by June Faver
Cade shrugged. “Don’t have any idea when she will be able to talk with you. She was pretty loopy last night.”
“Give me a call when she’s available.” Derrick folded his notebook and slipped it back in his jacket pocket. “We located this Swearingen woman, but she lawyered up immediately. She’s being held for questioning in Dallas.” He pulled himself to his feet. “But her airplane mechanic is here in our Langston Sheriff’s office and is talking up a storm.”
Cade felt a great weight lift off his shoulders. If Maggie Swearingen and her mechanic were in custody, they could pose no threat to Jennifer or anyone else.
* * *
Jenn stayed in the hospital another day. Dr. Ryan was being careful, and Derrick was able to interview her the next afternoon. Having her recount Maggie Swearingen’s admission that she had ordered her mechanic to tamper with the fuel lines of both her brother Jason’s plane and that of Mr. Pell had caused Jenn to relive the horror anew.
Jenn tried to understand why she was hospitalized an extra day, since she seemed to bounce back quickly.
Cade said he was just glad she was back to her usual perky self.
When he drove her home, she was quite chipper. She thought it had to do with the fact that they were unofficially engaged, but it was also a combination of all the evidence concerning Jason’s death and the sabotage of Pell’s plane coming together. She had needed closure, and although the truth was not pleasant, at least she could close the door on it.
Leo and Lissy were being taken care of by Big Jim, with the help of his daughter-in-law, Misty. Leah had her hands full with her new infant, but Jenn had no doubt that the children were receiving the best of care.
When Cade pulled off the highway at the entrance to Big Jim’s ranch, the tires bumped over the cattle guard.
“I can’t wait to see the children,” Jennifer said. “I’ve really missed the little rascals.”
There seemed to be a gathering at the ranch, because a collection of pickup trucks were lined up in front of the ranch house.
“Wonder what’s going on at Big Jim’s?” Jenn said. “I don’t want to interrupt some family function.”
Cade opened her door and helped her alight. “Not a problem. We can just pick up the kids and run.”
When they reached the front door, Big Jim was waiting for them. “You folks come right on in here. There are some people been waitin’ on you.”
Jenn stepped inside eagerly, thinking the children were the people he was referring to. But it seemed the entire Garrett family was grinning at her. “Oh my!”
Leah rushed forward to give her a hug. “We’re so glad you’re out of the woods and out of the hospital.”
Jenn returned her hug but felt her color rising. “I—I’m glad I survived.”
“We fixed you a little lunch,” Misty said. “We’ve got lots to celebrate.”
“Let’s go back to the kitchen,” Big Jim suggested. “We got a fine spread back there just waitin’ for you. I hope you’re hungry.”
Jenn flashed him a grin. “Starving. I’ve been eating hospital food for a couple of days and very little of it.”
Big Jim tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and escorted her to the rear of his home.
When they rounded the corner, the aroma of good food assailed Jenn’s senses. Her stomach growled, reminding her how scant her breakfast had been. She was seated at the large table with Cade beside her and the rest of the family gathered around. Lissy was in her high chair and Leo sat on a stack of thick books.
The table was laden with platters and large serving bowls, all filled with food. Big Jim took a seat at the opposite end and began to fill plates with meat before passing them down the line. It was as though all the family members knew to keep passing plates before they filled their own.
Jenn followed suit, keeping up the rhythm until her plate arrived. The next step in the event was for the diners to help themselves to whatever was in front of them and pass that around.
Big Jim clinked his spoon against his glass of iced tea. “I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge some very good news for our family. We have several things to celebrate today. First off, I’m so happy Miss Jennifer LaChance is with us today and that she survived the attempt on her life.” He raised his tea glass to Jenn as did the others at the table, including some encouraging comments.
“And I believe my nephew has an announcement to make.” Big Jim nodded to Cade, who stood up.
“I would like everyone to know that Jennifer has agreed to be my bride.” There was an explosion of applause and chatter.
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Leah exclaimed. “You two make a wonderful couple.”
Tyler and Beau slapped Cade on the back and congratulated their cousin.
When the din had quieted down, Big Jim remained standing. “There’s one more announcement and then we can enjoy this fine meal and each other’s company.” He put his big hand on Mark’s shoulder. “I would like to announce that the adoption process has begun. In time, Mark here will be my son.”
Another burst of applause and chatter.
Big Jim held up his hand to settle them down. “But in the meantime…” Mark stood up and clasped Big Jim around the waist. “In the meantime, Mark has legally changed his name. I’m proud to introduce my soon to be son, Mark Dalton Garrett.”
Misty gasped, covering her mouth with both hands. “Oh, that’s perfect!” Tears sprang to her eyes. “Thanks so much, Dad.”
Big Jim and Mark appeared to be very proud of each other, hugging for a long moment.
“Now, let’s enjoy this fine meal and be happy for each other.” Big Jim settled back into his seat. “Ain’t nothin’ like family.”
* * *
It was just a little over a month later when the wedding was to take place.
She had not been able to let go of the house where she and Jason had grown up, but Cade had helped her pack up and transport the contents back to Langston. She stored everything in the smallest hangar at the airstrip, opting to take her time in dealing with her memories. Now, the house was in the hands of a Realtor, who would oversee its rental. She reasoned that the income would come in handy.
Leah and Misty were delighted to help with wedding plans, taking care of details Jenn hadn’t considered. Nevertheless, when the day arrived, she was delivered to the church feeling totally inadequate for the occasion.
Jenn was filled with anxiety and her hands were shaking as she gazed at herself in the full-length mirror at the church. She and the rest of the bridal party were sequestered in a small dressing room, and she believed Cade and the groomsmen were similarly holed up in their own dressing room. “Oh my goodness. I look awful,” she declared.
“Oh, pshaw! Yew are one real purty young lady.” Fern Davis was watching the preparations with great amusement. “Young Cade is a-gonna keel right over when he lays eyes on his bride.”
“Gran is right,” Leah said. “You look lovely, Jennifer. I’m sure Cade is having his own anxiety attack right along with you.”
Jenn nodded. “I guess so. I think everything will be okay right after we do this thing. This—”
“Wedding.” Misty gave a little giggle. “It’s your wedding and you should just be enjoying all the fuss. You got a great guy.”
Jenn had to smile at that. “Yes, Cade is wonderful.” She smoothed the skirt of her white lace dress. It had cost more than she would have spent, but Big Jim had given his platinum card to his daughters-in-law, instructing them to take Jennifer to Amarillo and make sure she and they were all properly decked out for the wedding.
Turning away from the mirror, she smiled at her bridesmaids: the two Garrett wives who had taken her under their wings. “I appreciate you so much.”
Both Misty and Leah gave her careful hugs, making sure not to smudge her makeup or muss her carefully
arranged hair.
“I’m so happy to have you in the family,” Leah said.
“I know you and Cade will be so happy together.”
Gran chuckled. “Well, I’m plumb tickled yew picked my friend Edgar Wayne Pell to walk yew down the aisle. He sure is a fine fellah.”
Jenn blinked rapidly to keep from tearing up. “Yes, he is a hero in my book. He saved my life twice.”
“An’ I heard him say yew was gonna be pardners with him.”
“What?” Misty gazed at Jenn, openmouthed. “Why haven’t I heard about this?”
Jenn shrugged and spread her hands wide. “We just decided, and with all the excitement of the wedding, we thought we would wait to make any announcements.”
Leah was grinning from ear to ear. “That’s fantastic. Mr. Pell knows so much about airplanes and he is familiar with the airstrip, so he should be able to do the heavy lifting.”
“We think so. He’s retired military but still very active, so he will take on the day-to-day management.” Jenn still felt anxious about the bookkeeping aspect, but Big Jim assured her he would give them a hand.
He was just glad that the property would not be developed by some “underhanded big-city crooks.” Big Jim was certain that the Swearingens would not consider the ecology of the community or the welfare of neighboring ranches in their thirst to ravage the land.
There was a soft knock at the door. “Ready, ladies?” It was Tyler on the other side.
“We’re coming,” Leah said. “Please escort Gran to her seat.” She opened the door just wide enough to let Gran through and give her husband a kiss.
Jenn could hear the organist playing something classical. Her heart fluttered when she realized the next few minutes would change her life forever.
“Ready?” Misty asked.
Jenn took a deep breath and exhaled. “Yes! I’m ready.” Leah handed her the bridal bouquet before Jenn followed her two bridesmaids through the open door and took her place in line behind them.
“Well, you sure do look like an angel straight from heaven.” Edgar Wayne Pell took his place by her side. “And I sure am proud that you chose me to give you away.”
She placed a kiss on his scarred cheek. “I’m so proud to have our very heroic partner by my side. You’re the perfect choice. Thanks for walking me down the aisle.”
He patted her hand as Leah nodded at her and began the bridal parade, with Misty following her. When they had taken their places up by the altar, the music changed and the organist struck the beginning chords to the traditional wedding march.
Everyone in the church stood and turned to stare at them. A wave of timidity washed over her, but Pell patted her hand again. Yes, I can do this.
There, at the altar, Cade and his three cousins stood in a line. He looked so happy and so proud.
“You okay?” Pell whispered.
“Better than okay,” she whispered, and took the first step into her future. Into the arms of the man she loved.
If you love June Faver’s Texas cowboys, don’t miss her brand-new Texas romance series set in the Hill Country!
Coming June 2021 from Sourcebooks Casablanca
Reggie Lee Stafford glanced out the window of her daddy’s Hill Country convenience store just northwest of Austin, Texas. She looked out in time to see the silver BMW cruise by slowly. The top was down, and the driver looked as divine as the vehicle.
A bronzed god with sun-streaked, longish blond hair. He radiated the attitude of a celebrity, hiding behind the lenses of his designer sunglasses. Driving with his elbow stuck out the window, he craned his neck to peer into the small store.
He gazed up at the fading sign that proudly proclaimed the establishment to be Stafford’s Mercantile, a name Reggie’s grandparents had selected in 1949 when they’d first opened their doors in Rambling, Texas, and when the wares had included yard goods and hardware.
Reggie leaned over the counter to stare at the hunk in the sports car, surprised when he pulled into the parking lot and climbed out.
He shoved the keys in the pocket of his faded denims and continued to gaze through the plateglass window with an air of indecision.
She noted that the denims were well filled with 100 percent prime American beef. Well well well. Eye candy from the city. My lucky day. She surreptitiously glanced at her reflection in the mirror behind the counter and ran her fingers through her tousled hair. She took a deep breath as the stranger pushed through the entrance, clanking the metal cowbell against the glass. Her dimples flashed as she wrapped her soft Texas drawl around the words of greeting. “Good afternoon. How can I help you?”
The stranger pushed his sunglasses up on his head and grinned back at her. He laughed, a single derisive snort. “Is that really you, Regina Vagina? Still here after all these years?”
A claustrophobic strangling sensation reached up from her gut and threatened to suffocate the life out of her. “Nooo!” she wailed. “Franklinstein!”
She stared in dismay at the grown-up version of the boy who had made her early adolescence a living hell. From the day he had arrived in town, Franklin Bell had been crossways with her, and he had remained so until the day he’d left.
A clutch of something other than dismay seized her as he continued to inspect her with unmistakably mischievous green eyes. “You got anything cold to drink, Regina?” He pronounced her name as he always had, rhyming with vagina.
Color flamed her cheeks. “Any fool can see the whole back wall is lined with reach-in coolers,” she bit out tersely. “Serve yourself.”
Seemingly undaunted by her scathing remark, he had the nerve to chuckle before turning to inspect the contents of the coolers. All too soon, he returned with his selection and slid it across the counter toward her.
Reggie rang up his purchase and murmured, “That will be a dollar sixty-nine.” Her words came out all husky, and she pressed her lips together as she reached for the two singles he offered. Their fingers brushed, sending a tingling sensation to the pit of her stomach.
“You’re looking good, Regina.” His voice sounded smoky as his gaze lingered on the curve of her breast.
“Would you stop calling me that? We’re not kids anymore, Franklin.” She slammed his change down on the counter.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, seemingly contrite.
She took a deep breath and let it out all at once. “Reggie—my friends call me Reggie.”
He gave her a strange little smile. “I know that. Only you would never let me be your friend.” He twisted the lid off his soda and took a long guzzle.
“My friend!” she exploded. “You never wanted to be my friend. Your sole purpose in life was to make me miserable.”
“If you say so.” He smirked and took another swig.
She swallowed hard as she watched his mouth caress the soda bottle. She wet her own dry lips, trying to appear casual. “Just passing through?”
“Not this time,” he said. “I’m here to tie up some loose ends and take care of a little business.”
Reggie sniffed. “What kind of business?”
He leaned his elbows on the counter and gazed up at her. “My great-aunt, Miss Rosie Bell Grady… She passed and left me all her considerable property.”
She glanced out the storefront at the silver Beemer sitting on the roasting hot asphalt. “It doesn’t look as if you need it.”
He smiled, unperturbed by her withering commentary. “That could be, but I always liked this town. Believe it or not, I do have some fond memories of Rambling, Texas.”
Reggie stifled a curt rejoinder. “I didn’t see you at Miss Rosie’s funeral.”
His brash humor faded abruptly. “I was, uh, out of the country.”
She eyed him with uncompromising candor. “I sincerely hope that your business dealings proceed without delay.”
He p
ushed away from the counter. “So I can get the hell out of town as fast as possible?” He raised an eyebrow, glaring at her, although she refused to be baited. “Sorry to disappoint you, Regina, but I’ll be staying on a while.” He tilted the bottle and drained the contents.
“I swear, if you call me that one more time, I’m going to climb across this counter and smack you one.”
He opened his eyes wide in mock disbelief. “You would assault me on my very first day back in town?”
She glowered, crossing her arms across her chest. “Assault? You sound like a freakin’ asshole lawyer or something.”
“Guilty as charged.”
Reggie experienced the choking sensation again. “Guh-reat!”
He replaced the bottle cap and flipped the empty into the trash container behind the counter. “See ya around, Regina.”
* * *
That didn’t go well. But it never did with Regina… Reggie, he reminded himself.
He didn’t know why he thought she would treat him any different from how she had in the past. Always had hated him. Always would. Snotty bitch. He sighed. Beautiful, exciting, desirable, snotty bitch.
Frank dug the keys out of his pocket, and with a last glance over his shoulder at the storefront, he climbed into his car and turned the ignition.
Still, she had smiled at him before she realized who he was. And how much she hated him.
He pulled out of the parking space, knowing Reggie was watching him.
Expelling the breath he’d been holding, he headed for Aunt Rosie’s sprawling Victorian house by the river.
Rambling was located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, the so-called Heart of Texas. There were two rivers and a lake, so it was a mecca for retirees and vacationers. For a prolonged period, visitors and residents alike took to the rivers to float with the currents on oversize inner tubes. The lake, on the other hand, offered the opportunity for motorboats to piss off the owners of sailboats, who preferred the much quieter and far less bumpy method. There were also canoes and kayaks on the lake and rivers, so most people had a means of assaulting the water on a regular basis. Frank had been an accomplished sailor, preferring the wind to power his boat, which had been moored at one of the marinas.