by Terry Spear
Lisa took off for the Jeep while Robyn had covered Karl with the rest of the cut-up blanket. Lisa soon returned with one of Edward's emergency blankets for Avery and bottles of water for everyone.
Then Robyn called her mother. Edward wondered why Larson hadn't done so, until he realized Larson was having trouble doing anything with his broken wrist.
"Hey, Mom, I sure hope you didn't send my brothers and my ex-boyfriend after us to cause us grief," Robyn said, then put the phone on speaker.
"You brought it on yourself," her mother said, and Edward felt bad for Robyn. He was certain she was upset that her mother continued to be so hateful about their circumstances.
What he hadn't expected was for Robyn to hand the phone over to Larson. "Want to talk to Mom?"
"Yeah, thanks. Hey, Mom, I suggest we let this damn grudge match go and get on with our lives," Larson said.
Edward was surprised, to an extent, but glad to hear Larson say it. Robyn's eyes filled with tears.
"After he killed Butch? How can you say that!" their mother said, irate.
"Edward, Robyn, and another woman just saved our asses. That's how."
“Lisa,” Lisa told Larson.
The truck was still burning, the whole vehicle in flames now.
"He injured you?"
"No, damn it. We ran into trouble due to an aftershock. It's over, Mom. You can continue to hate the situation as it is or give up the damn past. You riled up Butch, causing him to try and kill the man who loved our only sister. Because of that, Butch gave up his life in pursuit of an ancient feud between the sleuths. And all for what? For no damn good reason. With Edward marrying Robyn, it proves the MacMathan sleuth has moved on. If they can bury the hatchet, we need to let it go. No good will come of continuing this fight."
They heard a helicopter coming then, and an ambulance and a couple of police cars’ sirens wailing.
"We've got to go," Larson said, glancing in the direction of the emergency vehicles.
"Wait, what do you mean that they saved you?" their mom finally asked. She seemed to be so hung up on the past, that she couldn't even grasp what was going on now, or much less cared, unless Larson had called with the news that he'd gotten rid of Edward permanently.
"We'll talk about it later." Larson handed the phone back to Robyn.
Edward thought she would say something more to her mother, but she just hung up on her and pocketed the phone. To his surprise, her brothers smiled at her.
"It's over for us, as far as the vendetta against you," Larson said. "You suspected we were following you, didn't you? Instead of leaving us to try to make it out of the truck on our own before the explosion, you came to help us, risking your own necks. We won't forget that. Maverick and I could very well have been the only two to survive the accident. We might not have made it either, if we'd been trying to get my brothers out when the truck exploded. Or we might have only managed to get one of them out in time."
"You would have been killed. All of you. You wouldn't have left them to their fate." Robyn gave her brother a light hug. "Thanks for coming around." Then she gave her other brothers hugs. Not the ex-boyfriend though.
Two ambulances pulled up at the edge of the road where they couldn't go any further. The helicopter landed. Paramedics arrived to take Avery into the ambulance, though they both raised brows when they saw that rifles had been used to splint his leg. They carried Karl out on a stretcher too. Then they came back for Maverick, though he’d objected and wanted to walk out on his own, but they were afraid any more movement could cause irreparable, internal damage. They wrapped Larson’s wrist to stabilize it, and then he went with his brother Karl in the helicopter. Maverick went in the other ambulance.
The whole time they were getting ready to leave, Larson was telling the police how the road suddenly shifted in front of them and they sailed down the wrecked road until they slammed into the wall of earth. Then he told them about how his sister and brother-in-law and their friend helped them all to safety or they would have died there on their own when the truck exploded.
“Were you all going home for the holidays?” one of the policemen asked, taking notes.
“Uh, they were. We were just following them to see them safely home after all this business with the earthquake and aftershocks,” Larson said. “We were fortunate they were there for us.”
Robyn hugged Edward. “Thanks for helping my brothers and Maverick.”
“I couldn’t have done anything less with a clear conscious. As far as your family is concerned, at least your brothers seem to be willing to let things go.”
“Yeah. Mom and Dad are another story.” Robyn went over to the ambulance and helicopter and wished her brothers all the best.
Then the ambulances drove off and the helicopter took off.
Edward, Robyn, and Lisa piled into the Jeep and headed back home. Lisa called her cousins to tell them they didn’t need their assistance.
“Josh and Jeremy were glad we’re fine. They’re heading back to White Bear.”
“Good, and tell them thanks for trying to come to our aid,” Edward said.
“I did. Well, at least something good came of all your brothers’ injuries. Your other brothers weren’t saying much. Do you think they agree with Larson?” Lisa asked.
“Yeah, I do. If we hadn’t been there for them, they could very well have died in the truck fire.” Robyn settled against her seat.
“And Maverick?” Edward asked.
“He’s a wild card. He might have left my brothers to fend for themselves to save his own skin, or he might have suffered the same fate as them if we hadn’t come back and saved them. How does he feel about me?” Robyn shrugged. “He was angry when I dumped him, but I don’t think I mattered to him once I left town with Callahan. I think he just went along with this because the others were hell-bent on going after us.”
“And the loaded rifles?” Lisa asked.
“To scare us? To shoot Edward if they were angry enough? None of it matters now. It appears they have changed their minds and we won’t have any more trouble with them. My parents won’t try to send anyone else in their place to deal with us, not after my brothers tell the rest of the sleuth how we came to their aid.”
“Do you think your parents will ever come around enough to see your sons and be decent grandparents?” Lisa asked.
“I might not be that forgiving. I’m not even sure my brothers will ever want to visit us and be their uncles either, but I’m glad that things still seemed to be resolved between us. I just hope that my brothers’ injuries heal properly after we had to move them so far from the wreckage.”
“They’ll heal quickly and be fine,” Edward reassured her.
Thankfully, there were no more aftershocks as they continued driving toward home. At least it was still daylight and they could see what was happening. Though they had good night vision as polar bears, it was still better to be driving in daylight if the road was going to continue to break up.
“Is everyone okay?” Edward asked.
“I’ve never felt safer on the road during an earthquake than with you driving,” Robyn said, and she meant it. “And that you were quick to act to help out my brothers.”
Lisa totally agreed. “I’m just glad we weren’t the ones who had the wreck. Would they have helped us out back there?”
Edward thought they would have and changed their minds about Robyn and him too.
FOR MILES, they drove without further incident and finally stopped for gas and a bathroom break at a gas station at the halfway point.
Edward had wanted to continue driving, not stopping for anything, but everyone needed a bathroom break after all the coffee they'd had. And he wanted to fill up on gas before they went any further because there wasn't anything else for miles. He was looking at all the news on his phone and it appeared they hadn't had any earthquake rumbles out this way.
Robyn bought them cups of hot chocolate and handed him one while he filled up the tank.
"Remind me to change my phone number when we get home."
"Your parents already know you're with me in White Bear again. I'm sure that if they really wanted to locate your phone number again if you got a new one, they could. Who knows. Maybe your brothers will convince your parents to turn over a new leaf. I wouldn't worry about it. How are you feeling about everything?" Edward was sure she was upset that her mother had called her, and not with conciliatory words.
"I’m annoyed that she would try to tell me off after all these years. I won't be bullied any longer by them. I ought to call my ex-mother-in-law and tell her thanks for getting ahold of my parents because we finally worked out our differences all because of her."
Edward finished his cocoa, smiled, and pulled Robyn into a hug. "You ought to. At least, you’ve made some inroads with your brothers."
"Excuse me, but you were coming from the direction of Anchorage, weren't you?" an older man asked them as he filled up his truck’s gas tank nearby. He smelled like a wolf.
"Yes, the road was cracked up behind us. It was bad. The pickup truck following behind us had a wreck because of it," Robyn said.
"Okay, thanks. I just wasn't sure if I should continue that way or return home."
"That was the only bad part. The rest of the road was fine. The one we took from Denali National Park was really bad also," Edward said.
"Thanks for letting me know."
"Power lines are down in some areas in Anchorage." Robyn finished her hot chocolate and threw the cup into the trash.
The old man shook his head. "I'm definitely doing this another time."
"We’re you going home for Christmas?" Robyn asked.
Edward hoped the man didn't miss spending the holidays with his family. He finished filling the gas tank.
"I have family both in White Bear and…wait, you're one of the young men who serve up food at White Bear Tavern sometimes."
"Yeah, I’m Edward MacMathan. The owners are my aunt and uncle. And this is my wife, Robyn."
"Well, I'll be." The man shook his hand and then Robyn’s. "Conroe Metzger. I just moved to White Bear from Anchorage, but I was going to close out my bank account there. I guess I'll wait. But I've eaten at the Tavern a number of times, every time I visit White Bear, actually. It’s great food and great ambience."
"Thanks. My aunt and uncle will love hearing so. Do you have family in White Bear?" Edward asked.
"Yeah, I moved close to the kids after I retired from the oil business."
"That's good news," Edward said, then saw Lisa leaving the travel center. "Hey, I'm going to head inside for a minute," he told Robyn and handed her the keys to the Jeep so she could run the engine and keep the heater going.
"Okay. We'll be waiting for you."
He told Lisa he'd be right back and he hurried to use the restroom, but on the way out of the travel station, several people were talking about the earthquake and asking about the road conditions on the way to Anchorage. He told them what he knew, then hurried back to the Jeep so the ladies didn't have to wait too long for him.
"Get stuck answering questions?" Robyn asked him when he scooted into the driver's seat.
"Yeah, sorry. I was trying to get out of there as fast I could, but I needed to let everyone know what the road conditions were like, if they were headed toward Anchorage."
"We were asked the same thing," Lisa said. "Robyn was also showing them the video of what we went through. There were several travelers who right then and there decided to head back the way they had come."
“I don’t blame them. That was hairy. Did anyone take any pictures of the road that broke up under Robyn’s brothers’ truck?” Edward got back on the road and they had another two hours to travel before they arrived home.
“I used your phone to take some video of the road and the burning truck. I hope that was okay. We were just sitting there waiting for the rescue services and we had firsthand knowledge of more earthquake damage,” Lisa said.
“Yeah, that’s fine.” Edward called Rob on the Bluetooth to give him an update. “We’re doing good. We’re finally a little over halfway home.” He explained about rescuing the brothers and Robyn’s ex-boyfriend and how they were agreeable to let bygones be bygones. Her parents weren’t changing their minds, however.
“It’s a shame but it’s their loss,” Rob said. “That’s good news about her brothers though.”
“I agree. What are the kids doing?” Edward asked.
“They’re both playing at the restaurant. We’ve been really busy, and the kids have been having a blast there.”
“Okay, good,” Robyn said.
“Hey, if you want another night of honeymoon bliss, everyone planned to pitch in to keep the boys busy for another night and make sure they have fun. We know you didn’t plan to come in until tomorrow,” Rob said.
Edward glanced at Robyn and smiled. “Thanks, Rob. I owe you.”
“When our kids are that age, you can reciprocate. Let us know when you get in then.”
“Sure will.”
17
When they arrived back home, Robyn called Genevieve to let her know they’d dropped Lisa off at her cousins’ house and they were now home themselves.
“Oh, good. The boys are here. They’ve been watching a Christmas movie. Do you want to talk to them?”
“Yeah, put them on.” Robyn couldn’t believe the boys were having so much fun, they hadn’t really missed her. But she was glad for it.
“We had to stop the movie,” Garrett said.
Robyn laughed. “You can go back and watch it. We just wanted to let you know we’re home.”
“Grandma said we could stay here,” Bryan said.
Robyn laughed again. “Of course. Tomorrow, we’ll see you at the restaurant and we’ll have dinner with your uncles and grandparents for Christmas Eve. Then it’s Christmas.”
“Okay, can we go back and watch the movie?” Garrett asked.
“Yes. Go, have fun. See you tomorrow.”
“See you,” Edward said, and they ended the call as he finished bringing in their luggage and skis. “Which means we have another honeymoon night all to ourselves.”
“Even better at home. If we wake up with the munchies, we can fall out of bed, get them, and—”
“Return to bed and have some more fun.”
Before they could head in the direction of their bedroom, the doorbell rang. Josh and Jeremy had arrived with the gifts Robyn had purchased for Edward's family, and Robyn was glad she and Edward hadn't gotten naked yet. She thanked them and wished them a merry Christmas.
"Thanks so much for bringing Lisa home safe and sound for Christmas," Josh said.
"She couldn't quit talking about rescuing Robyn's brothers and we're glad that the issue was resolved between you," Jeremy said.
"And just in time for Christmas." Though her parents were another story.
When the brothers left, Edward was ready for bed. He went around the house, turning off the Christmas lights. The outside ones were on a timer that would shut off automatically when it grew light out. By the time he reached the bedroom, he found Robyn in the bed already. Naked, waiting for him. Smiling.
He quickly removed his clothes, pulled the bedcovers aside to reveal her luscious nakedness, and joined her. To keep things warm until they heated each other up, he pulled the covers over them.
But it didn’t take long for them to heat up with the rush of passionate kisses they shared and the friction of their bodies firing up their blood as they moved against each other and he was soon tossing the covers aside. He had waited so long for her that he just couldn't quench his need for her. And she seemed to feel likewise, with every stroke of his skin, the manner in which she wrapped her legs around his, telling him she didn't want to let him go, that he was hers forever. Breathing in her delightful perfumed, jasmine scent, of feminine arousal, and she-bear, all made him hunger for her in the worst way. Not to mention their pheromones were engaging in their own sexual foreplay,
driving them wild with desire.
He closed his mouth over hers, conquering and melding his lips with her moistened lips, but she was licking and kissing and conquering his right back. Hearts pounding, their blood hot with desire, he moved off her and began a sensual assault on her breasts, licking and teasing her already taut nipples. She sucked in her breath and ran her hands through his hair, her nails gently scratching his scalp, ratcheting up his own need to take her for his own.
Then he trailed kisses down her flat belly, his hand sweeping across her soft skin until he reached the dewy curls between her legs and she instinctively parted her legs for him.
He brushed his thumb over her nub and she made a ragged gasp. And then he worked up the heat. He savored every sigh, the way her body tightened with need, and how she arched against his steady strokes. He couldn't help the raw emotions swamping him, the knowledge that she was all his, after all these years of wanting.
The emotions flitting across her face reflected she felt the same way as him—the same love and need and want, the same connection they'd had before, only they were older now and had children, but the love for each other hadn't lost its beauty or strength or newness.
She moaned, clutching the bed, looking as though she was ready to fall apart, she was so near the edge of a climax. She suddenly cried out and he smiled, glad the kids weren't here. She met his smile with her own and he knew she felt the same way.
He pushed her knees further apart and centered himself on her. He took the plunge, stretching her, filling her, feeling the tumult of the orgasm she'd experienced as her inner muscles contracted around him. The raging torrent of desire had him thrusting harder, pushing for completion, knowing the end was coming.
And then he released, reveling in the feel of her as he finished, and hugged her tight, the tension in his body easing and he settled there for a moment, just luxuriating in the feel of her soft, curvy body before he moved off her. She seemed to want the moment like that, her arms wrapped around him, keeping him there.
Then he moved off her, grabbed their covers and pulled them over them, ready to snuggle with her, sleep, and repeat. "Thank you for coming home to me," he whispered against her head.