Colby has come for me, all the way here, and now he says it’s all fate. I want to believe him, to let him take me away, but I can’t. I love Daddy. No matter what Colby believes, Daddy is my fate, and if I’m lucky, I will be able to prove it to him.
I press my hands to the small of my belly, hoping and wishing there’s a little one in there. If he could impregnate Heidi in her old age, I should have no problem. He thought he was being careful, but he wasn’t, not when he would leave behind his seed in places I could gather. He’s inside of me, and hopefully our child is, too.
I grab my morning bucket of water and head into the bathroom. The well can’t pump the water up to the second level yet, but that’s fine. I know Daddy will fix it soon.
Pollyx.
I have to stop calling him Daddy if he’s going to be my husband and father to my child. I don’t want anything to come between us, and that means I’ll kill anyone who sneers at our union. We belong together and Dollywoodland will never run out of space for my dollies. Whoever crosses us will forever be encased in hardened clay and forced to watch as I live a happy life.
The cloth I’m using to wash off the blood is quickly soaking through with the red essence. The water in the bucket turns red as I continue to bathe, then I pull on a strand of my hair. It’s also covered in Tanner’s sickly blood.
I tip my head over the sink, pouring the bucket’s contents through my tresses, and freeze when I hear a crash below my feet. Pollyx and Colby! My head swings up, the wet hair fanning above my head and spraying bloodied water all over the small room.
Are they fighting over me?
My heart pounds as I run into my room to grab some clothes. The crashing and grunting continue as I struggle to dress, my moist skin making the fabrics stick.
I want to see them fight. I want to know who will claim me in the end. A giggle escapes my chest as I stumble down the stairs. I bet Heidi never had Pollyx fight over her. Not that he had much competition.
I skid into the kitchen and laugh to find Pollyx on top of Colby, his chest heaving with the force of his breaths. Colby’s teeth are bared, and his fist is clenched at his side. Not to mention, Pollyx lost his blanket to the rumble and now he’s buck naked and fighting for my honor.
“Looks like Pollyx won,” I snicker as I cross my arms over my chest.
Pollyx gives me a sad look over his shoulder and Colby takes that opportunity to swing his fist up, slamming it into my father’s temple. I scream as he topples over. He’s knocked out and looking so vulnerable without his clothes on.
“No!” I scream as I dart forward. “You’ll regret that!”
“You can’t stay here, Bevie,” Colby says between labored breaths. “You’ll get worse. Let me help you.”
“Worse?” I stare at him as I cradle my father’s head.
“I can take away the sickness.”
Anger flashes hot inside of me, and my fingers clench into my father’s hair. “I’ll never forgive you for this,” I ground out. “One day, I’ll make you feel exactly how I am right now.”
“Are you going to make me into a dolly?” His grin is mocking, and I can’t deny his appeal, even if he is a bastard.
“Worse.”