Page 24 of Dad's Cop Buddy

“Yes, sir. Ambulances are on the way to take him and the girls to the hospital,” he tells me.

Covered in her kidnapper’s blood, I walk to my sweet Kendal and take her in my arms. She sinks her head into my chest and sobs, “I knew you would come for me. I knew it. I even told him so.”

“Did he hurt you?” I ask, fearful that her answer may cause me to finish my job on him.

“No, he didn’t. He was going to kill Casey. You got here just in time to save her.”

“He won’t be hurting anyone ever again. If he ever gets out of prison, I promise you, I’ll be waiting for him. Nobody touches you and gets away with it. You’re my sweet girl.”

The ambulances arrive, and I ride to the hospital with Casey and Kendal. Kendal holds the girl's hand the whole way, telling her that it’s over now and that she’s going to be alright. This is the first time I’ve seen this strong, nurturing side of her, and it convinces me more that she’s the girl for me. She’ll make the perfect mother to my children.

Sanders is treated for the beating I’ve given him and booked into the county jail to await trial. Kendal checks out fine but Casey is admitted to the hospital for further testing and a psychological evaluation. I call her parents to let them know that she’s been found alive. The joy in their voices is something I’ll never forget. Lastly, I call Tom to let him know I’ve saved Kendal.

“I already know, Kent. It’s all over the news. I don’t know what to say. Thank you,” he tells me.

“You can talk to your daughter. I’m sure you have something to say to her,” I reply and hand Kendal the phone.

“Daddy? Yes, I’m fine… I’m sorry you were worried… Oh, okay. Yes. I love you, too,” I watch as a small smile appears on her lips. Who knows how long it’s been since her father said that he loved her?

The nurse arrives with Kendal’s discharge papers, and we prepare to leave.

“Let’s get you out of here, princess.”

She places her tiny hand in mine and says, “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“This is over now, and it’s because of you. Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. I just did what I’m supposed to do. It’s a man’s job to protect his woman. I only wish I had been to the college sooner so you didn’t have to go through this at all.”

“No. If you had stopped him from taking me, Casey would still be out there. I think it happened exactly the way it should have. You saved us both.”

“I think you’re the sweetest girl I’ve ever met.”

It’s almost dinner time when we make it back to the cabin. Kendal takes a hot bath while I prepare her something to eat. It’s going to be dinner in bed whether she likes it or not. After all she’s been through, it’s time for her to get some rest.

I bring the food to the bedroom and find her seated on the bed wrapped in a towel.

“You good, baby girl?” I ask as I set the tray down on the nightstand.

“I’m good. I was just thinking, what happens now?”

“What do you mean?”

“Now that Sanders is going to prison, do you go back to your place? What happens to us?”

I sit down and put my arm around her, pulling her close to me. “Now, you and I have the freedom to do anything we want without having to look over our shoulders. We can go on outings and have candlelit dinners. What happens now is that we start making memories.”

“I like that. I like that a lot,” she leans in and kisses my cheek.

“Good. Now, eat your dinner before it gets cold,” I tell her.

Instead of reaching for the tray, she stands up and drops her towel, showing me her silky, white skin. I take her arms and ask, “What are you doing?”

“I want to be with you. I want to feel your hands on me,” she breathes, eyes glassy with desire.

Well, who the hell am I to say no to her?

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