Ethan

by Chris Keniston

  "Not if that's all you want." Ethan's hard stare sent chills down her arms.

  No, that wasn't all she wanted, but she wasn't ready to admit to anything more. Yet.

  The roar of an engine filled the room and then cut off. The way Ethan's gaze darted to the window, Allison suspected he was expecting someone. Or maybe he was just curious. The hard steely gaze softened as another redhead hurried into the room.

  Tall and slender like Meg, Allison wondered if they were perhaps siblings. One thing for sure, the lady was sharp. She took in the people in the room and assessed the situation in the blink of an eye. Her movements, graceful and measured, reminded Allison of her Aunt Millicent. Except the friendly expression meant to put everyone in the room at ease had an air of sincerity much different from her aunt's merely polite sensibilities.

  A small tray in hand, Meg entered the room. "Good, you're here." She set the cup and saucer on the end table beside Ethan which would have the new arrival sitting between Allison and the stern Marine. The two women hugged and separated, and though a gentle affection was obvious, Allison ruled out sisters.

  "Thanks, I could use a cup." Taking the predicted seat, the woman turned to Allison and extended her hand. "I'm Catherine."

  "Nice to meet you." Maybe. "Allison."

  "Yes," Catherine nodded.

  A quick glance in Ethan's direction and she thought she spotted relief in his eyes. Appreciation perhaps, before the curtain of indifference descended again. Allison looked from Ethan to Catherine and back. "Would that be Farraday?"

  Catherine's smile widened. "Not yet."

  Giving a slight nod, Ethan shot the woman a gentle smile.

  Nothing Allison had read mentioned anything about Ethan being in a relationship.

  "I'm engaged to Ethan's brother Connor," the woman added.

  "I see."

  "And I'm an attorney. Though I am not Mr. Farraday's attorney of record, I am here, as a family member, to assist in ensuring his best interest—"

  "And Brittany's," he interrupted.

  "And Brittany's, remains at the forefront of all discussion."

  Allison nodded. She hadn't quite expected such a united front. Nor had she expected Ethan's first thought to be for Brittany. He was after all a man, and a risk taker at that. Maybe she had underestimated her opponent.

  "So, Miss Monroe," Catherine took a short sip and set the cup on the table, "what are your intentions?"

  Chapter Nine

  Palm flat, Finn held a treat for Brandy and scratched behind the mare's ear with his other hand. "It's a little bit crazy around here," he told the horse. "Who knew a few pounds of giggles and burps could have us all wrapped around her little finger."

  The horse lifted and dipped her head and gave a low snort.

  "Yeah, well, you may be the smartest one here." He ran his hand down Brandy's neck and patted her shoulder.

  The horse nuzzled his empty hand and then nudged his pocket where he had the other carrot treat.

  "Yep, definitely the smartest one. Here you go. Last treat and then I have to go wash up."

  "Sean? Finn?" Aunt Eileen's voice carried through the horse barn.

  "In here," his father answered from the tack room. "What's up?"

  Finn closed the stall gate behind him and met his aunt and dad near the barn entrance.

  "You'll never guess who's in town." Eileen looked from man to man.

  Wiping his hands on a rag, Sean's eyes crinkled with laugh lines as he smiled at his sister-in-law. "Why don't you save us the trouble and tell us what's on your mind?"

  "That woman's sister."

  Finn glanced at his dad, their eyes met, and he knew they had both probably guessed right.

  "And that's not all." Her expression softened. "You know who else showed up in town watching us all through the café window as though we were puppies for sale in a store window?"

  The Farraday patriarch's gaze narrowed. "Don't tell me the mother's back?"

  "No. The dog."

  Sean Farraday's head leaned back and confusion took over his face before understanding dawned. "Oh, for Lord's sake, Eileen."

  "Gray's back?" Finn smiled.

  His father and aunt both snapped around to look at him.

  "What? The name suits him. Or her. It was that or Terminator."

  "Finn!" His aunt's jaw dropped in near horror. "That's not funny."

  She was probably right. But so far that animal had saved his sister-in-law Toni from the malicious intents of her crazed then-husband, and reinforced his apparent protective nature when he'd stood his ground between Finn's soon-to-be niece Stacy and his brother Connor. "Don't look at me, Terminator was DJ's idea."

  Aunt Eileen shook her head and rolled her eyes skyward much the way she'd done with him and his brothers growing up when they'd done something she considered to be absurdly ridiculous or incredibly stupid. Not that she'd ever came right out and called any of them stupid, but whenever she'd stomp off mumbling "men" they pretty much knew at that moment the two words were synonymous.

  "Forget the dog," his father said, "what about the sister? Are you sure it's her?"

  His aunt nodded. "She just chatted with DJ and me at the café but she told Ethan who she is. He and Catherine are talking with her right this very minute."

  "Damn." Sean raked his fingers through his hair. "We'd better wash up and get to town."

  "No." Eileen shook her head. "Catherine is on it and says we shouldn't all descend on the sister at once. We're to stay put until Catherine assesses the situation."

  Sean paused then gave a single nod. The instincts of every member of the Farraday family was to have the back of whoever who is trouble. That included anyone who mattered to the Farradays by blood, marriage, or friendship. But if Catherine Soon-to-be Farraday said sit tight, then he would do just that.

  "She's staying at the bed and breakfast."

  "For how long?" Finn asked.

  "Don't know. But I've been thinking on the drive back to the ranch."

  "Uh-oh," Finn teased and his aunt shot him another impatient glare. He might be a legal adult, but he wasn't stupid. He bit back his mirth and let her speak.

  "I think we should invite her to stay here instead."

  Finn's eyes bugged open wide and his father blurted out, "Are you mad, woman?"

  "Dad has a point. Acorn doesn't fall far from the tree and all that." Not that Finn believed people were destined to be good or evil by their DNA, but what little he knew from what his brother had and hadn't said, was enough to doubt the stability of this sister. Doctor or not.

  "I don't think this is the case," his aunt said.

  "Why? Because you saw a dog?" his dad asked pointedly.

  "No, smart aleck. Because we talked at the café. She's nice. DJ said she's bashful too. And when I called Meg to see how the meeting was going she agreed. She likes her."

  Sean Farraday threw his arms up in the air. "Well then by all means let's invite her into the family." He shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck. "Okay, sorry. I'll admit, if she's Brittany's kin we're going to have to learn to deal with it."

  "That's right." Aunt Eileen nodded.

  "But that doesn't mean we go running into a burning house with our eyes closed. Let's wait and hear what Catherine says and then find out what Ethan thinks. Brittany is his daughter."

  Finn watched his aunt's face carefully. He could see the wheels turning inside that creative mind. Finally, lips pressed, she nodded. "Agreed."

  "Good," Sean said, satisfied he'd made his point, but Finn thought that battle had been too easily won. He'd be willing to bet his horse that by morning they'd have a new houseguest.

  ***

  The expression “waiting with baited breath” had never been so real to Ethan. He felt like the participant in a cruel game show and Allison's answer would be delayed until after the next commercial break.

  "My intentions are, no doubt, the same as yours," she answered Catherine but studied Ethan. "Wha
t's best for my niece."

  Catherine shot a sideways glance at Ethan before proceeding. "It is my understanding you have been informed that your sister relinquished her parental rights."

  Allison hesitated but nodded. If he'd known her a little better he'd venture the slow swallow that preceded the nod showed how hard it was for her to accept that.

  "And that Mr. Farraday is named as the father on the birth certificate?"

  Allison nodded again. This time without delay or hesitation. Stranger or not, she was having as hard a time as he was understanding how Fancy could walk away from her own child.

  "If you're concerned about Mr. Farraday's financial stability—"

  "No. I don't have to be a detective to know the strength of the Farraday name, and most likely bank account."

  "Then I don't see where you could have any concerns for—"

  Staring Ethan in the eye, Allison eased forward on her seat. "Is this a career ending injury? Because last time I looked a broken ankle was not enough for the Marine Corps to send a man packing permanently."

  Was that why she'd asked exactly what he'd done to his ankle? "If all goes as expected, no."

  "That's what I thought." Her gaze traveled from his foot back to his eyes. "And let's say for argument’s sake that you want to separate from the Marines; how long before you'll be eligible to do so?"

  This gal might be a civilian doctor, but she understood enough about how leaving the Marine Corps worked. "One year."

  With a curt bob of her head, she shoved herself back in the seat. "If I understand correctly, your unit is deployed to the Middle East. Even in the strongest marriages, deployments are tough. Brittany has already lost her mother, how long will she have you before you have to rejoin your unit? Will she even know who you are when you return?"

  Aim, shoot, bull’s-eye. Allison uttered the very questions he'd feared the judge determining his custody status would ask. But it wasn't a fair question. When deployed, men and women missed births, holidays, recitals, and other large chunks of their children's lives, but they still served. And he was damn good at his job. He was no miracle worker but years at the controls is what kept a cool head and saved lives.

  "I will do everything humanly possible to provide for my daughter as will the rest of my family."

  "The rest of your family are not her parents."

  "And neither are you." He shot back calmly. She hadn't said as much, but he wasn't stupid. Why else would she be here?

  "I know." Her gaze dropped to her lap and her voice came out so low he barely heard her.

  When her eyes lifted to meet his again he saw a sadness that clutched at his heart. He hated to see a woman cry. There was something in a man's DNA that would urge him to move heaven and earth if it would dry a woman's tears. When she blinked and the sadness gave way to determination he breathed more easily. He could fight angry, stubborn, mean and even stupid, but not a crying woman. Not this one.

  The overhead bell by the front door sounded and all heads turned to see Brooks and Toni come to stand in the doorway. Ethan hadn't put out a family alert so he wasn't sure if Brooks had arrived for moral support or was simply here because his wife helped Meg with the cooking and baking for the guests.

  Brooks' gaze shifted from Ethan to Catherine and the additional serious face in the room. His eyes narrowed briefly and then he glanced up as Meg hurried into the room.

  "I tried calling you," Meg told Toni.

  "Oh, did you?" Toni pulled her phone from her purse, sighed and nodded. "Forgot to take it off silent." With a hand on her belly, she glanced back at Meg and noticed Ethan, Catherine and Allison watching her.

  "Sorry," Ethan said, waving from one person to the other he made quick introductions. Handshakes went all around. Just as Brooks reached out to Allison, Ethan added, "Allison is Francine's sister."

  Brooks froze mid-handshake and glanced to Catherine. She nodded. The increased tension in the room was palpable.

  "Brooks is a doctor also," Ethan added in an effort to put everyone more at ease.

  "I believe I read something about that," Allison retrieved her hand and offered a slight smile. A polite company sort of smile. "Dallas, right?"

  "Not for a long time." Brooks grabbed his wife's hand. "I'm the old doc in these parts."

  Allison's polite smile held, but the stiffness in her shoulders eased slightly. "You don't miss the big city?"

  "Not even a little. I learned the hard way you can take the boy out of the country but you can't take the country out of the boy."

  Chuckling, Allison relaxed more fully in her seat. "I've worked with a few of you."

  "Where do you call home?"

  "Northern California. Bay area. Did my time at San Francisco General and then Stanford."

  "Stanford," Brooks repeated, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in her face again. "Monroe?"

  Allison nodded, her expression guarded.

  "Any relation to the Monroe who's changing prenatal surgery since separating conjoined twins last year?"

  A hint of rose tinted her cheeks. "That would be me."

  Brooks’ eyes rounded, and clearly forgetting her connection to Francine and his niece, and everyone else in the room, pulled up the nearest chair and began shooting medical questions at the woman Ethan had been certain until five minutes ago was here to steal his daughter. With every smile, and laugh, and the brilliant intensity with which her eyes beamed as she and Brooks exchanged information, no matter what his lawyer and sister-in-law told him, for the first time Ethan had the sinking feeling that losing his daughter might not be such a long shot.

  Chapter Ten

  "I really appreciate you ladies coming out here instead of to the café," Eileen said as she dealt another round of cards.

  Hairpins between her teeth, Ruth Ann spun her long hair into a bun and, talking through her teeth, jabbed the knot of hair onto the top of her head. "I say it's a crazy idea."

  Sally May fanned the cards in her hand. "Maybe. Maybe not."

  "I'll open." Dorothy tossed a chip into the brass dish. Whenever they played cards at the café the chips were tossed into a pile in the middle of the table. At the ranch they always used the tarnished old bowl that reminded Eileen of a sawed off spittoon.

  "Will you give a gal a chance to see what she's got?" Sally May shook her head and shifted the cards around.

  "Not me." Ruth Ann put her cards down. "I couldn't even play Go Fish with this hand."

  "I don't suppose that niece of yours dropped off some of those delicious cake balls?" Dorothy tossed a chip into the pot. "I'm in."

  "Are you kidding?" Eileen laughed. "Sean would sooner let me set the barn on fire before he'd let us near those booze balls again."

  Grace kicked the boot cleaner and walked into the kitchen. "Every time I come home and agree to help Dad and Finn I remember why I go to law school."

  "You love it and you know it," Eileen called over her shoulder. Every one of her nephews had left the ranch to see the world and live a little. One by one they'd all started coming home. Deep down she prayed every day that Ethan and Grace would find their happiness close to home like the others.

  "No one loves mucking stalls and shoveling manure." Grace washed her hands in the sink.

  "How's Stacy coming along?" Sally May tossed down two cards.

  "The kid’s a natural. If there's such a thing as a horseman gene, she's got it just like her mom and her grandmom." Grace filled a glass of water and took a long swallow. "I will admit, I'm having fun teaching her everything I know."

  "And some day you can do that for Brittany too," Aunt Eileen added.

  Grace downed the last of the water and moved over to the card table set up to one side of the dining room. "By then Stacy will be able to teach her. How come y'all are playing here and not at the café?"

  "I wanted to be here if Ethan needed me this morning," Eileen said. Besides, she didn't want every busybody in town eavesdropping on what she had to say.

&n
bsp; Grace looked up and listened for the sounds of a playful baby. "Where is she?"

  "Catherine picked Ethan and the baby up a little while ago and took them into town to meet the aunt."

  Grace's face crinkled unpleasantly. "I thought we were going to wait until we heard from the judge?"

  "Nope." Eileen shook her head. "The lawyers, including Catherine, agreed that if we play nice it will look better to a court than if we try and keep her away."

  "Which is why you want to move her in here?" Dorothy picked up her new cards.

  "Are you mad?" Grace spat.

  Eileen shook her head. "You may look like your mama but you sure do sound like your father."

  "Because Dad is a smart man."

  "Maybe," Eileen shrugged, "when it comes to cattle and ranches and sons."

  "I'm with her." Ruth Ann reached down and scratched the dog comfortably planted between her and Sally May. "What do you expect to gain from bringing the woman here?"

  Sally May looked over the edge of her cards at their friend.

  "When did you grow so old?" Dorothy asked.

  "I'm not old," Ruth Ann shot back.

  Dorothy shook her head. "Are you needing a refresher course on the birds and the bees?"

  "Not all birds fall for all bees." Ruth Ann looked from one friend to the other. "It's a long shot that might blow up in your face."

  "I don't think so." Eileen smiled confidently.

  Grace shook her head, grabbed a slice of cheese and a cracker from the nearby tray and leaned over to kiss her aunt on the cheek. "I love you, but you're nuts. Please don't do anything that will make things worse." Straightening, she spun on her heel. "I'm going to catch a shower and change. I'll let you ladies talk some sense into her."

  "Whatever you say, dear."

  From the hall Grace called back, "You behave or I'm going to tell Daddy you're up to something."

  Eileen shook her head and waited until Grace's steps faded down the upstairs hall then leaned forward. "Did I tell you how they first met?"