sure the electrical and plumbing were up to code for this century, and everything was done two days before we got ho. Cutting it close, but the house was gorgeous and we had plenty of space to do everything we wanted to, including building a state of the art training facility.
Cricket was now renting my apartnt... for a steal. But I didn’t mind. She’d had it rough and needed a win, and she was a really aweso lady, so I was happy to help her out. She’d wanted to put so distance between herself and her brothers, and I didn’t bla her. She was the only girl in a family of five and no parents. Hatch had pretty much raised his siblings, having taken on their custody when he was barely twenty. That couldn’t have been easy for him, and I know it hadn’t been easy for Cricket.
Much to my surprise, Knight had presented with a prenup... one Mack had drawn up. My attorney looked it over and assured that Knight wasn’t kidding when he said he didn’t want my money. Apparently, he didn’t want his own either, because if we ever got divorced, I’d get everything.
Since I wasn’t after Knight’s money either, my lawyer altered the contract so it was equal and fair. We signed it and never talked about it again.
I’d gotten pregnant pretty much right away, but once Cambry arrived, I knew trying for another one before I turned thirty might be a bit much. When she was two, we planned to talk about it again.
I pushed open the back door and lifted Cambry out, helping her out of her shoes before walking from the mud room into the kitchen. "Let’s get you a bottle and put you down, huh?"
Cambry’s head bobbed up and down. "Babba, Mama."
I smiled, kissing her forehead. "Yes, baby. Bottle with Mama."
The beep of the alarm sounded and then I heard the front door close. "Kimmie?"
"In here."
Knight walked in, slipping out of his cut and throwing it over one of the kitchen chairs.
"Dada!" Cambry squealed and pitched herself toward him.
He caught her, pulling her close for a kiss. "How’s my baby girl?"
She tucked her head under his chin and shoved her thumb in her mouth. He leaned down and kissed gently. "Hey, sugar."
"Hi, honey. You’re ho early," I said. "How was church?’
"Good. Uneventful. You makin’ her a bottle?"
"Yes. You want to get her ready for bed?"
"Sure. I’ll et you up there." He held our girl close and headed to her room while I ward the bottle.
I pushed open the door and smiled. Knight had Cambry in her pajamas and was reading her a princess book. Cinderella was on the docket tonight and Cambry barely looked away as I handed her the bottle.
"Go take a bath, sugar. I’ll finish up here and join you."
"Mmm, don’t have to tell twice."
He chuckled and I kissed them both before heading to our bedroom. I filled the enormous clawfoot tub and stripped out of my horse gear, lowering myself into the hot water with a sigh. Knight joined a few minutes later, setting the baby monitor on the vanity, and dragging his shirt over his head.
I grinned. "I’ll never get sick of that view."
His gaze swept the length of my body. "Ditto, sugar."
"Hurry up and get in here," I ordered, and slid forward to give him space.
He chuckled, stepping in behind . Knight pulled up against him, kissing the sensitive spot behind my ear and wrapping his arms around from behind. "Missed you today."
I smiled. " too. Is that weird? It’s weird."
"It’s not weird, sugar. We work well together, we love well together, we sure as hell fuck well together, so we enjoy being around each other. It’s how it should be."
I turned slightly so I could see his face. "You’re amazing, Knight. You know that, right?"
His face got soft as he stared at . "Not even close to what you bring to the table, sugar, but I’m glad you think so."
"Oh, I know so." I sat up on my knees facing him, leaning in to kiss him. "I really like fucking you in this tub, so can we do that now, please? Then maybe in the bed and back in the tub..."
"I’m pickin’ up what you’re puttin’ down, sugar. Prepare to be amazed."
"You sound like a magician." I giggled. "Amazing Aidan."
"Amazing Aidan... I like that." He shifted so my back was to his front again and slid his hand between my legs. "Tell , Kinky Kim, how does this feel?"
"Amazing."
He laughed and, as I made love to my husband, I realized I’d won a victory far better than any gold dal... I’d won the love of a great man... one who helped heal .
And now I was free.
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