The Lawman's Little Surprise

by Roxann Delaney

  At least that’s what she hoped as she let herself into the kitchen and headed straight for the cookie jar.

  “ERNIE?” Morgan called, opening the door to his uncle’s rooms in the Commune.

  When there was no answer, he sat on the sofa and relaxed as much as he could. His thoughts turned to Trish as they always did. She had always been close to his uncle. Ernie was a good man, and Morgan reminded himself of how lucky he was that his uncle had chosen Desperation as the place to settle down. Most everyone in town liked Ernie, and Hettie had taken to him immediately, or so he’d been told. The Commune had been Ernie’s idea, and Hettie had been all for it, eagerly helping to get it started and pleased that the place had done so well under his management. If it hadn’t been for his uncle, Morgan wasn’t sure where he’d be now. He’d always be grateful Ernie had taken him in when he’d been looking for sanctuary from the tragedy that had caused him to leave his job in Miami.

  In the midst of his mind’s rambling, his uncle walked in. “You’re home early,” Ernie said.

  “I’ll go back later. Stu isn’t feeling so great, so I’ll take his late shift after I get some supper.”

  “Stu’s sick?” Ernie asked. “I heard you took Trish to the doctor’s office from school.”

  Morgan realized it was time to let his uncle in on the secret he’d been keeping. “Maybe you’d better sit down.”

  Ernie’s eyebrows shot up as he settled on his favorite chair. “Okay, what’s going on?”

  Morgan took a deep breath. The best way to do this was to just jump right in and say it. “Trish isn’t sick.”

  “No?”

  “No.” For some reason, Morgan was having a problem getting the words out.

  Rubbing his short-cropped beard, Ernie appeared to be unconcerned. “It’s none of my business, but Hettie mentioned she’d offered her apartment to Trish while she’s gone. I don’t have a problem with that. After all, this whole place is hers. And Trish doesn’t need to be staying out on that farm by herself.”

  “She’s pregnant,” Morgan blurted.

  Ernie looked him square in the eye. “Your baby?”

  Morgan nodded.

  “Well, that changes the color of everything, doesn’t it?”

  Morgan nodded. “Color, size, you name it.” He could feel his uncle watching him, but he couldn’t look at him.

  “How long have you known?”

  “Since Christmas Eve.”

  “That long?” Ernie asked. “Why didn’t you say something?”

  Shaking his head, Morgan sighed and sank to one of the chairs. “I don’t know. I just…”

  “You what?”

  Morgan shook his head again and looked at the floor, his hands clasped between his knees. “I don’t know.”

  Shifting in his chair, Ernie cleared his throat. “You’ll have to explain that.”

  “She’s doesn’t want to get married.”

  “Give her some time.”

  Morgan looked up. “That’s what Doc Priller said. The crazy thing is she’s more concerned about gossip than anything.”

  “There’ll be gossip, no matter what you two do. It’s inevitable in a small town. And after canceling the wedding…”

  “I know,” Morgan said, nodding. But could he tell his uncle the truth? That he agreed that marriage wasn’t the answer?

  “Things are different now than they were twenty years ago. Women have babies and raise them on their own. Gossip will die down. It has before. I’m sure Trish knows that.”

  “She’s more worried about how Aggie will take the gossip,” Morgan explained, battling his own indecision about what was best. “Aggie knows?”

  “No,” Morgan admitted. “Trish didn’t want to tell her before the cruise. She was afraid Aggie would cancel the trip.”

  “Hettie would have, too,” Ernie agreed. “While I don’t think keeping something like this from them is a good idea, Trish did the right thing.”

  Morgan agreed. But could he do the right thing? As far as Aggie was concerned, Morgan knew she wouldn’t come after him with a shotgun or force either of them to marry when they didn’t want to.

  “Have you called home and told the family?” Ernie asked.

  “Why would I do that?”

  Ernie sighed. “I know you’re a grown man, but your mom and dad will want to know they’re going to be grandparents.”

  “They already are,” Morgan pointed out.

  “Those are Jen’s kids. Do you think because your sister has two kids that your mom isn’t going to be thrilled to know you’ll have one?”

  “I hadn’t really given it any thought. There’s been so much going on,” Morgan admitted.

  “There’s the phone,” Ernie said, pointing at his desk. “Give them a call.”

  Morgan wasn’t ready to do it. What could he tell them? That he was relieved Trish wasn’t going to marry him? How would he explain that? “I’ll do it later.”

  “Do you want me to call them?”

  “No, no, I’ll do it, but… I think you should know something else.”

  Ernie leaned forward, concern in his eyes. “What?”

  “I agree that Trish and I shouldn’t get married.” He watched Ernie’s face, hoping to see a reaction that said his uncle understood.

  Getting to his feet, Ernie walked to the other side of the room, and then turned around. “I’d have to agree that if both parents aren’t willing, then marriage isn’t the answer. And if Trish wants to raise the child on her own, I have no doubt she can do it. But is that really what you want?”

  “After what happened in Miami with Ben and seeing how it affected Connie, yes,” Morgan answered, ignoring the doubts he’d been having. “I broke off with Trish for that very reason.”

  Ernie was silent for several seconds. “Which was a mistake.”

  “Not as far as I’m concerned.”

  Shaking his head, Ernie returned to his chair. He rubbed his hand down his face and sighed. “You’ve got to let the past go, Morgan. You’ll never move forward in your life if you don’t.”

  Morgan agreed only partially. “Maybe I could have, if it hadn’t been for John.” He considered telling his uncle about his dream, but decided against it. Ernie would insist it was nothing more than a simple nightmare, caused by stress. Maybe it was, but Morgan had seen it more as a prophecy. A warning. “I told her I’d help out financially.”

  “Is that it? You’ll give her child support?”

  “Pretty much, yes.”

  “What about being a father?”

  As much as he knew it would hurt to give up a relationship with his child, he had to. “I can’t let an attachment be formed.”

  “You’re leaving town, then?”

  Morgan stared at him. “What? No! Why would I leave Desperation? It’s my home, as much for me as it is for you.”

  “Then how do you think you’ll manage to keep away from your own child?” Ernie asked, leaning forward in his chair. “Don’t you think everyone will know the baby is yours?”

  Even that was something he’d considered. “They might not.”

  “How?”

  “Trish could’ve gotten pregnant while she was away.” He knew it was a reach, but it might be a possibility, depending on how things were handled.

  “You don’t believe that, Morgan. You can’t. And I don’t believe you’d even want that. Now call your mom and give her the news, then I want you to talk to Trish and get this worked out with her. Everything. I don’t imagine she’s going to let you get away with ignoring your own child.”

  Morgan wasn’t sure she would, either, but he didn’t know any other way to handle it. He’d miss so much, he knew, if he wouldn’t allow himself be a real father. If there was another way he could do it and still keep them from possibly coming to harm in the future, he’d do it, but there wasn’t.

  “I’ll call her later, when everything is worked out.”

  Ernie stood, looked at him and walked to the door.
Opening it, he turned back. “Good luck with working it out.”

  Chapter Nine

  “I can’t believe they did this,” Trish muttered on her way to the Commune. “And it isn’t going to stop when I tell them I’m pregnant. They’ll insist that Morgan and I get married.”

  When she realized she was driving down the street alone, and was talking only to herself, she laughed. Leave it to Hettie and Aunt Aggie to get her riled up.

  She had no doubt they’d collaborated on this scheme of theirs. She had stopped in at the office during her lunch hour to talk to Lorene about school things, and Sadie had given her a note—a message from her aunt. Aunt Aggie and Hettie were on their way home and asked if she’d meet them at the Commune as soon as the school day was over. Ernie was picking them up at the airport, and they weren’t certain what time they would be arriving.

  “I should have known they’d do something,” she said, then laughed again. At least the baby would be well-accustomed to her voice if she kept this up.

  Pulling into the drive at the Commune, she noted Ernie’s car wasn’t there. “It figures.” Getting out of her car, she smiled at her new idiosyncrasy and walked up the stone steps of the building.

  She wasn’t surprised to see Morgan standing in the hallway when she opened the door and walked inside. “I knew they’d find a way to make sure you were here, too.”

  “You did okay at the farm by yourself, I take it,” he said.

  “I’ve been fine all week. The advice Paige gave me did the trick.”

  He nodded, but it was as if he hadn’t heard her. “We never did finish that conversation about finances. I’d like for you to make up a list of what you expect they might be.”

  She couldn’t believe he was still at that, when she’d told him there was no hurry. The morning sickness might be gone, but her temper wasn’t. “I swear, Morgan, you just want to make things more complicated than they—”

  “We’re back!”

  Trish spun around to see her aunt and Hettie coming in the door and rushed to give them both welcoming hugs. “I didn’t expect you two until later,” Trish said as she followed them into the Commune’s kitchen.

  “Our flight was early and Ernie made good time,” Hettie replied, plunking her carry-on onto an empty chair.

  “And we come home to find you two arguing,” Aggie added. “What is it this time?”

  “Nothing,” Trish answered.

  Morgan glared at her. “She’s being stubborn, as usual.”

  Aggie walked over and touched Trish’s cheek. “Ernie said you’d had a short bout with the flu or something. Are you feeling okay now?”

  Wondering just how much Ernie knew, Trish nodded. “I’m fine. It was nothing.”

  “I need to get back to work,” Morgan announced, and was gone from the room before anyone could comment.

  “Seems Morgan isn’t so pleased to see us,” Hettie said, when the sound of the front door slamming was heard.

  “Stu’s been sick,” Trish explained.

  “Caught your bug, did he?” Aggie asked.

  Shrugging, Trish didn’t want to dwell on the subject. She hated lying, and that’s what she’d been doing for weeks. She was relieved she wouldn’t have to continue with the deception much longer. Kate would be home in a few days, and together they would share their news.

  Ernie walked into the kitchen with a suitcase in each hand. “That boy needs some time off,” he said, setting the bags on the floor.

  “Just one more reason they should hire another deputy,” Hettie replied.

  “Don’t hold your breath,” Trish muttered.

  Aggie looked at her. “Sounds like someone else could use some time off, too.”

  Trish tried for a smile and a shrug. “First week back after the holidays is always hectic with the students. They’re starting to settle back into the routine again. I guess we all are.”

  “Ernie,” Hettie said, with a wave of her hand, “just leave the luggage there. Right now, all I want to do is sit down and put my feet up. You’d think sitting in an airplane and an airport for hours on end would have me wanting to run a race, but all I want is to go up to my apartment and sleep in my own bed until morning.”

  “But we did have a good time talking to those soldiers in the airport,” Aggie added.

  “Soldiers?” Trish asked, looking from one to the other.

  “Oh, yes,” Hettie answered. “They were nice young men and were happy to sit and talk with us.”

  “And just how many of them were there?” Trish asked, imagining her aunt and Hettie surrounded by a battalion of twentysomething men in uniform.

  Hettie smiled at Aggie before answering. “Only three, dear, and they were very well-behaved.”

  “Probably more behaved than we were,” Aggie added with a laugh.

  “You should have been there with us,” Hettie added. “Maybe we could have hooked you up.”

  Trish didn’t mean to gasp, but she couldn’t believe Hettie was talking that way. “Well, thank you very much, but I don’t need to be ‘hooking up’ with anyone right now.”

  “Why’s that?” Hettie asked, looking like the cat that had just eaten a big, big mouse.

  “Because I—” Trish shook her head. “Never mind.” She turned to her aunt. “If Hettie is going to call it an early night, maybe we should be getting home.”

  Aggie frowned. “It isn’t even five o’clock,” she said, giving her friend a scowl. “I don’t know what’s wrong with her,” she said, jerking her thumb at her friend, “but I’m wide-awake and ready to go again.”

  Trish couldn’t help but feel smug. For someone who hadn’t been excited about taking a cruise, it was plain to see that Aggie had enjoyed herself. “That good, huh?” she asked.

  Aggie fought a smile, but finally laughed. “So you and your sister were right. We had a wonderful time, and I thank you for the gift from the bottom of my withered old heart.”

  Trish reached to give her a hug. “I’m so glad, and I know Kate will be thrilled.”

  “Speaking of Kate,” Aggie said, returning the hug and then stepping back, “didn’t their cruise end today?”

  “Yesterday,” Trish answered. “But she said they might take a day or two to see the sights in New York City.”

  “Even better,” Aggie said, chuckling. “The sights are probably getting a kick out of Dusty.”

  “Maybe,” Hettie said, her eyes sparkling with mischief, “he could get together with that singing cowboy, and they could do a duet. You know, the one who stands on the corner in the all-together with his guitar.”

  Just imagining her brother-in-law in anything other than blue jeans and a T-shirt with boots—or less—had Trish laughing, which sent Aggie and Hettie on to more absurd things and into gales of laughter.

  “I thought you said you were tired, Hettie,” Aggie said as she wiped tears from her eyes.

  Having a difficult time catching her breath, Hettie nodded. “I am. And that’s why…I find it so…funny.”

  Trish managed to compose herself and tugged at her aunt’s arm. “Come on, Aunt Aggie. Let’s allow Hettie to get some rest. Maybe we can plan an evening of reminiscing tomorrow for the two of you. I can’t wait to hear about your trip.”

  “And the soldiers, too, I’m sure,” Hettie said, hiccuping, which started her laughing again. With a wave of her hand, she shooed them away. “Go on, both of you. It’s going to take me an hour to settle down.”

  Ernie had disappeared and returned. “I left all of your luggage and packages by Trish’s car,” he told Aggie, and then turned to Trish. “Are you sure there’s room in that car of yours?” he asked as he followed her and Aggie out the door. “What with Aggie’s suitcases and all.”

  “Oh, sure there is,” Aggie answered. “I don’t have that much.”

  But Trish wasn’t so certain. “I didn’t know I’d be picking you up, and I have several boxes from school in the car that I need to take home.”

  “We’
ll manage,” Aggie assured her.

  Trish’s uncertainty proved to be initially correct, but they discovered that by shifting everything around several times, they were able to get everything inside the car.

  “A gnat wouldn’t find a place to light in here,” Aggie said from the passenger seat.

  “We’re fine,” Trish assured her, “although I wouldn’t want to take a cross-country trip squeezed in like this.”

  With a wave to Ernie, Trish pulled away from the Commune, glad to have her aunt home again. Aggie seemed to be lost in her own thoughts, and Trish’s wandered over the past few days and the upcoming ones.

  “So what’s been going on in Desperation while we were gone?” Aggie asked.

  The question not only brought Trish back to the present, it also made her cringe inwardly with guilt. As far as she knew, there weren’t any rumors or gossip going around, except that Morgan had driven her to the doctor’s office when she’d become ill at school. Even that had died down quickly, and she still had hope that nothing would surface before Kate was home and they had a chance to tell Aunt Aggie.

  “Trish?”

  Trish jumped at the sound of her aunt’s voice. “Sorry.”

  “Woolgathering, were you?” Aggie asked. “Well, I guess we both were. I can tell you for certain that I’m feeling a bit like Hettie and can’t wait to sleep in my own bed, in my own house. We’ll have a bite to eat, and then I’m going to bed.”

  “That sounds good,” Trish agreed as she maneuvered the car around the last turn before getting to the farm. She’d enjoyed her days spent alone, but there had been times she’d been lonely. It would be good to have Aggie there to keep her company. Mentally crossing her fingers that Kate would be home soon, she decided that acting normal would be the key to avoiding any suspicion that something was going on.

  THE COMMUNE WAS QUIET the next morning when Morgan walked in the door. He could hear some of the residents talking in the dining room, but he didn’t stop to say hello. Stu was feeling better and had shown up for work, insisting that Morgan take a few hours and get some rest. Morgan was grateful. He’d been up most of the night before catching up on paperwork, and then all night again. Luckily, Desperation had been quiet.