by Tina Leonard
“Mr. Reliable,” Darla said. “Let’s go check on him.”
“Check on him?” Jackie sat back on the sofa. “Why would we check on a grown man who lives on a ranch with a ton of other people?”
“Fiona and Burke are at Books ’n’ Bingo. Jonas and Sam are out of town. Creed is in Diablo picking up supplies.”
“That leaves Judah.” Jackie frowned. Judah was the wild Callahan, the complete opposite of Pete. He rode bulls for a living, so that was likely the bad-boy draw for sweet, business-minded Darla. “You just want an excuse to see Judah.”
Darla stood and kissed Fanny’s small black nose. “Is that a bad thing?”
Jackie took Fanny and put her into the crate. “I’m not sure this is a prudent plan.”
“We have no plan,” Darla said.
“That’s true,” Jackie said, and went to get her coat.
PETE FIGURED HE’D BEEN in the basement around an hour, and he wasn’t happy about it. For one thing, Jackie would probably be steamed that he hadn’t shown up. For another, he hated sitting and twiddling his thumbs. He was a man of action, a man who didn’t like sitting in a dark basement with no idea of when he might be sprung from exile. “This is why I never break the law,” he said out loud. “I’d be no good with confinement.”
Besides which, Sheriff Cartwright’s tiny jail wasn’t exactly home sweet home.
Then he heard it: The welcome sound of soft voices. “Hey!” he yelled, banging on the door. “Someone open the door!”
He heard footsteps, and the door sprang open. Jackie stared down at him, and a more beautiful sight he’d never seen.
“Pete? What are you doing down there?” Jackie asked, but he wasn’t going to bother with explanations until he snagged a kiss from those sweet lips. He laid one on her until she was breathless, and then he was breathless, and then he realized he couldn’t stand not sleeping with her another week, not even another day.
“You weren’t down there a month, Pete,” Darla said, and Pete broke away when he realized they had an audience.
“Sorry,” he said, “it felt like a month.” He grinned at Jackie, feeling better already. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company? Which I’m very grateful for, by the way.”
“What were you doing down there?” Jackie asked again.
Pete shrugged. “I went to check on something, and then someone locked the door, not realizing I was in the basement.” He repressed a shudder, forced a grin and reached for Jackie again. “I made some personal decisions while I had nothing to do but think in the dark, and some of those decisions include you, my turtledove.”
Jackie looked at him. “The door wasn’t locked.”
“It was.” He nodded. “I couldn’t budge it.”
“She just opened the door when she heard you hollering like a madman,” Darla said. “I watched her.”
Pete stepped back, glanced at the doorjamb. “It was locked.”
Jackie and Darla didn’t say anything. Pete realized they didn’t believe him. But it had been. He’d tugged on that doorknob with all his might, and the knob hadn’t so much as offered to turn. “It must be getting old,” Pete said. “I’ll buy a new one and replace it.”
“We came by because Darla wants to talk to you,” Jackie said. Pete felt warmed and comforted just standing in her gaze. “About cars, if you’re sufficiently recovered from your misadventures.”
He looked at her, hearing a note of teasing in her voice. “You don’t believe me. You think I’m a wuss who can’t open a door in a house I’ve lived in all my life.”
Jackie giggled. “It’s a good thing Darla insisted on coming by to find you.”
“Good to know someone cares,” he said. “You have no idea how big the spiders are down there. I need some fresh air. Car talk over a veggie pizza, ladies?”
They headed toward the front door. Pete glanced over at the basement door, unable to get over the feeling that someone had pulled a not very funny, Callahan-style prank on him.
THEY ATE PIZZA, then Darla left, since she’d gotten “all the car advice she could stand.” Pete had offered to take Jackie home, and Jackie had accepted. “This is the first time we’ve been out in public, thanks to Darla,” Jackie said.
“I was just thinking the same thing. From now on, there’s no need to hide from the lovable local busybodies.” Pete grinned at her, so handsome that Jackie felt her breath catch. “I made some personal vows while I was locked in the basement that I think you should know about.”
“Pete.” Jackie smiled at him. “You panicked.”
“I may panic at times,” Pete said loftily, “but doors are not that hard for me to open. I promise I’m capable.”
“I know. But everyone’s known for a long time that you…you know.”
“That was a rumor Jonas floated. I am not claustrophobic.” Pete tried to look offended. “You know my brothers lie like rugs. Fibbing is a way of life for them.”
Jackie laughed. “You are all capable of some pretty tall tales.”
He put his hands over hers after the pizza had been cleared away. “Jackie, I’m not that claustrophobic.”
“Just a little scared of the dark?”
“Not if you’re there with me.” He lifted her hand to kiss. “I can be quite brave.”
She pulled her hand away, giving him a mock stern gaze. “Jonas said you were always afraid of small dark spaces, things that went bump in the night, and that at your family campouts they could always count on getting a rise out of you.”
Pete shook his head. “If you’d been a favorite target of your siblings, you’d have always been looking over your shoulder, too.”
“And commitment scares you. Anything that feels like it might tie you to something.” Jackie tapped a finger against his hand. “Confess.”
He grinned. “Try me, lady.”
She sniffed. “So are you going to share some of these thoughts you had during your dark sojourn in the basement?”
“Yes.” He nodded, his gaze suddenly sage. “We’re getting married next week.”
She blinked. “No, we’re not.” She had a doctor’s appointment in Santa Fe next week. There were questions she wanted answered first.
“We are. Jackie, everyone always wants my advice but no one wants to take it. I’m asking you to marry me next week. We’ll fly to Las Vegas. Or we’ll stay here and have it done. I don’t care which. But my son is going to be born with my name on his basket.”
“Basket?”
“Whatever they put babies in now.” Pete looked at her. “If you want me to get down on my knees right here in the—”
“No,” Jackie said quickly. “Let’s go discuss this rationally. This is the darkness and the small confined spaces talking, Pete. In the morning, it will wear off.”
He helped her from the booth. “Nurse, your professional opinion is appreciated but not needed. I’m not having a panic attack. I was having a panic attack when I was trapped in the basement, but now I’m calm as a sleeping baby.”
“A sleeping baby?”
“Well, whatever else you can think of that’s calm. And I’ll be calm next week when we say I do.”
She sighed. It was going to be a long night. “I don’t want to get married.” She tried to sound bold and very determined, even if all she wanted was back in his arms.
Pete helped her into his truck. “Jackie, marrying you is my top priority.”
“Priorities are great, but—”
“Glad to hear it,” Pete said, “Saturday night, then.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Pete, come in,” Jackie said, “just for a few minutes.”
They’d been silent on the ten-minute drive from the restaurant. Jackie let Fanny out of her crate, and the puppy went running to Pete with tiny yips. Pete picked her up, nestling her for a minute against his chest, before saying, “I’ll take her out.”
Jackie went with him. The moon was round in the January night sky, and the thousands of st
ars shone like diamonds. Crisp air blew gently across them as they watched Fanny explore her backyard.
Before she knew it, Pete had taken her in his arms, kissing her as though she was a delicate doll he didn’t want to break. She could feel him taking his time with her, trying to show her that everything would be all right.
“Pete,” she said, pulling away a little from him, however much she knew she belonged in his arms, “Dr. Graybill wants me to have some additional tests next week in Santa Fe. I really don’t want to think about planning a wedding, too.”
Concern flashed into Pete’s eyes. “I’ll take you to Santa Fe.”
“No, no.” Jackie shook her head. “I know you’re shorthanded at the ranch. And I don’t need anyone to go with me.”
“I’m going,” he said, and she realized tonight was Stubborn Pete night.
In a way, it felt good to know he was so concerned.
“So, what does the doctor say?” Pete asked.
They sat on the porch while Fanny explored.
“He wants me to be checked for the possibility of a multiple pregnancy.” A small reassuring smile lifted her lips. “It’s a wild goose chase. I think I’m having a normal, single pregnancy. But he wants me to have it checked, so I’ve made an appointment.”
“Multiple?” Pete stared at her. “Like…twins?”
“Yes.” She nodded.
“Wow,” Pete said. “We have twins in our family. It’s a possibility.” He thought about it for a moment. “Rafe and Creed drove me nuts. They drove everyone nuts.”
Jackie laughed. “I know. Pete, don’t worry.”
“I’m not,” Pete said, “I’m trying not to yell with joy.”
“Really?” Jackie looked at him shyly. “I was so scared to tell you. I thought it might be too much for you.”
“You’re weird,” Pete said. “Every man dreams of twins.”
She laughed. “Now you’re overdoing it.”
“Well, okay, I don’t know about most men, but I wouldn’t mind twins at all. Two boys,” he mused. “Jackie, you’re an amazing woman. All those years you thought you couldn’t get pregnant, and you might just have hit the jackpot.” He tickled her ribs, taking some playful nips along her neck. “I changed my mind. I don’t want to get married next Saturday. I want to wait until you’re big and round as a prize-winning pumpkin at the State Fair, so everyone can see what a good shot I am. I’ll grin while you waddle down the aisle.”
“Pete!” Jackie pushed him away, though not very enthusiastically.
He pulled her into his lap. “My proficient little nurse,” he said, “who would have ever thought your eggs would like my—”
“Pete Callahan,” Jackie said, making her voice stern. “Bragging is not a good trait in a man.”
“I don’t care,” Pete said, “my brothers are going to explode with envy. I can’t wait.”
“No, they’re not,” Jackie said, “they’ve set you up.”
He looked at her. “What do you mean?”
She wished he hadn’t brought up the bet. “Have you noticed any of them charging out to get a date?”
He frowned. “No.”
“I could barely get Judah into the same room with Darla. I think they’re happy to let you get tied down.”
“They’re slow starters,” Pete said, but his frown didn’t go away.
“Would you be so happy if you weren’t currently beating your brothers in the race for the ranch?” Jackie asked.
“Yes, because the whole thing is dumb.” Pete ran a hand over her cheek, cupping her face to his. “Fiona has a lot of harebrained ideas, and this is one of them. You have all the babies you want, my little lamb chop. We’ll live right here in your house, and stack their cradles up like condominiums.”
Jackie smiled. “At least I don’t have a basement for you to lock yourself in,” she said, and he snagged a fast kiss in retribution.
“I’m only interested in your sofa. Let’s go inside so I can reacquaint myself with it.”
PETE SLEPT ON THE SOFA, with Jackie’s head on his shoulder. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but she was so soft and round, and it felt like home, and the next thing he knew his watch was chiming its usual four-thirty wake-up call. He carried Jackie into her bedroom and set her on her pretty white bed, and when Fanny begged to get up, he put the puppy up beside her. Fanny snuggled into the blankets next to Jackie’s stomach, and Pete wished he could do some snuggling of his own.
Instead he stole a tiny kiss from Jackie, who barely stirred. His angel needed her beauty rest, since she’d only had about four hours of sleep. His sons needed their rest, too. He grinned.
Life was just getting better all the time.
He let himself out and headed to the ranch. He’d forgotten all about the chat he was supposed to have with Fiona until he found her in the kitchen. She looked as though she’d been sitting up all night waiting for him, something she hadn’t done since they were teenagers. No matter how late they’d tried to sneak in, she’d been perched at the kitchen table like an energetic owl.
“Good morning,” he said, kissing her cheek. “Can’t sleep or up early?”
“Early!” Fiona snorted. “You haven’t gotten up earlier than me a day in your life, Pete Callahan. And Burke’s out starting your chores. He didn’t think you’d make it back.”
Pete got himself a cup of coffee. “When have I ever slid on the chores?”
She frowned at him. “You’ve been off in your own world lately.”
“I have? Who missed our meeting last night?”
“I forgot about the Books ’n’ Bingo meeting when I said that.” Fiona gave him a sour look. “Anyway, I figured whatever you wanted to talk about could wait.”
“You just skipped out, Aunt,” Pete said cheerfully. “I’ll catch you when I get back from the morning rounds.” And then tonight, I may head over to Jackie’s and let her seduce me. I’m pretty sure I won’t say no.
Fiona looked at him. “What time did you leave last night?”
“Around nine. Why?” He paused at the door, his coffee mug in his hand.
She jerked her head toward the back of the house. “Were you in the basement?”
“I got locked in down there, and Jackie and Darla let me out.”
She sniffed. “And my jars?”
Pete went down the hall. The door leading to the basement was kicked off its hinges, hanging against the wall at a jagged angle. “Holy crap,” Pete said as he walked down the stairs. He flipped on the overhead light, his eyes huge. Every single one of Fiona’s precious jars of vegetables and preserves had been smashed. “What the hell happened?” Pete said, eyeing the pile of shattered glass on the floor.
“We thought you might know,” Fiona said from behind him.
He stared, his mind refusing to accept what he saw. The mess was terrible, the smell of ruined vegetables and fruit overwhelming. “I am so sorry. All your hard work, Aunt Fiona.”
“Never mind that. Who was in the house last night?”
“Just me and Jackie and Darla. Everything was just fine last night.” Except it hadn’t been. He wondered again about the lock. He went back up the steps, staring at the door carefully. There were no scratches on the lock. Someone had simply kicked in the door. “I locked it. I put the keys in Burke’s cabinet. What time did you and Burke get back?” His blood chilled as he thought about Burke and Fiona coming in while someone was ransacking the basement.
“Around midnight.” Fiona’s shoulders slumped. “This isn’t good.”
“Have you called the sheriff?” Pete followed her into the kitchen.
“No,” Fiona said on a sigh. “I can’t.”
He looked at her. “It’s time we talked, Fiona,” Pete said, and his little aunt just nodded, looking defeated.
“But I don’t want your brothers to know anything,” Fiona said. “It’s imperative that you keep this conversation a secret, Pete.”
“Secrets are bad, Aunt Fiona.”
“Secrets are necessary,” she shot back. “Promise me.”
He sighed. If Jackie was right and his brothers had set him up to be the marriage fall guy, then they were keeping secrets of their own. All his resolutions were going out the window in record time. “Fine,” he said, “I think.”
They sat down at the kitchen table. Pete waited for his aunt to speak. It was clear she was choosing her words carefully, not certain where to begin, so he reached over and took her hands in his.
“Bode Jenkins wants the ranch,” she said, taking him by surprise.
Pete stared at her. “So? People in Hell want ice water, as you’ve always said.”
“I can’t stop him from getting it,” Fiona said, and Pete realized his aunt was worried and frightened and everything a woman her age shouldn’t be. He saw the suffering on her face, and knew it had been in her heart for a long time.
“I’m sorry, Aunt Fiona,” Pete said. “You should have told me sooner. I had no idea you were carrying around this burden.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t know how. You boys…you were entrusted to me, as was this ranch. Burke and I have done our best, but—” She let out a shattering sigh. “Bode’s just plain outsmarted me.”
“Nah.” Pete squeezed her fingers. “No one outsmarts my aunt.”
She looked at him, her usually bright eyes filled with tears he knew she wouldn’t shed. “Do you want me to go over there and kick his ass?” he asked, meaning it to be playful, just to put a smile on his aunt’s face, but she shook her head so quickly he knew she was afraid he’d do just that.
“I couldn’t tell you boys because I was afraid of what would happen. All six of you have heads like bags of microwave popcorn. I never know when the hot air might suddenly explode.”
Pete shook his head. “Why don’t you start at the beginning?”
Fiona nodded. “It’s been happening for years, a sort of slow creep I was pretty proud I was fighting off. Cattle would disappear. I figured he was trying to run us out of business so we’d have to sell. That was easily solved, I just put up extra fence and kept the cattle elsewhere.”