Frank’s mouth pulled down and a deep furrow planted itself deep in between the man’s eyes. “Why the hell would it be? Son, I got no right to cast any stones. I know that boy. He is the gentle kind. Christian wouldn’t hurt a thing unless he was forced into it and that asshole Gerald forced him into it… regularly.” Frank turned his attention from Adam to the window. “If I could’ve moved those boys here I would have. Can’t help but think I didn’t do enough.” He sighed and glanced back at Adam. “What about Gregg? He here too?”
Adam quirked his eyebrow up. “Who’s Gregg?”
Frank snorted. “The middle brother. I’ll take a trip to the Koehlers’ today. Offer Gregg a full-time position here.”
“Frank, there’s more. Christian was beaten by his brothers or his father. He’s not saying which, but someone took out some serious aggression on that boy. Broke his arm. I was worried about his zygomatic bone, but it wasn’t compromised.”
“His zygo-what?”
“Zygomatic bone—cheekbone. From what Christian said, Clint’s gone. Guardian is watching for him, and Jared is working with the state police and the local law enforcement officers to ensure all the bases are covered. Clint dumped his truck in Rapid City, but there is no trace of him.”
“Holy hell. The first time I spend more than a long weekend away from the ranch in two years and all this shit breaks loose.” Frank rubbed his face with both hands and fell back into the plush leather chair.
“Alright, now that I got a handle on that, I need some answers. First, is Keelee alright physically? Those bruises are the extent of her injuries, right?”
Adam nodded. “She also sustained a concussion, but she’s going to be fine.”
Frank released a long breath and nodded. “Second, Christian is safe and you’ll be making sure he stays out of Gerald’s reach. Just so Gerald don’t get any ideas, make sure Christian stays in the ranch house, not in the bunk house. Understood?”
“Yeah, the Wonder Twins hooked him up with a room down the hall from them.”
Frank closed his eyes and nodded. “I’ll take care of Gregg, but I need to get one other matter settled first.” Drawing a lungful of air, Frank let it out, sounding a little bit like a pressure cooker that was about to explode. “Son, what exactly are your intentions toward my daughter?”
Adam gulped and swallowed. This was the start he’d pictured. “I love her. I’m going to marry her if you give me your blessings.” Adam ran his hands through his hair again and stood up. “I don’t know who in the hell I’m trying to fool. I’m marrying her even if you don’t give your blessings. Life has taken two years from us. I’ll be damned if I’m waiting much longer to make her my wife.”
“That so?” Frank’s response was more a grunt than a comment.
“Yes.”
“What did she say about that? Can’t imagine she’d let you run that show.”
Adam smiled. “Haven’t asked her yet. I wanted to do this right. I wanted to ask you, but like I said…”
“Yeah son, I got it. And you got it. My blessing, that is. When you plan on asking her?” Frank stood and stretched.
“Christmas Eve. Figured a ring would be my present to her. Which I still need to buy. Crap, I need to get Jason to fly me someplace with a decent jeweler. I don’t even know her ring size. How the hell do I find that out?” Adam’s face flushed. He hated when he did that.
“Huh. Well, if you’re open for a suggestion, maybe you could get her mom’s engagement ring reset. Kinda sentimental and such. Put your own stones with it. Make it yours, but give her a piece of her mom too. Her mom’s ring fits her hand. Seen her admiring it one day. Size six.”
Adam cleared his throat and nodded. “I’d be honored, sir. Thank you.”
Frank’s voice stopped him before he opened the door. “Oh and Adam?”
He stopped and turned to meet Frank’s gaze. “Sir?”
“In case there was any doubt, you hurt that girl again and there won’t be a place you can hide from me. You got that, boy?”
Adam swallowed hard. The man in front of him left little doubt he’d carry out the threat. And what Frank just said—it was a threat.
“I love her, sir. I admit I’ve screwed up. If I hadn’t lost my memory, I would have been back here the day after the mission begging her to forgive me and asking for a second chance. We took the long way to this point, but there isn’t a force on this earth that will separate us again.”
Frank grunted and slapped Adam on the shoulder. “Glad we had this little talk, son. Now how about we both get some food?”
Adam grinned. “Yes, sir.”
“Just one more thing… son, lock the damn door from now on.”
Adam could feel his face heat. “Ahh… yes, sir.”
Chapter Nineteen
Keelee peeked at the shut library door. The rumble of voices indicated they hadn’t killed each other yet. Poor Adam. I wonder how long Dad’s going to torture him. A small, satisfied sigh escaped as she pushed the door to the kitchen open.
“Hi, sweetie! The statuesque raven-haired woman stood at the stove loading biscuits onto a platter. It took several seconds before Keelee registered the fact that Amanda King stood in her kitchen. Wow, and why? None of her sons were at the ranch. Were they?
“Adam told me you guys had slept in and were hungry. I snuck in here while Betty’s in her room and put together something for us. You don’t think she’ll mind, do you?”
“Oh, uh… Hi. Umm, no, she’s probably upstairs. You know the world doesn’t rotate if she doesn’t make sure that morning talk show is broadcasting live from New York.”
Keelee couldn’t prevent the question that sprang from her mouth. “Amanda, why are you here?”
At the woman’s shocked expression, Keelee quickly added, “Hold on, that really didn’t come out right. Let me start again. Did you come home with my… dad?” Who else could she have come back with?
A warm blush spread across the older woman’s face. “Well, I guess I do owe you an explanation, or rather you need to be brought up to speed. So much has happened in the last week. Honestly, I could write a novel! Breakfast is done and warming, so why don’t we have a cup of coffee and wait for the men while I fill you in.”
Keelee accepted the coffee and sat down. Amanda came over and kneeled down in front of her. The older woman reached out and cupped Keelee’s bruised cheek. The simple act of kindness drew tears before Keelee could stop them.
“I’m so sorry this happened to you, sweetheart. Your father was fit to be tied when Gabriel got the message. We flew all night getting back here. He was inconsolable. He was rather determined to see you were alright for himself. Marched right up those stairs to your room as soon as we got home.”
The parts of her face not already colored in bruises flooded with embarrassment. Amanda chuckled and patted Keelee’s cheek softly before she lifted off the floor and sat down beside her.
“Yeah, that was rather embarrassing.” Keelee focused on the microwave so Amanda couldn’t see the heat that raced to her cheeks.
“If you want my honest opinion, I think your father was more embarrassed than either one of you two.”
Keelee rolled her eyes but smiled, and a small laugh escaped. “Well, at least he didn’t walk into the bathroom a couple minutes earlier.”
Amanda giggled and took a sip of her coffee. “There is that saving grace. But don’t worry about him. He’ll get through it. How much he makes your young beau suffer is another story.”
Keelee took a sip of the coffee and groaned in appreciation. “So you said you had a novel’s worth of information to bring me up to speed on?”
Amanda smiled radiantly. “Yes, well, you know Ember and Joseph got married.”
“What?” Keelee dropped her hand to the table and gaped at Amanda King. “Joseph’s dead. He died in Mexico.”
Amanda grabbed her hand. “No, dear. Didn’t Adam or one of the boys tell you?”
Keelee could only shak
e her head. Ember and Joey? Joey was alive? What in the hell?
“Oh my Lord, Mary, Joseph, and the three wise men! I had no idea you didn’t know. Joey is alive. He and Ember were married four days ago in Aruba. He survived that fiasco in Mexico and waited for her to join him.”
Shell-shocked—Keelee totally understood that sentiment now. “But why didn’t Em call me?”
“Honey, I know you two got close while she stayed here. She didn’t have a chance to call. Joey had the ceremony all set up. They reunited at five in the afternoon and got married at midnight. Immediately after the wedding, they flew to Greece. They are due back in a week to spend Christmas with Jason and me in Mississippi. She probably assumed Adam would tell you. But he’s been more than a little busy with things here, you know?”
“I’m sorry… I know I should be jumping up and down with joy. Those two deserve to be happy, but… it’s all so sudden. Joey’s really alive?”
“Mmmm… and let me tell you, those boys and Gabriel have some serious damage to repair as far as my trust goes. There is more and I’ll tell you everything. The truth is I’m still trying to wrap my mind around all of it.” The older woman shuddered.
Keelee nodded. “But Ember and Joey are safe now? They don’t have to run or hide?”
Amanda’s smile returned to her face. “They’re safe and very happy.”
Keelee shook her head. “I’m floored, but really I’m glad for them.” Keelee took another drink of coffee before she asked the question that had been on the tip of her tongue since she’d seen Amanda this morning. “So… you and my dad, huh?”
A beautiful rose blush covered the older woman’s cheeks. “Well, ah… yes.”
Keelee lifted an eyebrow. “Do I need to have the same conversation with you as my dad is having with Adam?” She lowered her voice to mimic her father’s. “Ma’am, what exactly are your intentions toward my dad? Are you going to make an honest man out of him?”
“That, little girl, is absolutely none of your business,” Frank said as he and Adam walked into the kitchen.
Keelee felt Adam’s warm hands on her shoulders. Her heart soared at the love in his expression. He bent to kiss her. It didn’t last long enough for her liking, but the brevity was understandable given their company.
“Frank Marshall, behave yourself.” Amanda swatted at him after he swooped in for a kiss. Frank smiled and headed for the coffee pot.
“Too old to give a damn if I offend the sensibilities of my children or yours.” He threw a nod toward Adam. “Even the adopted ones.”
“Ah Daddy, you know I don’t have any sensibilities to offend. Why didn’t you tell me you had a girlfriend?”
Keelee sat straight in the chair and eyed her father gleefully. “Oh! Miss Amanda is who you’ve been going to see on your long weekends. So this is serious?”
Amanda turned in her chair, “Yes, Frank, why didn’t you tell your daughter you had a girlfriend?”
The older man leaned against the counter. “Because I don’t have a girlfriend. I have a lover, a confidant, a woman who cares about me and tells me she loves me. Our time together was private and something I chose to keep close to my vest. It’s time I savored and cherished, not something I discussed while drinking coffee with my daughter.” Frank motioned toward Keelee with his cup.
“Sorry if you feel blindsided, sweetheart, but that’s the truth of it.”
Keelee stood and walked to her father. A surge of happiness filled her. “Oh Daddy, I’m so happy you have someone too.” She felt his strong arms circle her and pull her in for a hug.
“I really like her, Dad. She’s an incredible woman.” Her father’s arms squeezed her tightly before he released her.
“Yeah, and your young man will do in a pinch.”
Keelee laughed and turned back toward Adam. “That’s a ringing endorsement, in case you didn’t know it.”
Adam winked at her and sat down at the table before he spoke. “Figured as much.”
Amanda took a hot pad from the counter. Smoothing it distractedly, she sighed. “Well, since everyone is here, let’s eat. I need to decide what to do about Christmas.” The look between Amanda and Frank seemed to convey something Keelee couldn’t decipher. “Christmas is just about three weeks away and I don’t have a thing done.”
Keelee stopped halfway to refrigerator. No. That wasn’t right. Her dad had told them he loved this woman. “Amanda? Why don’t you spend Christmas here?”
She watched as Amanda reached for the breakfast casserole she had baked. Her hand stopped before she shook her head. “Honey, my house is open to any or all of my eight children and their families if they want to come home. It wouldn’t be right not to allow them to come home if they wanted to.”
Frank lifted away from the counter. “They’ll come here. The reason they go home is to see you, right?”
Amanda lifted a hand to Frank’s chest and nodded. “Well yes, that and to get some TLC. I didn’t want to assume, Frank.”
“I told you already, and you know we have some things to discuss and work out.” Frank lowered and placed a thorough, enthusiastic, lingering kiss on Amanda. Keelee shifted on her feet and started a study of the floor. Her dad seemed pretty adept at kissing, which was just all kinds of wrong. And now she knew how her dad felt a little less than an hour ago.
Keelee grabbed the butter and jam out of the fridge and made a concerted effort not to watch her dad and his girlfriend, or woman friend, or her future stepmom. Wow. What a thought. I need to call Tori.
Keelee glanced at Adam, who had no problem with the display of affection heating up in front of him. He smiled wickedly at her and popped a piece of biscuit in his mouth. “If he gets to make out in the kitchen, you realize that means we get a pass by default?”
Frank lifted his head and growled, “I’ve seen more than enough of you two today. Hell, I’ve seen enough to last at least a year, or actually a lifetime. Thank you very much.”
Amanda laughed and broke away. She set the casserole on the table and waited for Frank to push her chair in for her.
“Seriously, Frank, are you sure about your offer? At least half of the kids could show up just out of curiosity.”
“So, let them come. We have enough room.” Frank sat down and started serving the egg, cheese and potato dish.
“You’re sure you don’t mind? We haven’t actually discussed anything like this yet.”
Keelee watched her dad and Amanda. The love in his eyes seemed to answer Amanda’s questions. Keelee grabbed Adam’s hand under the table. She’d never seen her father so happy.
“Call them today. Let them know.” Frank winked at Amanda before he added. “They need to get used to the idea of coming here for the holidays.”
Chapter Twenty
The room reverberated with laughter and joyous conversation. The spicy, comforting aroma of gingerbread permeated the room. Seven women and a toddler seemed to talk at once. Keelee sat quietly in the corner of the kitchen and marveled at the complete and utter chaos. Her best friend Ember sat on the counter near her and tried to pull her into conversations. But these ladies were talking about weird, off-the-wall topics. She was so out of her comfort zone. Was it always like this when more than three women got together? Keelee had never really had more than one or two close friends. She and Ember had become close when Ember had taken refuge at the ranch over the last year.
When her sister’s phone rang, Tori plopped her son, Talon, into Keelee’s lap. She held her tired, fussy nephew while Tori held an animated telephone conversation with her husband, Jacob.
Keelee bounced the little dark-haired angel on her knee, giving him a horsey ride. “Santa doesn’t need Rudolph’s nose this year, buddy boy. Your momma shines that smile any brighter and the jolly old codger will be blinded.”
Talon didn’t understand a word she said and in reality was way more interested in the stuffed turtle Tori gave him than anything going on in the kitchen.
“Blinded by h
is daddy. He’s a smooth talking southern hunk of man flesh. Don’t let Aunty Keelee scare you, darling. Santa will always need Rudolph.” Her sister laughed, turning to scoop up Talon blowing raspberries on his cheek, sending the little guy into a fit of laughter.
“Thanks for holding him. Hey, buddy, you’re tired aren’t you?” Talon buried his head of dark hair under her sister’s chin and wrapped his chubby arms around her neck. Tori held the baby high and to her side because of her ever growing baby bump. Twins. The sight of mother and child melted Keelee. She wanted that. With Adam. Someday. Maybe. If they ever talked about forever.
“What did Jacob want?” Amanda lifted away from decorating the gingerbread house she and Betty were crafting. Keelee thought cookie decorating sounded fun, until she saw the level of skill the King sisters brought to the table. Intimidated and outclassed, she retreated to the corner where she listened, observed and tried to assimilate the family’s dynamics.
Lord, her first and only attempt at icing a cookie tonight had ended up being a messy treat for herself and Talon. There was no way she was getting in the middle of those women. She was better suited mucking a stall or breaking ice for the horses. But she had to admit, it was kind of nice to be included in the fun. And good Lord in heaven, those King women were fun. Touchy-feely huggie types, too.
“The men want more whiskey.”
“Oh hey, momma, if the guys are partying, we need to break out the wine too!” That came from Jasmine. She was what Keelee thought of when she thought of a high fashion model. All legs, make-up and an oh-my-gosh-hold-your-breath type of beautiful. Not that any of the King sisters were lacking in the beauty department. If she let herself, Keelee could really start to feel inadequate.
“The wine’s with the whiskey. I can get it.” Keelee stood.
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