The Lawman's Holiday Wish

by Ruth Logan Herne

  “At least she resisted the temptation to call us Jim-Bob and John-Boy,” Cassidy said with a laugh.

  “But only four are here today,” Jenny assured her. “We’re doing our annual fall birthday celebration for the ones nearby. We’re thrilled that you and the girls could join us.”

  “Luke didn’t say it was for birthdays.” Rainey met Jenny’s gaze. “I hope I’m not intruding.”

  “Nonsense. Any excuse for a party works around here. Charlie will be grilling when he’s done assembling the kids’ airplanes, but there are snacks down below.” She nodded toward the room where hoots and hollers rose and fell on a regular basis. “And if that’s too noisy, here is just fine, although we are a football-loving family.”

  “Everybody loves football. Don’t they?”

  Jenny and Cass nodded.

  “Football is like apples, cider and yellow leaves,” Rainey continued. “There wouldn’t be fall without it.”

  Seth leaned around the corner of the door again. “She’s a keeper, Luke.”

  Rainey blushed.

  Luke smiled, handed her a mug of hot cider as she took a seat, then crouched low with a stern look to his mother and sister. “Do. Not. Scare. Her.”

  “Wouldn’t think of it,” Cass replied. “She’s got great hair, and this family could use some genetic help with that.”

  “And height,” Jenny added, grinning.

  “Stop analyzing her and let her relax and enjoy herself.”

  Rainey shooed him away. “I actually like being told I have great hair, so hush. Go watch football. I’m fine.” She winked at his mother and sister.

  Their answering smiles relaxed her more, Jenny pulled out a basket of knitting and curled into the wide chair opposite Rainey. Cass settled onto the sofa next to her. A big gray cat decided Cass’s lap looked inviting. He landed there with an athletic leap and purred as they talked.

  It felt good to be there. Normal. Relaxing. The afternoon brought to mind her mother’s words about the Campbells, and how nice a family they were.

  Lucia was right. The Campbell clan made you feel at home, and when they brought out cake after dinner, Rainey saw her name on the Birthday Wishes list. Surprised, emotion tightened her throat. “How did you guys know?”

  “Cops know everything,” Luke told her, then shrugged off the scolding look she gave him. “Zach mentioned that your birthday was the weekend of the wedding, but said you didn’t want any fuss because that was Piper’s time to shine. So we thought you could do a little shining of your own, here with us.”

  Sweet feelings overwhelmed Rainey. Surrounded by so many Campbells, she felt as if she belonged, and Rainey hadn’t felt that way in a long time.

  They sang “Happy Birthday” to each person, cut slabs of cake for dessert, then Luke handed her the fleece hoodie. “Let’s go for a walk so I can show you this side of the lake. Sonya? Dorrie? Aiden? You guys want to come with us?”

  “Naw.” Filled with cake, Aiden answered for the three of them. “Grandma said we could watch a movie in her bedroom if we promise not to eat up there.”

  “And we promised!” Dorrie added. “See ya.”

  “Just you and me,” Luke mused as they headed outside, and his teasing voice said being alone with her wasn’t a problem. He didn’t reach for her hand, but she wanted him to, and that meant she was slipping into murky waters she’d promised to avoid. He bumped shoulders with her and pointed west. “We own nearly three hundred feet of lakefront.”

  “Amazing.”

  “Tell me about it.” He nodded. “My grandfather bought this plot from old Mr. Barrett back in the fifties. He kept enough frontage for his family to access the water.” Luke pointed north to a low-slung boathouse and dock. “But used the money my grandfather paid to get his farm on solid ground, and they’ve been secure ever since.”

  “It’s gorgeous, Luke.” The wind had quieted. The crisp autumn air hung silent and still, most of the songbirds having long since gone south. “I bet it’s pretty in winter, too.”

  “Amazing views.” He faced west and breathed deep. “You can watch storms roll in off Lake Erie. Summer and winter, you get a panoramic view of nature.”

  “No flooding?”

  “Not here,” he replied. “A bad storm can flood the southern basin near Clearwater. The creeks and the river all flow that way. They’re not broad enough to handle a huge storm.”

  “Funny how different it is from shore to shore,” Rainey mused. “Like people, really.”

  He accepted that. “Problems on each side, but workable if you go into it prepared.”

  She knew what he meant, but he was wrong. Wasn’t he?

  He put a light hand to the small of her back and turned her toward him. “I think I’d like to—”

  Her smile said he didn’t have to wait. Or ask. He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her in the chill of the autumn afternoon, beneath a grove of yellow ash. The breeze whispered through the trees, no longer stiff but sweet.

  “Rainey...” Warm hands cradled her head, and the strength in his fingers fortified her. Maybe they could do this. Maybe—

  “Luke?”

  Cass’s voice hailed them from the house. Luke’s frustrated smile said he’d like another kiss, but he grabbed Rainey’s hand and moved toward the porch. “What’s up?”

  “Hillary’s here.”

  Rainey sensed Luke’s surprise. His expression flattened and he gave a quick nod. “Thanks, Cass.”

  His sister stepped aside as Luke and Rainey entered the lower level. Rainey had every intention of staying in the family room, but when Dorrie and Sonya screeched in stereo, she had no choice but to follow Luke to the living room. Wary, she stayed on the second step.

  “Hillary?” Luke’s voice wasn’t unfriendly, but it wasn’t warm, either. “What’s up? You’ve got a puppy?”

  She looked up from the floor where the three five-year-olds and his brother Jack’s two boys were exclaiming over a flop-eared pup with big, flat feet. “I know how you love rescuing animals, and this guy was abandoned at Doc Schuester’s. I told them I thought I knew the perfect place for him.” Her wide smile in Aiden’s direction said she’d included the boy in her planning, but hadn’t bothered consulting the boy’s father. Rainey stayed where she was, pretty sure this whole scene was about to backfire on Hillary. “He’s had his first shots and he’s ready for a home.”

  Luke frowned. “But your landlord doesn’t allow dogs.”

  Hillary stared up at him, as if surprised he didn’t get it. From the look on Luke’s face, Rainey saw that he understood the woman’s intent, all right. And didn’t approve.

  “So where will you keep him?”

  She tipped a warm gaze to Aiden once more. Luke made a show of understanding and put his hands up, palms out.

  “Can’t do it, but thank you for thinking of us. Our days are full as it is, and raising a puppy properly takes a lot of time and energy, neither of which we have right now. I’m sure Doc Schuester will board him until a home can be found.”

  “He’s so cute, Dad!” Aiden piped up just then. “Aunt Hillary, are you going to keep him? Can I come visit him? Can you bring him to our house sometimes?”

  Hillary splayed her hands once she stood. “I can’t keep him, honey. My place is too small.”

  “Ours is big,” Aiden noted. He turned to Luke, expectant, and that’s when Hillary spotted Rainey in the stairwell.

  “Oh.” Her eyes narrowed. “Look who’s here.”

  “Hillary.” Luke’s mother stepped forward and put a cautioning hand on the woman’s arm. “We just had cake. Would you like some?”

  “What I’d like is an explanation.” Grief and drama shaded Hillary’s gaze. Her lower lip quivered and Rainey felt as if she’d been convicted all over again. “I used
to be part of all this.” She indicated the Campbell home and family gathering with a thrust of her chin. “And then she comes to town and everything changes. Suddenly we’ve got new rules and parameters for an ex-convict migrant worker. It’s not enough that I lost my sister, now I’ve lost her son, too. Under these circumstances.” She thrust a finger in Rainey’s direction. “And it’s just not fair.”

  Aiden’s face crumpled.

  Sonya and Dorrie stared, round-eyed, surprised by the sudden change in mood.

  Tears ran down Hillary’s cheeks, a silent stream of agony.

  Rainey’s heart went tight again. She’d promised herself to keep the girls away from all of this. And she’d warned Luke, but he hadn’t listened.

  The angst on Aiden’s face said the little boy’s joyous Sunday had ground to a halt. Luke picked him up, reassuring him in a soft, low voice. Negative emotions broadsided Rainey. She crossed the floor, took her daughters’ hands and turned toward Jenny. “Can someone take me home, please?”

  “I will.” Charlie Campbell sent a look of displeasure to the scene behind them and grabbed Sonya’s other hand. “Come on, toots, let’s give you a ride in Grandpa Charlie’s new truck.”

  “Okay.” Sonya’s tone said she was trying to be brave, but her face showed the struggle.

  “Bye, Aiden.” Dorrie hung back, clearly worried about her friend, but he didn’t look their way.

  Breathe, Rainey. Just breathe.

  “There you go, ladies. All buckled in.” Charlie climbed into the driver’s seat and the look he flashed Rainey said he hated the awkwardness of the situation. He pushed in a CD and children’s music flooded the cab, but neither girl sang along. Ten tedious minutes later, he pulled the truck alongside Lucia’s car. Face grim, he helped release Dorrie from the second seat, then turned to Rainey. “I just want to say I’m sorry.”

  She shooed the girls toward the house once they said their goodbyes, and turned to Luke’s dad, striving for a calm she didn’t feel. “I’m sorry, too. Because I knew better. Please thank Mrs. Campbell for me. I’m afraid I forgot to do that before we left.”

  Charlie looked as if he wanted to say more, but what was there to say? Once an albatross, always an albatross. She gave him a little wave and went into the house, hoping no one would be there to see her face, read her feelings. She wanted a little time to pray.

  She shut her phone off, read the girls a couple stories, turned on their favorite princess movie and started baking cookies for next week’s wedding. By the time the family came back from Zach’s place next door, trays of chocolate chip cookies filled every available counter space in the kitchen, and both tables. Plastic freezer tubs were set up, ready to fill.

  Lucia stared at her, hard.

  Rainey pretended not to notice.

  Piper studied the girls, then Rainey, and moved close. “Tell me who hurt you and I’ll deck them.”

  “Me,” Rainey replied. She faced her mom and sister firmly and met their combined looks of concern. “Trying too much, too soon, and thinking everyone else is on board. My mistake.”

  “It is not right to treat one poorly, ever,” Lucia insisted in a tight whisper, but Rainey held up a hand to stop her.

  “Sin has shrapnel.” She raised her shoulders, then dropped them. “My actions hurt others. And yes, it was years ago, but some scars go deep. Some of that collateral damage is coming back to haunt me.”

  “And if they never heal? How is that your fault?”

  Rainey considered Piper’s words and shrugged. “Coming back home has reopened old wounds. People are taking sides, and I hate that, but I’m here to stay. Having said that...” She aimed a look at the precious little girls cuddled in a brightly striped afghan on the living room sofa with two sleeping kittens tucked into their laps. “I won’t continue to put them in the line of fire, and that means I’ll stay closer to home until things get better.”

  “They will.” Lucia grabbed her into a hug, and for the first time, Rainey felt the tears she’d held at bay threaten. Her mother’s love meant a great deal after all she’d done to hurt this woman. “God is greater than all things human. He alone lights our path and charts our way. In Him all good things come.”

  Rainey had clung to that in Illinois. She’d do the same now. “I love you, Mama. And you.” She sent Piper a watery smile over her stout mother’s shoulder. “And now, ladies.” She stepped back, swiped her apron hem across her eyes and faced them. “We have a wedding next weekend and cookies to freeze. Let’s get busy.”

  * * *

  The squad commander gave Luke’s banged-up hand a cryptic look the next afternoon. “How does the other guy look?”

  “It was a wall, thanks. No significant damage.”

  “That’s a well-built wall,” the officer noted. “Wanna talk about it?”

  “No.”

  “Woman?”

  “No. Well. Partly. But she didn’t cause this.”

  The commander studied him, and Luke knew why. He looked bad. Tired. Surly. He’d taken Hillary’s angst and abuse, and then his family had dumped their opinions on him, as well.

  Jack made it clear that Luke should have taken charge long ago. If he had, that scene with Hillary never would have taken place.

  Cass said Rainey had looked brokenhearted when Hillary’s barrage began. Luke had been too busy protecting Aiden to notice.

  And the girls, those little girls, having someone disparage their mother in their presence. What effect would that have on them?

  Aiden was mad at him for refusing the puppy, his mother didn’t look any too pleased with him or Hillary, and his father refused to talk about Rainey’s reaction on the drive home, leaving Luke in the dark.

  His calls to her cell phone went straight to voice mail. And he wasn’t about to call the house phone and have Lucia ream him out. He’d stop by and let Rainey’s mother have a piece of him in person, although that idea didn’t thrill him.

  Luke faced the commander as he donned his deputy’s hat. “Family stuff. I took a look in a mirror yesterday and the image I saw wasn’t pretty.”

  The man accepted that. “You’re okay to work?”

  “Yes. More mad at myself than anyone, but I’ll work it out.”

  “Time helps.” The commander paused, then added, “And prayer. I can’t imagine doing this job and not being tight with God.”

  His words niggled Luke. The squad commander was a hard man, schooled in the streets and good at his job. Prayerful? Luke wouldn’t have guessed it.

  “Campbell, you’ve been solid for years. If this messes with your head too much, call me. Don’t let a momentary glitch stain years of hard work and good judgment.”

  Wise words. Luke nodded. “Will do.”

  He longed to go see Rainey, deal with this face-to-face, but as he headed that way on his lunch break, a hint of reason made him pause.

  Time. Give her time.

  He scoffed at the internal warning, but it came again. Time...

  He glared at his watch as common sense prevailed. Once he got there, he’d barely have time to approach the subject of yesterday, apologize and deal with the backlash. And then he’d have to leave to get back to work, with things in an upheaval.

  Not smart.

  But what could he do? How could he ease this? She’d predicted his reaction—that if someone attacked her, he’d protect Aiden. He’d done exactly that, and left her to take Hillary’s shots alone.

  He was ashamed of himself. Worse, he’d disgusted his family, and that wake-up call dealt a hard blow. They’d been right all this time. He’d shrugged off their concerns and advice until it blew up in his mother’s living room.

  He’d hurt Aiden, the girls and Rainey, and that meant he had a lot of fixing to do. But how?

  Piper’s wedding was Saturday.
Five days away. The whole family had lists to take care of, wedding assignments they’d worked out to help the day run smoothly.

  Like it or not, he needed to wait. He’d messed up, but right now Rainey and her family had days of preparation ahead. Maybe he could ease that, maybe not. But he had no right stirring things up so close to Piper’s wedding.

  A plan formed in his head. It started small, but as pieces fell into place, he saw a chance to help. A little generosity was the least he could do.

  * * *

  Luke had stopped calling.

  He didn’t send flowers or chocolates or any of the other typical things guys did when they were in trouble. All she had was a three-sentence note of apology she’d received late Monday: “Rainey, I’m sorry for what happened yesterday. I didn’t foresee anything like that. Please forgive me. Luke.”

  You called it. You knew what would happen. Why were you surprised and hurt when it did?

  Because she’d let herself dream. Her fault, entirely. She listened to the rainy forecast for Saturday’s festivities and sighed inside. Bake cookies or clean the barn?

  The barn won out, because their guests couldn’t be left standing in the rain. The freshly painted barn was their alternative wedding site, and while not used for animals, it wasn’t exactly company-ready inside. But with rain predicted, she needed to get the place in shape. Marly and Noreen could handle the store for the day. Piper and Marty were thick into harvesting, and despite the wedding, Piper had a job to do on the farm.

  Once the girls were on the school bus, Rainey changed into old sweats and headed for the barn.

  A truck pulled into the driveway. It wound its way slowly toward her and rolled to a stop not far from the house and dairy store. Two sturdy men climbed out of the cab. The driver approached her and handed her an invoice. “Good morning, ma’am. Are you Miss McKinney?”

  “Yes.” Rainey scanned the paper and frowned. “I don’t understand.”

  “The wedding tent, miss.” The driver waited patiently, but Rainey knew he must be wondering why she hesitated. “Where would you like it?”