The Assistant (sequel to The Beta's Mate)

Elizabeth “Lizzie” McLeod stood in numbed silence and watched as her husband’s casket was lowered into the ground. She leaned down and picked up a handful of dirt and tossed into the hole, hitting the top of the casket. When she straightened she felt cool hands grasp her arms and pull her away. She followed as she was directed. She didn’t have any will to do anything. Her life, or rather, what her life had been, was lying in that casket in the ground that the men were covering up.

“Mom. would you like something to eat? You haven’t eaten much in weeks and you are getting very thin. Please mom, please eat!” Lizzie looked at her daughter. “I’m sorry dear, what did you say?”

Miranda McLeod shuddered as she withheld a sob. “You need to eat , mom. Dad would not want you to waste away like this. He would want you to go on. You know that.”

“I’m sorry. I’m just not hungry. I’ll eat something later. If you’ll just drop me off at the house, I’ll rest and then eat. I promise. OK?” Lizzie knew it was all a lie. She knew she wouldn’t sleep and that she probably wouldn’t eat, either. She prayed that God forgive her for telling a lie. But, she was tired of everyone hovering. She just wanted to be alone.

“Alright mom. I’ll get the car and take you home.“ Miranda allowed her shoulders to slump in defeat. She knew her mother was lying to her. She had no intention of eating or resting. She would wonder around that house and look at all of the photos of her dad and cry.

Her dad had been sick for a long time. Cancer had taken it’s toll on his once strong body. He had been a powerful man. Tall and commanding in presence. His sense of humor was legendary at church and at his business. His love for his family was only exceeded by his love for God. Daniel McLeod had been a man’s man. People had looked to him for advice on many subjects. He had been respected and loved. Many had even tried to get really close to him. But his circle of friends had been small and informal. His sense of loyalty was expressed openly for his friends and family, and all who knew him never doubted it.

Lizzie got out of the car and went to her home’s front door. She really wasn’t looking forward to going in alone. But, she also, didn’t want her only child to watch her grieve any more. She knew that her daughter was worried about her. She would move forward. Just at her pace. Not what someone else decided was correct. No matter how well meant. She had been married to Daniel for almost thirty years. She had been only eighteen when they married. She could remember how they met like it was yesterday. She had gone to the local diner to get her some dinner while she studied for her high school finals. Her mom worked second shift and often left something for Lizzie in either the crock-pot or on the stove. But, Lizzie had expressed a desire to eat at the old-fashioned diner. The waitress had just left to put her order in when she had heard a deep voice.

“You are going to be my wife, someday.”

She had jerked her head up, looking for the source of the voice. She found it. It was a tall, well-built, muscular man around twenty-six. He was tanned and very handsome with a smile that would, if she was prone to it, drop her panties. Not happening, buster, she thought.

“Really. You think so?” Arching an eyebrow, she asked.

“Yes. You would break my heart if you weren’t.” Somehow, Lizzie didn’t doubt him. She knew that he was serious. Just like she had known that she would get pregnant with their daughter on their wedding night.

“You seem awfully sure of yourself. What if I decide you don’t deserve me?”

“Then, I’ll set out to prove my worth.”

“I’m just a child by the standards of our society. I haven’t even finished high school yet.”

“Not a problem. We can start dating when you graduate. Where would you like to go on our first date?” Lizzie had choked on her coffee when he had asked her that.

“You don’t believe in wasting time, do you?”

It had gone on from there. He had shown up the following day, which had been Saturday to introduce himself to her mom. Who had thoroughly enjoyed his company. They had been married by the end of the summer.

Lizzie walked up to the room where she and Daniel used to sleep together in. Lying across the bed fully clothed, she let her grief out in great racking sobs that shook her body and almost made her sick.

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Hope you guys like it. Don’t forget to vote. Please leave a comment and let me know good or bad what you think. I know that I’m taking a chance starting out with a scene like this. I can’t help it. This is what my characters demanded.Start writing here…