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dled the yellow chair in front of him and sat down with a thud.
I don t want to intrude, but I heard about the police not taking
notice of your trouble and that concerns me. Now, I don t know
what all is going on but I d like to help.
Morlana recapped Frannie s story. His face became more and
more stern, causing Frannie to squeeze Morlana s hand so hard,
she was afraid she d lose circulation. He must have seen the ten-
sion in Frannie because he turned to her and smiled gently.
Please, don t be afraid of me, Frannie, he said, pulling a
hand down over his face. His scowl remained but was softened
by the concern in his eyes. The reason I m scowling is not in
any way your fault and I would never harm a woman under any
circumstances. My own mother was abused by my stepfather and
I had to sit by and watch it until I was old enough to fight back for
her. He sighed. I take this kind of thing very seriously, to say the
least, and I want to help in any way I can. Now, tell me where he
is so I can go talk some sense into this man.
His admission nearly broke Morlana. To live in a house full
of violence and end up being the strong, wonderful man he was,
was a miracle. His face was so serious and his tone so gentle,
Morlana s heart did a slow flip in her chest.
Sure, he sent her pulse soaring when they made love. It was
during those times she feared she was half in love with him, but
now she knew for sure her heart was his. And in knowing, she also
knew she would have no choice but to set him free from her spell.
Her heart had betrayed her. She d fallen in love when he was sup-
posed to be fun. There was no way she could hold a heart so pure
with force.
Chapter Six
C
ver cups of steaming tea, they discussed what to do regard-
Oing Frannie and her abusive husband. Thank the Goddess,
there was no more talk of evil enchantments. They all finally de-
cided to take Frannie back to her house and have Grant put his
foot figuratively on Jason s throat. After quite a bit of smooth talk-
ing, Morlana dissuaded him from literally putting his size thirteen
boot in Jason s face.
When the three arrived at the rundown house off the corner of
Main and Third, they found Jason sitting on the porch, his head in
his hands. Morlana felt no sympathy for the oversized bully and
worked hard to squelch the desire to step on him herself.
Oh, thank Jesus, he said, a quaver in his voice. I didn t
know what happened to you, Frannie. Where have you been?
He posed his question in a weary voice, but Morlana sensed an
underlying anger there. Was he mad Frannie had taken their prob-
lems to an outsider? Would he punish her for this? Not if Morlana
could help it. And from the fierce expression in Grant s eyes, not
if he had to take the man to the police unconscious and slung over
his back.
118 Misty Simon
She s safe, now. No thanks to you. Grant stood at the bot-
tom of the bowed and faded steps. His arms crossed over his
impressive chest and his feet planted wide, he cut an impressive
figure. If Morlana didn t know his inner goodness and generally
kind disposition, she d be afraid of the man glaring with hot eyes
at Jason. Instead, she felt the heat of desire burn through her veins,
her nipples hardening as she thought of the power Grant exuded
standing there.
This was not the time for a sensual reaction but her body be-
trayed her much like her heart betrayed her earlier.
I don t need you to tell me how to run things in my house,
Jason said harshly, apparently forgetting his earlier pitiful act.
I wouldn t have to tell you how to run anything if you were
taking care of your wife and home instead of destroying them. I ve
seen men like you before and you re cowards. You re all bluster
and noise when it s your woman you re attacking. What s wrong,
you can t stand up to someone your own size, scum?
Bastard. Jason spat on the ground right in front of Grant,
standing up into a fighting stance. Frannie told them earlier he d
only known violence from his parents and never tried to break the
cycle. You want some of this? Come and get it.
Grant straightened to his full height, balancing his body on
the balls of his feet like a boxer. As he stood stock still, she knew
he was anticipating his chance to show a bully what it was like to
be on the receiving end of a punch from an equal. Morlana almost
hoped Jason would soon sport a shiner to rival the one on Fran-
nie s pretty face. Violence wasn t the answer, but it hurt to look at
Frannie s bruises. In her heart, Morlana wanted Jason to suffer for
the damage he d caused the warm and kind woman.
But before Jason could take that fateful step, before he could
walk off the porch and into a fistfight he wouldn t win, Frannie
stepped forward. Watching her stiff spine, Morlana saw matching
expressions of shock on Grant s and Jason s faces. She prayed
Frannie had finally found her self-worth now that someone had
offered to stand up for her.
Don t you dare take a step off that porch, you idiot, she
said, fierce enough to have Jason fall back and stumble up a step.
She stalked after him, power of her own radiating from her. Fierce
WHEN THE MOON IS NEW 119
eyes bored into his. This is not the way I ever envisioned myself
living and I won t do it anymore. You want a punching bag? It s
not going to be me. I want you out of the house and away from
me within the next thirty minutes. Yes, thirty minutes, she said in
response to the look of horror on his face. You have a half hour
to pack your shit and get the hell out of my life. You ll move fast
if you don t want me to go to the hospital so I can have them docu-
ment these latest bruises and press charges against you at a police
department where you don t bowl with every guy on the force. I
suggest you take me seriously.
Frannie s body visibly vibrated as she took a deep breath.
Morlana was so proud of this woman whose face was battered,
but whose will hadn t been crushed. I m worth more than this.
Unfortunately it took me too many beatings and too many years to
figure it out, but I know now, Jason. I know there are people out
in the big bad world you ve always warned me about who won t
treat me like this. She pointed to her cheek. It wasn t as swollen
now but still full of color. You made me into this and I let you
by not standing up for myself. But that ends today. I ll have a re-
straining order, the locks changed and a gun cocked and loaded by
the time you finish gathering your stuff. And if you come into the
house, looking to punish me for my latest inconvenience to you
and happen to step in the way of one of my bullets, it will be self-
defense. So don t test me. Your thirty minutes start now.
Jason s face took on a pasty white color. It was obvious that
he understood Frannie and her threats. Even Grant s size thir-
teen shoes couldn t have put the fear in his eyes Frannie s words
achieved. Right then and there, Morlana made a vow to accom-
pany Frannie to the police station. She d make the police take
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