“Sometimes I just wanna scream all these freakin’ potty words,” he muttered jokingly. “You make it really hard to hold back.”
“Be my guest. I feel the same way. What are we supposed to do?”
“About what?” he drawled as he twisted his finger in the hem of my sleeve.
“About Meggie,” I said, annoyed that he wasn’t following.
“Uh, it ain’t my problem. He’s the one who got her knocked up.”
I pinched his side hard.
“What?” he said and grabbed my hand.
“Not that dummy. The eviction. You won’t have a roof or walls or a door if she gets evicted. Did you think of that?”
I made a pathetic fight to get out of his grip. He seized my other hand and pinned me. I struggled against his stronghold and tried to tire him out, but it only made his goofy grin widen.
“No fair,” I wailed in a laugh.
Gabe’s hazel eyes searched my face. I thought I saw a different kind of hunger than before.
His voice lowered. “Who said anything about fair?”
At that he lowered the weight of his torso onto me and released my hands. We were thudding heart to thudding heart. Gabe’s hand slipped under the hem of my T-shirt and crawled up my side as I held my breath. My mind raced with anticipation. My body was the opposite of numb.
Then the door burst open, as if a tornado blew it down.
Gabe forgot to turn the lock.
Ten
“Hot damn, you two!” Lane exclaimed and shook his head with a smirk.
Gabe rolled over and pushed up on an elbow.
“My my, little bro. Sure been taking pointers from Caleb, now haven’t you?”
I slid up the wall and adjusted the twisted hem of my shirt.
Gabe’s ears burned red. He placed a hand on mine. “What do ya want, Lane?”
“I was just coming to check on y’all. Dad’s staying in the room with Caleb. What did you tell him anyway? He says the battery fire was an accident. He’s not going after Barrett.”
Gabe’s breath gusted hard. He huffed until he was hot in the face. I watched his nostrils flare as if he was trying not to explode.
“What the hell’s his freakin’ problem? He knows it was Hunt. Do we all gotta die to get any justice?”
He swung his legs off the bed and stomped a foot into the floor.
Lane walked to Caleb’s bed and settled on the edge. With elbows on his knees, he covered his face and spoke into his hands. “You gotta cool it. You hear me, Gabe? Something is definitely up. I heard the lieutenant talking to the sheriff outside of Caleb’s room. Seems he’s got them in his back pocket the way the guy was yessin’ him up and down. I’ll figure it out. Stop bellyaching around him, already. We’ll get more out of him if you don’t stir up crap when he’s here. Okay?”
“Whatever.” Gabe’s shoulders relaxed. He slid back in next to me. “How’s Caleb?”
Lane leaned back on his elbows. He gave a halfhearted grin.
“Trying to sleep with dad on his phone every second. Who does he need to talk to this late?”
I chuckled under my breath. “Meggie. Seems everybody knows about them but me.”
Lane lifted a quizzical brow. “So you’ve been thinking it was like an immaculate conception all along?” He laughed. “Where do you think Caleb gets his moves from, Avery? Looks like if I don’t keep breaking up your little powwows, there could be another—”
Lane cut off when Gabe snatched a paperback off a pile, lifted it high, and aimed it at his head.
“I know you got a girl living with you,” snickered Gabe. He jerked a scolding finger in the air.
Lane’s head shot back, shock crossing his expression. He recovered fast, though I could tell he was obviously hiding something. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
* * *
All week Aunt Meggie allowed Gabe in the house. But not without a laundry list of conditions. Instead of waking up to his lazy poses in the truck below my window, I hurried down the stairs to join Caleb and Gabe in the makeshift hospital room. Usually they fell asleep sitting together on the sofa bed with Xbox remotes welded to their hands. Lane and Gabe alternated taking days off to keep Caleb company. A flock of guys from work and the coop shuffled in and out at lunchtime each day, and Meggie and Josh and I did our best to keep order. I was surprised Molly hadn’t come around.
“Wake up,” I whispered as I shook Gabe’s back. He had fallen asleep on his stomach with his head and arm hanging off the mattress. Caleb was snoring from the same somewhat upright position he had been in for days. He had a bag of chips under his arm. I imagined them as little kids, playing on Saturday mornings. They looked funny sleeping together. “It’s after nine. Don’t you have to work?”
Gabe rolled onto his back and rubbed his sleepy eyes. “Hiya,” he said groggily. “C’mere. Lay down.”
He ironed a hand over his white undershirt. I could see the outline of his ribs, his perfect muscles.
I stomped my foot noiselessly. “Are you serious? With him here? And Meggie outside? I don’t think so.”
“Then sneak me upstairs,” he whispered and wrapped his arm around my back. “C’mon. Pretty please? We ain’t had a second alone in a week.”
Caleb had occupied our every moment. Not to mention Meggie had been eyeing Gabe like a hawk, enforcing the invisible gate at the bottom of the stairs with her stealth surveillance tactics. I noticed Meggie keeping an eye on Caleb too. But she had little to worry about with him. Only his mouth ran incessantly, not his body.
“I can’t. We’re leaving for the courthouse any minute. Remember the eviction? You don’t seem too worried you might be homeless.” I studied his sleepy morning face. He took my breath away.
Gabe scanned the room and shrugged. Then he stretched his arms behind his head and yawned his words out. “I don’t think the lieutenant’s gonna let that happen.”
“Meggie’s not taking a handout and she made it clear she’s doing this alone. So I wouldn’t be so sure.”
“Well then, break a leg.”
“What leg?” murmured Caleb. “Oh, morning, legs. Come to wake me up? Come over here. I’ll show you how,” he said rousing from his sleep.
Gabe flicked a finger at Caleb’s bare shoulder.
I grunted. “I have to go.”
“C’mere,” called Gabe as he pulled me down to angle his face. I thought he was doing it for show. Into my ear, he whispered, “Don’t forget who your favorite Halden is.” Then he kissed my forehead.
I wanted to kiss him back; he was irresistible. But not in front of Caleb, so I pulled out of his grip and walked into the kitchen. As I gobbled the last of my Cheerios, I spotted Meggie making her way back to the house. Her pantsuit was snug on her waist. She had her blouse pulled out. The buttons on the jacket wouldn’t close.
“Snappy enough?” she asked. Then she spun around for my approval. “I won’t be wearing this for much longer.”
“Yep. You look sharp. Are you ready for this? Will Hunt be there?”
“Yeah, you betcha I am and you betcha he’ll be there. I’m gonna stare him down if I get the chance,” she said hotly. “Let’s go.”
She fanned herself with a takeout menu and snatched her keys off a hook at the back door.
* * *
The courthouse was nothing like I expected. Meggie parked in a lot full of pickups outside of a building that looked more like an American Legion than a place where people practiced law. I spread my gaze over a room full of folding chairs, not benches. The AC was on full blast, yet it didn’t seem to combat the summer heat or the massive congregation of bodies. The judge sat at a long folding table with a plastic tablecloth in the makeshift courtroom. I scanned the walls to see men in hats standing in lines, filling out forms, signing clipboards.
After the judge spoke to Meggie and her attorney about their charge against Hunter Barrett for breaking the lease contract on the property, he called on Hunt and some oth
er men to step forward. Hunt spent a good deal of time glancing over his shoulder to glare at me with hard eyes.
I mouthed the word, “Loser,” when he caught my eye. I wanted to wipe the smug look off his face, even though I had never formally met him. I never wanted to either. He reminded me of the scab on the train. If only I had carried ammonia.
“He gives me the creeps,” I told Meggie as we left our seats.
We had been waiting for almost two hours for a decision. The entire time Hunt made my skin crawl. The judge ruled on Meggie’s behalf, but only for a provisional extension of her lease, until a full investigation could be launched. According to her lawyer, this was only a small hurdle.
“Promise me you’ll stay away from him. Tell Gabe to stay away from him. This is only temporary. Hunt’s gonna be itching to move us out, especially your boys.”
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of going near him.”
“I’ll be darn. Speaking of the devils,” she exclaimed. “What’s going on here?”
Meggie halted at the sight of Lane, Gabe, and Mr. Halden where they stood in line like bodyguards in the lawn.
“Personal escorts,” Lane offered.
I squinted as the sun stung my eyes. All three had on identical HalRem hats as if they were making a unified statement.
“Were you here the entire time?” Meggie asked.
“We were inside. Barrett needed to know we weren’t gonna let anything happen today.” Gabe’s voice was stern.
I realized why Hunt kept looking at me.
“He stayed outside,” Gabe told us and jerked a disappointed glare at his father.
Mr. Halden didn’t respond to Gabe and instead addressed Meggie. “Margareta, may I drive you?” Gabe’s father extended his arm to her. I got a kick out of him using her formal name. “Do y’all have plans for the rest of the day? Can you break away?”
Meggie grinned. “I’m all yours if you’re asking me, Joel. Avery can drive my truck home. What do you have in mind?”
I observed Lane and Gabe roll their eyes at each other.
“An overnight in Montana. A friend of mine is playing a venue tonight. No need for bags. I’ve arranged for everything.” His hazel eyes sparkled like jewels in the sunlight.
Meggie’s lashes fluttered. She appeared smitten by the Halden hazels and his presumptuous nature. He was quite the romantic.
“I don’t know about that,” I said. He didn’t intimidate me. “Loud music isn’t good for the baby. She can’t be away too long. Nobody would be here to look after me and Josh.”
“She has a point,” Meggie said with a straight face. “Maybe it isn’t a good idea.”
My shoulders dropped. I was only kidding. If she went away, Gabe and I would be alone in my room with no rules. I found myself in need of some serious backpedaling.
“I’ll watch the kiddies,” offered Lane. His voice cut through the noise in my head. He flashed his crystal eyes my way.
“Then it’s settled. We’re fixin’ to leave. Margareta, set your ground rules. My boys will be on their best behavior.”
Mr. Halden eyed the hottest hothead in the bunch. I wondered what Gabe was thinking. Was he already planning an evening with me? Or was he going to listen to his father?
“Yes, sir.” Lane grinned.
“No funny business. Same rules apply. No stepping foot on the stairs, unless you’re helping Caleb to the bath. I’ll be calling Lane to check. Avery, there’s a twenty on the fridge. Use it to order pizza for dinner tonight, okiedokie?”
I nodded before Mr. Halden interrupted.
“I’ve got it. Here.” He opened his wallet and handed three crisp one hundred dollar bills to Gabe. “You can shop for Margareta. She’s been keeping you fed since your brother came home.”
“Joel,” grumbled Meggie. She held up her hand. “That’s not necessary.”
He flashed a toothy grin and she backed down. “Okay then. I’ll pull the car around.”
* * *
Molly called the house later that afternoon and asked if Gabe and I cared to go with her to a boating party at the lake. I had a feeling it was the same party Jordan Halverson mentioned.
“You go. Make it a girl thing. Me and Caleb are gonna finish our game.” Gabe flopped into his lanky pose on the sofa bed next to his convalescing brother and locked his eyes on the TV.
I thought he would be thrilled Meggie left and he could spend time with me.
“Maybe you could come home early,” he added.
“Don’t try to twist my arm or anything.” I was disappointed with his mood and walked out.
In the kitchen, my frustration mounted as I held the refrigerator door open. Something about Gabe was off since we left the courthouse. I tried to divert my thoughts. I found rye bread and sliced ham and fixed a stack of sandwiches at the table.
A hand curled over my shoulder.
“That all for me? You shouldn’t have,” Gabe spoke at my ear.
I handed him a sandwich. He slid a chair out from under the table and sat sideways, staring at me.
“What’s with you?” He took a bite.
“Nothing.” I continued to slap mustard on a piece of bread.
“Hey,” he said and grabbed my inverted wrist and pulled the knife out of my grip. “Something tells me you want to use this utensil on me.”
I made a quiet grunt. My chin tipped and I briefly glanced his way. “How come you don’t want to go to the lake?”
“Not in the mood. I gotta figure some stuff out.”
He pressed my hand to his mouth and kissed off the smeared mustard. Did he know Jordan would be there? Was he worried he would see her?
“Like what?” I asked.
Gabe leaned in to confide. His warm breath swept across my face.
“Stuff like what’s going on,” he answered smartly. “My dad wouldn’t step foot in that courthouse. Me and Lane sat there by ourselves watching you. You’d think he cared what happens to Meggie or that he’d stand up to Hunt in front of all those people. Everybody knows what’s going on. If he wasn’t there, I would’ve jumped down Hunt’s throat. Eli and Caleb aren’t the only ones he’s hurt. Everybody’s afraid of him.”
He hung his arm over the back of the chair. “Our guys saw Hunt’s guys leaving right before that tank fire. Even Caleb seen it happen. He told the police Hunt’s guys ran him off the road after they saw him coming. He could’ve been killed. Josh could’ve been killed. But my dad isn’t doing a damn thing to press it. I don’t get it. It’s driving me mad!” His voice elevated. “I tried to talk to him this morning, but Lane stopped me.”
I set my hands on his arms. That was a mouthful for Gabe. “I’m sorry. I wish I could do something.”
“I don’t want you doin’ nothing. You gotta stay away from them. You hear me?” His jaw set, his shoulders squared. I could see him gritting his teeth.
“Don’t worry. I don’t need you telling me how to stay out of trouble.” I didn’t care much for anyone telling me what I could and could not do. And he sure wasn’t one to talk.
“Okay. Just stay with Molly. I saw Hunt eyeing you in the courtroom. Don’t go anywhere near him. Promise me you’ll run in the opposite direction. Maybe I better go,” he drawled.
“I can handle myself. Stay with Caleb. Play your silly games. I don’t need a babysitter.”
I didn’t really want him to go if he was looking for a fight.
Gabe’s hand floated to my chin and turned my jaw. “Okay,” he said in his sultry inflection. “I’ll be waiting for you when you come home. Prepare yourself.”
My heart skipped first and second and leapt into third gear as he grazed my shoulder with his lips. I wouldn’t stay very long at the lake. I could still use my fingers to count the times we had kissed and the number needed to improve.
“Hurry back now.” He smiled into my neck just as Caleb entered.
“Where can I get me some of that?” Caleb gripped a chair as pain registered on his face. He had
only been getting up a few times during the day. “I need some attention too, legs.”
Gabe handed his brother a sandwich. “Back off or I’ll make you wanna lie down for another week. How many good ribs ya got left?”
“This tape is itching me like mad. I gotta get it off,” Caleb whined.
It was probably time he got unwrapped. The white tape no longer fit to his ribs and he had dribbled sauce on his chest that looked like dried blood.
But I wasn’t going to do it. I learned my lesson trying to help Josh get him to the bathroom. When I started to run the bath, Caleb hovered behind me. When Josh went off to hunt down a fresh towel, I turned my back and Caleb managed to shut the door, strip down and climb in before I could leave. He grabbed my arm and pulled me close, but I wiggled free and ran out with my eyes closed. Nothing was said. I never told Gabe.
“You gotta help me get this off.”
I glared at Gabe’s face. He nodded his approval.
“Stand up,” I told Caleb in a curt manner. I wasn’t putting up with any funny business, and he needed to know up front.
He got up all shaky. His eyes swung around to grin at me.
“Can you get some lotion out of Meggie’s room? It’s on her dresser,” I asked Gabe. He pinned his wide eyes on me. It wasn’t like I asked him to pilfer her lingerie drawer. “She won’t know. Just get it quickly.”
I slid onto a chair on my knees and picked at the end of the tape under Caleb’s arm. He grimaced as I pressed my palm on his shoulder to hold him still. I peeled the tape slowly. When I lifted my head to see his lips part, most likely to utter some tasteless innuendo, I pressed a finger on his mouth.
His grin curled under my touch. He had a magnificent smile. All Haldens did.
“Save it, Caleb. I’ll tell Gabe everything. If you want to keep him for a brother, you’ll shut your mouth right now.” I pulled on the tape so hard he winced. “I can make this easy. Or very, very painful.”
Caleb swung his hands to my arms and held me still. “You don’t know how much better you’d have it with me,” he advised. Then he inclined his head, pressed his cheek into my collarbone and swiftly pushed the fabric of my tank top away to kiss my skin. He bit me on my shoulder. It wasn’t a real bite, more like a playful nip.
Stubborn Page 20