Her Second Chance Family

by Christine Scott

  The DA from Meridia County wanted her immediate return to California, with the full invention of using the outstanding warrant for her arrest in abducting her son as leverage to force her to testify against her ex-husband. In retaliation, Jason charged her ex-husband with a barrage of offenses, ranging from assault on a police officer to the use of a deadly weapon to attempted murder, and refused to release him into the state of California’s custody. The two men were now locked in a jurisdictional standoff.

  Judge Hornblower cleared his throat and lowered the sheaf of papers to his desktop. “Seems to me that you boys in California are asking for the moon, but you’re not willing to budge an inch in return. You want Mrs. Stuart to agree to be your witness. And yet you refuse to drop the charges against her.”

  “Your Honor, Mrs. Stuart knowingly and willfully broke the law. It is within our rights to carry out the warrant for her arrest. After all, she did violate a court order by taking her son out of state.”

  Judge Hornblower carefully removed his glasses. “You and I both know she was only protecting her son. No one in your neck of the woods would listen to her pleas for help until it was too late. She had no choice but to take matters into her own hands. I have no doubt that, once the circumstances are reviewed, all charges against Mrs. Stuart will eventually be dropped. You’re just buying yourself some time, Mr. Evans.”

  The DA shrugged “That’s for a judge in California to decide.”

  “And it’s for me to decide whether or not to turn Gerald Stuart over to you,” Judge Hornblower said, casting a shrewd glance at the attorney. “Seems to me the state of Missouri has a solid case against Mr. Stuart, unlike our brothers in California. Has your office considered what it might do when it loses its bargaining tool against Mrs. Stuart? Once the charges against her are dropped, there will be nothing to keep her in your fine state. You will lose your witness.”

  Evans seemed to shrink beneath the weight of the judge’s gaze. In lieu of an answer, he fidgeted with his tie, his face flushing a rosy hue.

  Releasing a disgusted breath, Judge Hornblower turned his attention to Maggie. His expression and voice softening, he said, “Mrs. Stuart, has anyone bothered to ask you if you want to testify against your ex-husband?”

  “No, Your Honor,” she said quietly.

  “Well, I’m asking you now. How do you feel about standing up against your ex-husband in court?”

  Maggie glanced at Jason and saw his encouraging nod. Swallowing hard over the lump of emotion in her throat, she said, “Your Honor, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t afraid.” She took a deep breath. “But I’m tired of being scared. I’m tired of running away. I want to testify. I need to testify. Gerald has to pay for all the things he’s done to me—and to the others.”

  Judge Hornblower studied her for a moment, then nodded, seeming satisfied with her answer. “Well, then, Mr. Evans, what do you have to say to that? Seems to me you already have a willing witness. There’s no need to bully her into complying.”

  Evans sighed. “Yes, Your Honor.”

  “Let’s not waste any more of our time. Drop the charges against Mrs. Stuart right now, and I’ll be more than happy to release Gerald Stuart into your custody.”

  “Yes, sir,” Evans said, his tone brisk, businesslike. He cut a glance directly at Maggie. “We’ll sit down and work out the details of Mrs. Stuart’s testimony with her later.”

  “Good, then this hearing is over.” Judge Hornblower stood. The others followed suit, scrambling to their feet. With brisk strides, he rounded the desk, stopping in front of Maggie. Taking her hand firmly in his, he said, “Mrs. Stuart, I want to wish you luck. This hasn’t been an easy time for you. I hope things will be different from now on.”

  “Thank you,” she said, feeling the tension ease from her muscles.

  He released her hand and returned to his desk, barking out orders in his wake.

  Maggie took this as a dismissal. As she walked numbly out of the judge’s chambers, she couldn’t believe it was finally over. Granted, she’d have to return to California to testify against Gerald. A task that no doubt would be dif ficult. But for the first time in almost two years, she could wake up in the morning without the pressure of constantly looking over her shoulder, of being on guard. Of waiting for someone to guess her secret. Of fearing that Kevin would be taken away from her.

  And she owed it all to Jason.

  Anxiously Maggie glanced around the halls of the courthouse, searching for him. But he wasn’t there.

  Not allowing her disappointment to show, she headed for the exit. Her step felt unnaturally light, as though she was floating. Her heart soared with the heady power of freedom; she was drunk on the realization that she could go anywhere, live anywhere and never have to hide again.

  Her step faltered. She didn’t want to go anywhere else. She wanted to stay in Wyndchester. She and Kevin were comfortable here. It was their home. She didn’t want to leave, not now, not ever.

  That is, if the people of Wyndchester approved. The thought stopped her. She didn’t know how they would react to having a former fugitive living in their midst.

  Maggie sighed. She didn’t know if Jason would want her to stay, either. She’d caused nothing but trouble for him since the day they’d met. She wouldn’t blame him if he wanted her but of his life.

  Her spirits drooping, Maggie stepped out of the courthouse, squinting against the brilliant sunlight. When her eyes adjusted, she blinked, once...twice, unable to believe what she was seeing.

  On the steps of the courthouse, there stood a gathering of familiar faces. Jenny, whose wedding never did take place, with Stan Wilson at her side, sporting a black eye and a proud grin. Dot and Mel from the diner. The gray-haired regulars, the group of diehard customers who’d subjected her to countless hours of good-natured teasing. Maggie’s breath caught when she spotted Bob Williams, her favorite customer, back on his feet after his recent heart attack. And there were others. Kevin, who had been with Jenny earlier, was now grinning from ear to ear, standing with his friends, his baseball team and his classmates. They were all there, waiting for her, smiling.

  Maggie stopped, too stunned to move. An unnatural stillness filled the town square. All that could be heard was the chattering of a nearby squirrel and the pounding of her heart. The weight of all those gazes pressed down upon her, making it hard to breathe. She didn’t know what to say, how to react.

  “Congratulations, Maggie,” Bob Williams called out, breaking the ice. “Welcome home.”

  Laughter followed his proclamation, quickly accompanied by a round of applause, with a few whoops of delight sprinkled in for good measure.

  Tears of joy stung her eyes. Slowly Maggie made her way down the steps. Fielding the handshakes and hugs from well-wishers, she felt overwhelmed by so much goodwill.

  For the first time in her life, she truly felt she was part of a group, a community. Not just an onlooker, peering in from the outside. She’d never felt happier, more accepted, more at home.

  Smiling widely, Kevin threw himself into her arms, hugging her tightly. Her life was almost perfect. Only one thing could make the moment complete.

  Searching the crowd, she spotted Jason, watching from afar. Releasing Kevin, she strode across the courtyard, not stopping until she came face-to-face with Jason. For a long moment, she simply stared into his eyes. Then, before she lost her courage, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  Hesitantly Jason settled his hands on her waist and pulled her close. His chest rose and fell with his sigh of relief. Whispering in her ear, he said, “I thought you’d never forgive me.”

  She lifted her head to look at him, frowning. “Forgive you?”

  He nodded. “If it wasn’t for me checking into your background, your ex-husband would never have found you. None of this would have happened.”

  “If it wasn’t for you, I’d still be on the run,” she said, drawing in a shaky breath. “You’ve given me back my life. For
that I’ll always be grateful.”

  His growl of frustration vibrated in her ears. “I don’t want your gratitude. I want your love.”

  “You already have it,” Maggie whispered, brushing her lips against his.

  Impatiently he took her mouth in a hungry kiss, ignoring the catcalls from the crowd around them.

  Maggie melted into his embrace. Nothing else mattered—not Gerald, not the lost months of hiding, not the pain she’d suffered at not knowing what the future would bring. All that mattered was the here, the now. The feel of Jason’s arms around her, holding her close, keeping her safe, knowing that Kevin would always be safe now, too.

  Too soon he broke away and gazed into her eyes. “I love you, Maggie. I want you and Kevin to be part of my life forever. Many me. Promise you won’t ever leave me.”

  She smiled. “Are you sure you want to marry me? I come with an awful lot of baggage.”

  “It’s nothing that we can’t handle together,” he said, his tone and expression much too somber.

  “Then I will...I mean, I promise.” She laughed, touching his cheek with her fingers, savoring the contrast of smooth skin against his midday beard. “I will marry you, Jason. And I promise to never leave you.”

  “Thank God for that,” he said, pulling her close again. He sealed the promise with a kiss.

  And Maggie knew her world was finally complete.

  ISBN : 978-1-4592-5884-6

  HER SECOND CHANCE FAMILY

  Copyright © 1999 by Susan Runde

  All rights deserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic. mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Silhouette Books, 300 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017 U.S.A.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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