“No problem. I have a feeling I’ll be running old Dale Hicks in before too long. He seems to have an issue with being law abiding. When I do I’ll give you a call. Maybe he’ll be more willing to talk then.”
It wasn’t in Dale or Boyd Hicks’s nature to be cooperative with the law. Jared would have to bide his time until one or both of them were more motivated to talk. Until then, he’d follow the trail of clues.
It was all he had.
“I haven’t seen Boyd in about a week.” The pretty blonde in the blue waitress uniform shrugged as they stood outside the restaurant. “He comes and goes as he pleases which is fine with me.”
It hadn’t taken much for Jared to find Boyd’s girlfriend – named Bonnie, not Beatrice or Bethany. After he ordered a stack of pancakes and left a big tip the young woman seemed more than willing to talk to him.
“Where does he go when he’s not with you?”
Bonnie pulled the lapels of her coat tighter around her slight figure and rubbed her hands together.
“Boyd’s not much for sharing details, if you know what I mean. When I see him he has other things on his mind.”
Jared sure as hell didn’t want to talk about Hicks’s sex life.
“What do you talk about?”
Bonnie moved closer and batted her eyelashes at Jared. “We don’t talk much either.”
“Does he ever talk about his daughter?”
The question clearly made the young waitress uncomfortable. “Sometimes. It wasn’t fair what happened. Boyd’s mother would have taken custody of the little girl since the mom was a junkie. But they put her in a foster home instead, saying the whole Hicks family was unfit. They won’t even let him see her which is bullshit. He wants to go to court to find out where she is but he can’t afford the lawyer.”
For the first time since dealing with Hicks Jared actually felt a small bit of sympathy for the man. He wanted to see his child and was being turned away and told he wasn’t good enough. Whether Boyd was a good father wasn’t for Jared to judge. They had an entire family court system for that.
“Does he talk about being wrongly convicted?”
Bonnie stiffened and took a step back, her lips flat. “He’s talked about that. Dale set him up.”
“Why would his brother do that? What would he have to gain?”
Shoving her hands in her pockets, she shifted from foot to foot. “I don’t know. Boyd said it was a family thing. That’s all.”
“A family thing?”
“Something like that. He said Dale took something from him that he shouldn’t have. He didn’t say what and I didn’t ask.”
A family thing. Jared needed to look further into the Hicks family.
“Has Boyd been to see Dale since he got out?”
The young woman threw her head back and smiled. “Dale would be dead if he had. At least that’s what Boyd said.”
Two brothers so angry they’d kill each other. What “family thing” was worth murdering over? Money? It was more interesting with every moment.
“How did you meet Boyd Hicks anyway?” Bonnie didn’t look a day over twenty-two. Too young to be mixed up with a man who had sworn vengeance against his own brother.
“I got involved in one of those ‘write a letter to men in prison’ campaigns at my church. He was different than the other guys who answered my letter. They just wanted a picture of me naked. Boyd was interested in me.”
Yeah, Hicks was a real humanitarian.
“So it doesn’t bother you that Boyd wants to kill his brother?”
A shoulder lifted then dropped. “From what he said Dale would do the same. The way Boyd explained it to me it’s self-defense. Can I go now? It’s cold out here.”
“Yes, thanks for talking to me. Can I give you some advice though? If I were you I’d stay away from Boyd Hicks. He’s a dangerous man.”
“He’d never hurt me,” the blonde said confidently, retreating toward her vehicle. “He loves me.”
Jared stood there as the woman drove away, the sound of the engine fading into the distance. It was time to sit down and try and figure out what could make two brothers turn against each other and what they would do now.
It was Jared’s job to keep innocent people from getting caught in the crossfire.
Misty laid her forehead on the cool porcelain edge of her bathtub. From the moment she’d set foot on the bedroom floor this morning her body had been determined to purge every single thing in her stomach, including the lining. Now she was wrung out, covered in sweat, her abdomen aching and sore and her mouth feeling like a garbage pail.
Morning sickness had shown up today with a vengeance.
The pregnancy book that Rayne had brought her said that the key to not being sick was to keep a little something bland in the stomach at all times. But she hadn’t had time to put anything in her stomach before the nausea hit. She’d felt okay lying down but the minute she’d sat up…wham.
She was concentrating on breathing in and out when the bathroom door flew open, slamming against the wall. Jared stood in the doorway, his features pale and his eyes wide in panic. He took one look at her and dropped down next to her on the hard tile.
“Are you okay? Talk to me, Misty. Jesus, did you fall and hurt yourself?”
She waved her hand and shook her head. His fear was real from the tone in his voice and she needed to neutralize it. Now.
“I’m okay. Just sick. I didn’t fall.”
It was a lie to say that she was okay but the normally calm, cool, and in charge sheriff was clearly out of sorts. His rough palm pressed against her forehead while the other hand smoothed her hair back from her face.
“You don’t feel warm.” His palm moved to the side of her face and then her neck. “Do you have a thermometer? That’s the best way to check for a fever.”
“I don’t have a fever.” Remembering they were sitting on the floor, she started to get up but he pushed her back down. “I have morning sickness, Jared.”
He jerked back and she heard him suck in a breath. “Oh. Are you sure? You’re not supposed to have that yet.”
“What do you mean I’m not supposed to have it yet? It’s morning and I’m clearly sick.”
She wasn’t in the best of moods and she didn’t want to play guessing games with him.
A line of red appeared on each cheekbone. “I bought a book about pregnancy and it said most morning sickness starts around eight weeks.”
She wanted to rinse her mouth and splash cool water on her face. Then she wanted to lie down for a very long time. “Maybe the baby hasn’t read that chapter yet. Can you help me up now?”
“Of course.” He lifted her to her feet and hovered as if she was going to fall into a heap back on the floor. Under his watchful eye she went to the sink and rinsed her mouth and dabbed a wet washcloth on her face.
“I think I need to lie down.”
The words were barely out before he swept her off her feet and into his arms, carrying her back into the main room and setting her gently on the bed. “I’ll make you some tea and toast. The book said that would settle your stomach.”
She lay back on the propped up pillows while he started boiling water in her tiny kitchen. “So you’re an expert in pregnancy now?”
“I wouldn’t say that. I haven’t made it all the way through the book yet. But it brought up some interesting subjects like safety. I need to babyproof the house. You know, cabinets and outlets. Things like that.”
“Jared, the baby isn’t going to be able to crawl for several months so you’ve got about a year to worry about that.”
He was rummaging in her cabinets for a teabag which he found before she could say anything. “I don’t like to put things off. We also need to be thinking about names, the nursery, and putting together a birth plan.”
Apparently he’d read pretty far in that book. Farther than she had. Her current plan was to give birth as painlessly as possible.
“I’m sure we have time f
or all that.”
Jared popped two pieces of bread into the toaster while the tea steeped in the cup. She must be feeling better because she was actually looking forward to a little breakfast. Despite being sick, hunger was gnawing at her stomach.
“There are lots of decisions to make. Like whether you want a home birth or a hospital. Or whether you want drugs or want to go natural.”
“A hospital.” These decisions were no-brainers. “And an epidural.”
She’d already been privy to the decision made by Rayne’s sister for her upcoming delivery. Besides, Misty was a wimp when it came to pain. She didn’t much like blood either.
Jared brought her the plate of dry toast and the tea, setting the cup on the side table. “I haven’t had a chance to research epidurals yet but I think you might want to reconsider a totally natural birth. It’s how it’s been done for centuries.”
Misty bit into the toast with a sigh. The bland bread actually tasted good. How messed up was that?
“Maybe we could get a vial of smallpox and some leeches to make it as authentic as possible.”
She hadn’t meant the words to come out with that smart ass tone but Jared was railroading her already and they still had eight months to go. Jared, to his credit, scraped his fingers though his hair and appeared abashed.
“I’m not trying to push. I swear. I guess I’m just excited. I want to do this right.”
That wasn’t the first time she’d heard him say that and it was the crux of the matter. He thought there was a right way and a wrong way to do pretty much everything. There weren’t many shades of gray in Jared Monroe’s life.
“I was just thinking there’s been several medical advancements in the last century regarding childbirth we might want to take advantage of. Frankly? I’m terrified of pushing this baby out if you want to know the truth. Terrified.”
Jared sat next to her on the day bed and patted her hand comfortingly but it made no difference. She was still scared. “I’ll be with you the entire time. I promise.”
She eyed him skeptically. “Can you make it not hurt?”
His smile fell and he shook his head. “Well…no.”
“Then let’s have someone there in addition to you and me that can do that, okay?” Misty clasped his hand in both of hers and gave him a gentle smile. “But I have to tell you that I’m overwhelmed by how eager you are to embrace the role of father. I think it’s wonderful.”
Jared’s lips twisted. “I’m going to be pushy. I’m not sure I can help it.”
Giggling, she nodded in agreement. “Yes, you are. How about I just remind you when you do that?”
“Deal.” He held out his hand as he had done the morning after their night together. She placed her hand in his much larger one and felt the now familiar electric zing when he touched her. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
To her surprise she’d finished her toast and tea and felt two hundred percent better. “No, but thank you. That was exactly what I needed for the nausea. How did you know I was sick? Wait, how did you get in my apartment?”
He picked up the cup and plate and carried them to the sink. “I didn’t know you were sick. We were supposed to meet for breakfast this morning, remember? When you didn’t show I got worried and came here.” He glanced at her front door. “As for how I got in? When you didn’t answer my knocking I got even more worried so I broke the lock. Guess I’ll be fixing that this morning. It really was a piece of crap. I barely had to give it a push.”
Misty groaned and rubbed her temples. “I completely forgot about breakfast. The minute my feet hit the floor I had to run to the bathroom. I’m so sorry.”
“Relax,” Jared assured her. “Nothing bad happened except to you. We can always have lunch after I fix your door. If you’re feeling up to it, of course.”
Misty was actually feeling pretty human. “That sounds good but I won’t keep you in suspense as to what I’ve decided. I’m not leaving for Seattle. At least not right now or even in the near future. I want you to have the chance to be a father and honestly, especially after this morning, I think having help at this parenthood thing would be awesome.”
She’d finally done something right because Jared was grinning like she’d given him a fantastic birthday present or something.
“That’s great news. Speaking of this morning…I do want to be there to help you every step of the way. Which is why I think you should move in with me. Right away. As in today.” He looked around the apartment, boxes piled up everywhere. “What do you say?”
Chapter Twelve
Jared held his breath as Misty contemplated his offer. He’d been thinking about it for the last few days. It was the perfect solution really. She’d have someone to help her when she didn’t feel well and they could work together on the long list of things that needed to be done.
It didn’t hurt that it might ease her into the idea of marriage and making them a family.
“You want me to move in? Rayne offered to let me stay with her until I found a new place.”
“If you live with me everything will be easier, don’t you think? I can take you to your doctor appointments and make you tea and toast in the mornings.”
She was wavering and he couldn’t have that. He needed to make the case compelling enough there was no doubt what her answer would be.
“What about the town? They’ll all talk if I move in with you.”
So that was her issue. The citizens of Fielding and their tendency to stick their nose where it didn’t belong.
“Since I don’t intend to keep this baby’s parentage a secret they’re going to talk anyway. Why don’t we really give them something to gossip about?” Jared grinned at the thought. “You and I living in sin and expecting a child out of wedlock should keep tongues wagging at least until the Fourth of July picnic and parade.”
Her fingers rubbed the embroidered design on the pillowcase. “Have you told your family yet?”
“No. I wanted to talk to you first about that. I was planning to tell them at Sunday dinner but if you move in today, I’ll drive by and tell them tonight if you want me to.”
Misty was chewing her lower lip again. “They’re going to be upset. I doubt they’re going to like me.”
How could he possibly explain the current family dynamics to an outsider? Hell, she wasn’t going to be an outsider anymore so he might as well try. It was only fair she be aware of what she was walking into.
“These days Dad is upset with everything and everyone so no change there. Becky spends most of her time on the phone so I doubt she’ll even notice that something outside herself is going on. My younger brother Ty is a great guy so he’ll welcome you with open arms. Royce will too but he’ll also probably try to proposition you if he’s not sober at the time.”
If anything she looked more troubled, her brows furrowed with worry. “I just don’t want to make your life more difficult.”
That was a refreshing change from everyone else he knew. “Too late. Between my family, deputies, and the town my life is already difficult. Not that I’m complaining. It’s my life and I wouldn’t trade it for the world, but that doesn’t make it stress free.”
“You really want me to move in?”
He had her, he could feel it. “I do. I think it’s the answer to making everything easier, especially when the baby comes. We won’t need to argue about who gets the weekends. We’ll both be there all the time.”
“I’m not promising to move in forever.” Misty held up her hand in warning. “Let’s just take this one day at a time and see how it goes. We might not like living together.”
“I doubt either one of us has a habit so objectionable that the other wouldn’t be able to cohabitate easily. I’m pretty easy going.”
That was a big scary lie. Sort of. He’d grown up in a house that was all about discipline and many of those habits had carried over. But as of this moment on he was going to try and be more like Ty. More relaxed about dishes in th
e sink and the way shirts were hung up in the closet.
Stuff that didn’t matter.
Misty however didn’t appear to buy his bullshit. In fact, she was openly laughing at him. “That’s what everyone says. Sheriff Jared Monroe is so easygoing.” She giggled and his heart twisted in his chest. “Not.”
Even wearing a pair of baggy flannel pajamas and her hair a mess this woman was seriously cute. Living with her wasn’t going to be a hardship in the least.
“Maybe I’m turning over a new leaf,” he teased, enjoying the sparkle in her violet eyes and the pink color on her cheeks. “A man can change you know.”
“For the worse,” she snorted. “Everyone knows changing a man is useless. I won’t bother trying.”
“Honey, I’ve got mountains of change in me. You’ll see.”
In fact, Jared was about to surprise everyone he knew with how much he’d changed. The inveterate playboy was going to become a settled family man. He’d show everyone – especially Misty – that he could be the perfect father.
“I’ve got your back, bro.” Ty grinned with delight as Jared finished telling him about Misty, the baby, and the announcement he was planning to make during dinner. He’d dragged his brother into the kitchen of the family home while Misty was freshening up in the restroom. “And can I say congratulations? This is great news. Misty Foster is a cute one too. But I didn’t even realize you were dating, you sly dog.”
Jared hadn’t gone into detail about his and Misty’s relationship. It wasn’t anyone’s business but their own. He’d shared the important facts and left the rest private.
“Dad’s going to have a cow when I tell him the news.”
And that was something he wanted to protect Misty from. He didn’t want her scared if Gerald Monroe lost his temper as he so often did these days.
“Dad has a cow every day. About something or other. I think I can help you though. I have a little news myself that might take the focus off of you. Actually two pieces of news. Truth is I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this.”
Imperfect Justice Page 11