by Regina Duke
A moment later Zach’s voice floated on the evening air.
“I’ll just check the tack room.”
Megan giggled. “Honeybun was telling you someone was coming.”
Zach entered the stable.
Kevin wiped a hand across his mouth and scuffed at the hay-covered floor.
“You two lovebirds looking for some privacy? Or are you hiding out from your father?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
KEVIN’S JAW TENSED and his hands balled into fists. “I thought he was staying at the hotel with his legal team.”
“Evidently not,” said Zach. “Just thought I’d give you a heads up.” He nodded at Megan. “Ma’am.”
Kevin turned to Megan. “I’d better go inside and see what’s going on. You can wait out here if you like. Dad never sets foot in the stables. That’s probably why I used to spend so much time out here.”
“No,” said Megan. “I ran from him once because he caught me off guard. I won’t let that happen again. I’ll go with you.”
Kevin straightened his shoulders, feeling once again that Megan was more than worthy of his affection.
Together, they entered the house through the kitchen. They could hear Douglas Wake in the dining room, raging at Karla.
“I’ve had it with this vampire crap! You’re going to school in Switzerland. I’ve already reserved a spot for you.”
Krystal stood clutching the back of a dining room chair.
“Douglas, let’s discuss this privately.”
“I’m through with private discussions,” he roared. His green eyes glinted cold and hard in the light from the chandelier. “I’m stating out loud and with witnesses,” he stressed as Kevin and Megan entered the room, “that I am fed up with this costumed nonsense! Last month she told the wife of one of my managers that the low-necked dress she was wearing attracted vampires like corpses attract maggots! You heard her. You were there!”
Krystal’s voice of reason countered with, “That woman barely had a dress on at all.”
“That’s not the point! The school officials told me we can deliver Karla any time because they offer a year-round curriculum. So I’m putting you on notice, young lady.” He shook his finger at Karla. “Once this ranch transfers to my control next week, you are headed for Switzerland!”
Karla’s reaction startled Kevin. She transformed herself from a quiet meek costumed child into a shrieking hellcat. She held her fingers like claws and slashed them through the air as her father approached. She alternated between shrieking and hissing, and she half-crouched as she bounded around the perimeter of the table, avoiding his grasp.
“You insufferable little brat! Your mother got you out of that hospital way too soon.” He turned long enough to snap at Krystal, “You think I believed that cockamamy story about them not wanting to keep her? I know what you did!” Back to Karla, “Hold still!” He grabbed for her.
Karla eluded him by scuttling under the dining table, surrounding herself with chairs. She huddled there, hissing and clawing whenever her father made a move.
Kevin had had enough. He stepped into his father’s space, forcing Douglas to back up a foot.
“Enough! Stop this nonsense now.” His voice was deep and firm, and it carried the implicit promise that if Douglas did not stop, Kevin would make him regret it.
Douglas Wake puffed up and glared at his oldest son.
“You’ve got some nerve showing up to meddle in family affairs after all these years. You abandoned her!” He pointed at Karla. “And you abandoned your mother! But here you come running back when you smell money.”
Kevin drew himself up his full height. In that moment, he realized that he was now taller than his father, and his summers as a lumberjack had added forty pounds of muscle to his frame. In measured tones, his anger barely under control, he spoke.
“I did not abandon anyone. You chased me away at eighteen. But at least I was ready for college. Now you’re trying to send Karla away before she’s old enough to fight back! You will never control this ranch, and you won’t send my sister away for being different, either.”
Douglas had to bend his head back to look Kevin in the eye. That fact was not lost on him. Nor was the very real presence of Kevin’s physical bulk. His complexion darkened, but he said nothing.
Karla took advantage of the lull to scramble out from under the table and run for her room.
Kevin finished with, “I used to think you were a big man. Now I realize that you’re just a bully.” He held out a hand to Megan. “Let’s go talk to Karla.”
CHAPTER FORTY
KEVIN KNOCKED softly on Karla’s door.
“Go away!”
“Karla, you’re not going to Switzerland.”
A few seconds later, the door opened. The shades were drawn. The room was dark except for the illuminated skull that Megan had given her.
“Come in.”
Kevin and Megan entered.
“May I turn on a lamp?” asked Kevin. “I’d like to see your face.”
Karla turned on her bedside lamp. The room was cluttered with the treasures of its teen occupant. A laptop sat open on an antique desk. The chest of drawers was draped with clothing, as were the chair and the bed. The book on makeup was open on the bed as well. Two spaces were organized and tidy. One was the dressing table where jars and tubes of theatrical makeup awaited Karla’s attention. The other was the art table near the window. The Victorian wallpaper was barely visible behind the sketches Karla had tacked to the walls.
Megan was drawn to the art right away. “These faces are amazing.”
“Thanks,” said Karla. “Mom and dad think they’re the product of a sick mind.”
Kevin said, “All your clothes are black.”
Karla’s brows drew together. “Not exactly.” She pointed out different items. “Onyx, charcoal, thunderhead. Shall I go on?”
Kevin gave his sister a hug. “No need. I see what you mean. You know, I think mom is starting to come around. She wants to be part of the photo extravaganza. That’s great, right?”
Karla nodded. “But it won’t matter if dad is here. He’ll forbid it, and Krystal will cave.”
Without thinking Megan said, “Survival mechanism.”
“What?” Karla looked puzzled.
Megan perched on the foot of the bed. Kevin joined her. Karla straddled her desk chair.
Megan explained. “Krystal lives with an overpowering man with anger issues. Sorry, Kevin, but that’s so obvious to the outsider. Even you see it now. You called him a bully.”
“He is,” said Kevin. “I had to be away from it for six years before I could recognize it.”
“And Krystal has developed behaviors to calm him down. She’s always controlling her voice, governing her words, and trying to ameliorate the situation. Those behaviors are her survival mechanism.”
Karla tilted her head to one side. “So that’s why she never fights back? That drives me crazy. Once I told her she doesn’t love me because she doesn’t defend me when dad goes ballistic. I didn’t realize she was trying to calm him down.”
Megan turned a hand over. “That’s because your survival mechanism is so different,” she said. “You keep your father at bay by becoming a vampire and scaring the crap out of him. Did you see his face when you started shrieking?”
Karla smiled behind a hand. “That’s not easy, you know? I had to practice those moves.”
Kevin nodded. “I believe it. You scared the heck out of me, too.”
“So, how can you be sure dad won’t send me to Switzerland?”
“Because your mother won’t let him,” said Kevin. “And I’ll back her up. Dad’s a lot worse than I remember him, and he was bad when I was eighteen. I think his behavior is affecting his work. Maybe that’s why he’s counting on getting control of the ranch and the money in the Fineman trust. I also think he’s had someone spying on me.”
“Someone named Wong,” said Karla. “I heard him talking on the phone one day.�
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Kevin deflated. “Oh, no! Not Jeffrey!”
Megan touched his leg. “I’m so sorry.”
“I thought Jeff was my best friend.”
Megan pulled her head back. “Your chauffeur is your best friend?”
Kevin rolled his eyes. “Okay, I knew I couldn’t fool you forever. Until I take over the trust, I am not a wealthy man. My mother has been sending me an allowance every month for school. I got my degree in record time, but she kept sending money. And then I found out she told dad I was in graduate school so she could keep sending me cash. I let it build up in a bank account, and I stashed a bunch in my safe deposit box. I was using it to convince women I was super rich, because I thought that would be the only way to convince someone to marry me so I could inherit the trust. And part of that was hiring my best friend—my so-called best friend, the traitor—to play my chauffeur and drive the rented limo.”
“Oh.” It was a thoughtful syllable, full of concern and realization.
“Thanks to you, I will get control of the trust, and your medical bills will be paid. You don’t have to worry about that. We have a prenup, remember?”
“Oh, that. I’m not worried. After meeting your family and knowing you’re giving up your freedom so they can be assured of their own inheritance, I knew you were a man of your word.” She reached out and squeezed his hand.
Karla’s eyes were big as plates. “You mean, you guys are playing parts? You’re just acting?”
“No!”
“No!”
Kevin looked at Megan, and Megan met his gaze.
“No, we’re not acting,” said Kevin. “I love Megan very much.”
Megan’s eyes grew bright. “And I love Kevin.”
Karla looked relieved. “Then the wedding is still on?”
“Definitely,” said Kevin.
“Too late to get out of it now,” teased Megan.
“Good. Because if I end up in Switzerland, I’m going to run away from that school and come back and bite your necks.”
There was a knock at the door. Kevin went to open it.
“Come in, mom.”
“You can leave the door open,” she said. “I convinced Douglas that he should stay in town with his legal team. I reminded him that his blood pressure suffers every time he flies into a rage, and it would be a shame if he were to have a stroke before the lawyers made a determination.”
Megan’s brow furrowed. “But I thought if Kevin was married before his twenty-fifth birthday, the result was cut and dried.”
“Technically, yes,” said Krystal. “But never underestimate a stubborn man with a corral full of lawyers. I’m sure he’ll contest. But hopefully he won’t have a leg to stand on.”
Kevin, Megan, and Karla stared at the floor.
Megan broke the silence. “Where’s Keegan?”
Krystal’s expression softened. “He’s out in the horseshoe pit playing with his new toys. It turns out Garcia has two little boys nearly Keegan’s age. The three of them are building a city of roads in the sand. Zach gave them some small packing boxes from the office. Now they’re making garages. I have to bring him in soon. The light is fading.”
Megan stood up. “Speaking of Zach, I need to talk to him about something.”
Kevin stood as well. “And mom, could I have a word?” He ruffled Karla’s hair. “Yuck. Your hair is hard!”
“It’s called hairspray, brother. I’m fourteen, remember?”
Kevin smiled at her, and followed his mother out of the room.
Megan hurried off to find Zach.
Kevin pulled his mother aside at the end of the corridor. “I just wanted to suggest that you be careful when dad and Zach are both around.”
Krystal looked puzzled. “I am always careful when your father’s around. But Zach would never hurt me.”
Kevin rubbed his hands on his jeans. “Megan saw you and Zach together on the porch yesterday. Five minutes you were out there. When you left, she said it was obvious you were in love.”
Krystal looked impressed. “She’s very astute.”
“Mom? You mean she’s right?! Aren’t you worried about dad’s reaction?”
“Oh, Kevin. You’re still so young in so many ways. Your father knew I was in love with Zach from the very beginning.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Thursday, June 28
THE MORNING DAWNED bright and fresh. The heat wouldn’t conquer the day until ten or later. Megan bounced downstairs to the kitchen. Just as she’d hoped, Keegan was spreading peanut butter on a thick slice of toasted homemade bread.
Cookie smiled at Megan and poured her a cup of coffee.
“Good morning, Keegan,” said Megan, as if she could care less that he was at the table with her.
“Hi.” Keegan held his toast in one hand and punched at the screen of his iPad game with the other. It was propped against his new toy dump truck.
Megan gave him points for combining his two favorite pastimes.
“You got peanut butter on your screen.”
“Wipes off,” said Keegan.
Megan spread butter on a slice of toast. “You need help cleaning your fingers. I have just the thing.”
Keegan shot her a glance. “You’re crazy.” Then remembering the gifts she’d given him, he added, “Super nice, but crazy.”
“I know. But aren’t you curious?”
“Nope.” He shoved toast in his mouth. Now he had peanut butter on both cheeks.
“That’s perfect! Whatever you do, don’t wipe that off.”
Keegan pulled his face away from the iPad and gawked at her. “Does Krystal know you’re telling me not to wipe my face?”
Megan leaned in close and whispered, “I have a secret weapon. Want to see?”
Keegan nodded.
“You have to finish your breakfast first. But try to get more peanut butter on your fingers, okay?”
Keegan turned to Cookie, his little face a question mark.
Cookie turned her hands over, as if to say, ‘I don’t have a clue.’ She brought him a glass of milk.
Keegan lifted it with both hands. Now there were peanut butter smears on the glass.
Megan sipped her coffee, trying not to laugh. She had his attention.
Keegan crammed another big bite into his mouth and tried to talk around it.
Megan put a hand to her ear. “Did you hear something? Sounds like a transmission from outer space. Cookie? Did you hear it?”
Cookie drawled, “Sounds like Martians to me, too.”
Keegan washed his toast down with more milk. Then he enunciated, “I said, this better be good.”
“Good?” said Megan. “Just good? Oh, no, Keegan Wake—sorry, Keegan Fineman Wake—this is way better than good.”
“I’m ready.” Keegan reached for the dish towel Cookie had given him to wipe his face and hands on.
“Don’t wipe,” Megan reminded him. “We can’t use the secret weapon if you wipe off all the peanut butter.”
“Oh, right.” He glanced over his shoulder to make sure Cookie wasn’t looking. Then he plunged a finger in the peanut butter jar and smeared a glob across his chin. “I’m ready.”
Megan couldn’t help but laugh. She quickly cleared her throat and tried to sound serious. “All right, then. Let’s go.”
She led the way out of the kitchen through the back door. Keegan followed.
Megan marched across the grassy yard that surrounded the house, past the sandy horseshoe pit where Keegan’s new toys lay scattered, and through the chain link gate. Keegan followed.
Megan headed for the large workshop where the business offices were located.
Keegan frowned. “Krystal told me never to go in there. She said those people are busy running the ranch.”
“That’s true, but I think it’s okay if you have an escort.”
“What’s an escort?”
“You know, a grownup going in with you.”
“Oh. Got it.”
; Megan entered the building and held the door for Keegan so he wouldn’t have to touch it with his peanut butter fingers.
Keegan seemed surprised that he recognized the people they passed. “Hey, that’s Garcia! Hi, Mister Garcia! Hi, Zach. You have your own room in here?”
Zach grinned at Keegan. “This is my office.”
“Dad’s office is in a skyscraper. And it doesn’t have cement floors.”
Zach rubbed his chin. “Hmmm. Well, we don’t have many skyscrapers around here. This will have to do, I guess. Where you headed?”
Megan tipped her head to one side. “I told Keegan I had a secret weapon for cleaning peanut butter off his face and hands.”
Zach’s eyes twinkled. “Oh, yeah. Clear to the end and to the right.”
“Thanks. Come on, Keegan.”
“Does Zach know about this machine?”
“I never said it was a machine,” said Megan innocently. “Here we are. Come on in.”
She stepped into a cool, quiet room. Instead of furniture, there was a long piece of plywood stretching from wall to wall, separating the back of the room from the door. A large yellow Lab reclined on a dog bed in the corner with two healthy pups frolicking around her.
“That’s Buttercup!” Keegan’s eyes grew large. “Buttercup had puppies!” He clambered over the low wall and fell to his knees. One black pup and one yellow pup leaped up to lick the peanut butter off his chin.
Keegan giggled with delight. “Look! They’re cleaning my fingers, too!”
“I told you I had a secret weapon. Aren’t they cool?”
“They’re kind of big for babies,” said Keegan, between giggles.
“Labs are big dogs. They’re three months old. Just right for leaving their mother.”
Keegan looked horrified. “Where are they going?”
“Not far,” said Megan. “Just from here to the main house.”
“Really? They’re going to live in the main house?”
“Sure. My dog is going to sleep in my room and watch TV with me and eat in the kitchen.”
“Oh.” Keegan drooped. “You get one of the puppies?”
“Yes, I do,” said Megan. She joined him inside the enclosure and lowered herself carefully to the sawdust that covered the dirt floor. The puppies alternated between Keegan and Megan, leaping and grabbing at hands and clothing.