Garland Roses II

PROLOGUE:

Interstate 5

Shadow Creek, Washington

(December)

EEEEE-RRRRR-EEEEE The sound of the police siren and the flashing lights which suddenly turned on behind her, startled Annie Smith. A sinking sensation swiftly formed in the pit of her stomach.

Annie there’s a police car behind us. Her eleven year old brother informed her unnecessarily, as if she couldn’t see or hear this fact for herself.

I know Zach. Annie replied through gritted teeth as she pulled over onto the shoulder of the interstate and stopped her car, praying the squad car would go flying past her. No such luck! The police car pulled in right behind hers and stopped too. The officer cut the siren, but kept the emergency lights flashing.

Great! Just Great! Annie muttered to herself. It was a few minutes wait before the officer opened his car door, and carefully stepped out of his vehicle and walked towards hers. Waiting for him to reach her side of the car - those few minutes were some of the longest ones of her life! In her rearview mirror Annie watched the officer approach her car with an authoritative, but careful stride. She could tell he was a very tall and well-built man as he cautiously strolled up to her side of the car. Annie lowered her window, and a blast of arctic air hit her full in the face. Terrific. She mumbled under her breath as the officer drew closer, a clipboard in his hands.

He walked up to the car window, and at first all Annie could see was the gun belt and crotch area of his uniform. Then he leaned down so she could see his face. He was wearing a sheriff’s wide-brimmed hat which covered his dark brown hair. It shaded his brown eyes which were gazing at her with stern authority. He was a very sexy and handsome man - especially in his uniform. However Annie was too worried and upset to notice this fact. All she saw were his eyes, which were looking at her in a manner that made her want to squirm in her seat.

Ma’am may I please have your license and registration forms? I will need your car insurance information too.

What did I do Officer?

You went through a red light back there when you exited off Shadow Creek Boulevard to get onto the freeway, and I clocked you going 10 miles over the speed limit just before you turned onto the freeway onramp. He rattled off the offenses in a deep, authoritative tone. May I please see your license and registration Ma’am?

Annie fumbled around in her glove compartment in search of these items. She found the car’s registration and insurance forms, and handed these documents to the officer. However her wallet was not in the car which meant she didn’t have her driver’s license on her. With a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, Annie realized she must have left it at home by mistake. In her mind’s eye she recalled seeing the billfold lying on top of her dresser alongside her purse. However in her hurry to leave so they could get to the church on time, she’d forgotten to drop it into her purse. Not that it would’ve mattered if she’d done so, since she’d also forgotten to grab the handbag as well.

OH NO! Annie wailed, her face paling to an ashen hue as this realization sank in. Zach… She implored, while looking over her shoulder into the backseat of her car in the frantic and futile hope that she’d miraculously see her purse or wallet lying there. …Do you see my purse or wallet back there? Annie couldn’t move freely around to look for these items herself, hampered as she was by the maid-of-honor dress she was wearing, so she had to rely on her brother to perform this search for her.

No Annie. Are you going to be arrested? Her brother asked in a tone of voice which sounded suspiciously excited, as if he thought this would be something fun to see.

The officer leaned down again, and gazed at her sternly. You don’t have your license on you ma’am?

No officer. It’s in my wallet which I must have left on my dresser at home by mistake.

Ma’am you are aware, are you not, that you are required by law to have a valid driver’s license on you at all times when operating a moving vehicle?

"Yes. I’ve never done this before." Annie wailed, biting back the worry that was growing inside her by the second.

Ma’am driving without a license is a ticketing offense.

"I know. And I do have a license; it’s just not on me at the moment. Normally I carry it in my purse, but I forgot it today in my haste to get to the church on time. I not only had trouble getting into this blasted dress which caused me to run late, but I also had one heck of a time trying to get all these baskets of flowers and wedding gifts packed into the car too, which made me even later than I was! In my haste to leave I accidentally left my purse and wallet on top of the dresser."

The officer appeared to notice for the first time her unusual attire and the pile of gifts in the front and back seats of her car along with the two gigantic flower baskets in the back seat which were positioned on either side of Zach. (Her brother was in charge of keeping them upright). A flicker of amusement briefly crossed the man’s expression, but was quickly masked by one of stern authority.

I see. He replied in a stoic tone. So saying the officer straightened up a bit, and jotted something down on his clipboard. Then he leaned down again. He motioned for Zach to roll down the backseat window beside him. As soon as her brother complied, the officer trained his attention onto Zach and in a slightly warmer tone, but one still full of authority; he directed his next set of questions to the eleven year old.

Son what is your name, and do you have any identification on you?

Excited to be asked this, Zach answered the man. My name is Zachary Andrew Smith and this is my sister Annie. He paused a moment as he dug into his gym bag which was lying on the floor at his feet, then continued. I don’t have a license, but I do have a student ID card from my school and my library card.

Zach handed the officer his library and school ID cards. The officer took them, straightened up and jotted something down on his clipboard. Then he leaned down again, and addressed the eleven year old. Can you vouch for and verify that this is your sister, and that her full name is Annabel Lynette Smith, as it is printed on her car insurance and registration forms?

"Yes sir. She’s also my guardian too. Hey your name is the same as my middle one! Zachary suddenly squealed when he noticed the officer’s shoulder nametag, and saw that it read ‘Sheriff Andrew C. Blackner’.

Humor briefly flickered across Officer Blackner’s face, at the boy’s happy observation. Why so it is. He smiled at Zach for a minute then his face became impassive and stern once more as he turned and addressed Annie.

Okay then. Ms. Smith I can let you go on a warning about your license, but I will need to give you a ticket for speeding and running a red light.

Annie could only swallow and nod her head.

Give me a minute to go write it up and log it into my computer. And with this, Officer Blackner took her registration and insurance information along with his clipboard back to his car. He folded his tall muscular body into the driver’s side, leaving the door open and one leg sticking out of the car as he proceeded to punch in all her information into his squad car’s computer. He retrieved a copy of her driver’s license from the computer’s database, and verified it against the information he’d already obtained. Once he had all the necessary data he needed, he wrote out the ticket while Annie worriedly and impatiently waited in her car.

After what seemed like forever, but was less than ten minutes, Officer Blackner calmly strode back to the driver’s side of Annie’s car. He leaned down and handed her the clipboard. I will need you to sign these forms please. He requested impassively.

Annie quickly signed the papers on the clipboard and handed them back to him. The officer tore one of the copies off the forms and handed it to her. Here is your ticket Ms. Smith. In the future please be sure to have your license with you before operating a vehicle, and watch your speed limit and obey all traffic laws when you drive. You can have this ticket reduced to a lighter one, if you take it to traffic court. With this advice he nodded his head to her, and then turned to Zach and said. You be good to your sister Sport, okay?

Zach happily nodded his head, proud and excited that the officer had spoken to him too. He waved to the sheriff, and the man waved back as he turned and walked back to his squad car. The officer folded his tall body into the police cruiser, and proceeded to finish his paperwork. This gave Annie time to restart her car, and carefully drive off the shoulder and merge into the traffic on the interstate, before he did likewise.

Annie and Zach had driven about fifteen miles up the road when the car started to bump and there was a loud "THUMP THUMPITY THUMP THUMP THUMP.

"Damn It! This cannot be happening to me! This is so NOT fair!!" Annie grumbled as she heard and felt her car go thumpity thump thump thump.

Annie, Grams doesn't like it when you swear!

I know Zach, I know, but she’s not here and I think we have a flat tire. It’s going to delay us even more from getting to the church on time! We're already late as it is because of that blasted ticket! Kathy’s going to kill me!

Annie switched lanes and pulled over onto the interstate’s shoulder. She got out of the car, and slammed the door shut behind her. With a disgruntled sigh of frustrated anger, she proceeded to walk around her car to inspect the tires on it. Sure enough the back left tire was flat! To make the situation worse her cell phone was in her purse which was lying on the dresser beside her wallet back home. This meant she couldn’t call for help! She was going to have to change the damned thing by herself! Not an easy task to do since she was wearing a long bell-shaped, Gone With the Wind styled maid-of-honor’s dress!

With a frustrated, strangled sigh Annie stared at the flat tire in disgusted angst. Just then a burst of wind blew up and around her, causing the collapsible hoops beneath her dark red dress to rise and fall like bells in a church’s belfry.

Terrific! Just Great! Annie grumbled under her breath as she pushed her gown down against the wind. "This is all I needed today!"

She angrily walked around to the front of her car, and popped open the trunk from a lever located on the floor next to the driver’s seat. Then she marched back to the trunk of her car, and opened it wider. Muttering expletives under her breath, Annie leaned down and heaved a couple of boxes and cartons containing some books and other miscellaneous items around until she could get to the spare tire and jack. She lifted the heavy jack out of the trunk with a grunt. The spare tire was too bulky and dirty for her to move by herself, dressed as she was, so Annie recruited her eleven year old brother’s help.

Zach could you please give me a hand with this thing? Annie huffed and puffed, her efforts considerably hampered by her dress as she kept the tire and jack far away from it, for the last thing she needed was to get grease stains on her gown. Fervently wishing that she’d waited until she’d reached the church before changing into the accursed gown, Annie silently cursed her decision to save time by putting the dress on at home.

Her brother nimbly jumped out of the car and into the freezing cold. He immediately began helping his sister heave the heavy tire out of the trunk. Once it was out of the car and lying on the ground beside the jack, Annie took the jack and walked over to the flat tire. She positioned the tool underneath the car’s frame and axle, and began to crank the car up as best she could. This was no easy job to do, considering the carjack was old and rusty and heavier than heck to operate. To make matters worse, she was considerably hampered by the freezing wind which kept rushing up underneath the hoops of her dress and causing her skirt to fly up and out above her knees and thighs.

Zach can you give me a hand here? Annie repeated though clenched teeth, as she attempted to jack the car up. Where is your coat? She added when she noticed the goose bumps on her brother’s bared forearms as he helped her with the jack.

In the car.

Well go get it and then please get back here and help me try to get this jack cranked up high enough to raise the car so we can get this damned flat off the car.

Annie, Grams doesn't like it when you swear.

I know Zach. Annie replied through gritted teeth. Just go get your coat and then come help me.

Okay.

Grunting and cursing under her breath, Annie unsuccessfully tried to jack the car up. She heard a car pull in behind hers, but didn’t look up. Her sole concentration was focused on trying to get the darn handle on the rusty old jack to budge, which was fast becoming a futile endeavor to do. She heard a car door open and close. Footsteps came up from behind her, but she paid no attention to this. Annie was determined to get her car jacked up so she could remove the flat tire and replace it with the spare one. Not an easy task, hampered as she was by the bridal gown.

Zach will you hurry it up and give me a hand here?

Perhaps I could give you a hand with that jack, Ms. Smith. A hauntingly familiar male voice intoned from behind her, and Annie’s hand stilled on the instrument in question.

No! It simply couldn’t be that state trooper again! Haven’t I had enough humiliation for one day? Annie silently muttered upwards, before she straightened and turned to face Sheriff Andrew C. Blackner.

Just then a blast of arctic air rushed up between her hooped skirts. It lifted the hem of her dress high into the air above her waist, giving the officer an unexpected and pleasurable view of a shapely pair of legs clad in ivory colored tights and red high heels, along with a pair of candy-apple red bikini underpants on one of the sexiest bodies he’d ever been privileged to see. A deep blush which matched the exact shade of red as her dress and undergarments, swept across Annie’s face. Cursing her bad luck under her breath, Annie angrily pushed her gown back down as the wind continued to make the hooped underskirt swing to and fro in a bell-like way.

Her embarrassment knew no bounds! Annie wished the ground would simply swallow her whole, so mortified was she. She also shivered with cold, for her jacket was still in the car.

Sheriff Blackner gazed at her contemplatively and quickly assessed the situation. It was plainly obvious the woman in front of him not only needed his help, but was deeply embarrassed by an act of nature which had given him an enticing glimpse of her nicely formed body. His keen encompassing glance took in every nuance of her agitated emotions and body language. She was both embarrassed and ticked off.

Andrew was astute enough not to make mention of either emotion. He’d also noticed she was shivering. The lady was obviously freezing cold, but too stubborn to do anything about it. Then he noticed what her goose bumps were doing to the bodice of her gown, and felt a tightening in his nether regions. With considerable willpower he staunchly willed his body’s reaction to this unbidden and unexpected desire to subside.

It was time to take control of the situation. With this thought uppermost in mind, Andrew gently tugged the jack handle out and away from the lady’s frozen grip on it, and courteously but authoritatively suggested she go sit in his squad car to get warmed up, while he changed her flat tire. He posed this suggestion in the guise of a question.

Ma’am, would you and your brother like to go sit in the squad car to get warmed up, while I change this tire for you?

No. I’m perfectly fine just as I am. Annie lied, as she shivered from the freezing cold wind and air.

The officer eyed her knowingly. She was obviously willing to freeze before admitting she needed his help. Since she refused to sit in the squad car Andrew decided the best thing to do, short of bodily placing her there, would be to change her flat tire as quickly as possible. Suit yourself, but if you do get cold the offer to go sit and warm up in my car remains open for you and your brother to make use of...

With these words the officer imperceptivity shrugged, turned, and competently set to work on changing the flat tire for her. What she’d struggled hopelessly with, Sheriff Blackner was able to do with effortless ease Annie noted with disgusted angst. Her brother, having spotted the police cruiser when he was pulling on his jacket, excitedly walked over to where the officer was busily changing the flat tire.

In one corner of her mind Annie appreciated the patient and gentle way the man spoke to her brother, explaining to the eleven year old what he was doing and why. It tugged on her heartstrings to see the almost painful expression of hero-worship on her brother’s face as the man talked to him. It was at times like this, when she missed her dad the most.

Her father, Robert Andrew Smith, had died when Zach was still a baby. He’d died in the line of duty. Her mother, embittered by the loss of her husband to a job she’d loathed, lost all interest in raising her children - leaving Annie to cope at an early age to take care of her baby brother and herself. When her brother was about five years old, her mother remarried and moved to Florida. Her mom’s new husband didn’t like children, and he especially didn’t like any reminders of his wife’s first husband. Subsequently before she moved to Florida, Annie’s mother formally and legally gave sole guardianship and custody of Zach over to her daughter.

Annie had only been twenty years old when she became the legal guardian of her baby brother; which is how barely out of her teens herself, she found herself responsible for the life and welfare of a five year old boy. The only saving grace was when her paternal grandmother, who’d been disgusted and upset by her widowed and remarried daughter-in-law’s actions, had moved in shortly after Annie’s mother moved out.

Annie soon found herself having to take care of her grandmother’s and her brother’s needs, care, and welfare. However with the addition of Granny Smith in their home, Annie discovered that while her grandmother was elderly and could not physically do much to help, she was a wise and wonderful woman whose loving presence lessened the pain of their mother’s desertion. Granny Smith had also eased some of the burden Annie bore, in being the sole guardian to her brother. Annie thanked God every day for her grandmother’s presence in their lives. Her grandmother’s inclusion into the family had been a wonderful blessing. Granny Smith had been more of a mother to her granddaughter and grandson than their own mother had ever been.

However while she dearly loved her brother and grandmother, not a day went by when she didn’t miss her father’s loving presence and protection in their lives, especially for her brother’s sake. Zach needed a father to guide him through all the mysterious rites boys seemed to go through, which Annie herself had never experienced. Her brother needed a male mentor or role model in his life, and until recently there had been no one around who could provide this much needed guidance for him on a regular or daily basis. Her best friend’s father and brothers did their best to help out, but they didn’t live in Washington, so this was near impossible for them to do aside from phone calls and an occasional visit.

Then this past summer she met the Garland Roses rock stars. The inclusion of the seven famous men into their lives was a crazy happenstance which came about when this past July her best friend and neighbor, Kathy Meadows, came home from her family’s reunion in Colorado with Joel Garland and his retinue of friends in tow. However it wasn’t until they were all swept up into a harrowing situation caused by a deranged madman that Annie and her brother and grandmother became close friends with the seven famous men and their families and friends. During this terrifying ordeal they’d also become friends with the rock stars’ protection team; along with a good number of agents from the C.O.P.S. Investigation and Protection Agency which Joel Garland’s cousin, Nicholas Stone, co-founded and co-owned and operated.

Annie knew she could turn to any of them if she ever needed help with Zach, but her brother needed someone on a daily basis for male guidance and support. With the busy lives the famous men lived, this was not something the guys could provide all the time. What Zach needed was their dad, but no matter how much she wished otherwise their father could never come back to life.

Watching her brother with Officer Blackner forcibly brought this fact to mind. Zach seemed to blossom before her very eyes as the sheriff gave him his undivided attention, while changing the flat tire on her car. Annie appreciated the way he patiently explained the merits of changing a car tire and discussing the importance of car maintenance and safety to the eleven year old. While she was grateful for what the man was unintentionally doing for Zach, she was troubled about it as well for it magnified how much her brother needed a male mentor in his life on a daily basis. He needed someone who could discuss and teach all the mundane or practical matters which seemed to be of such importance to the male half of the populace. Matters she either knew nothing about or had no interest in.

It was a sobering thought. However since there was nothing she could really do about it, Annie let out a disconsolate and resigned sigh. She allowed her mind to drift to other equally important matters, like Kathy’s wedding and how late she was now going to be thanks to the traffic ticket and flat tire. Not a happy thought.

Shivering, and totally ignored by Officer Blackner (or so she thought) as he and her brother changed her flat tire, Annie was feeling more miserable by the minute. She kept glancing at her watch, anxiously noting how late it was becoming. She’d assured Kathy that she’d be at the church early in order to be on hand to help with Neo (her friend’s dog, who was an unusual member of the bridal party), and to do or help out with whatever else needed attention and doing.

Now she’d be lucky just to get to the chapel before the wedding ceremony was due to begin! Worse still she didn’t have her phone, so she couldn’t even call to let Kathy know she was running late…or why.

As she stood there waiting and shivering with cold, Annie tried not to think about the weather; or her father and her brother’s needs, or being late to her best friend’s wedding. However this was easier said than done. With a long-suffering sigh, Annie struggled to put her mind on something else, but she couldn’t think of a single thing! Her mind had gone completely blank. As she strove to think of something more positive, Annie absently watched the officer and her brother changing the car’s tire, and this caused her to gaze more intently at the uniformed man kneeling in front of her back tire.

Until that moment, she hadn’t truly noticed how well built he was. As she studied him now, Annie made the realization that the man was one-hundred percent, pure male perfection. A bona fide HUNK! The way Sheriff Blackner’s uniform clung to his sexy body like second skin was almost sinful. It also made her wonder what he looked like without it on. She tried to visualize him in different outfits, and as she did so Annie soon found herself fantasizing about what the sheriff would look like without any clothing on at all.

As her mind began to do a mental strip-tease of the man, Annie suddenly realized what she was doing, and about died of mortification! She was ogling and fantasizing about a man who’d just given her a hefty ticket and fine for speeding and running a red light!! A man moreover, who was busily changing her flat tire and patiently talking to her brother as he did so! The man could be married and the father of five children for all she knew.

Annie admonished herself severely for thinking such improper and outrageous thoughts about the sheriff who was to all intents and purposes a complete stranger to her - a man who’d been both a bane and blessing to her life today. However Annie discovered that once the disturbing image of Officer Blackner without any clothes on had entered her mind’s eye, her thoughts continued to stray back to it, no matter how hard she strove to erase this erotic image from her head.

Suddenly Annie realized the tire was changed. The flat tire and jack had been placed into the trunk of her car, and Sheriff Blackner and her brother had turned around. They were staring at her questioningly. Zach was looking at her oddly, while Officer Blackner was studying her with a keenly sharp intelligence. To her inner and embarrassed dismay, she noted he was gazing at her with a knowing gleam in his velvety dark brown eyes. Annie promptly decided she preferred being ignored by the man, than having his full attention - especially when she had the sinking and mortifying sensation that he’d discerned exactly what she’d been thinking about in regards to him!

Andrew was intrigued by the lady’s beautiful and very becoming (and telling) blush, when he’d turned from depositing the jack and flat tire into the trunk of her car. He eyed her thoughtfully and with some regret, for he knew it would be unethical for him to say or do anything of a personal nature under the circumstances. He would have liked to have gotten to know this woman better, but could not. He was not only on duty, but he’d just helped her change a flat tire in the line of duty, and had given her a traffic violations ticket as well!

With sincere regret, Andrew helped the woman into the driver’s seat of her car, and then turned to help her brother into the back of the vehicle. Had the circumstances been different he would’ve arranged a way to see her again, so he could get to know her better. However the circumstances being what they were, he could not do so. The only thing he could do was to say goodbye. Andrew touched the brim of his hat politely and waved goodbye to them, in response to her brother’s wave and thanks as they pulled out into traffic on the freeway.

He stood and silently watched their car until it rounded a bend in the road, and disappeared from view. Then with a philosophical shrug, he turned and walked back to the squad car to make himself available. He had to pick up his partner at the station in a short while, in order to work the night shift. He was pulling double duty tonight, because a couple of the troopers were out with the flu.

At least this was the official reason given for his nightshift duty. Only the chief and the handful of agents who were members of his team, working undercover with him, knew the real purpose behind his stint with this division of the Washington State Troopers. The nightshifts were where the most information and detection could be gleaned on the case he was working.

With a regretful shake of his head, Sheriff Blackner erased the distracting image of Ms. Annabel Smith from his mind. He then started his own car and pulled out into traffic on the interstate, his mind focused once more on his job, and the business at hand…

Chapter One

The Wedding Chapel

Bellevue, Washington

Annie pulled into the church’s parking lot with a relieved sigh, thankful to finally be there!! It only took her a minute to find a parking space in front of the church, and quickly park her car. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes a minute to calm her battered nerves, before getting out of the car. Once she was in an upright position, Annie opened the back door of the vehicle and hustled her brother out of it. She didn’t have time to grab any of the gifts or flower baskets from the backseat of the car, and told Zach to leave them for the moment. It was more important that they hurry inside the church and let the others know they’d finally arrived, than retrieving those items. Annie explained this to her brother in a rushed tone, as she hustled him into the church.

Once inside the building she handed Zach over to Bruce Meadows, one of Kathy’s brothers. She knew Bruce would keep an eye on her brother, and make sure he stayed out of mischief while she was tied up with all the wedding duties she was in charge of. Having known and been friends with Bruce almost as long as she’d been friends with Kathy, Annie had no qualms about recruiting him to do this for her. She also had no qualms whatsoever in enlisting his help to give her brother a hand unloading all the gifts and flowers from her car. She would’ve done this task herself, but she simply didn’t have the time now to do so; hence Bruce’s recruitment.

Annie quickly outlined to him what needed to be done. She wanted the flower baskets to be given to the wedding coordinator, and all the wedding gifts transferred from her car and placed in the trunk of one of the limousines which was to take them to the wedding reception later on. She didn’t take the time to explain that the presents were gifts from neighbors of hers and Kathy’s who were unable to attend the wedding today, for that would’ve taken too long.

With a grin, Bruce listened while Annie rattled off these instructions to him as fast as she could. He waited until she paused for breath, before saying or doing anything. As soon as he was able to do so, Bruce hastened to reassure her that he and Zach had everything under control and would do as she asked without any trouble.

"Not to worry Annie! Zach and I can handle this; you on the other hand are needed in the Bride’s room pronto!" Bruce nodded his head in the general direction of this room’s location as he said this. Then with laughter-filled eyes he gave her two thumbs up, and draping an arm around her brother’s shoulders he proceeded to propel Zach and himself in the direction of the door leading out to the parking lot. With a relieved grin Annie hastily thanked him, and then turned on her heel and hastily made her way to the chapel’s Bride’s Room which was where Kathy and the rest of the bridal party were waiting for her.

She paused on the threshold of this room a second, and took a deep calming breath before entering it, and then crossed over the threshold. Sorry I’m so late! Annie exclaimed apologetically as she hastened into the room.

Some idiot cop decided to pull me over on my way here, to give me a speeding ticket when I was barely going over the limit. What a JERK! Okay, so he hadn’t truly been a jerk. After all he’d changed her flat tire for her, and had been kind to Zach hadn’t he? As for the ticket, she guiltily acknowledged that she probably had deserved it since she had been in such a rush to get to the church. Annie owned these facts silently to herself, but not out loud. There was no WAY she was going to tell her friends what had actually happened, because she was still too embarrassed and ashamed of the wayward thoughts she’d entertained about the sheriff when he’d been changing her tire.

That’s okay Annie. Kathy smilingly reassured her. "I’m just glad you are okay. We were all getting a little worried when you didn’t get here and we couldn’t reach you by phone, for you are never late!"

I’m sorry Kathy - I didn’t mean to worry anyone. In my rush to get here I left my cell phone at home by mistake, so I couldn’t call to let you know I was running late. Between that ticket and getting a flat tire on I-5, it’s a wonder I’m here at all! I sure wish I’d had my cell phone on me when I got that flat though! Do you have any idea how hard it is to change a flat tire while wearing this dress!?

Flat tire? You had to change a flat on your way here Annie? No wonder you are so out of sorts! Henrietta Henderson, the other Maid of Honor said in a commiserating tone.

Yeah. It’s a wonder I got here at all with the way my day has been going so far! Annie replied before turning to address the bride. I am truly sorry though Kathy, for not having left home earlier! Had I given myself more time to drive here, I wouldn't have been so late!

Don’t worry about it Annie, I made sure everyone met here earlier than what mom’s wedding coordinator suggested in case anyone was late. Kathy rolled her eyes expressively as she spoke, making her bridesmaids laugh. "Had mom allowed me to have the small wedding I’d wanted, it wouldn't have mattered so much. She really outdid herself this time!" Kathy added ruefully as she gazed down at herself and around at her two maids of honor and seven bridesmaids and flower girl.

They were all wearing gowns which could have easily been worn in the classic "Gone with the Wind" movie, except that they were all brand new. Annie and the rest of the bridesmaids had found themselves outfitted in long gowns with wide bell-like hoops. The dresses were lavishly made up in rich velvet and brocade satin, in jewel toned colors of dark red and green. They wore matching satin colored shoes on their feet, and they each wore custom-made pearl and diamond earrings and necklaces which were designed to accessorize their gowns. The earrings and necklace sets had been given to them as thank-you gifts from Kathy and her mother.

In addition to the jewelry, they would also be carrying beautiful floral bouquets which matched Kathy’s bridal bouquet but on a much smaller scale. The only other accessory they would be wearing, were silken fold-up fans which dangled from their wrists. Both Annie’s and Henrietta’s gowns were red, while all the bridesmaids’ dresses were green. The flower girl (who was Kathy’s niece, Kendall) was wearing a tea length ivory colored dress which was trimmed in jewel-toned reds and greens. She wore ivory colored tights and her feet were shod in a pair of ivory colored bow-buckled shoes. The bows on her shoes had accents of green and red along the edges of them.

Similar to her bridesmaids’ dresses Kathy’s gown was also bell shaped, but it had a detachable six foot long train which trailed out behind it. Her gown was fashioned out of ivory colored duchess satin and silk, and was embellished with pearls and sequins. A tea length, hand embroidered wedding veil framed her face. It was fastened to her head with a diamond tiara, (courtesy of Lady Erika Edwards to whom the tiara belonged). Another veil was attached to and cascaded down from her shoulders to cover the full length of the train. Kathy was absolutely stunning and she looked like a fairytale princess, Annie thought.

As for the groomsmen - they were outfitted in black colored, formal long-tailed tuxedos with dark red or green ties and cummerbunds encircling their necks and waists. They had boutonnières pinned to the lapels of their tux jackets, and their feet were shod in black patented leather dress shoes. They’d forsaken their beloved cowboy boots in order to wear the dress shoes - much to their obvious consternation and the women's amusement. Kathy’s twin nephews were similarly dressed, only their ties and cummerbunds were ivory colored trimmed in red and green. Their only adornments, aside from the boutonnières, were the ring pillows they would be carrying down the aisle.

Glancing around the room at her friends, Annie was filled with warmth and happiness. She was honored and proud to be one of Kathy’s two Maids-of-Honor. She’d been among the exclusive few who’d been privy to her friend’s romance, when Kathy had fallen in love with the famous rock star, Joel Garland.

Kathy and Joel’s romance had been a tumultuous one due to the danger her friend had been in from an insane stalker who’d called himself ‘the Doctor’. The creep’s reign of terror began with threatening phone calls he’d made to Kathy. He would call her friend up at all hours of the day or night, leaving horrific messages and death threats on her answering machine. He’d terrorized Kathy for months before she’d met Joel Garland. Joel and Kathy had only known each other for a few weeks, when the rock star discovered what her friend was going through.

As soon as he’d learned about the danger Kathy was in, Joel had stepped in to protect her. He never left her side until the madman was captured and brought to justice. Joel had also taken additional safeguard measures to ensure Kathy’s protection, and to make sure her stalker was quickly found and apprehended.

To this end Joel had contacted his cousin Nicholas Stone, who co-owned and operated the C.O.P.S. Investigation and Protection Agency. Joel had known his cousin was the best person to put in charge of the whole nasty situation, for Nick and his agency were not only the best in the field, but were world renowned for bringing criminals to justice expediently, efficiently, and ruthlessly. This is why he’d turned to his cousin for help.

While Nick and his agents set to work on ferreting out and capturing Kathy’s stalker, Joel had placed the band’s security team and bodyguards in charge of keeping her safe and protected. Unfortunately this protection hadn’t been entirely successful. The creep had snuck into Kathy’s house undetected, via a secret entrance, and taken them all by surprise.

Caught off guard, Joel and the others had been unable to do more than watch helplessly for a short while as the madman held them captive at gunpoint. During this short period of time the demented man had growled deranged accusations at Kathy which culminated into his ultimately pointing his gun at her and firing it. Only it wasn’t her friend who’d been shot, but someone else.

Annie felt a shiver of fear go down her spine when she thought about what had gone down, even though she hadn’t been at that particular incident. While this confrontation had been taking place, she’d been on her way to the hospital with a gunshot wound in her arm, courtesy of her own run-in with the demented madman. It was because of this run-in with the Doctor that Annie knew just how dangerous and deranged the man had been! She fully understood how terrifying that altercation had actually been for Kathy and the others to endure. It gave her nightmares just thinking about what had gone down that day.

With a grimace of remembrance Annie glanced down at her arm. It was still a little tender from the gunshot wound she’d received when ‘the Doctor’ had used her as a distraction ruse, in order to lure Nick and his agents out of Kathy’s house. The diabolical bastard had stealthily entered her home, and snuck up on her as she’d been making dinner. Taking Annie completely by surprise, he’d grabbed her from behind and forced her to sit down on one of her kitchen chairs. Keeping his gun trained on her, he’d tightly wound duct tape around her body and tied her to the chair.

Once he’d had her trussed up and unable to escape, he’d flipped open his cell phone with his free hand and dialed Kathy’s number. As soon as the other end was picked up, he spoke into the phone in a menacingly deranged tone of voice which still sent chills of terror racing up and down her spine as she remembered it. In an almost demonic tone, the creep had spoken into the phone and cold-bloodedly stated his intention to kill each and every one of Kathy’s friends and protectors in retribution for helping her - starting with Annie herself!

As he’d imparted this chilling message, ‘the Doctor’ had trained his eyes on Annie with a coldly calculating and implacable expression of intent in them. That glare had sent a chill of terror up her spine. Pointing the gun at her head, the bastard tauntingly pretended to pull the trigger on the weapon as he talked into the phone. Terrified, Annie had closed her eyes tightly shut in abject fear, and silently prayed thinking she was about to be killed.

However just before he actually fired the pistol the insane man lowered the gun away from her head where he’d been pointing it, and instead he shot her upper arm where it joined her shoulder. As he’d fired the gun, Kathy’s stalker had simultaneously pressed the disconnect button on his phone, so that the only thing which was heard by those at the other end of his phone was the deafening sound of a gunshot, and Annie’s terrified scream suddenly silenced. He’d deliberately done this in order to give Kathy and those listening in on the call, the impression that he had just put period to Annie’s life.

Annie knew she would never forget the sound of that gun as it went off, or the excruciating pain and terror she experienced as the bullet shot into her, just before she blacked out. Nor would she ever forget the dumbfounded and almost giddy sense of relief she’d felt when the realization sank into her numbed and fear-fogged senses that instead of being killed - her life had been spared at the last minute.

Apparently Kathy’s stalker had never meant to kill anyone other than his intended victim, which is why Annie’s life had been spared. Unfortunately the madman had had no qualms about shooting one of her limbs in order to make his point. The insane bastard had shot her arm in order to not only further terrorize Kathy, but to create a diversion powerful enough to insure that the agents protecting her friend would go racing over to her own house leaving Kathy less protected.

The creep had known his phone call was being monitored by Nick’s men, and that his agents would immediately rush over to Annie’s house when she was shot - leaving Kathy momentarily unguarded. While the agents rushed over to her house, he’d covertly make his way over to Kathy’s house, via an underground passageway which no one except himself had known about. Once inside he’d planned on shooting Kathy before anyone had a chance to see and stop him.

Regrettably his ruse had worked to a certain extent, for Nick’s agents and a good portion of Joel’s security team had rushed over to Annie’s house after she’d been shot. While they were thus occupied, the bastard had entered Kathy’s house undetected, and taken them all by surprise. Totally caught off-guard Kathy and the others had had no time to react or take protective countermeasures against his initial attack. His sudden appearance into the room they were in had rendered them momentarily motionless. Unable to do anything, they’d remained tensely alert as he held them captive at gunpoint.

As he’d held them hostage, the demented madman had growled deranged accusations at Kathy which culminated into his attempt to shoot her with his firearm, only someone else ended up getting hit instead. Kathy would now be dead, if it hadn’t been for the timely intervention of the man’s stepdaughter. The teenager had jumped in front of Kathy and bodily pushed her out of harm’s way as the gun went off. Within seconds of the creep’s gun going off, Joel and Nick’s people went into action. Furious that his shot had gone awry, ‘the Doctor’ had tried to shoot Kathy again. However before he could depress the weapon’s hammer the gun was shot out of his hands. A slight struggle broke out after his gun went off which resulted in further gunfire, but within a matter of minutes the madman was taken down by Henrietta and the others.

However while this harrowing and violent exchange had led to the deranged man’s capture, it had not prevented another innocent victim from being shot and seriously wounded by him. Regrettably Annie was not the only casualty of the madman’s deranged anger and shooting spree. Margaret Putnam, the bastard’s teenaged stepdaughter had also been shot. The injuries she’d sustained were far worse than Annie’s had been - both physically and emotionally!

Thinking of the girl Annie glanced over to where the teenager was standing beside her twin sister, Mandy. The two girls were amiably chatting with some of Kathy’s nieces. Turning her full attention onto the five teenagers who were laughingly helping each other get their bridesmaids’ gowns straightened, Annie’s gaze fell on the oldest of the five girls. Margaret Putnam. The pretty bridesmaid had been the other victim of ‘the Doctor's’ shooting rampage.

Poor Maggie! She’d caught the worst of the gunfire, and would have to walk with a permanent limp for the rest of her life. Worse than this though, the girl carried the heavier burden of knowing her stepfather, Reverend Cyrus Walters, had not only turned out to be Kathy’s stalker, but had done so because she’d befriended and mentored his stepdaughter.

Her stepfather’s nefarious actions weren’t Maggie’s fault, but nothing anyone said to the girl could convince her otherwise. Nor would she take credit for having saved Kathy’s life. Instead the teenager wrongly felt responsible for having placed Kathy’s life in jeopardy in the first place, simply because Kath had befriended her.

Maggie felt responsible because she’d known what her stepfather was capable of, and knew how demented and unstable he was. Even though she could not possibly have foreseen how he’d handle her growing friendship with Kathy Meadows, or rather Kathy’s encouragement of her artistic talent, Maggie still felt responsible for the danger she’d unwittingly placed her friend and mentor in. Maggie wrongfully felt she should have somehow prevented what had ultimately occurred. It would take time for Maggie to come to terms with what her stepfather had done, and to realize she was not to blame for his demented actions.

It would take even longer for anyone to convince the girl that instead of being responsible for having placed Kathy’s life in danger, that she had in fact actually saved it by putting her own life at risk to do so. Not only had Maggie saved Kathy’s life that day, she’d done so quite spectacularly.

Those who’d witnessed and participated in this shootout had given Annie the rundown of what had actually occurred. Thus Annie knew that far from placing Kathy’s life in danger, the teenager had acted quite heroically in order to save it! She’d not only jumped in front of the bullet meant for Kathy, but just prior to that altercation she had set out to warn Kathy about her stepfather’s deadly intentions as soon as she’d uncovered his diabolical plans.

What made the latter action even more heroic was the fact that she’d known what her stepfather would do to her if she betrayed him in any way. Yet in spite of this very real danger, Maggie had still gone to Kathy’s house in order to warn her about Cyrus Walters after she found out what he planned to do. This had been a brave act in of itself. Sadly though her warning came too late, for soon after she’d entered Kathy’s house Cyrus went on his shooting spree.

Kathy’s stalker had managed this surprise attack because he’d made use of an unknown network of tunnels and caverns which ran underneath their neighborhood and the surrounding area. He had not only known about their existence, he’d made use of them to gain access to Kathy’s house and her own. He’d also used these tunnels in order to stealthily enter the more affluent homes in their neighborhood, as well as several mansions in nearby Shadow Crest in order to rob them. This rash of robberies had had authorities completely baffled for months, a fact the demented reverend had taken vicarious pleasure from.

However the primary reason he’d used the tunnels was in order to stalk and terrorize his stepdaughter’s mentor - Kathy Meadows, and ultimately to kill her. He’d meticulously planned his every move. He just hadn’t anticipated Joel Garland stepping in to protect Kathy, or the rock star calling in his cousin Nick Stone for help. However Cyrus had still found a way to circumvent this unforeseen hindrance to his plans to terrorize and attempt to kill Kathy Meadows.

After he’d shot Annie; Cyrus had scurried down into the passageway and waited there until his diversion tactic worked. It was while he’d waited in the underground passageway, that he’d overheard his stepdaughter warning Kathy and the others about him. Cyrus had been furious to learn that Margaret had found him out, and was further enraged when she’d betrayed him the way she had - even though he knew they’d already figured out his identity before Maggie had shown up to warn Kathy. He later confessed that in spite of her betrayal, he hadn’t meant to shoot his stepdaughter. Maggie had simply gotten in the way of the bullet meant for Kathy.

Shooting his stepdaughter instead of his intended victim had further enraged the man, and he insanely blamed Kathy for it. In an insane rage he had tried to shoot Kathy again. However he never got the chance to do so, for Henrietta, who’d been Kathy’s bodyguard, shot the rifle right out of his hands with her sidearm before he could depress the trigger on it. When he’d made a desperate lunge for his gun, Henri had fired one more round, and hit his shooting arm in a crippling manner.

Even shot up like he’d been, Maggie’s stepfather had still been a threat to everyone in that room once the gunfire ended, for he’d had another weapon on him. The second weapon had been a homemade bomb hidden inside a stuffed animal which he’d brought along with him. The only reason why it hadn’t gone off was entirely due to Henrietta’s presence of mind, expert marksmanship, and her discovery of the bomb. This had given everyone time to escape and take cover until the bomb squad arrived to diffuse the bomb.

It had been a terrifying ordeal for all involved. However with the exception of Maggie and herself getting shot, the Doctor’s reign of terror had had some beneficial aspects to it. It had freed Maggie and her family from her stepfather’s malevolent abuse and manipulative control. It had also brought Annie and the others closer together, and had allowed for friendships to evolve which otherwise would never have happened. Best of all, it had resulted in the culmination of Joel and Kathy’s romance. Annie reflected musingly.

Annie was delighted Kathy had found such a wonderful man to love and be loved by, for even though he was a rock star Joel was rock-solid in character, integrity, and down-to-earth normalcy. Theirs’ would be a happy and strong union. Their marriage wouldn't be one of those Hollywood flyby ones, but would be a union which would not only endure the test of time but would grow stronger as the years went by!

Kathy and Joel truly loved each other. Their love was so strong; it permeated any room the two were in together. Equally obvious was their compatibility and the solid commitment they had to one another. They belonged together. Theirs was a solid relationship built on love and commitment. In spite of tabloid speculations and Hollywood hype predicting otherwise, Joel and Kathy’s union was one which would stand the test of time; this Annie had no doubt whatsoever about!

Wistfully Annie wished she could have such a relationship herself. It would be great to have someone she could not only depend on, but someone who loved her as much as she loved him. Someone who would make her life complete. However it was extremely doubtful such a man even existed. Annie was pragmatically resigned to the fact that she would most likely never find such a man. Every guy she’d ever dated in the past, had turned tail and run the second they learned she was her brother’s guardian, and to all intents and purposes, his surrogate mother.

The only man who’d ever shown any interest in her, who hadn’t been scared off by the fact that she was Zach’s guardian, was Allen Crenshaw. He’d professed to love her and had even asked her to marry him. While not blissfully in love with the man, Annie had liked and trusted him. She’d mistakenly thought he’d be a solid and dependable partner to share her life with. She’d considered Allen’s proposal, and after some debate, she eventually agreed to marry the man even though she wasn’t passionately in love with him.

Annie made the mistake of thinking he would be a good match for her, and vise-versa. She’d also mistakenly believed he’d be a great role model for her brother. Subsequently Annie had accepted his proposal, even though she wasn’t madly in love with the man. They’d been engaged for only a couple of weeks, when Annie found out Allen’s true nature and intentions.

Allen Crenshaw had only been interested in marrying her because he’d wrongfully assumed she was Zach’s guardian for monetary purposes. He’d somehow gotten the mistaken impression that her brother had some kind of sizable trust fund or inheritance which she, as his guardian, had sole control of. The man had only been interested in the nonexistent inheritance he’d assumed her brother had, and not in Annie herself.

When he’d found out that her brother had no such trust fund set up he became enraged, abusive, and mean - taking his anger out on her. As soon as he learned the truth Allen had stormed into her home, hurling degrading and hurtful words at her. Several times he tried to physically force himself on her. Annie wasn’t sure how bad his abuse would have become, if her grandmother hadn’t come home early from her weekly bridge game that afternoon.

Granny Smith’s timely arrival had been a godsend. She’d heard and seen the tail end of Allen’s verbal rage and physical assault on her granddaughter, and began bashing him with her cane and purse. He’d whirled around at Granny Smith’s attack. He’d been about to strike back when something in her grandmother’s expression had stopped him cold. Realizing he’d gone too far, Allen had then grabbed his coat, cursed them both, and left – never to be seen or heard from again.

Annie had been shocked and bewildered at first by Allen’s attack, but then she’d pieced together everything he’d said and done to her, and finally figured out what his deranged anger had been all about. Once she learned the truth, Annie had been devastated by this betrayal. Allen had effectively destroyed not only her trust in men, he’d also destroyed all her hopes and dreams of finding someone to love and be loved by. She would never become that vulnerable again, and vowed to never allow a man that close to her again! However buried deep down inside herself, Annie still longed for that illusive dream called love.

Having watched her friend fall in love with Joel, and seeing the love he returned to Kathy in full measure, this had given Annie some cause to hope. Looking at the bride, Annie wistfully wished she too could find someone to love who could love her and her family in return. Surely somewhere out there, there was a man who wouldn't mind having a ready-made family, if he truly loved her. A soul mate she could share her life with.

Briefly the image of a tall, dark haired man in a sheriff’s uniform flickered before her eyes, but as soon as she realized she was thinking of Sheriff Blackner Annie instantly banished his image from her mind. That was one man she hoped she never ran into again! Thankfully the chances of this happening was very remote, and if the thought of never seeing Officer Blackner again gave her a little pang in the region of her heart, Annie ruthlessly ignored it.

In an attempt to rid her mind of the melancholy thoughts she was having, Annie glanced around the room for something to distract her from such thoughts. Her eyes landed on Henrietta Henderson. Henri was Kathy’s second Maid of Honor in today’s wedding ceremony. Annie had met and become friends with Henri this past summer, when the redheaded woman had been assigned to protect Kathy from the deranged madman who’d been stalking and threatening her.

Annie shuddered, as she remembered anew her own encounter with the creep. It was still hard to believe and accept that Reverend Cyrus Walters, a respected and upstanding man of prominence in Shadow Creek, had turned out to be Kathy’s stalker! Cyrus’s outward, public image of an amiable and charitable man of the cloth had been a façade which had hidden an evil and deranged nature. Annie shivered as she relived the terror of staring down the barrel of the reverend’s gun, thinking she was going to be killed. With a resolute shake of