“Are you two all right?” an older man came down the embankment. He was calling 911 as he ran. “Isn’t that the McCoy boy?”
Jessie didn’t take time to answer. It was more important that Nathan breathe. With a gasp and a choke, he spit up water and took a gulping breath. Jessie offered up a heartfelt prayer. Thank God. Another person ran down the embankment. She scooted back, letting someone else check Nathan’s condition. The first man came over to her. “Are you hurt? I saw you both get sideswiped and I couldn’t believe that fool didn’t even slow down. When you went over the side, I thought you were both goners for sure. You saved that boy’s life - I know the McCoys are going to be very grateful.” With that, he returned to the roadside to wait for the ambulance.
Holding her side, she knelt down, trying to breathe through her own fear and panic. There were no cramps, though - for that, she was eternally grateful. Sitting down, she got very still and waited. Finally, she felt a tiny little kick. She let out a sigh. Her baby was okay.
“Jessie?” Nathan croaked out her name.
Getting up slowly, she went to him. Sitting beside him on the ground, Jessie took his hand. “I’m so sorry this happened to you.” she pushed his damp hair back from his face. “You’re going to be just fine.”
“That man said you saved my life. Thanks.” Tears threatened to spill from Jessie’s eyes. When she heard the sirens, she knew it was time to pull herself together. She couldn’t afford to let the EMT’s take her to the hospital. The McCay’s already dropped her from their insurance plan. Kissing Nathan on the head she said her goodbyes “I’m going to go sit over to one side and catch my breath. Take care of yourself and I’ll see you around.”
Somehow, she had managed to hang on to her small duffle bag. Thank God, it was waterproof. Now, if she could just find some type of shelter so she could get out of these wet clothes. Walking slowly and carefully, Jessie made her way up the embankment and turned toward town once more. Looking back down at Nathan, she was glad to see that he was being taken care of. No one noticed that she left; they were all concerned about Nathan. Jessie didn’t mind, she was used to being invisible. Because of her bedraggled condition, she stayed well off the road, hoping no one would notice her.
“Aron, I need to talk to you.” Jacob sat down in front of the big oak desk.
“What can I do you for, Deuce?” This time, Jacob didn’t even mind the worrisome nickname. Being the number two son wasn’t so bad, but as far as nicknames go, he much preferred the one that the Texas Cowgirl Sorority over in Austin had penned on him after they had seen him wrestle down a thirteen hundred pound steer during a bulldogging exhibition. They called him Texas Torque because of his massive chest and arm muscles. Of all the brothers, Jacob was the biggest - and he was damn proud of it.
“I’ve got a situation.”
Aron sat up, this didn’t sound good. “What kind of situation?”
“Do you remember when I stored my sperm over in that Cryobank in Austin?”
Aron crossed his arms over his chest, wondering where this was going. “Yea, just in case you damaged your swimmers in some type of accident. I remember.”
“Anyway, I got an official letter from them today. It seems they might have made a mistake and used my sperm to impregnate a woman who was supposed to be a surrogate mother for this couple named McCay. Apparently, they intended to use the husband’s sperm and the surrogate’s egg - but mine got in the mix, instead.”
Aron had leaned forward more with each word. “Holy Crap! Do you mean to tell me that there’s a little McCoy floating around out there somewhere?”
“Yea, it’s possible that I’m going to be a father. The Cryobank has tried to contact the surrogate, but they haven’t been able to locate her.” Jacob was talking fast; his heart rate had probably gone out of sight. “I don’t know what the parent’s lawyers told her. I’ve tried to phone her, but there was no answer. I’m worried, Aron. Something doesn’t seem right.”
“Boy, you’ve got to be careful.” Aron warned him. “This woman could come in and try to take everything you’ve got. First thing you do, when you find her - you better make damn sure that baby is yours. If they can’t keep up with their man juice any better than that over at the Cryobank, you can’t trust anything those people say. That baby might not even be yours.” Aron was getting angry. This wasn’t the reaction that Jacob had been looking for. For some insane reason, he was filled with hope and anticipation, not suspicion and remorse.
Aron’s words worried Jacob. Frowning, he found himself on the defensive. “The letter said that, by law, I’m not responsible for the child. But, I feel responsible.” Jacob protested. “If the child is mine, I want to know it. Hell, I want to hold it and talk to it and watch it grow. Shit! I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this. I guess I just wanted you to know.” Jacob wasn’t in the mood for dire warnings.
“I think you ought to go down to that sperm bank and make a permanent and complete withdrawal. If they’re going to be handing your sperm out willy-nilly - it don’t need to be there.”
“You may be right about that. Anyway, I’ve called Roscoe to help me locate Jessie Montgomery and I’ve called Zane to advise me on the legal aspects.” Jacob took off his Stetson and scrubbed his face with his hand. “I’m worried about my baby, Aron.” At Aron’s skeptical look, Jacob felt the need to explain. “I know, I know - this morning I didn’t even know the baby existed. And I know it’s not the same situation as you and Libby. You have a baby on the way, but the mother of your child is the love of your life.” He wasn’t getting any argument from Aron on those valid points. “Still, if it’s my child - I want it. I want it to be safe and I want the mother of my child to be safe. Can you understand that?”
Aron sat up and blew out a long breath. “Yea, I understand. What can I do?” The phone jangling at his right hand almost startled them. “Aron McCoy speaking.” Jacob watched Aron’s face - it went from interested, to intent, to anxious - all in a matter of seconds. “We’ll be right there.” Aron stood up and started moving. “Come on. There’s been an accident - it’s Nathan.”
Aron called out an alarm to Libby as they went out the door. Her horrified face said it all. “Tell Joseph, then call Noah and Isaac and let them know. Tell them that I’ll phone you just as soon as I know anything. They say he’s alive - but that’s all I know.”
Both men ran across the yard to Aron’s King Ranch like the devil himself was after them. “Talk to me, Aron.” Jacob commanded.
“It happened right under our noses - just a mile or so down the road. Some nut side-swiped him and knocked him and his bike off the bridge and into the Guadalupe. He almost drowned. Somebody at the scene gave him CPR - they’re supposedly working on him right now.”
“Merciful God,” Jacob breathed prayerfully as they sped down the road, breaking the speed limit without a thought. As reported, there were a half dozen cars and an ambulance pulled over next to the river bridge. Aron swung the truck over on the side of the road and they were out of it almost before it came to a full stop. Racing down the embankment, they were relieved to see that Nathan was sitting up. “Hey, Buddy,” Jacob went right to him and knelt down.
“What happened, Sport?” Aron elbowed his way through the crowd - not hearing anything anyone had to say. His full attention was focused on their baby brother.
Nathan turned a grateful face up to his brothers, “I almost drowned!” He was way too cheerful about it, Jacob thought. “We were walking across the bridge, just talking - when this truck came too close and knocked us both into the water. I don’t remember nothing else, until I woke up coughing. She saved my life, Jacob.”
“That’s right. I saw it all,” Jacob looked up to see Clarence Townsend crowding in to put his two cents in. “This idiot clipped them both; your boy first and then that little lady. When I got to the edge where I could see
, she was already towing him to the bank. She gave him CPR, but I saw her holding her side. She didn’t get off without a good lick, at the very least.”
Nathan was shaking - Jacob realized he must be in shock. “Will you find her, Jacob? Please?”
“You need to take it easy, Nate. It’s you that we’re concerned about.” Jacob intended to help and thank whoever saved his brother’s life, but right now, Nathan was more important. At his brother’s insistent look, Jacob relented. “Don’t worry, Nathan. I’ll look for your friend. But first, we’ve got to get you in the ambulance and on the way to the hospital to have you checked out.”
Aron stood and began talking to the EMT’s and to Kane Saucier, the sheriff, who had just arrived at the scene. Kane had sent out an APB on the reckless driver after getting a description of the truck from Townsend.
Jacob pushed Nathan’s damp hair out of his eyes. While they were waiting, he would find out what he could about Nathan’s friend. “Who were you walking with, Nathan? Can you tell me her name?” Jacob looked around for a woman, but there wasn’t one in the crowd.
“It was the mermaid, Jacob. She saved my life She gave me CPR.” At those words, he had Jacob’s full and complete attention.
“Are you sure?” Jacob stood up and looked around, wanting desperately to find the elusive woman who had pulled Nathan from the river.
“Yes. She has to be here somewhere. I just talked to her a few minutes ago. Earlier, she said she was walking into town to find a job. She knew your name, Jacob. She said that she had come here to find you.”
Hope, wonder, and curiosity all vied for a premier position in his heart. So, her presence in the barn this morning hadn’t been a coincidence. She had been looking for him - not Isaac - not Noah - not Joseph - him. Why? He didn’t know. But, he certainly wanted to find out. “What was her name, Nathan? Did you get her name?” He hoped at least one of his mysteries would soon be solved. In a few moments, he might get to meet his Angel of the Morning.
“Her name was Jessie Montgomery.”
As Nathan’s simple statement sank in, Jacob felt the world shift under his feet. He looked up toward heaven and thanked God for answered prayers.
Aron finished his conversation and knelt back down by his brother. “You need to quit running off at the mouth, bud, and rest awhile.”
“All right.” He looked over at Jacob for confirmation. “You’ll find her for me won’t you, Jacob?”
“I’ll find her for both of us, Nate.” And that was a promise he would move heaven and earth to keep.
Jacob looked everywhere. He asked every one. They all remembered seeing her, but they didn’t know where she went. Not even the EMT’s had tried to keep up with her. From what Nathan and Clarence Townsend had said she could be in pain. Why wasn’t someone looking after her? Returning to the river, he found that Nathan was being loaded into the ambulance. Aron met him, “They think he’s gonna be just fine, they’re just taking him in to be sure. Did you find the girl?”
Jacob was worried. He didn’t stop to explain to Aron about the identity of Nathan’s savior - there just wasn’t time. “No, I’m going to walk over that rise and see if I can see her.”
Throwing Jacob the keys to his truck, Aron crawled in the ambulance with Nathan. “You take the King Ranch. Call me if you find her. I’ll call everybody else and tell them Nathan’s status.”
Not waiting till the ambulance left, Jacob took off to find Jessie. Jessie. He knew her name. Overcome with emotion, he marveled over the fact that the girl in the barn and the mother of his child might be the same person. Frantic with worry for her and the baby, he began to run. Scanning the area from left to right, he saw a small copse of trees - and if he wasn’t imagining things - something was moving in them and it was definitely shaped like a female.
“We’ve got to stop meeting like this, angel.”
Jacob breathed a sigh of relief. She was able to stand up and walk around. Hopefully, she and the baby were okay.
Even though Jacob’s voice was warm and kind - Jessie had almost jumped out of her skin. It was their second meeting and once again she was as naked as a jaybird in whistling time.
“Oh Lord, Jacob. You’re going to give me a heart attack. Turn around. Don’t look at me. Good grief, you’re going to think that I run around naked all the time.” Much to Jacob’s disappointment, she pulled a simple yellow sundress over her head. He didn’t turn around - he couldn’t. As if drawn by a giant magnet, he found himself moving toward her at a steady, predator-like pace. God! He was an absolute goner! To ease his discomfort, Jacob rubbed his swollen dick through his jeans. It wasn’t enough - not by a long shot. But, wanting to please her, he turned around before she discovered that he had been memorizing every square inch of her incredible ass.
Jessie straightened the lemon colored dress. It was the only change of clothes she had. Slipping on a pair of plain little panties, she had to forego a bra because the only one she had was drenched in river water. Stalling, she tried to think. Earlier she had been so dizzy with adrenaline rush that she thought she might faint. What was she going to do? Was this her opening? At least the shock of nearly getting killed had erased any vestiges of the embarrassment she had suffered from seeing Jacob in all of his glory, going at it in the barn.
Jacob was overcome with emotion. He felt like every wish he had ever made had just been granted. With his back still to her, Jacob began to speak. “So, Nathan tells me that you saved his life. We’re forever in your debt.”
“I’m just glad I was there when it happened. That man never even slowed down. I don’t think he even realized he hit us. You can turn around, now.” Jessie sighed.
Her voice did funny things to his heart. It was husky and sexy as hell. Following her directive he turned back around to face her. When he did, he found that she was standing right in front of him. Jacob was amazed; she took his breath away. He couldn’t help himself, he literally growled with male appreciation. She had an unforgettable face - high cheekbones, a full sweet mouth, big dark eyes and the cutest turned up nose that just begged to be kissed. And her eyes were the most incredible shade of blue - a deep, cobalt blue. “God, you’re beautiful, baby.”
A little laugh bubbled from her lips. “No, I’m not. You’re just happy because Nathan is okay. I’m not even close to being beautiful. People say my nose is too pug and there’s just - uh - too much of me, everywhere. Would you zip me up?” Turning, she backed up to him so he could get to her zipper.
Lord, she wasn’t wearing a bra. “Baby, there’s not a damn thing wrong with you. You are absolutely perfect.” The smooth line of her back made his mouth water - she was so sexy. Moving the wealth of her hair, he couldn’t resist running a finger from the base of her spine to the sweet spot at the nape of her neck. The only thing that would have been sweeter would be if he could have made the same journey with his lips.
Jessie didn’t dare breathe; was that touch accidental or on purpose? She couldn’t help but smile. “I can’t believe you’ve had to see me naked twice in one day. You should be getting hazard pay.”
Why was she putting herself down? Didn’t she know how precious she was? “Babe, you didn’t have to get dressed on my account. I liked looking at you all unclothed and cuddly.” As he began to pull the zipper up, it hung on a thread. Bending down, he unzipped it and held it out so he could dislodge what was snagging it. Pulling the material away from her back, Jacob cursed - her side was discolored and beginning to bruise. “You’re hurt.” Without asking, he slipped the dress from her shoulders so he could look more closely. “Oh, sweet baby.” Jacob ran his hand over her skin, wishing that he could absorb the pain. “Let’s get you to the hospital.”
She pulled away from him quickly, almost stumbling. Quickly, she adjusted her clothing. “No, no - no hospital. I feel fine, it’s just a bruise - all I need is to rest and get som
ething to eat.”
Jacob caught her, picking her up gently in his arms. “I’ll zip your dress when we get to the truck. Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?” He wanted to insist that she see a doctor. After all, she might be pregnant with his child. But, she didn’t know that he knew that ultimate fact. For some reason, he wanted her to tell him herself. Willingly. So, for right now he would watch her like a hawk, making sure she was as well as she thought she was.
“Yes,” she spoke softly. “I’m okay. It’s just my ribs - I think they may be bruised. If you’ll put me down, I can walk.”
“Nope.” Jacob started back to the truck. “This time, I’m going to hold on to you. You’re slippery as an eel. I went back down to the barn looking for you, you know.” He smiled down at her and Jessie’s heart skipped a beat. She could see that arguing with him would get her nowhere, so she gave up and let her head rest on his shoulder. It sure felt nice to lean on him for a little while.
“I know, I saw you,” she said shyly. “I had gone upstairs to freshen up before you came back to talk to me.” Hiding her head in his neck, she confessed. “When I came back downstairs, - you were - uh,” At that her voice failed her. A deep chuckle rumbled through Jacob’s chest and he planted a soft kiss on the side of her head. Unable to be aloof, Jessie snuggled deeper into his embrace.
“Did you see anything you liked, baby?” God, he hoped so. She was the sweetest armful he had ever held. A thrill ran through him to think that he might be holding his child as well! A big knot formed in Jacob’s throat. Lord! He couldn’t remember ever being happier!
Did she see anything she liked? “Oh, yes.” Jessie whispered. “You are beautiful.”
“Why didn’t you come on down? I could have used your help. Besides, I was worried to death about you. You shouldn’t have walked away from me.”
Hell Yeah! Box Set With Bonus Cookbook Page 21