****
Cass held one of Natalie’s hands, Emily the other while Marie rubbed her daughter-in-law’s shoulders.
“Nice deep breaths, Natalie,” said Marie.
“You’re going to have the baby,” said Emily.
“I think I am.” Natalie squeezed their hands.
“Flynn’s on his way,” said Marie.
“I’m scared,” said Natalie, beginning to cry.
“Oh honey, it’s okay,” said Marie.
Emily put her head on her mother’s lap and Cass began tearing up.
Flynn, Shane, and Rory headed through the door.
“You okay, honey?” asked Flynn.
Natalie nodded. “I think I need to get to the hospital as soon as I can because the contractions are really strong.”
Cass and Marie helped her to her feet, and Flynn put his hand around her waist.
“Shane’s going to give us an escort there. Emily, you go with Uncle Rory and Cass and stay the night with them.”
“I want to go with Mom. I want to, I want to!” She stomped her feet and crossed her arms.
“Emily, you have to do as I tell you, okay?” said Flynn.
“No, I want to be with you and the baby.”
“You will be, but not now,” said Natalie. “You do as you’re told and Uncle Rory will bring you to the hospital as soon as your brother or sister is born okay?”
Rory put his hand around Emily, and she nodded. “We’ll watch movies, eat popcorn, and have a fun time.”
Flynn took Natalie outside with Shane following behind.
Emily wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
“She’s going to be fine,” said Cass, hugging her. The poor girl. It was probably a bit overwhelming for her.
“I’ll close up the shop and café and why don’t you take Emily back to your place right now and get her settled in for the night,” said Marie.
****
Rory had looked after Emily on more occasions than he could remember, but it seemed more fun having her around now that Cass was here too. They’d pulled out a few of the old board games he and his brothers had played together when they were young.
“You’re cheating Uncle Rory,” said Emily, smacking his hand. “You looked at the cards.”
“I did not.”
“Yes, you did,” said Cass.
“See, Auntie Cass knows it too.”
Auntie Cass, he liked the sound of that.
“Who wants popcorn?” asked Rory.
“Don’t go changing the subject,” said Cass. She put her hand on the back of his. He liked that too.
“I want some, and I don’t want anyone cheating while I’m gone,” he said pulling faces at both of them.
Cass and Emily looked at one another and both laughed.
Rory headed for the kitchen and opened the cupboard still hearing the two girls laughing and giggling. He smiled. He hadn’t realized how lonely he’d been living in this house all by himself until right now.
He poured some kernels into the machine, turned it on, and leaned against the wall by the oven and waited. Had to be wonderful having a wife and kids. People sitting around the dinner table and chatting with you. Kids to play board games with after they’d done their homework.
“You look miles away.”
He jumped. He hadn’t heard Cass walking into the kitchen.
“I was just thinking.”
“About what?”
“Life.”
“Wow, that’s a broad topic.”
She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist and set her head on his chest. The smell of her perfume drifted up to meet his nostrils, and he closed his eyes for a few seconds.
“Emily’s so much fun,” she said.
“I know. She’s been a great source of joy for Flynn.”
“Uncle Rory, Auntie Cass. I just phoned Dad on his phone, and he said the doctor told them that the baby should arrive any time now.” She put both her thumbs up and smiled.
“You’re about to be an uncle for the third time,” said Cass.
He loved that role but now he wanted the title of dad too.
****
Emily had fallen asleep, and Rory had carried her into the spare room, put her into the bed, and pulled the covers up over her shoulders. He’d leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. Cass had tears in her eyes watching how gentle and kind he was to her. To everyone.
The phone rang an hour later, and Rory was quick to pick it up so it didn’t disturb his niece.
“It’s a boy,” Rory had told Cass when he’d gotten off the phone. “Eight pounds five ounces and his name is Sean Michael. And according to my brother, he’s your typical handsome Malone who will break hearts one day.”
She saw tears in Rory’s eyes now as they lay side by side in his bed. She’d wiped one away as it edged close to his lips.
“Do you think we should wake Emily and tell her?” asked Cass.
“No, let her sleep on.” He kissed her head.
“Do you ever think about having a child of your own?” she asked him.
“Sometimes. How about you? You want a child someday?”
“I guess that would be nice.”
“So you’d be just as comfortable around your own child as your brothers’ kids?” said Cass.
“I guess, why?”
“Just asking.”
Cass bit her lip. She should tell him that her period was five days late and for her that was very, very unusual. However, for now it would be her little secret.
Chapter Fourteen
Cass’s hand hovered near the pregnancy test kit. She pulled it away when she saw Emily turning the corner. She wasn’t sure if she knew what they were and what they were for, but she didn’t want to take her chances that she would tell her dad or even Rory that she’d seen Cass buying one.
“I’m going to buy some candy bars, you want one?” Emily asked her.
“That would be great, thanks, Emily.”
“Okay then, I’ll see you in a minute.”
She watched Emily walk away, quickly pulled a kit off the shelf and then hurried to the checkout to pay for it and get it wrapped before Emily returned. She’d told Flynn and Natalie she’d look after her for the morning while they got the baby settled in at their home.
Cass handed over a ten dollar bill and quickly put her purchase into her purse as Emily headed to the check-out with what looked like five candy bars.
“Hi Emily,” said the girl at the checkout.
“Hi. It’s going to be Christmas soon.”
“I know it, and it seems like just yesterday it was Halloween.”
Cass watched as Emily counted her money to the exact amount owed and handed to the clerk.
“I heard you have a new brother.”
Emily nodded. “He’s name’s Sean, and he looks like my dad.”
“I can’t wait to see the baby,” said the clerk handing the bag of candy to her.
She and Cass stepped outside. Emily opened up one of the candy bars and began eating it.
They were about to turn the corner when Cass stopped in her tracks. It was one of the guys she owed money too. How had they found her in Timber Creek? She was about to turn so her and Emily could get away, but he was on top of her before she had the chance to move.
“Hi Cass. See your leg’s all healed,” he said.
“I’m Emily.”
“Shut up kid, I’m not talking to you.”
“Hey, don’t you talk to her like that,” said Cass.
“You have my money?”
“Look, I thought that was all settled,” said Cass.
“There’s the little matter of interest.”
“I have money,” said Emily.
Cass wanted to cry when she saw Emily pulling out her purse and digging out some one dollar billsand coins. She handed them to the man. He flicked them out of her hand, spilling the coins over the sidewalk and sending two one dollar bills saili
ng in the air.
“You’re as stupid as you look kid.”
“How dare you talk to her like that,” said Cass taking a step toward him. He grabbed her, taking her by surprise and then flung her backward, her butt stinging when she hit the icy pavement.
“You have one day or I’ll be coming back, and not just for you but your stupid friend here too.”
He turned and walked away. Cass burst into tears while still sitting on the ground.
“Aunt Cass, don’t cry because he’s not a nice man.”
Emily sat next to her and flung her arms around her neck.
“Let’s go tell Uncle Shane that the man pushed you and made you cry.”
“No, Emily, promise me you won’t tell Shane or your dad, and especially not your Uncle Rory about this?”
“Why, he’s a mean man. Uncle Shane will put him in his jail.”
“I know, but you have to promise me.”
“Okay, I promise.”
“Good, now let’s get your money picked up and let’s go home.”
Cass’s leg hurt her again. It hadn’t given her any trouble for the last month or so, but now she felt the need to hobble around. She’d brought trouble to the Malone family yet again. They’d paid the ultimate price before, and she couldn’t let anything happen to Emily, so she knew that she’d have to leave town. Lead the man away from Timber Creek and back to Tacoma.
****
Rory stepped into the kitchen and looked around. Something was different. The place even smelled different. Where was Cass?
He kicked off his boots and walked along the hallway. He opened back the door to the bedroom and just as he’d suspected, it was empty. Her bag and suitcase was gone, not a shred of evidence she’d ever been staying with him. He picked up his phone and called her number. It went straight to voicemail. He didn’t bother leaving a message.
Had she planned to do this? Just leave without telling him so he wouldn’t make her change her mind? She’d been with Emily most of the day, or so he’d thought. Maybe she was at Flynn’s place but why take all her belongings?
Rory grabbed his hat off the peg in the hallway and went outside, got in his truck and began heading down the road to Flynn’s house. When he arrived there, Flynn answered the door.
“Hi, you want to come in?”
Rory stepped inside and followed him through to the living room where his new nephew was fast asleep in Natalie’s arm.
Flynn was right; Sean was going to be a little heartbreaker. He had the Malone dark hair and even the telltale cleft in the chin.
“I don’t suppose Cass’s here with you?” he asked.
“No, she dropped Emily back home about three hours ago and said she was going straight to your place,” said Flynn.
“Anything wrong?” asked Natalie.
Rory sat down and took off his hat and set it on his lap.
“I just got home and all her stuff’s gone. She’s gone.”
“But she would have told us,” said Natalie.
“Let’s find out if she said anything to Emily,” said Flynn. “Emily, you want to come and talk to Uncle Rory?”
His niece was in the living room within minutes.
“Did Cass say anything about leaving Timber Creek?” asked Natalie.
Emily shook her head. “The man made her cry.”
“What man?” asked Rory.
“I’m not supposed to tell you or Dad, and I can’t tell Uncle Shane.”
“Tell us what, honey?” asked Flynn.
She shook her head. “I made a promise.”
“Emily, you have to tell us,” said Natalie.
She shook her head continually.
“Emily, will you stop that and tell us what happened when you were with Cass,” said Flynn.
“I promised Cass and she’s my friend so I can’t break it, or she won’t be my friend anymore.”
“That’s okay honey because if she’s in trouble you’ll be helping her,” said Rory.
“Really?” asked Emily.
Rory nodded.
“The man called me stupid when I tried to give him the money, and he pushed Cass to the ground.”
“Why didn’t you tell us about this when you got home?” asked Flynn.
Emily burst into tears and ran over to Natalie and put her head on her shoulder. “He was a nasty man. I didn’t like him.”
“It’s okay honey. You’ve told us now, and Rory and your Dad can help Cass,” said Natalie.
Flynn pulled Rory out of the room. “You know anything about a man and money?” he asked him.
“I think it’s the guy from Tacoma. I thought all along that her accident wasn’t just a hit and run. She was in some trouble, and shit, what if he’s hurt her?”
Rory took a deep breath.
“You think she might have gone back to Tacoma or what?” asked Flynn.
“I don’t know but let’s get Shane in on this and start looking for her or at least this man Emily told us about.”
****
Cass knew she’d done a dumb thing. She should have left Timber Creek, but she just couldn’t. This was home. Rory had been right. She couldn’t keep running from the past…from the present either. She should have gone back to Tacoma, but instead she’d booked into a motel under a false name.
It was getting dark, and she made sure the chain was on the door. She went into the bathroom and splashed her face while glancing at the pregnancy test she hadn’t had the courage to use.
She took a deep breath and decided she needed to go to sleep. Things always looked better in the morning light. She’d wake up and figure out what to do and where to go so no one got hurt.
****
Rory paced up and down in Shane’s office as his brother sat on the phone calling around to see if anyone had seen a woman fitting Cass’s description.
He put the phone down. “We might have a lead. A woman in her mid-twenties checked into Timber Creek Motel around six under the name Julie Smith.”
“You think it’s Cass?”
“Not the most original name, and the description is a perfect match. I’ll go check it out for you.”
“No, I’ll do it,” said Rory standing.
“Rory, this is police business now.”
“I said I’ll do it.”
“Then you’ll come along with me and let me handle it okay?”
Rory nodded.
****
Cass put her head under the covers. Someone was messing with the lock of her door. One more turn and they’d probably be inside the room. She reached over for her cell phone and was about to call 911 when a hand slapped it away.
He snapped on the light and stood over the bed looking down at her.
“You really are a pathetic young woman, aren’t you Perkins.”
“I’ll get you the money but please just leave town and don’t hurt anyone.”
“Too late for that.”
Cass’s heart beat faster when she saw him pull out a gun. “Now get up because you’re going for a little walk.”
He was going to kill her.
She slowly got out of bed and thought only of Rory and the thought of never seeing him again. She loved him. In all honesty the first time she’d seen him her head had skipped a beat, but he never showed her any interest. Ryan had, and so their fate was sealed. She closed her eyes realizing that she knew that all along and only now, close to possibly being killed, she’d finally admitted it to herself. She’d never really told Rory how much she loved him. And now those words would never pass over her lips.
A tear slid down her cheek. She grabbed her coat and felt the gun being poked into her back.
“Walk outside and to the blue truck and don’t try anything.”
“I’m not going to.” She’d totally accepted that this too was her fate.
Just as she got outside she saw Shane and Rory heading their way. The man lifted his gun up and fired a shot, hitting Shane in the arm. He went down, and Cass screamed.
The next target she knew would be Rory, and she couldn’t let him hurt him. She thought back to the night when Ryan had dashed into the burning house to try and get her father to safety. She’d stood there watching and waiting not knowing that neither of them would exit the home because a beam had fallen and trapped them.
She sound of the man about to fire the gun again snapped her back to the present. Rory would try and save her, but this time a Perkins would save a Malone. As the man fired she dived in front of Rory, the bullet hit her and all she remembered was hitting the ground.
Chapter Fifteen
Rory paced up and down the corridor in the hospital. His mother pulled at the hem of his jacket.
“Will you sit down because you’re going to wear the pattern off the carpet,” she said.
Lacey came toward them, and Rory swallowed.
“Shane’s going to be fine. The bullet just nicked his arm and went clean through.”
Rory threw his arms around her and cried into her shoulder.
“Any news about Cass?” asked Lacey.
Rory shook his head.
“Will you tell his guy to sit down and relax,” said his mom.
“I can’t. I just can’t,” said Rory.
Cass had tried to save his life. She was a hero. Or was it a heroine? Either way she’d shown what a brave strong person she was, and if anything happened to her he’d never be able to live with himself.
His mother pulled on his jacket again when they saw a doctor heading their way.
“Mr. Malone?”
Rory nodded.
“She’s going to be fine. The bullet hit her shoulder, but we got it and there’s no permanent damage.”
“Can I see her?”
He nodded. “As soon as she comes out of recovery. She mentioned before we put her under that there was something she needed to talk to you about.”
Probably that she was leaving Timber Creek for good, and that was going to break his heart.
****
Cass opened her eyes to see Rory sitting by her bed. She hadn’t died. Or maybe this was heaven.
“Hi honey, how are you feeling?”
“Sleepy.”
“You want something for the pain?”
She shook her head. “I don’t want too many drugs because of the baby.”
“Okay then. Wait a minute…”
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