Incest/Taboo Lady in Red

Applause and cheers lasted several minutes after Jordan had wrapped up her very brief speech. She beamed as she turned and waved in all directions to the adoring crowd.

Eventually, it began to quiet down and the emcee once again spoke to the crowd. "Wow! Was that a great speech, or what! Now it's time to hear from another performer that's donated her time and talent to entertain us today. Give it up for Congresswoman-elect Gwen Anderson!"

Once again, hundreds of thousands of people showed their approval with whistles, cheers, applause and the chant of 'Gwen', 'Gwen', 'Gwen', over and over. Again, the jumbotrons featured a beautiful woman's face as she smiled broadly and waved while she waited for the noise to diminish.

"Thank you! This is a great honor!" managed Gwen once the din abated. "We love our veterans, as well as our active military. You folks are the best. I've been pretty close to a military man the past few years and I've seen what you sacrifice for your country. To that end, Lady in Red Productions is formulating a strategy to upgrade some hospitals around the country that are having financial issues. We're going to help fund them, but with one condition. They will not turn away veterans for any reason, with the exception of being filled to capacity, and no veteran will ever be refused out-patient treatment.

"This is a huge endeavor and it'll take years to accomplish. We've already reached agreements with a hospital in Akron, Ohio and another in Nashville, Tennessee. We'll rehab and modernize them as fast as we can. Then we'll increase the staff and see that veterans that need hospital care in that area receive everything they need, and deserve. That's our promise to you!"

The crowd was caught completely by surprise by the announcement and it took a few seconds to sink in. As understanding swept through the veterans in attendance, a huge roar went out from the audience. Gwen simply smiled and waved as she turned around to face the sea of faces that stretched in every direction before she returned to her seat.

Once again, the emcee waited for the noise to abate. When it finally dulled to a low roar, he began his introduction of the next speaker. "Ladies and Gentlemen, our last speaker needs no introduction. Here he is!"

A Steve approached the microphones, the crowd went crazy. It was immediately obvious that his personal sacrifices had made an impression on every person in attendance. As the ovation continued, Steve grinned and waved. Now and then he'd point to a group and nod, smile, or signal something before moving his gaze on to others. Finally, the audience tired and Steve was able to be heard.

"Thanks! I appreciate it! I understand how you feel. This isn't about me. It's about all of you, all of us! What I did is no more than what every last one of you would've done if you'd been in my place. I've seen many examples of the courage, dedication, determination, and the honor that all of you possess. We're in this together. You're my brothers and sisters. You represent what's right with this country!

"We rode our bikes into town today because we're so damned proud to be seen with our veterans and active military. There's no greater honor than to be recognized as an equal by men and women like those of you here today! What I've done, what we've all done, is no less than what we expect from each other, and from ourselves. It's what we do!"

Steve had to wait over a minute for the cheering to let up. "Forgive me, but I can't let this opportunity go by. I have to thank Lieutenant Chip Martin, a Navy SEAL brother, for pulling my ass out of a real jam. He's right there!" pointed Steve as the camera swung to a red faced Chip as a huge cheer went up.

"Then there's Captain Jason Hunter, Lieutenant Jared White, Lieutenant Naomi Wilson, army veteran Charlie Burns, Ted Anderson, Charlotte DeVries, Billy Marsh, Jordan Quick Burns, and Kate Anderson. These friends and family made a trip to Iraq with the intention of finding me, and bringing me home. Please give them a hand!

Once again, an ovation went up and lasted a long time. "Finally, I need to thank Gwen Anderson. She's incredible. I owe her everything that I am, and everything that I have, including my life. I can't imagine life without her," concluded Steve. "Thanks, everyone! Now, are you ready for some music?"

As applause rang across the National Mall, the band quickly set up their equipment on the small stage located in a sea of humanity. Within ten minutes, the music began.

Jordan and Gwen stepped to the front of the small stage and faced a hug flag flying over the mall. Then they delivered the National Anthem to the very best of their abilities. The huge crowd roared its approval.

Gwen had polled numerous veterans to ask what songs they'd like. The response was inconclusive, so they decided to give the crowd everything they had, mixing some of the early songs they did, as well as to play all of their hits.

It was almost four PM by the time the show began. At seven, there was a twenty minute break before the band returned for another three hours. As the day went on, the crowd increased in numbers. By dusk, it was estimated that nearly a million people were enjoying the show in person and millions more were viewing the concert on the internet. Lady in Red Productions was streaming the concert free over the web.

Near the end of the evening, Gwen performed her most recent hit, 'Woman in Love'. The jumbotron played the video that had accompanied her song when it was released. They utilized a split screen, with the other half showing Gwen as she sang. Tears flowed freely, mostly from the ladies in attendance, as the lyrics and Gwen's vocals created strong emotions in the huge crowd. Then Steve performed 'Please Forgive Me' and even more tears streaked faces. More than a few men were shown on the jumbotron wiping their eyes.

It was approaching eleven by the time Gwen, Jordan, Steve and Charlie joined friends and family in a private dining room at their favorite Washington hotel. Once again, Gwen and Charlotte excused themselves since they had a morning flight and dragged their boyfriends off to bed.

The following Friday, Gwen called Steve from California. "You're practically an uncle! Lisa had a baby girl this morning. They're both doing great. I'll meet you at the hospital in Sparta tonight. I have to go pack. Love you, Big Boy!"

A few hours later, Steve joined Gwen in the maternity ward. "This is the best reason we've ever had to be in this hospital!" proclaimed Gwen as she kissed Steve as her family looked on. "Come with me. Lisa and Jason want to show you their little princess!"

Jason stood and grinned as Steve and Gwen entered the room. The two men shook hands before Steve approached Lisa and the baby sleeping in her arms. Lisa looked pale but her smile lit up the room.

"Here, hold your goddaughter. Aunt Diane already warned me about how you'll want to watch me breast feed her, and that's fine with me. I want you and Gwen to be part of her life forever. Isn't she just perfect?"

"She is!" agreed Steve as he carefully held the infant and smiled broadly. "She's beautiful. It's sure good that she looks like her mom!"

"I agree!" laughed Jason. "It would've been pretty awful if she came out looking like me. But we both know that no Anderson sister could have anything but a beautiful baby, even if they're married to guys like us."

"We happen to think that guys like you look pretty good," insisted Gwen as she took the baby from Steve. "She's so adorable. Doesn't it make you want us to have one of our own, Steve?"

"Actually, it does. You just let me know when you're ready and I'll do my part," assured Steve. "We can't let Lisa and Jason get too far ahead of us, can we?"

"I'm afraid they might, because I have two years of med school left and you're pretty busy," allowed Gwen. "Once we get married, I'm flushing my birth control pills down the toilet. Then we'll catch Lisa and Jason, and maybe even pass them out."

"To be honest, I can't even think about having another baby right now," groaned Lisa. "This isn't a race, although Mom will be happier when you two tie the knot and add to the family. I just want to enjoy Theresa for awhile and not even think about anything else."

"Theresa? What a beautiful name!" exclaimed Gwen. "She even looks like a Theresa."

"Yeah, it's Theresa Paula Hunter," beamed Lisa. "Don't tell Mom. I want that pleasure, but I wanted to let you and Steve hear it first. You're going to be her godparents and she's going to wrap her Uncle Steve around her little finger."

Steve and Gwen spent a joy filled weekend as family and friends stopped by the Anderson's home to congratulate and celebrate the birth of their first grandchild. Sunday afternoon found the entire family, and numerous friends, enjoying an early dinner at Marsh's. Lisa was out of the hospital and sat between Jason and Steve as she held the sleeping baby.

The doors to the private room were left open. The locals knew that was an open invitation to stop by and visit. Lisa beamed as everyone proclaimed that her baby was the prettiest one ever, and how beautiful the mother looked. Gwen was congratulated on her victory and thanked for her efforts to find Steve and bring him home.

Gwen felt a large amount of pride when people spoke of her beautiful niece, or about how they voted for her, but her emotions knew no bounds as she listened to friends and neighbors speak to Steve about the courage he had demonstrated so many times, and the pride he had created in his home town.

"Mom, are you listening to everyone talk to Steve? They absolutely love him! Look at how the men shake his hand and pat his back and how the ladies hug him and cry," pointed out Gwen. "He's becoming a legend."

Half way through the dinner, Ted managed to get everyone's attention when he spoke to Chip. "You appear to have healed quite well. I've noticed that you've been hanging close to Kate and it occurs to me that I haven't taken the time to explain what's expected of a man that dates one of my daughters."

"Gwen! Lisa! Dad's giving Chip "The Talk'. I can't wait to see how Chip takes it," beamed Kate as Chip gave her father his full attention.

"I gave this talk to Steve and to Jason. I have to admit that I've added a few items to the list since I've seen how Steve and Jason conduct themselves, and how they treat my daughters.

"You will not use alcohol to excess, and you will never use drugs. You will always drive safely when Kate is with you. You will treat her as a lady and with respect at all times. You'll also be expected to extend that treatment to her sisters and mother. You will be prepared to risk, or even sacrifice, your life for any of the ladies in the family. You'll follow the excellent examples set by Jason and Steve. We've all learned a lot about what we should expect from men in this family by their actions. Does any of this seem unfair, or too much to ask?"

"Sir, I will do my very best to live up to your expectations. You have an amazing family and I'll treasure every minute I'm allowed to spend with all of you. You're being very reasonable and I'll do my best to follow the examples set by Jason and Steve. I tell you this without hesitation," finished Chip seriously.

"Thanks, Dad!" gushed Kate as she went over and kissed her father's cheek. "You always take care of us girls. These guys know what's expected of them and they'll toe the line. They know how lucky they are."

Diane, Will, Stephanie, and little Billy joined the group as Kate finished speaking. "Sorry, we're late, but Stephanie's plane was delayed. Billy, sit down by your father while Stephanie and I hold your little cousin."

Stephanie beat her mother to the baby and was holding her and smiling down at her. After telling Lisa how beautiful the baby was, Stephanie dropped into Steve's lap and kissed his cheek.

"You've certainly grown up," observed Steve as he held the beautiful young woman. "I haven't seen much of you since you went away to college in Maine. You're still beautiful, maybe even more so than I remember."

"You always say the right things," replied Stephanie with a big smile. "I missed you and Gwen and everybody. I was so worried about you when you had that trouble in Colombia and it was even worse when they thought you had died in Iraq. That's when I realized just how much I loved you. My stupid job kept me from coming back home when Gwen brought you back from Iraq last summer. I only have a week of vacation and I'm using that at Christmas time.

"Would you come and dance with me," asked Steve as he lifted Stephanie from his lap and placed her on her feet.

"Here, while everyone's eating? Sure! I'll dance anytime and anyplace you want," agreed Stephanie. "You know how I love to dance with you."

Steve led her out to the main dining area and over to an area where there were no tables. Soft music always played in the restaurant when the TV's weren't on. Diners watched with interest as Steve took Stephanie in his arms and swayed to the music.

"Steph, it's great seeing you again. I have an ulterior motive for asking you to dance with me. I don't know how much you enjoy your job, but we'd like to offer you a position with Lady in Red Productions. Since Gwen's been elected to Congress, Ashley's going to be running her office in D.C. Our company needs someone to replace her. You'd be doing us a favor if you'd accept the position. Will you consider it?" asked Steve.

"You're asking me to come back home to work for you? Do you think I can handle everything the job requires? I know that Ashley was extremely busy," replied Stephanie as she watched Steve for his reaction.

"Steph, you've got degrees in business and accounting. You're really smart. You work hard, and all of us trust you totally. You can learn the job. It'll be challenging, but you'll enjoy it. We'll pay you quite handsomely and have you in a profit sharing plan. You'll be doing us a big favor," insisted Steve as he pulled Stephanie closer as they danced.

"That's a pretty persuasive argument," admitted Stephanie. "I love when you call me 'Steph', by the way. But you're going to have to offer me more than that to lure me away from spending another winter in Maine."

"We haven't discussed pay, but we can. Tell me what you need and we'll probably agree to it. If it's hours, or vacation time, we're really flexible. We'll do anything within reason. What will it take?" asked Steve.

"Since you've asked," grinned Stephanie as she stopped dancing and smiled up at Steve. "You have to kiss me like you've never kissed me before. I want one nice kiss, and not like I'm a cousin or a teen girl, but like a man kisses a woman. And you have to do it right now, in front of all these people."

Steve grinned briefly before he pulled Stephanie closer and leaned down to kiss her. The diners in the room were watching the scene intently. Then someone noticed that Gwen, Paula and Diane were also watching from the doorway to the private dining room. Gwen's smile told everyone that she wasn't upset.

"I'd say that Steve and Stephanie are doing some serious negotiating," laughed Paula. "Stephanie's so much more self assured and mature than she was when she left for college. I'd hazard a guess that she's accepting Steve's offer right now. They're simply sealing the deal."

Stephanie finally released Steve and stepped back with a big smile. "That's how you negotiate a deal! When do I start? I'll give notice Monday. I'm really looking forward to working under you."

"Don't get carried away," warned Gwen as she came over and hugged Stephanie. "You'll be working for the company, and not under Steve. I have that position covered, thank you very much."

"Now that we've brought on a capable replacement for Ashley, let's go see how little Billy's doing," suggested Steve as he headed back to the table. "That little boy of yours gets bigger and stronger every time I see him, Diane. He's going to be a heart breaker."

"Yes he will, just like his hero," agreed Diane. "He asks about you all of the time. I warned Lisa that you're going to want to watch her breastfeed her baby. It didn't seem to bother her at all."

"That's because we all saw how much you liked showing off in front of Steve when you were nursing," teased Stephanie. "I remember how embarrassing I thought it was at the time. Now I see the attraction. In fact, I think I'm the only woman in the family that hasn't shown Steve her boobs, yet. Now that I'm working under him, I'll have the opportunity to correct that oversight."

"Ashley, I'm getting your old job," announced Stephanie. "How did you like working directly under Steve? Was it hard?"

"Of course it was! It seemed like it was always hard. Did you ever sit on his lap in a hot tub?" asked Ashley with a devilish grin. "It doesn't get any harder than that!"

"I haven't... yet," replied Stephanie, "but you're telling me it's part of my job? I guess I'll have to whatever it takes to earn my pay."

"You've no idea," continued Ashley. "Most of the time, he won't let you even wear a top. It's surprisingly comfortable, even with everything so hard. His abs and pecs will rub against you whenever he moves. As beautiful as you are, I'm sure you'll find it very hard most of the time you're working near Steve."

"Okay, I'll take the job, for sure! Will I have to pay the company to work under Steve?" joked Stephanie. "It sounds like my fantasy position."

"I'm sure it does! It can be quite demanding, but very fulfilling," responded Ashley as she winked at Steve.

"Okay! I don't think we can take one more double entendre," complained Gwen. "Stephanie has apparently agreed to work for our company and keep things running smoothly. She'll be our new go-to girl. She'll handle just about anything that comes up."

"I can't believe you just said that!" laughed Charlotte. "I thought Billy was bad, but the females in this group are even worse. Look at poor Steve. He's almost blushing."

"Don't worry, Steve. I'll handle everything that comes up just fine!" promised Stephanie.

"You realize that your father is sitting right here, don't you?" asked Diane as she glanced at Will and smiled. "I'd forgotten how much fun we have when we're together. I think Asgard will be a great place for this extended family to raise our kids and grandkids."

"Speaking of which, we're having Thanksgiving at our place since it's finished and we're moving in this week," announced Lisa. "Everyone here is invited. Jordan and

Charlie will be moving into their place pretty soon and Mom and Dad should be in before the end of the year."

"When Valhalla is finished, we'll have the big holidays and celebrations there," added Jordan. "It's going to be so nice to have our own home with the neighbors all being family and friends. Steve had a great idea!"

The next week was a busy one for everyone. Gwen returned to medical school, where they had to work very hard to maintain their position in the class. Ashley threw herself into her new job. She interviewed dozens of applicants as she formed her staff. Becky lived in Washington at Ashley's request and assisted her in her efforts. Kate was attending law school at Georgetown, while Naomi and Steve spent long days working for their respective senators.

Evenings often found Steve having dinner with the four women, or any combination of thereof. Steve found himself looking forward to dining with his friends. It made the often tedious political maneuvering less boring. He enjoyed listening to the ladies describe their days and what sort of interesting things had occurred during the day.

Steve was enjoying a meal with all four women one evening when they were approached by a man with a slight limp. Steve knew at a glance that the man was former military by the way he carried himself.

"Sir, I'm sorry to bother you at dinner, but I.."

"Pete?" cried Becky as she quickly rose from her chair and hugged the young man."You're getting around a lot better. Would you join us for dinner?

"This is my sister Ashley, then there's Lieutenant Naomi Wilson, and Gwen's sister, Kate Anderson. This is Pete. Gwen and I met him at Walter Reed last summer when Jason was here recovering from the wounds he received in Colombia. I'm sorry, Pete, but I never heard your last name."

"It's Walker, Ma'am. I don't want to intrude on you during dinner. I had hoped to make an appointment to speak with Lieutenant Hammer, if I could," finished the young soldier.

Steve had been carefully observing the situation. It was obvious that the man limped, that he was a veteran and that Becky seemed to feel he was at least okay.

"Let's make that appointment for right now and right here," stated Steve as he shook the man's hand. "Is it of a personal nature, or can we discuss the matter in front of the ladies?"

"If you'll listen to me right now, I'd be fine with the ladies listening in," replied the man named Pete as he took the seat next to a smiling Becky and across from Steve. I'll get right to the point so I don't waste much of your time."

"We'll place your order first," insisted Becky as she summoned a waiter. "Get this man the same order as Steve and a cold bottle of Bud and a frosty mug, please."

"Thanks, I wasn't expecting to eat with you folks. I know you're all busy and famous and must be bothered by people all of the time. You're being very good to me and I appreciate it," stated Pete.

"Maybe you haven't heard, but we treat our soldiers and veterans really well," interrupted Becky again. "Steve, Gwen, and Jordan have set the tone for all of us. We're proud to be Americans and appreciate our freedom and those that fight to keep it."

"Becky, why don't you let Pete tell Steve what he wants to ask?" prodded Ashley. "I'm sure Pete knows all about Steve Hammer. Let's find out a little more about Pete Walker."

"I lost a foot in Iraq. I've been rehabbing for a few months and I'm pretty well done with it," began Pete. "I've been looking for employment, but no one's been interested so far. Mom read on the internet that you're all staying at this hotel and she made me promise that I'd try to speak with you. She heard Becky and Ms. Anderson say that I should look them up if I needed a job. Mom thought you'd just up and hire me with no questions asked since it was Ms. Anderson that said it. I know it doesn't work that way, but I promised Mom and she'd never let me live it down if I didn't ask."

"You're right," responded Steve. "It isn't quite that easy. What are you qualified to do? What's your education? What branch of the military were you in?"

"I have a degree in computer science, so the Army made me an MP. I guess it was because I was good with weapons and managed to keep a cool head, at least back then. I'd be willing to do about anything to get started, and to live almost anywhere. I joined the army because I was having trouble paying for college. I finished my degree while I was in the service. Like I said, I lost a foot in Iraq, so I'm a little slow moving around, but I can walk all day and stand for hours without trouble."

"You said you were good with weapons. Can you handle a hand gun? Do you have a permit, or is there any reason you wouldn't be able to get one?" asked Steve.

"I kept all of my paperwork up and have a concealed weapon permit in Vermont. I should be able to get one in any state. Are you thinking about some sort of guard job or something?" asked Pete.

"Yeah, I am. I want to start hiring security for the girls, I mean the ladies here. Ashley and Gwen are at the top of my list of concerns. I'm not too worried about Gwen at school, but when she's in Washington and not with me, I need to be sure that she's safe. Ashley will be working with her and I'm a little worried for her safety here in D.C. Do you think you'd be interested in taking on a job like that?" asked Steve.

"It makes me a little nervous, simply because of the responsibility, but I could do it. I wouldn't be as useful in hand-to-hand combat as I once was. I wrestled in high school and college and boxed a little when I joined the service," revealed Pete. "If you're serious, I'd be very interested."

"You think I need a body guard?" asked a surprised Ashley. "I've never felt I was in danger here. Have you heard something?"

"No, I haven't," admitted Steve. "But I worry about it a little. You're alone a lot, you're beautiful, have an influential position with a high profile congresswoman, and have the cutest little butt around. I think it's best to be proactive. It would be security and not a 'body guard'. This isn't a movie.

"So, Pete, if the salary is right, will you be interested in the position?" asked Steve. "You can start when you get a permit to carry here in D.C. and we run a background check on you that's satisfactory. We'll put you on the payroll tomorrow. On Monday, if everything checks out, you'll need to pick a room on the fifteenth floor here. We have the entire floor reserved and there are quite a few rooms to pick from.

"One other thing. You'll be assigned to keep Ashley safe, but if any of these ladies has a problem and you're in the area, consider it your job to help them out. I'd be extremely upset if harm came to any of them. You can understand my feelings there, can't you?"

"I sure can! These are the best looking women I've ever seen, and they've been really good to me. I won't let you, or them, down," promised Pete. "Thanks for giving me the opportunity to prove myself. You're even giving me a place to live! Mom's not going to believe this!"

"Are you kidding?" laughed Becky. "She knew Steve would give you a job when she heard Gwen suggest it months ago. Listen to your mother. She's a smart woman."

Not wanting to overstay his welcome, Pete gave Ashley his contact information, thanked Steve and the ladies for the great time, and then headed out. Becky was smiling as she watched him leave.

"Did you really want security for Ashley, or were you just trying to help the guy out?" asked Kate, who had been unusually quiet during the meal. "Do you think we all need security? Are we in danger?"

"I hired him because I think he'll do a good job. I'm worried about Ashley. I'll feel better if she has someone looking out for her. I also hired him because Becky vouched for him. I get the impression that she thinks he's a pretty good guy.

"I've already arranged for someone to keep an eye on you, Kate. He should be here by the weekend, and he's pretty good. You're a very wealthy woman now. You could be a target of all sorts of unsavory characters. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you."

"You hired someone to watch over me without getting my opinion? That seems just a bit presumptuous to me. I should have been able to interview the guy, at the very least," insisted an annoyed Kate.

"Okay, do you want me to call Chip and tell him he's been fired already, or do I just tell him that you want to interview him?" asked Steve with a straight face.

"Chip?" repeated Kate excitedly. "Chip's going to be my security? Why didn't you say so? I always feel really safe when he's around. That's a great idea!"

"He was bitching and moaning about how he couldn't be an active SEAL any longer with his leg not being 100%, so I suggested that we could use him to keep an eye on you. He immediately started feeling way better about getting a discharge from the Navy and working in the private sector."

"Are you telling me that you think Kate will be safe around Chip?" demanded Becky. "You're asking the fox to watch the hen house."

"No, I'm asking the SEAL to watch the stone cold fox," responded Steve with a straight face.

"You do realize that if Gwen hadn't found you first, you'd be the one keeping me warm and safe at night, don't you?" beamed Kate. "You say the nicest things sometimes."

The next afternoon, Steve left Senator Chatham's office a little earlier than usual. He knew Ashley's schedule and expected to meet up with her and Becky well before they reached the hotel. He was surprised when an arm slipped inside his and a soft voice asked, "Going my way, Sailor?"

"Becky? What are you doing over this way? I thought I'd catch you and Ashley walking home from the office," offered Steve as he gave Becky a big smile.

"Ashley went over to the senate chambers to get some information from an aide of Senator Wolf's. I did a little shopping. I'm meeting her at the corner in a few minutes, unless she's late," replied Becky.

As Becky and Steve approached the corner, they saw Ashley hurrying along the sidewalk, less than thirty yards from them. Suddenly, a black SUV screeched to a stop in the street near Ashley and two men jumped out. They left the passenger doors open as they quickly grabbed Ashley and tried to drag her into the van! Ashley struggled until one of the men jabbed her in the neck with a needle of some kind. She went limp immediately and one of the men scooped her up while the other held the door open.

"Son of a bitch!" screamed Becky as she launched herself forward to help her unconscious sister. Becky was quick, but Steve was already several steps in front of her. Before the man could place Ashley into the SUV, Steve grabbed the man's arm and spun him around. As the man turned, Steve's fist caught him flush on the chin. Steve deftly caught Ashley as the man crumbled to the sidewalk.

The problem with that was that with Ashley in his arms, Steve was unable to protect himself from the second man. He staggered back as he absorbed several quick shots to his face. While still holding Ashley, Steve swung around as fast as the situation would allow. His heel caught his assailant in the knee and that man went down.

Steve quickly handed Ashley to Becky and turned to face the first man he had punched. The man was back on his feet and delivering blows to Steve's back and kidneys. Steve stepped back and turned to face the man, just as the man with the injured knee limped back into the fray.

It became immediately obvious to Steve that his opponents had some serious martial arts training. If they weren't stopped soon, they would batter him into unconsciousness. Even as he fought the two men, he processed the information and determined he was in a life or death conflict. Once he determined the severity of the situation, his right leg swung around and delivered a death dealing blow to the face of the attacker on his right.

Steve was well aware of the outcome of the blow as he felt his foot strike the man. He felt the impact jar his leg and heard the snapping of ligaments and bone. That left one assailant and Steve turned to face him. He was taller than Steve and about the same weight. The two men exchanged blows with sickening force for a short time. Steve managed to stand the man up with a sharp left to the chin. Then he followed through with a right that he drove into the man's face. That man dropped to the sidewalk a couple feet from his fallen comrade.

Becky had been clutching Ashley as she watched the battle in horror. She feared for Steve when the two men ganged up on him. Then she saw Steve drive his foot into the face of the one man, and heard bones snap as they man went over backwards, hit the sidewalk, and remained still.

She watched in awe as Steve and the second man exchanged tremendous blows so rapidly she couldn't follow their movements. Suddenly, Steve hit the man twice in the face and he toppled over and landed near his cohort. That was when she noticed the driver race around the front of the vehicle. He saw Ashley in Becky's arms and pointed his gun at her! Becky dropped down to the sidewalk with Ashley and covered her limp form with her own body as a loud blast roared in her ears.​