Never My Love

"Good, I never liked that asshole to start with, but what about Lindsay?" Herb cautiously asked, "What're we gonna do with her?"

"I wouldn't worry too much about her," Jerry smiled, "Once she sees what we're capable of doing I'm fairly sure that she'll come around."

"I hope you're right," Herb worriedly replied, "We've got a lot riding on the outcome of this shit..."

~~~~~~

LINDSAY PETERSON'S OFFICE

3:00 AM

Lindsay had just finished recording the conversation between Herb Albert and Jerry Moss that she'd received from the transmitter that she'd paid to have hidden in their office while they were out. Now she was regretting having to inform Jake of what was about to happen. Granted, she wasn't quite sure what was going on herself, but from the way those two talked, it had something to do with Covenant, as well as that crooked piece of shit Bill Sanders, and last but certainly not least, her Talent Agency.

"Dammit, Lindsay," she said to no one, "What have you gotten yourself into now?"

~~~~~~

I woke early the next morning at four-thirty, according to the clock on my bedside table. I looked over to my right to find that my beautiful Ashlyn was still peacefully slumbering. So; in order to keep from waking her, I very gently eased myself out of bed, making certain that Ash lay undisturbed as I made my way to the kitchen, closing our bedroom door behind me...

~~~~~~

Once I was in the kitchen, I went ahead and started the coffee, turning off the automatic brewing switch in the process, and then went to the guest bathroom and took a morning pee.

Once that was done and I'd finished washing my hands and face, I walked back into the kitchen to discover that the coffee was almost finished brewing and that I could at least pour myself a cup without making a big mess in the process.

Even though it was still early, as well as still night time outside, a new light was now shining inside of me, and had been ever since I found out that I was going to be a father. However, regardless of how happy I was, I was also terrified at what the future had in store for me.

While I knew that my own father would be there to guide me, I was the one who was actually going to have to fulfill the role of my son/daughter's father, and I didn't want to screw up...not in the least. I only hoped that this is what God wanted for Ashlyn and me; hence the reason I was going to try to be the best Dad that I possibly could, and, as they say; that is that...

~~~~~~

I was standing at the patio window looking out into the early hours of the morning darkness, drinking my coffee and letting my mind wander wherever it may, when, all of a sudden I was startled by the sound of an all too familiar female voice emanating from behind me.

"What're you doing up, baby," Ashlyn softly asked, placing her hand on my bare ass (I ran around the house naked when Ashlyn and I were alone there at home), "It's still dark outside, baby."

"I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep," I quietly replied, pulling her also naked body against my own, "What're you doing wake? Don't you have to be at work in a few hours?"

"There's an empty place in our bed where my husband normally sleeps," she knowingly smiled, "I woke up and it was empty so; I came to find you, baby."

"Mmm," I grinned, as I held her against me, "You feel so good being in my arms like this."

"I love the way this feels, too, Jake," Ash smiled, getting more comfortable in my arms, "So, tell me my love, are you excited about the baby?"

"Of course I am," I lightly chuckled, "Why do you think I'm awake at this hour of the morning?"

"I know," Ash giggled, snuggling closer to me, "I'm excited, too."

"Mom and Dad are tickled shitless," I smiled, "Did you see the look on Mom's face when we told her about the baby?"

"I saw, and I thought it was so sweet," Ash softly smiled, "Naomi and Laura and Leah were over the moon about it, too; wouldn't you say so?"

"Oh, my God," I laughed, "I've got a feeling that that was just the tip of the iceberg. Wait until we found out what sex our baby is; talk about over the moon, huh, what you saw today was nothing."

"Thank you for using the term our baby, Jake," she tenderly replied, placing her soft lips against my own, "I don't know why that's so important to me, but it is."

I gently reached down and placed my hand on her soft tummy and then leaned over and kissed the place where I'd put my hand and told her, "The tiny life that's growing inside of you right now is a direct result of our love, Ash...ours...hence the reason that the baby is also ours as well."

"I love you so much; Jake," Ashlyn warmly smiled, "And I can't wait until the baby is born so he or she can know how sweet their Daddy is."

"And I love you," I smiled, "But I know that if we have a little girl, I want her to be as sweet and as beautiful her Mommy is."

All of a sudden my stomach began to growl very loudly, making Ashlyn laugh and say, "It sounds to me like someone is hungry. Would you like me to make you something to eat, my love?"

"I guess I'd better jump on the opportunity for you to cook for me while you still can," I teased, "Especially once you get so big that you won't be able to move."

"I'm really looking forward to that part of being pregnant," Ash teased in return, "Because I know that my beautifully loving husband will wait on me hand and foot."

"Hell, I'd do that for you now," I smiled, "But you never let me..."

~~~~~~

Once breakfast, which of course I helped make, had been cooked; we decided to light four candles and set them outside on the patio table, which was where we decided to eat that morning.

It was still dark outside with the sun just beginning to peek over the eastern horizon; and in that morning light, I can't begin to describe just how beautiful Ash looked just then. Of course it might've had something to do with the fact that she was carrying our child inside her, but I didn't, and to this day, still don't care. Over the years that Ashlyn and I have been together, I've had more than several people, not just men, but women, too, tell me just how stunning they thought she was.

And just like it was in the beginning when Ashlyn and I first discovered our feelings for one another, I still find myself so very happy to see her when I wake up every morning and Ashlyn is the very first thing I see. Man, what a way to start one's day, huh?

~~~~~~

LATER THAT MORNING

Ashlyn was in the process of getting ready to go into work when the telephone rang, making me get up and answer it.

"Benson residence," I answered, "Jake speaking."

"Hi, Jake," replied a now familiar female voice, "It's Lindsay."

"Hi, Lindsay," I smiled, "How're you doing this morning?"

"Not too bad," she grinned, "I didn't wake you, did I?"

"No, not at all," I happily replied, "I woke up with Ashlyn."

"That's nice," she smiled, "How is Ashlyn today?"

"Excellent," I knowingly grinned, "Especially now that she's a little under seven weeks pregnant."

"Are you serious, Jake?" she smiled, "Oh, congratulations sweetie. Be sure to send my congratulations to Ashlyn as well."

And, because Ash had just finished drying off from her shower, I handed her the phone after I told Lindsay, "Here, you can tell her yourself. She just now stepped out of the shower..."

~~~~~~

I knew that Lindsay would be thrilled to talk to Ashlyn, hence the reason I handed the phone to my wife. Granted, I might've met Lindsay under official business and industry circumstances, but it didn't take long before all of us; the members of Covenant, came to adore her just as we would one of our own.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this call, Lindsay?" I asked, once all of the commotion died down, "And what's the scoop on the up coming gig out in L.A.?"

"Not too good," she told me, "Herb Albert and Jerry Moss are bringing in some of the worst hecklers from all over the country and that's why..." and then she stopped because she was no longer in control of her faculties.

"Shh," I quietly soothed her, "Everything's gonna be alright."

"No, it's not," she told me, in a tone of voice I'd never heard before, "Call this thing off, Jake. The deck is already stacked against you all and certain things can happen that're beyond our control...especially so far away from home out in Los Angeles."

"According to whom," I asked, "I don't know about you, Lindsay; but that sounds like a direct threat where I come from."

"I don't know about all that," she began to fearfully sniffle, "I overheard a conversation between Jerry Moss and Herb Albert that I wasn't supposed to hear; and they were talking about totally destroying you guys on stage, Jake."

"That's it," I angrily growled, "Lindsay; I need you to be here in an hour, okay?"

"Of course," she meekly replied, "But can I ask you why?"

"Because," I abruptly snorted, "I'm going to put a stop to this shit once and for all. In the mean time, I'm not going to make any kind of decision that concerns the band without their knowledge for the simple fact that it wouldn't be fair to them or me."

"Uh oh," she quietly replied, "And what do you think they're going to say when they hear what you're going to tell them?"

"I'm not going to be the one to tell them, Lindsay," I quickly let her know, "You are..."

~~~~~~

Chapter Thirty One

By the time Lindsay made it over to my house it was nearing six o'clock in the morning. Ashlyn and I were the only ones awake, as Leah and Laura were still asleep in the back guest bedroom.

"Good morning," Lindsay uneasily replied, "I wish that I was here under better circumstances, you two."

"Uh huh," I replied, leading her into the kitchen, seating her sat the table as Ashlyn placed a cup of coffee in front of her, "We'll see, won't we?"

'"So, where is the rest of the band?" Lindsay asked, as she looked around to see that she, Ash and myself were the only ones there, "I thought you wanted me to tell them what is about to happen."

"They'll be here in a couple of hours," I told her, "I wanted to at least wait until the sun had risen before I call and wake them up."

"I guess I'm supposed to wait here until you do," she replied, "Am I correct?"

"Yes, you are," I told her, "But you're going to sit down here and tell me exactly what the hell is happening, and also how it involves not only Covenant, but you, too."

"Oh, alright," Lindsay conceded, "It's not like I don't have the time..."

~~~~~~

For the next two and a half hours, Lindsay told Ashlyn and I, in detail, about how she found a career in the music industry, as well as how she came to know Herb Albert and Jerry Moss. They'd all met back in the late sixties, when there wasn't so much competition and had been friends ever since. Not only did I find what she had to say to be very informative, but also very entertaining, hence the reason I couldn't stay mad at her. The only subject that she hadn't gone into detail about was Herb Albert and Jerry Moss' affiliation with Bill Sanders, and that was what I was most worried about, hence the reason I said something to her when she finished talking.

"What about Bill Sanders," I asked, "What does he have to do with this?"

"I'm not really sure," she replied, "But I think that Herb and Jerry owe him money or something like that. I do know that neither one of them cares very much for him, that much is certain."

It was then that I told Lindsay about how Sanders had acted around Ashlyn the last time we were around him, and in doing so, a type of anger, the likes of which I'd never known before, began to build within me, making me realize that I would gladly take his life were he to mess with my Ashlyn. It must've been obvious to Ashlyn because of what she said to me.

"Easy baby," Ashlyn softly told me, her soft hand upon my face, "Nobody's going to hurt me, I promise."

"You're damn right they won't," I quietly seethed, "I'll kill anyone who does..."

~~~~~~

LATER THAT MORNING

10:00 AM

After I'd called everyone and they were all at our house, Ashlyn and the girls, with Lindsay's help, which she gladly offered, made certain that breakfast was ready and waiting the moment the last person arrived.

"Alright, Jake," Camryn smiled, as she sat with the rest of the band at the table eating breakfast, "What is so damn important that you got us all here this early?"

"There's something I think you all need to know," I explained, "And once you hear what's going on, if any of you want to drop out of the band, there won't be any heard feelings about it."

"Drop out of the band?" Jessie questioned, "Have you lost your mind, Jake? What in the hell have you been smoking?"

"Nothing," I quietly replied, "But you need to hear this," and then I turned to Lindsay and said, "Lindsay, would you tell them what you told me earlier this morning?"

She bravely stood up, and after playing the taped conversation that had taken place between Herb Albert and Jerry Moss the night before, Lindsay let them all know that something, she didn't know what, but something potentially dangerous was going to happen at the gig we'd been booked to play out in Los Angeles, including telling them who all it involved."

"Bill Sanders is a drunken pervert," Jessie Harris laughed, at the mention of his name, "He's too worried about not only where his next drink is going to come from, but also where he can get his tiny dick sucked."

"Bill sanders is a dangerous man," Lindsay coldly replied, "Make no mistake, Jessie."

"Dangerous my ass," Jessie giggled, "Trust me when I tell you this. He likes to put his hands on young women, and in places where they don't belong entirely too much to be dangerous in any way."

"Is that right?" Joanie accusingly giggled, "And how would you know this, Jess?"

"Because," Jessie shamelessly laughed, "When we went to the party after our first show, I was dumb enough to accept his invitation when he asked me to dance. Hell, it was a full time job trying to make sure the old pervert kept his hands to himself the whole time we were on the dance floor."

"That sounds like him," Lindsay said, "But he's also as dangerous as they come when he wants, or has the need to be."

"She's right," I said, "He's running for Governor; and I have the strange feeling that he'll stop at nothing to get there."

"So," Jessie asked, "What does that have to do with us?"

It was then that I remembered how Sanders had reacted to seeing Ashlyn for the first time, that slime ball; and in doing so, a revelation of sorts suddenly opened my eyes up to realize what Bill Sanders' obvious weakness was; and therefore, what could possibly be used to facilitate his downfall, if done correctly. His propensity for beautiful women was his Achilles Heel, and in realizing this; I made certain that it was brought to the attention of every female in the room, starting with the girls in the band first.

"Before I go any further, I want to make something very clear to the ladies in this band," I began, "I hired each and every one of you because of your talent first and foremost."

"Let me guess," Camryn knowingly giggled, "The fact that we're hot is the icing on the cake, huh Jake?" and needless to say, every single female there, Ashlyn included, fell into a fit of laughter, making me simply shake my head smiling.

"You're right, Camryn, and I won't deny it," I chuckled, then I got serious and told them, "I want each of you to make sure you know what you're getting yourselves into before we go any further, because I will not allow any of you, guys included, to get hurt. The minute I feel like things are getting to dicey, I'm pulling the plug and calling in the cops, are we all clear on this?"

"We're ready," Keith grinned, much to Leah's chagrin, "What're we gonna do, Jake?"

"We're going to expose those assholes," I growled, "We're going to expose every one of them, and I don't care who is involved."

"Jake, honey, that can be very dangerous," Ashlyn warned me, fear clearly written across her face, "You promised me that you wouldn't take anymore unnecessary risks, remember?"

"How could I forget?" I softly replied, gently pulling her into my arms, "That's why I'm going to bring the police in if the shit gets too deep too quick so; relax, baby. I'm going to be just fine, we all are," and then I very tenderly kissed my wife's soft lips, hearing soft, female gasps emanating from all over the room as I did so.

After the kiss was finished, Ashlyn looked into my eyes, and therefore my soul, and softly told me, "I love you, too, Jake, but remember what you promised."

"Of course," I replied, "I've never forgotten."

"Well, shit the bed," Janie suddenly pouted, making us all look at her, "I guess this means that we won't be getting a record deal then, huh?" which, needless to say, made us all laugh.

"Don't give up just yet, little sweetie," Lindsay reassured her, "I still have a couple of Aces in the hole."

What Lindsay said about having an ace in the hole, made me remember something Dad told me when I was a boy...

~~~~~~

"Son," Dad told me one day, when I was around fourteen years old, "There are three things you need to know about how to survive in life, and they are as follows: Number One, Never bank a ball that you can cut. Number Two, Never bet on a pat hand; and Number Three, Always keep an Ace in the hole..."

~~~~~~

"Shit, that was it," I thought to myself; and the great thing about my situation was that my Ace in the hole was the very man who'd given me the same advice when I was but a young lad; my Dad...a United States Marshall. I told myself right then to call him at my earliest convenience...

~~~~~~

Because everyone felt so good after having relaxed from eating such a filling breakfast, we decided to practice during the day, stopping in the after noon. That way everyone could have a night off to do what they wanted to for a change and not have to work so hard. I took that time to call my Dad and apprise him of the situation that we'd found ourselves an unwilling part of.

"Relax, son," he disarmingly smiled, "We've been acquainted with Bill Sanders and his bullshit for a long time now," and then his voice became more serious when he told me, "And as far as Mister Albert and Mister Moss are concerned, I'm not asking you, I'm telling you to leave them alone. Do you understand me, Jake?"

"But Dad," I protested, "You didn't hear the tape that..."

"You mean the tape that Lindsay Peterson made of those two?" Dad chuckled, "Relax, Jake, everything is not as it seems. You just worry about taking care of that beautiful wife of yours, as well as the band, and everything else will work out fine, you'll see..."

~~~~~~

I was left a little confused after the phone conversation I'd had with my father. Granted, I knew as well as I knew my own name that he would never place me, or allow me to be placed in harm's way. If that was the case, then why did I still have a bad feeling that something foreboding was approaching on the not too distant on the horizon?

~~~~~~

The next week we stayed busy practicing and going to classes. Every member of the band kept their noses to the grindstone when it came to rehearsals, and when the time came for us to leave to go to L.A., we were more than ready for anything. Ashlyn could tell that I was getting antsy and made it a point to do everything she could think of, to keep my mind occupied until the day came that we had to fly out to California.

Because of the fact that she loved me so much and because she refused to take a commercial flight into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Ashlyn paid five thousand dollars to charter us a flight from Houston to L.A. I tried to protest, but it was to no avail so; it was with much trepidation that me, Ash, and the rest of Covenant waited out on the tarmac with Mom, Dad and my sisters right before we boarded our flight.