Page 57 of Johnny Gun

“Compete?” He held her shoulders, and she glanced up. “Will you listen to me?” He waited for a response, but she only stared. He insisted, “I need you to hear me out and remember what I say. Can you do that?”

“Ye—yes, Daddy.”

“I’m not going to give you any bullshit. I’m a man and much older than you. When you were five, I was seventeen and already enjoying sex. I like women. Always have. I even thought I was in love a couple of times.” He shook his head. “Then I met you. The old Johnny Wells was erased and a new one started from scratch. You’ve changed everything: my mind, my heart, my soul. Nothing exists in me but you. Women are still beautiful, but there’s no room in my heart for anyone because you’re in there, solid and firm, and it makes me happy. Do you understand?”

“I…do,” she whispered.

“Good. Forget the jealousy. It’s a bad emotion, and there’s no reason for it. Jealousy poisons the soul. Please, remember this. You’re my little girl. There’s no one else for me. Rule three: stop questioning what I tell you. If you keep doubting my words, I’ll have to use more thorough methods to help you accept and remember.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.” She winced. “Promise.”

Johnny chuckled. “You say that now, but you could be tempted.”He turned around, and, remembering her rear end was still sore, he gave the side of her butt a playful slap. “Now go get changed. I don’t want to waste the morning.”

Giggling, she ran into her bedroom, and he sighed. Starting tonight, she’d be sharing his bed. He wanted her sweet butt cuddled up against his cock.

By Johnny’s guess, since he’d left his watch behind, they’d been out for two hours, maybe a little longer. Except for the occasional scurrying of a denizen along the tall reeds bordering the river, not a soul was around. The tourist season in these parts was over. The water was tranquil. The current did most of the work for him. He didn’t have to struggle to stay close to the southern bank, where tree branches reached down to touch the surface and sheltered them in shadow. He preferred it this way. Less sun and less heat. Once in a while, Isolde playfully dipped her fingers in the river and flicked water on his face.

“Stop that.” Laughing, he wiped drops of water from his eyes. “I need to see what I’m doing. Don’t forget, there are creatures around. One might take a nip at your cute fingers.”

“What!” She startled, pulling her hand to her chest. The movement shifted the canoe.

“Hmm… Easy there, we don’t want to tip over. Who knows what’s swimming under us?”

“No, we don’t.” Eyes wide, she glanced suspiciously from one side of the canoe to the other. He held back a chuckle; she was so cute in her concern. Although, she had nothing to worry about. From the moment they’d climbed in and paddled downriver, he’d been keeping a close watch for any unwanted activity around them.

“Relax, everything’s fine. You know I won’t let anything hurt you.”

“You’d throw yourself into the water clutching a knife in your teeth.” She grinned with a mischievous air. “Fight a wild creature to save me.”

“Why doubt me? What have I done up to now?”

Her grin faded. “Stand between me and danger. I don’t deserve it.”

“Yes, you do. I never want to hear you say you don’t. You deserve everything good in life, and I want you to have it.”

“Is that why you left your peaceful life in Garden City? To deal with the danger in Dalton?”

“Don’t tease. I can kid around and take a joke like anyone else, but not when it comes to you and your safety.”

“I’m sorry, Daddy.”

“You have to know I tried.” Johnny swallowed as a succession of lonely months flashed in his mind. Aching moments when her remembered face tugged at his soul. “For your sake, I kept my distance so you could meet a younger man. Start your life with someone fresh and new, closer to your age. The moment Blade told us about the threat, though, I had to ride up. I don’t give a shit about Deacon’s opinion of me. You’re my baby girl now. Mine. My own. No one will love and protect you like I will.”

“I know,” she whispered.

“Okay, then. That’s settled.” He smiled. “Now, let’s talk about you. Do you have plans for college? Your whole life is ahead of you.”

She frowned. “No one’s asked me. You’re the first.”

“Well. Is there anything that attracts you?”

“Since you mention it… Radiology is a field I find interesting. Becoming a technician might be fun.”

“Excellent. As soon as this mess is over, you’re enrolling in school. Savannah has great schools.”

“But I don’t have?—”

He stopped paddling. “Don’t go there. I know what you’re going to say. Get this through your head. You’re no longer Deacon’s responsibility. You’re my baby girl. I’m dead serious when I say I’ll take care of your every need and desire. I’ve plenty of money to fund your studies. And as soon as we return, we’re making us official and getting married. How does that sound?”

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