I loved my Christmas day. Loved it. Couldn’t have asked for anything more than a house full of family, lots of food and even more laughter.

Milly spends the next few days investigating every toy she has. Santa was very kind this year. I loved shopping for presents for her. I still find it difficult to believe this child’s mine. Well not quite yet. Soon though. We’re finalising the adoption papers next week.

The oppressive heat continues for the next few weeks, keeping us holed up in the cool house. We venture out late each afternoon to swim or drive into town to do what we have to do but other than that I spend my time with Milly while Dalton does his farm work each day. Keeping water up to the sheep is nearly a fulltime job on its own.

“Milly. Want to go into town and see Nana and Pop?” I ask as I finish the dishes after breakfast.

“Which ones?” she yells from her bedroom where she’s getting clothes for the day.

“Mine.” I reply. It gets confusing with both sets of parents being Nana and Pop.

“K’

Driving into town I’m struck by the dryness of the countryside. I love summer but I also realise the risks involved in living in a bushfire prone area. Any broken glass laying around or a lightning strike can cause a catastrophic bushfire, endangering people, livestock, homes and livelihoods. Any sign of smoke is taken seriously while there’s a total fire-ban during the summer months.

“Hey Mum” I greet her as she opens the door and ushers us in.

“What are you doing out in this heat?”

I lean in to lay a kiss on her cheek as Milly rushes over to Dad and climbs up on his lap to see what he’s doing.

“Sick of being stuck inside the house so I thought we needed some time out. A change of scenery, ya know?”

“Well, I’m glad you came. I need your opinion on some baby things I want to knit for my new grandbaby.”

We spend the next hour or so discussing blanket and clothes patterns that are gender neutral. We’ve agreed not to find out the sex of the baby until it’s born.

Returning home, I find Dalton sprawled out on the lounge watching the cricket on TV. I lower myself to sit next to him and his arm automatically wraps around me and he pulls me in for a kiss.

“Where’d my girls go? I was worried.”

“Just into town to see Mum and Dad.”

“They okay?” he asks with a frown.

“Yeah, yeah. They’re fine. Just felt like a change of scenery.”

“How’s our boy today? Behaving himself?”

I nod as I lay back into his arms and get comfortable. “Mmmm.” I murmur, as I take a deep breath.

He lays his hand gently over my ever growing stomach. He takes every opportunity to rest his hand there to feel the baby moving.

Our lives continue quietly for the next few months as we all adjust to married life and the pending arrival.

The shop continues to be busy, but now I’ve officially taken a step back to enjoy the last few weeks of my pregnancy. I only have three weeks till my due date.

Sarah manages it and we have a new employee who helps out when needed.

I’m incredibly lucky to have such brilliant staff to back me up.

Dalton is right in the middle of seeding the crops so they grow over winter. He’s working at least twelve hours a day to get it done quickly before the baby arrives soon.

I’m exhausted, and even though I want to do so much around the house and in the nursery, my body’ll only let me do a little, before it tells me to sit down and rest.

I have to listen to it. Though I’m fit and healthy I’m also growing a small human inside my body and that takes a lot of energy.

Sipping my warm drink and trying to get comfortable on the couch, I push the knee out of my liver once again. I swear it’s been there the whole pregnancy. One kick and it’s back again. I should know by now that it doesn’t work to push it away.

A loud crash outside startles me and I heave my large belly up from a sitting position to go and investigate. Milly’s in with her grandparents overnight, much to my annoyance. Dalton took her in before I woke up this morning so that I could rest up today. I know he’s doing all he can to help but I miss her badly. The house is too quiet without her constant chatter.

Walking to the back door is an effort. It’s more of a waddle than a walk.

I open the door and walk outside, pulling my jacket more firmly around me. The cold wind’s fierce and when you come out from a heated house it’s a bit of a shock.

Looking around to try to find the source of the sound I walk forward, trying to see if anything is broken. It sounded close but I can’t see anything.

“Hello Darling.” I hear from behind me and I spin around in shock.

Ben.

“What are you doing here Ben? What do you want?” I ask, taking a step back away from him but he follows with a step forward.

“What I’ve always wanted. You.” He says, pulling a pistol from a deep pocket in his coat.

Taking another step back, I realise that I’m alone with a madman. The same madman who’s been stalking me since Ryan’s death. The same one who burned down my shop, then our barn and then our house. The look on his face tells me that he’s definitely not sane at the moment. My heart is pounding with the knowledge that he can do whatever wants and no-one will hear me scream. I don’t expect Dalton back for a few more hours, and he’s a long way away in the far paddocks.

Panic sets in as I tremble violently, trying not to show him how scared I really am.

“Want to come in and warm up? I’m expecting Dalton home any minute.” I bluff and try to walk past him to the back door. He grabs my arm tightly and pulls me towards him violently. I stumble and almost fall as he wraps his arm around my chest above my protruding womb.

“Don’t bother lying to me. I know that he doesn’t get home for hours yet. I’m not stupid.” He snarls, dragging me away from the house towards my car. Shit, I left the keys in it, and he pushes me into the passenger seat roughly, locking the door. I don’t have time to scramble over the console and the driver’s seat to get out that door. Seconds later he’s pointing the gun in my direction and settling behind the wheel.

“I don’t understand Ben. Where are we going?” I ask, trying to stem the tears streaming down my face. This isn’t good. Not good at all and somehow I need to play nice and convince him I’m not a threat. Maybe he’ll change his mind and take me back home. Where I belong. And I’m now scared that I may never see it again. Never see my daughter or soulmate again and I cry louder, trying to be brave but failing miserably.

“Please.” I beg. “Please don’t do this. Whatever you think I’ve done I didn’t. I didn’t kill Ryan. Please let me out.”

“Shut up!” he roars raising the gun and placing it against my temple. “Shut the Fuck up!”

I whimper as I realize that any moment the gun can go off and I’ll never live to see my baby. I need to live. I need to fight. I need to win.

He still hasn’t started the truck yet, in no hurry to get away. He must be confident that Dalton won’t be home anytime soon. That means that he’s been watching us, he knows our routine. Slowly he lowers the pistol and I take in a deep sobbing breath. My whole body’s shaking violently and I can barely speak from fear.

“Please let me out. My baby—“

“Shut the Fuck up and let me think!” He screams in my direction, invading my space.

I press my body against the door, getting as far away from him as I can. I turn my body and quietly try the door lock and handle, but it’s definitely locked.

My tears are pouring down my face, my heart beating furiously as I try to make a plan. I’m so scared that I can hardly think straight.

Dragging in some ragged breaths I turn to him, once I’m able to speak again.

“I didn’t kill him Ben. I wasn’t even there.” I say, trying to convince him that he doesn’t need to do this.

“I fuckin’ know you didn’t, because I did! I killed him! I asked him for money and he laughed at me. Laughed!” He says, dragging his fingers through his hair. “I punched him in the chest. He went down instantly. I put him back on the bed so it’d look like he died in his sleep. Got away with it too, didn’t I?” he sneers.

“Why? Why wouldn’t you tell anyone? You didn’t mean to kill him. The police would have understood –“

“NO! No they wouldn’t have. I was already on bail for assault. I would’ve gone back inside and there’s no way that’s gonna happen. Never again. Plus, this way I got his money as well. Win win.”

“Ben, you killed your own brother!” I cry, looking at him in disbelief. I lift my hands to try to brush away the tears but as soon as I do, more follow.

“Yes and now you’re gonna take the rap for me. You’re the only person who knows, and now I’m gonna take you out and you’ll be so wracked with guilt everyone will believe it when you kill yourself with a shot to the head.”

I shake my head in denial. “Ben please. I’m about to have a baby. You can’t do this. Besides, the police will trace the gun back to you. Please. Let me go. I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”

“I’m not that stupid! The gun is untraceable and with the note you leave, the cops will believe you just couldn’t cope and did yourself in.” he turns to start the car and slowly drives away in the opposite direction to where Dalton is still working, oblivious to what’s happening.

We stay on the farm and every time he has to get out and open a gate he locks the central locking and removes the keys. I don’t have a hope of escaping just yet. My sobbing continues unchecked. I’m beyond caring now. Not only is he about to kill me but my precious baby too. I wrap my arms over my belly protectively as I drag in ragged breaths between sobs.

I try to remember the last thing I said to Dalton. It was last night and I was tired so went to bed early. He’d just walked in from seeding and I got him his dinner and we talked briefly while he ate. Milly was already in bed. I can’t remember the last thing I said. Why don’t I remember? It could be the last words I’ll ever say to him. It’s important that I remember, but my brain isn’t functioning right now.

As Ben gets back into the high truck, I try one more time. “Please Ben. Don’t do this. I don’t deserve it and neither does my baby.”

“Bastard’s better off dead anyway. Why the fuck would you want to bring a kid into this world? There’s nothing good about it.”

“He’s my son. Please. You can’t kill him. Just let me go and I’ll forget this ever happened. I promise I won’t tell anyone. Just leave me here. Take the truck and just go. I’ll give you a day or so head start before I report it stolen so that you can leave the state. Just don’t come back anymore and promise to leave us alone.”

I feel a thud against my cheek as my head gets spun to the side, crashing into the window beside me. The punch nearly knocked me unconscious but I hold on despite the impending darkness trying to envelope me. “Don’t Fuckin’ tell me what to do! I’m in charge here. Not you!” he screeches, and I close my eyes for a second to stop the world from spinning. I can feel blood mixing with my tears and I huddle as far away as I can from him.

Not knowing what else to do I sit quietly and pray. I pray harder than I ever have before. I pray that god keeps me safe, keeps my baby safe. I pray that he gets us out of here alive. I pray to see my husband and my daughter again.

I keep praying until we drive over a hill, the engine roaring as he tries to maintain control at this speed. It’s dark and he’s having trouble seeing without headlights. I don’t know why he doesn’t want them on, maybe it’s so we can’t be seen.

As we roar over the next hill I see the lights of a truck coming toward us and instantly I sit up higher, knowing it’s Dalton. He’s supposed to be miles away but for some reason he’s here and I’m grateful. I need to make Ben stop the truck. He pushes his foot down on the accelerator and the truck lurches forward. I can see him scanning the horizon for another track but there’s only one way in and out of this paddock. Finally, I take in a deep breath and watch as the headlights get closer and closer. I watch as I realize Dalton’s seen the truck and has slowed down. He probably thinks I’ve come to get him. Ben notices too and pushes the truck to go faster and we fly over a small hill toward the fence surrounding the paddock. I see Dalton skid to a halt and turn to follow.

He must think I’m crazy.

He has no idea it isn’t me driving.

He turns his big truck around quickly and follows us through the fence Ben knocked down.

With no regard for safety Ben once again puts his foot down even harder, and I hang on to the bar above the door to stop myself from lurching about. The blow to my head made me groggy and I’m still having trouble focusing. I turn my head slightly to see where Dalton is and I notice he’s gained on us. Ben tries everything to evade him as he keeps checking the rear view mirror. He finally turns on the headlights as we crash through another fence and tear off across the paddock. If he keeps going at this rate, we’ll end up at the beach.

“Please Ben. Stop! Let me go. Take the car. Just let me go. It’s too late now. Dalton knows I’m here. Just let me go. Stop the car and I’ll get out and you can just keep going.” I plead, trying to make him see sense.

He doesn’t bother to reply, just guns the engine and we fly over another small hill, landing hard on the other side.

“Ben. Please?!” I beg, crying again. I’m not prepared for the slamming punch to my face and once again my head crashes into the window beside me. I’m stunned into silence, desperately trying not to pass out from the blow. Tears stream down my face and blur my vision. I don’t bother trying to focus on where we’re headed until a huge gum tree looms up out of nowhere and I brace myself for the impact.

I know we’re about to hit.

Ben doesn’t have time to avoid it, and we crash into the large gum doing ninety kilometres an hour. The airbags deploy as we hit and I black out after the impact. I have no idea how long I’m out for, but when I come to Dalton’s kneeling over me and I’m on the ground beside the truck. As soon as consciousness returns, I realize he has blood on his clothes. Instantly, I try to sit up to get a better look.

“What’s going on Dalton? Why are you bleeding?” I ask, as I attempt to clear the fog from my brain.

“I’m okay Babe. I’m okay. How do you feel?” he asks anxiously, squeezing my hand tighter, a deep frown creasing his forehead.

“Umm. Not sure. Give me a minute to take inventory.” I reply as I mentally take stock of my body, trying to pin down any injuries. My lower abdomen is cramping badly but otherwise I feel okay until I lift my head. The world spins again and I lay it back down quickly, close my eyes and wait for the nausea and dizziness to pass.

“Dalton?”

As he leans in I feel his breath against my cheek as he replies, “Yeah Hun. Are you injured? Besides your face. Did you hit the windscreen?”

I shake my head slowly, dragging my eyes open. “No I don’t think so. My chest hurts from the seatbelt but otherwise I think I’m okay. Dalton, he hit me.” I whisper, closing my eyes again as I see the pain in his.

“He hit you? I thought it must have happened in the crash.”

“No. He did it.” I say, a tear escaping and running down my temple. “Where is he? Where’s Ben?”

He takes a minute before he replies and when he does the anger in his voice startles me. “He’s dead. And if he wasn’t, he would be when I’d finished with him.” I can hear the pent up rage in his voice as he struggles to contain it. “That bastard will rot in Hell for what he did to you. I’m just sorry that I’m not the one sending him there.”

“Did you call the Police?”

“Yeah Babe. They’re coming. You have no idea how scared I was as you crashed into that tree. My heart stopped beating I think. I had to see that you were okay. I dragged you out of the wreck and called the Ambulance and Police.”

“Dalton?” I ask hesitantly. “I need to see him. I need to see for myself that he’s dead.”

“No Hun. He’s not a pretty sight. That’s where all this blood came from. After I checked on you and got you out, I went to check on him. He nearly decapitated himself as he went through the windscreen. I don’t want you seeing him. Just believe me that he’s gone. He won’t be causing any more trouble for us.” He leans in and runs his eyes over my bruised and bleeding face. I can hear the sirens in the distance getting closer.

“Are you sure he’s dead?”

“He wasn’t wearing his seatbelt and went through the windscreen. Landed about thirty metres away from the truck. His head is barely attached to his body. He’s definitely dead Babe.”

“I can’t believe it was him. All this time and it turns out he murdered Ryan, then came after me. He was going to make it look li...li...like I killed myself.” I say as a sob escapes and tears roll down my face again.

“Gotta tell ya. Never been so scared in my whole life. I saw your truck and I knew you wouldn’t drive like that. I had no idea who it was. All I knew was I had to follow and make sure you weren’t in it. I actually thought it was stolen and they were just trying to get away”.

The Ambulance arrives and I’m lifted and placed carefully on a stretcher with a neck brace in place in case I have any spinal injuries.

We set off slowly over the bumpy ground as Dalton holds my hand tightly, lending me his support.

My stomach begins cramping badly and I gasp loudly at the sudden pain. I can feel liquid between my thighs soaking the sheet beneath me.

“Dalton” I say as the pain subsides. He looks at my pale face with concern.

“Yeah?” he asks softly, running his finger gently over the uninjured cheek.

“We’re having a baby.”

“Yeah I know Babe.” He answers in confusion.

“No Dalton. You don’t understand.” I say as another contraction hits. “We’re having a baby. Now!”

“Fuck. You’re kidding me right?” he says in disbelief, his face instantly paler than mine.

I shake my head and watch as he looks up at the paramedic in panic. “Get us to the hospital now!” he yells at the driver, who happens to be an old school buddy of ours.

“We’re five minutes away Dalton. Calm down.” He assures him.

Dalton focuses on my face, searching in panic. “Oh god. Are you okay Babe? Does it hurt?” he asks frantically.

“Of course it bloody hurts! Almost as much as my face.” I say, gingerly touching my injured cheek. “Dalton?”

“Yeah Babe?”

“Stop talking and kiss me.”

He leans forward until our lips touch gently. It’s a kiss that confirms our love, our bond and our gratefulness that I’m alive as he kisses me with everything he has.

Pulling back, and taking a deep breath as another contraction starts, I frown as the pain gets stronger.

“Ughh.” I cry, holding my lower abdomen.

“Shit! I’m sorry. I forgot. Shit! Babe, take a deep breath. C’mon. You know the drill.” He tells me, forcing my eyes up to his. “Just focus on me. Just like they taught us in class.”

“Dalton?”

“Yeah Babe.?”

“Shut up!”