“Come here, sweetheart,” Holly said as she eased Ryan from Wyatt’s clutching hands. “Are you hurt?”
Ryan shook his head. “Shaw saved me.”
“Sit down here beside me while I take a look at Lucky and Chance’s daddy,” Holly said to Ryan. “Thank you,” she whispered to Wyatt. “For saving our son.”
“You’re welcome,” Wyatt rasped. He could feel himself fading fast. The force of the buckshot had knocked him off his feet and it felt like fire on his back and shoulders.
He was aware of Holly’s hand on his wrist. He guessed she was taking his pulse.
“The old heart’s still pumping,” he joked.
He watched Kate use her body to shield the twins from J.D.’s corpse as she crossed to his side. “How is he?” she asked Holly.
“He’s losing a lot of blood. He’s going into shock. We need to get him to a hospital.”
Was he dying? He felt so tired. He could hardly keep his eyes open. “Kate?” He reached for her hand, or thought he did. He felt her pick his hand up off the ground.
“I’m here, Wyatt.”
He tried to keep his eyes open but they slid closed.
“Stay with me, Wyatt,” he heard her say. “I love you. Please stay with me.”
“I love you, too,” he croaked. Had she heard him? Son of a bitch. She loved him. This was a helluva time to die.
He heard rain pattering on the tin roof of the barn. Then everything went black.
45
Kate held her sleeping sons tightly on either side of her on a couch in the surgical waiting room at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin. They’d flown Wyatt back to Austin and had an ambulance waiting at the airport. He was in the operating room, getting the buckshot picked out of his hide.
Jack sat nearby with a sleeping Ryan in his lap. He’d made a brief sojourn to the governor’s mansion to inform Ann Wade that J.D. had been shot. J.D.’s “second” death couldn’t be kept a secret, because Dante D’Amato was being prosecuted for his murder.
Kate was watching TV in the waiting room when a Special Report from ABC News interrupted local broadcasting to announce that Texas Governor Ann Wade Pendleton had withdrawn from the presidential race. “The governor has just learned that her son, J.D. Pendleton, did not die serving with his National Guard unit in Afghanistan. Pendleton faked his death and deserted his post.
“The governor’s son was apparently brokering the sale of military weapons for heroine in Afghanistan on behalf of mob boss Dante D’Amato. D’Amato is currently in jail accused of Pendleton’s murder. How much the governor knew about her son’s illegal activities, and when she knew it, is currently being investigated.”
“That’s the end of Ann Wade’s political career,” Jack said when the report was done.
“I’m surprised she gave up so easily,” Kate said.
“She’s cutting her losses. There’s a lot more for the press to uncover, which they would, if she stayed in the political arena.” Jack shifted Ryan in his arms.
“How’s Ryan doing?” Kate asked.
“The doctor said he’s okay. We just have to watch him closely over the next couple of weeks to make sure he didn’t pick up a bacterial infection.”
“I wish Holly would come back,” Kate said, her eyes straying to the waiting room door for the twentieth time in the thirty minutes since Holly had left to check on the status of Wyatt’s surgery.
Jack met Kate’s gaze and said, “You’ve probably already guessed, but I want to make it official. I’m staying married to Holly.”
“I can’t say I’m surprised,” Kate said softly.
“I love her. I should have told you a month ago, but I didn’t know how.”
“It’s all right, Jack,” Kate said. “I’m in love with someone else, too.”
“I sort of figured that,” he said with a rueful smile.
A moment later, Holly came through the door. She had a hand pressed to the small of her back. She looked exhausted. “The wound in Wyatt’s neck that was doing all the bleeding has been clamped. They’ll pick out the buckshot and sew him up and he’ll be fine. A little sore for a while, but he’ll recover completely.”
Kate put a hand to her mouth to stifle a sob. “Thank God.”
“Are you all right?” Jack asked Holly. “You look like you’re in pain. Were you hurt?”
Holly grimaced. “I’m in labor.”
Jack stood and looked for a place to lay Ryan down.
“There’s room for him here,” Kate said, indicating the edge of the couch she was sharing with the twins, who were sound asleep.
Jack laid Ryan down and he curled up with his head on a sleeping twin’s thigh.
“I’ll keep an eye on him while you go welcome the new addition to your family,” she said to Holly.
“Thank you, Kate,” Jack said.
“You finally told her,” Holly said as they headed down the hall toward the elevator.
“I think she figured it out for herself,” Jack said. “It must show every time I look at you.”
Holly looked up into Jack’s eyes and felt the tears sting her nose and burn her eyes. “We were so lucky tonight. I could have lost you and Ryan. I’m glad we’re all together to greet this new child.”
“Do you suppose the gunfire scared him into making an early appearance?”
“I think she wants to get in on all the excitement.” She put a hand to her belly. “Ooh. That was a good one.”
“How far along is your labor?” Jack asked.
“Contractions are about five minutes apart.”
“You’re practically ready to pop,” Jack said. “Why aren’t you in a hospital bed?”
“That’s where I’m heading now,” she said as they got on the elevator. “I’ve already checked in.”
“You have?”
“I filled out the paperwork to have the baby here at Brackenridge before I came to get you. I went to medical school with one of the OB-GYNs on call, who’s agreed to deliver the baby.” She stopped in place and groaned as another contraction worked its way across her belly.
“I don’t like to see you in pain,” Jack said. “Can’t you take something?”
“Too late,” she said with a grimace. “Have to do this the natural way.”
Jack put his arm around her and said, “Please don’t deliver here in the elevator. Let’s at least get you into a bed.”
Holly tried to smile and grimaced instead. “Ooh.”
“It hasn’t been anywhere near five minutes,” Jack said. “What the hell, Holly. Where’s the delivery room?”
“This way,” she said, waddling down a hall after they got off the elevator. She could see Jack wanted to pick her up but thought better of it as he eyed her bulk and simply put his arm around her waist.
“There you are,” a nurse said in a scolding voice. “I thought I told you it’s time to deliver that baby.”
“I had to get my husband,” Holly said. “I didn’t want him to miss the big event.”
Jack shook his head. “Holly Tanner McKinley, you are one helluva woman.”
“Yes, I am,” she said. Since she was momentarily between contractions, she managed to smile. “I think we need to get to the delivery room,” she told the nurse as she hissed in a breath.
The nurse insisted on putting her in a wheelchair to take her down the hall. She practically threw some green paper scrubs at Jack and said, “Put those on and come with us.”
Holly laughed at Jack trying to walk and put paper covers over his boots in between steps. The laugh got cut off by a powerful contraction. “Damn it, Jack. Move it!” she grated out.
“She’s in transition,” the nurse said. “You can tell by all the bad words that pop out of very nice ladies’ mouths.”
They hadn’t been in the delivery room for more than a few minutes when Holly announced, “I have to push.”
The doctor slid into the room and said, “Hi, Holly! Long time no see. How’s it going?”
&
nbsp; “I have to push!” Holly said urgently.
“Give me a chance to check things out, will you?”
“I have to push!” Holly swore like a sailor as the baby moved down the birth canal.
“I’ve got the head. Lots of red hair!” the doctor said.
Holly gripped Jack’s hand and heard him say, “Ow, Holly. Your nails are digging—”
Holly bit back a scream as another contraction urged her to push. She bore down to expel the child that had been growing inside her for the past eight and a half months.
“Got the shoulders aaaaannnd here she comes. Got her!” the doctor said.
“It’s a girl?” Holly said, looking up at Jack.
“It’s a girl!” he said, glancing from the baby the doctor was cleaning up back to Holly. “We have a little girl, Holly.”
“Another little girl,” Holly said. “Why isn’t she crying?”
“Just suctioning a little here,” the doctor said.
“Is she all right?” Jack asked anxiously.
“Just give me—”
The baby let out a lusty cry, and then began to wail in earnest.
“That’s our girl,” Jack said with a grin. “Jasmine Tanner McKinley has arrived.” He kissed Holly’s lips, then looked deep into her eyes and said, “I love you, Holly. Thanks for giving me another daughter.”
46
Kate was almost asleep when Jack returned to give her the news. “It’s a girl!” he said, grinning from ear to ear.
“Congratulations! I’m so happy for you, Jack,” Kate said.
“Is Wyatt out of surgery yet?” he asked.
“Not yet,” she said. “Would you mind staying with the kids for a little while. I need to take a break.”
“Sure,” Jack said. “Holly and Jasmine are both sleeping.”
“Jasmine. What a pretty name! I’ll be back shortly, Jack. Thanks.” Kate had decided that as long as she was in a hospital she might as well try to find out what was wrong with her. She headed down to the emergency room to see how busy it was. Maybe she could get seen by a doctor.
“You caught us in a lull,” the admitting nurse said. “The doctor can see you right now.”
Kate felt a little self-conscious describing her symptoms to a strange doctor, especially one so young.
“Sounds to me like you’re pregnant,” the doctor said.
“I took one of those home pregnancy tests and it came back negative,” she said.
“You can get a false negative with those tests, you know.”
“I didn’t know that. Or maybe I did and forgot.”
He did a pelvic exam and said, “I believe you’re pregnant, Mrs. Pendleton. I’d say about three months along. Let’s get a blood test and find out for sure.”
Kate had blood drawn and was assured the results would be back the next morning. She headed back upstairs to the surgical waiting room in a daze. It wasn’t cancer or the flu. It wasn’t stress. Deep down, she’d known the truth. She was pregnant. Three months along. With Wyatt’s baby.
She couldn’t wait to tell him.
Then she realized the circumstances under which he’d told her he loved her. He’d thought he was dying. How would he feel in the bright light of day, when he knew he was going to live? How would he feel when he found out they already had another child on the way?
When she got back to the waiting room, Jack said, “We should take these kids home and put them to bed.”
“My dad’s coming to get the twins and take them to his house. I’m going to stay until Wyatt’s out of surgery. I want to be here when he wakes up.”
“I’m taking Ryan home to Twin Magnolias. My mom and dad have missed seeing him. They can keep an eye on him till Holly and Jasmine are ready to come home.”
“I suppose we won’t be seeing as much of each other from now on,” Kate said.
“I don’t know about that,” Jack replied. “Our sons are Best Buds. Holly and I owe Wyatt our son’s life. And you and I have been friends for a long time. I suspect we may be seeing a lot more of each other than you think.”
“So long, friend,” Kate said.
“So long, friend,” Jack replied.
He picked Ryan up and the little boy whimpered as Jack gently laid him over his shoulder. “Come on, buddy. It’s time to go see Mimaw and Pap Pap.”
Kate feared all three of the boys would have nightmares for a while. They’d been through a terrible trauma and come out safe on the other side, thanks to the courage of their respective fathers. And mothers, a little voice said.
Kate smiled. Every time she thought of herself and Holly charging with a pitchfork and spade she wanted to laugh. Hysterically. What had they been thinking? Talk about crazy ideas. They were lucky they hadn’t been shot.
“Hey, honey, wake up.”
Kate heard her father’s voice and forced her eyes open. “I must have fallen asleep.”
“I think you probably needed it.”
She stood and wrapped her arms around her father’s waist and felt his arms close protectively around her. “Daddy, I’ve made such a mess of things.”
“It’ll all work out, honey. You have a good man this time. Jack told me what Wyatt did.”
“You spoke to Jack?”
“I met him coming out as I was coming in.”
“I love Wyatt, Daddy.”
“That’s always a good thing when you’re living with a man,” he said with a chuckle.
“I’m pregnant.”
She felt her father’s arms tighten in a hug before he said, “How does Wyatt feel about having another child?”
“He doesn’t know yet.”
“Then he has a nice surprise waiting for him when he comes out of surgery.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” She hugged him again. “Let me wake up the boys and tell them what’s going on.”
Kate put her hand on Lucky’s shoulder and he jumped up with a frantic cry. She put her arms around him and said, “It’s all right, sweetie. It’s just me.”
“I thought it was him. Dad, I mean. He was mean to us, Mom. And he was mean to Ryan. His face didn’t look right and he didn’t act right. Are you sure it was Dad?”
Kate knew her son didn’t want to believe his father could act as badly as he had. Or that his father was really dead this time, murdered in front of his eyes.
Chance sat up and said anxiously, “Was it Dad?”
She glanced up at her father, then back at the boys, and said, “Your dad faked his death the first time. He did some bad things and some bad people were after him, so he ran away. They caught up to him and beat him up. That’s why he didn’t look like himself.” She started to say, He always loved you boys. But she decided against it. They would have recognized the lie for what it was.
“Daddy saved us,” Chance said.
“Yes, he did, along with Ryan’s dad.”
“He loves us,” Lucky said.
“Yes, he does,” Kate said, knowing they needed that reassurance. “As soon as he’s well, we’re all going back home to Houston. Meanwhile, you two are going to spend the night at Grandpa’s house.”
“Are you and Daddy gonna get married?” Lucky asked.
Kate met her father’s gaze again and smiled. “We just might.”
Kate fell asleep again within minutes after the boys left with her father. No one came to wake her, and it wasn’t until the sunlight hit her eyes that she realized she’d slept the night through. She sat bolt upright. Surely Shaw must be out of surgery. He might even be awake.
She went to the bathroom and did the best she could to repair her makeup and fix her hair. Her clothes looked like she’d slept in them, but she didn’t want to take the time to change. She needed to see Shaw.
She went to the nurses’ station and inquired which room he was in.
“Are you a relative?” the nurse inquired.
Kate hadn’t even considered the possibility that she wouldn’t be allowed to see him. “I’m the mother of hi
s children.” That was the absolute truth.
“Down the hall,” she said, giving Kate the room number. “He’s already awake and clamoring for breakfast.”
Kate hurried down the hall looking for the right room. The door to Wyatt’s room was closed. She tentatively pushed it open.
“I hope that’s breakfast,” she heard from inside.
“It’s just me,” she said, pushing the door all the way open.
His eyes focused on her in that way he had of making her feel like she was the most desirable woman he’d ever seen. Even though she knew her mascara was clumped and she had a wrinkle in her cheek where she’d slept on the arm of the couch.
“Good morning, Kate. Have you been here all night?”
“I slept in the waiting room. My dad picked up the twins. How are you?”
“A little sore. Glad to be alive. What about Ryan and Jack and Holly? Are they all right?”
“Jack took Ryan to stay with his parents at Twin Magnolias. Holly went into labor.”
“Is she okay?” Wyatt asked.
“She’s fine. She had a little girl,” Kate said. “They named her Jasmine.” Kate had worked her way over to Shaw’s bedside and stood beside him.
He reached for her hand and twined his fingers with hers. “Wow. Big night,” he said.
“You were very brave.”
“So were you.”
“And foolish,” she said, feeling the blush rise on her cheeks as she thought of herself with that pitchfork.
“And foolish,” he agreed with a smile that took the sting from the words.
She met his gaze and watched the smile disappear.
“I was so afraid you’d be killed before I could say I love you, Kate. I want to spend my life with you. I want to marry you and have more children with you.”
Kate felt the tension ease out of her shoulders. “That’s really wonderful to hear, Wyatt.”
He kept looking into her eyes and waiting. She suddenly realized that he was as uncertain as she had been. That he needed the same reassurance he had given her.
“I love you, too, Wyatt. I want to spend my life with you. And I’ll gladly marry you.” She hesitated and said, “About having more children—”
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