Chapter 28

:Warning: This chapter contains mature content:

:reader discretion is advised:

Ace bolted up right in a cold sweat gasping for Air.

“Ace? Ace are you okay?!” Lexi quietly yelled on the bed next to him.

Ace took a dry swallow and placed his hand on his head, “I-I must have had a nightmare.”

Lexi looked at him in confusion, “You say that like your not sure.”

“Dats because I'm not.” he looked at her, “I don't remember what was in the dream.”

Both bunnies jumped when the door suddenly opened and Max came in. Sudden fear built up in Lexi. Max, her eldest brother, only older brother, jest came in to see his kid sister breaking one of the houses most strictest rules. The separation of family and guest, of girls and boys. Though it seemed harmless Lexi knew her father. He was a kind man, but he could also be a scary man.

And the fact that Ace slept shirtless, was now covered in sweat, and on this particular night Lexi decided to ware her favorite pajamas, an old shirt of Ace's and a pair of short-shorts, didn't help the situation.

“You,” Max said pointing to Lexi, “Get to your room. You,” this time he pointed to Ace, “Get dressed your coming with me.”

Lexi gave Ace a kiss before reluctantly getting out of the bed and heading to her and her sisters bed room.

Ace covered his mouth as he released one extra large yawn. Having a restless night by a forgotten nightmare, plus being separated form the warmth of his girlfriend, plus being dragged outside onto a horse to ride around in the dark equaled one tired rabbit.

“So what's up wit' you and your sister waking up so early?” Ace asked as he had Spirit speed up a bit to catch up to Max and Copper.

Max laughed, “Lets jest say when your raised on a farm with as many siblings as we do the early hours are the best time for alone time.”

Ace nodded, “Look Max, what ever you saw in da bed room jest now. I want you to know I didn't-”

“That's okay Ace. I know y'didn't do anything. And I didn't drag you out here to talk about you and my sister.”

“Den why did you drag me out here?”

Max stopped his horse. Ace mimicked the action. Max got of Copper and walked the horse over to a tree ware he tied the horse. Ace again mimicked and took a look around. Even in the dark Ace new they where at a small clearing next to the path up to the lake. The two sat down on a couple of large flat boulders.

“Yesterday Ace you asked me who Danny is and why we all got tens when you said he had touched Lexi.”

“Ya... I did.”

Max gave a half hearted smile and looked up at the sky, “You know, Lexi, Joe, and I are the oldest three in are family. Growing up all the younger ones looked up to us. Piked one of us to be there idol. Jay-Jay looked up to Lexi. Still dose actually. Lexi looked after Jay-jay. Stuck up for him at school. She even fought a few fights for that kid. On a farm you literally need to pull your own wait, lets jest say Jay-jay is a very light boy.”

They where close. Very close. Even when Lexi got into Jr high and started getting her crushes and becoming more girly then the tomboy she was. She had the occasional boyfriend. Non of them any thing serious. Till Danny. She was Six-teen he was seven-teen. Both Juniors in High school. Well they started dating as sophomore. He seemed like a fine young man. Good grades, Football team, son of the Sheriff. Looking back do we all finely see jest how much a womanizer he was.”

They'd been together for a year and like any other teen age boy Danny wanted to be with Lexi physically. But Lexi always believed in love. I remember her saying that the day she lets someone that close to her she wanted to make sure she was in love and he as too. She didn't think Danny loved her. At least in the way she was talking about. He got pushy and started to pressure her into it, but still she denied him. So he dumped her for it. Broke Lexis heart.”

“Is dat why you guys are so protective of her?” Ace asked.

“Nah, getting ones heart broken is part of dating. We all new it would happen sooner or later. We weren't happy with the reason why, but new it would happen. We're protective of her for a hole other reason. You see about a month after there break up...” Max sighed. “ The guys and I where out doing are chores, Vivian was with us. Watching sens she was still to young to have any of the larger chores, but Lexi was inside. She'd done hers all ready and was studding for a history exam. Ma and Pa where out. We needed groceries.”

“Jay-jay and I where walking by the house going from the filed to the horses. Jay-Jay was only nine, and he heard it.”

Ace watched as Max's face became saddened and angered, “He heard what?”

“The scream.” Max said. He looked down, “It was soft and muffled and even after Jay-Jay said something I still didn't hear. He became edgy when he realized it was coming from the house. To make him relax I thought we'd go in, find nothing, have a laugh and go back to work. But when we got closer we both heard it. We rushed in. fallowing a continues stream of muffled screams. It led to Lexi's bed room.”...

“I told you I heard a scream Max!” Jay-jay said as the ran through the house.

“I know!” Max replied as they heard another one. They burst open the door to the bed room there sisters shared.

For a second they stood in the door frame in shock. There sister had always been brave and the only time they ever saw her in tears was when she was in emotional of physical pain. These tears where of fear. Her eyes wide and lip quivering. Her arms forcefully held above her head. Her shirt torn at the shoulder. Her shirt covered her body asher pants had been pulled to her knees. And above her. The cause of this seen that would forever be imprinted to the two brothers brains. Danny.

“Get off my sister!” The small nine year old yelled. In one jump Jay-Jay had slammed Danny into the wall. Max quickly when for his sister. Getting slapped at as Lexi remained in a state of shock, but he managed to get Lexi over to the other bed. Looking over Max bore witness to Jay-Jay sitting on Danny's chest and swinging each fist with out letting out any restraint.

Max quickly grabbed the boy off. Pushing him back toured Lexi. Max then grabbed the now bloodied up Danny by the back of the shirt and dragged him out of the room. The Jay-Jay lifting his arms up and being a wall between Danny and Lexi.

“Get the hell off are property!” Max yelled as he shoved Danny down the front steps landing him in the dirt. The other bunny children, now done with there chores, saw this and quickly ran over to there older brother.

“Your little brother will pay for this!” Danny yelled back holding a very bloody noise.

“Joe get me the shot gun. We have a trespasser to shoot.” With a final glare Danny ran off.

“Max what happened?” Joe asked.

“go call mom and dad. Tell them to get home.” Max ordered.

“But there at the store and they don't have there cell pones.”

“Then call anyone and everyone! We live in a small town the news in bond to reach them!” Max yelled as walked back in.

“What do I say? What's happened.” the elven year old asked.

As Max walked in he saw Lexi laying on the sofa, her head laying in Jay-Jays lap. Jay-Jay had his arms around her in an awkward hug. She had righted her clothing, and now laid quietly crying. Max went to her and stroked her cheek.

“Max!” Joe yelled still looking for an answer as he pulled out his cell.

“Lexi's been attacked.” Max said looking at Joe then back to Lexi, “you'll be okay sis. You'll be okay.”

He looked at all hi frightened siblings. Non of them could understand. Non of them new what Sex was let alone what Rape, and, in there sisters case, attempted Rape was. Max looked at Jay-Jay. Jay-Jay now knew.

“You'll be okay.”...

“Because his father was the Sheriff Danny got off Scott free.That's why we're protective.”

Ace clenched his hands. His face twitching between anger and sadness. He didn't know how to feel. He was angry, yes. The knowledge that something like that happened to a great gal like Lexi, his girlfriend. He was sad, the fact that it happened, and that Lexi never told him.

That sunk in. why did she never tell him? They've been friends for years, a couple for a year, “She never told me.”

“It's hard for her to discuss.” Max stood up and looked at the horizon. The sun was rising. “The reason we are all hesitant to trust you Ace is because sens Danny only you've been a major boyfriend. I don't know how far in your relationship you are, nor am I going to ask, but think about it Ace. The two of you share a bed every night, despite rules, you clam to love her, she clams to love you, Lexi wants her first time to be an act of love... We're afraid she'll get hurt again.”