The Next Mrs. Blackthorne (Bitter Creek Book 6)

by Joan Johnston

  “You’re pregnant?” North said incredulously.

  Jocelyn laughed. “I can’t believe you’re surprised. As often as we—”

  He cut her off with another kiss, his hand pressed against her belly, which was barely rounded. “We’ll marry today,” he said.

  Jocelyn laughed again. “I’d like time to buy a gown. And to arrange a church ceremony. That’s going to take a day or two.”

  “A day. Or two. No longer,” North said. He set Jocelyn away from him as several policemen stepped off the elevator. “I need to get you out of here, somewhere safe.”

  “You’re not still worried about Donnie’s bomb, are you?” Jocelyn said.

  “I’m sure the bomb detail is freeing Kate even as we speak,” North said. “But I’m not taking any chances that something might happen to you. Or the baby,” he added after a hesitation.

  North directed the policemen to the room where he’d left Donnie, then headed down the empty hospital corridor with Jocelyn. He felt terrified. What he was feeling must have shown on his face, because as soon as the elevator door closed with the two of them inside, Jocelyn put her arms around his waist and said, “Relax. Everything’s going to be fine.”

  He looked down into her face, unable to keep the worry from his own. “I’ve wanted a son—or daughter—for a long time. But when I think what the cost might be—Are you sure you’ll be all right? Have you seen a doctor? Does he say you’ll be able to deliver without any complications?”

  Joss’s laughter, a sound of joy, filled the elevator. “I’m fine, North. Our baby will be fine. These generous hips of mine are perfect for delivering babies. Don’t be afraid, sweetheart.”

  North felt a heightened terror that now that he’d admitted he loved Joss, she’d somehow be snatched from him. He knew his fear wasn’t rational, but that didn’t seem to help. He held her close and said, “I’m afraid, Joss.”

  “I’m here, North,” she whispered in his ear. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Mom! Dad! What are you doing here?” Kate said. “You should get as far away from here—”

  “What’s the story on that vest?” Clay asked the bomb technician who was standing with Kate behind a shield.

  “Where’s the detonator, Daddy?”

  “The bomb detail has it, Kitten. They took it from me. It had a safety catch, and they attached that, and it’s harmless. What about that vest?” Clay asked the technician working behind the shield.

  “Clever device,” the man called back. “Good thing this young lady didn’t try to take it off on her own.”

  Kate glanced toward a group of police and Texas Rangers off to one side which Jack had joined. He had his back to her. She couldn’t believe he was ignoring her, after being so persistent about having the vest removed here, instead of somewhere else.

  Kate glanced through the glass opening in the metal shield and saw her father had his arm around her mother. “Have you two worked out your differences?” she said. “I’d like to know. You can see what kind of trouble I’ve gotten into trying to get you two together. I’d like to know I was successful before…well, before…” Kate’s voice trailed off.

  She watched her parents exchange anxious glances.

  “Actually, we—” her father began.

  “Decided to get married,” her mother interrupted.

  “That’s wonderful!” Kate said. She would have jumped up, but the technician had a grip on her.

  “Whoa, lady. Let me snip one more wire—”

  Kate watched with bated breath as the wire was cut. She stood perfectly still as the man eased the vest off her shoulders and put it in a special container. She took one step forward, turned her head in his direction and said, “Can I go now?”

  “You’re clear,” he said with a smile.

  Kate raced around the edge of the metal shield and threw herself into her parents’ arms. “Oh,” she said, tears coming to her eyes. “A hug sandwich.” It was a name she’d made up when she was six for a hug that included both her parents, with her in the middle. She felt her mother’s tears against her cheek, which made her throat swell with emotion.

  “I’m so glad you’re going to be together,” Kate said in a choked voice. “That’s the most wonderful news I’ve ever heard. When are you getting married?” she asked.

  “Soon,” her father said. “Now that your mother’s said yes, I’m not going to let her get away.”

  “But Mom needs a special dress. She and I have to go shopping,” Kate said. “And you’ll want to be married in church. That’ll take some time to arrange.”

  “I’ll go along with whatever your mom wants,” her father said. “But as far as I’m concerned, the sooner the ceremony, the better.”

  “It’ll be soon,” Kate promised. “I’m just so happy for both of you.”

  Kate saw uncertainty in her mother’s eyes, wariness in her father’s. “You two are sure about this, aren’t you? I mean, I haven’t coerced you into doing something you really don’t want to do, have I?”

  Her father took her mother’s hands in his, looked into her eyes, and said, “I want this very much. I love you, Libby.”

  Kate turned to her mother, whose tentative smile became broader as she said, “I’ve realized it’s what I want, too.”

  “Then why don’t you two kiss?” Kate said. “That’s what usually happens when a proposal is accepted.”

  “How would you know?” her father said suspiciously, shooting a glance from Kate to Jack and back again.

  “I’ve seen it in the movies,” Kate quipped. “Go ahead, Daddy. Give Mom a kiss.”

  “This is a noteworthy moment,” her father said. “So I’d better make this good.”

  Kate watched with delight as her father scooped her mother into his arms, pulled her up on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on her that sizzled. She looked away when the moment became too intimate to be shared. She threaded her hands together and pressed them against her heart, grateful that her lifelong wish had finally come true.

  And then she met Jack’s glance. He quickly turned away, but he’d been looking, all right. She crossed to him purposefully, unwilling to be ignored any longer. When she reached the group of men, she had to call Jack’s name to get his attention.

  “Jack? May I speak with you?”

  “I’m kind of busy, Kate.”

  Kate’s face flamed. How could he? She’d heard all the times he’d called her “kid” while he’d been rescuing her from Donnie’s car. Then it had sounded like a term of endearment, she’d thought. But apparently not. Kate felt terribly hurt. It would have been easiest just to walk away. But Grayhawks never ran. They stayed and fought.

  So Kate called Jack’s name again. “Jack? I just need a moment of your time.”

  “Go ahead, Jack,” one of the other policemen said. “See what the girl wants.”

  Kate flushed at the diminutive girl. Was that how Jack had referred to her in the other men’s hearing? She wasn’t a girl any longer. She hadn’t been for quite some time. She was a woman. Maybe a young woman, but fully grown, for certain.

  Once Jack joined her, Kate walked a few paces away, so they wouldn’t be overheard either by the policemen or her parents. “I wanted to thank you again for saving my life.”

  “It was all part of the job,” Jack replied.

  Kate turned to face him. “I think it was more than that.” That was as far as she was willing to go without some encouragement from him.

  She didn’t get any.

  “It was nice knowing you, Kate.”

  “Is that it?” she said, disbelieving. “You’re writing me off? What about everything that happened between us?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jack said.

  Kate was furious at his denial of any feeling between them. And humiliated. “I thought there was some attraction between us,” she said through tight jaws. “But obviously I was wrong.”

  “There was some attraction,” Jac
k conceded.

  Maybe he’d noticed her tears. She swiped at them because she didn’t want his pity. “But?” she said, urging him to continue.

  “You’re still a kid.”

  “I’m nineteen!”

  “I’m thirty-two. That’s a lifetime.”

  “That’s ridiculous!” Kate accused.

  “You want better reasons. I’ll give them to you,” Jack said. “You’re headstrong. And spoiled. And aimless. You’ve spent your whole life feeling sorry for yourself because you didn’t have two parents at home. Wake up and smell the roses, kid. Everyone ends up alone.”

  “Even you?” she challenged.

  “I like being alone.”

  “You like being with me!” Kate retorted. She threw herself at him in what would have been an embarrassing way, except his arms closed around her as their lips met. Kate would have sworn the electricity was life-threatening.

  But a moment later Jack pulled her arms from around his neck and said, “No more games, Kate. This was a job. No more, no less. And I’m done with it. And with you.”

  Kate was too angry to reply. Too hurt to reply. And too stubborn to give up. “The day will come, Jack McKinley, when I’ll make you eat those words.”

  “Kate?” her mother called. “Are you ready to go?”

  She felt embarrassed that her mother and father had witnessed the scene with Jack. They were going to want details. They were going to want to know what had happened. They were going to want to know that their little lamb was safe from the big bad wolf.

  Kate lifted her chin and said, “Good-bye, Jack. Thanks for the education.”

  “Kate, I—”

  She feared he was going to apologize. If he did, she wouldn’t be able to keep from bursting into tears. Kate didn’t care what Grayhawks did or did not do. She turned her back on Jack McKinley and ran into her mother’s waiting arms.

  20

  The double wedding was Kate’s idea. She’d pointed out to her mother and her uncle, “You both want to get married in a hurry. You’d both want to attend each other’s weddings. And you’d both want nearly the same people to be there. So why not?”

  She’d glossed over the fact that her father and her uncle had been mortal enemies most of their lives. That Grayhawks and Blackthornes didn’t break bread together, let alone attend each other’s weddings. It was time for mending fences.

  As she looked around the quaint, tiny church that was almost as old as Bitter Creek itself, Kate was pleased by what she saw. Beautiful sprays of white roses and baby’s breath decorated the altar and each of the pews. On one side of the altar stood Uncle North and his bride, and on the other stood her father and mother. Both brides wore white.

  Kate’s mother had protested at first about wearing white, but Kate had insisted that if the dream really was to come true, then her mother should be dressed as the bride she should have been twenty years ago.

  There had been one scare today, when Kate had thought the double wedding might end up in a shambles. She’d been talking to Grandpa King at the door, complimenting him on how nice he looked in his morning coat, when Grandpa Blackjack had showed up. Kate had seen a barnyard dogfight coming and tried to steer Grandpa King to his seat in the front pew on the left. But he’d also seen Grandpa Blackjack, and he couldn’t be budged.

  Unfortunately, Ren wasn’t on hand to keep Grandpa Blackjack in line, because she was helping Jocelyn with her veil.

  “I see you made it to your daughter’s wedding. At last,” Grandpa Blackjack said.

  “I see your son finally decided to make an honest woman out of her,” Grandpa King retorted. “And it’s my son I’m here to see wed. I haven’t forgiven my daughter for the dirty trick she played on me—consorting with the enemy and giving me a half-Blackthorne grandchild.”

  “Grandpa King,” Kate admonished. “Be nice!”

  Her grandfather patted her on the cheek and said, “I admit you turned out to be a blessing in disguise, little girl.”

  Kate huffed in exasperation. Hadn’t anyone figured out yet she was a grown-up? “Can I escort you to your seat, Grandpa King?” she asked, trying again to separate the two men.

  But they were too intent on exchanging verbal blows.

  “Seems the trick was on my son,” Blackjack said. “He’s the one who got robbed of his child.”

  “I’m right here, Grandpa Blackjack,” Kate said. “Nobody stole away with me in the night.”

  “At least Bitter Creek is back safe in Blackthorne hands,” Grandpa Blackjack said.

  “No thanks to that scapegrace son of mine,” Grandpa King retorted. “I don’t know what possessed the boy to sell all that stock back to you.” Grandpa King snorted. “Did it as a wedding gift to his sister, he said. Seems to me you Blackthornes are the one who got the gift.”

  “Mom is going to be a Blackthorne in a few minutes,” Kate reminded her grandfather.

  At that moment, Kate saw North and her father step out of doors on separate sides at the front of the church and move toward the altar at the center, to wait for their brides to come down the aisle.

  “Oh, Lord,” she muttered. “What if they start talking? It won’t take them long to find something to fight about. With their fists.”

  In desperation, Kate grabbed Grandpa King’s left hand, and Grandpa Blackjack’s right hand and tugged them behind her down the aisle. When she glanced over her shoulder, she saw the two men were smiling—at her. She grinned back. When she got to the front of the church, she let go of their hands and turned to face them, lecturing them like a stern schoolteacher.

  “I don’t care how much you two hate each other, I love you both very much. I’m trusting both of you to behave yourselves today. If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” Kate had a feeling the reception at the Castle was going to be a very quiet affair.

  The two men turned their backs on each other and took their seats in their respective pews. Kate blew out a breath of air. One disaster averted. Just call me Supergirl.

  She hurried back to the room where her mother was dressing and stopped dead at the vision she found. “Mom. You’re so beautiful.”

  “You don’t think this dress is too much?” her mother said, tugging here and there at the elegant white gown and holding out the five-foot train Kate had insisted upon.

  “You’ll be the prettiest bride ever to walk down that aisle.” Kate felt the tears brimming in her eyes and smiled through them as she said, “I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t believe you and Daddy are finally going to be married.”

  “Neither can I,” said her mother. “Don’t make me cry, Kate,” she said with a half-sob, half-laugh. “You’ll ruin my makeup.”

  They both laughed then, and Kate hugged her mother and said, “I can hear the organ music that means it’s time for me to march down the aisle.”

  “Is King here?” her mother asked.

  Kate realized suddenly that her mother hadn’t been at all sure that her father would attend. Which was another reason Kate was glad she’d suggested a double wedding. He wouldn’t have missed North’s nuptials. “Grandpa King’s here. He and Grandpa Blackjack already had a run-in, but I sat them down and told them to be good.”

  “I’ll bet you did!”

  Kate grabbed up her bouquet, gave her mother one last hug and hurried out the door to the nave, where she was to start her march. She’d watched for Jack, knowing that North had invited him. But he wasn’t there. She felt a pang of loss, but ignored it.

  Blackthornes and Grayhawks had ended up aligned on either side of the aisle, which had become a no-man’s-land traversed at last by Kate, as her mother’s maid of honor, and then the two brides, Jocelyn first, and then Kate’s mother.

  “Kate?” her mother said.

  Kate realized she’d allowed herself to daydream, and stepped up to the altar to take her mother’s bouquet of baby-pink roses. She kissed her mother’s cheek and then stepped to the side where she could see h
er parents’ faces.

  Her mother glowed. Her father looked happy.

  She turned her gaze to Uncle North and realized he was actually smiling. Which made her smile. Breed was his best man and he was smiling, too. Kate followed Uncle North’s glance to Jocelyn, who was one of the most beautiful brides Kate had ever seen. Of course, Kate thought loyally, her mother was the most beautiful bride in the room.

  Kate felt her throat constrict when her father took her mother’s hand in his to say his vows. She glanced at Uncle North to see if he would do the same, and was surprised to see he was holding both of soon-to-be Aunt Jocelyn’s hands.

  Both men spoke in firm voices. Both women answered in soft tones. Kate listened to the words, hearing the promises being made, overwhelmed with so many emotions that she was having a hard time processing them all.

  She had a great deal to be joyful about. Her parents had finally acknowledged their love for each other. And Uncle North, whom she’d thought would never love any woman, had found Aunt Jocelyn.

  Kate focused her gaze back on her parents as she listened to the minister intone the familiar vows.

  “…for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?”

  “I will,” her father and Uncle North both said.

  “…and do you…”

  “I will,” her mother and Aunt Jocelyn both said.

  Kate watched as her father put a simple gold band on her mother’s finger. And while her mother did the same to her father. Belatedly, she noticed that Uncle North and Aunt Jocelyn had also exchanged rings, but Jocelyn’s was a small platinum band to match the sapphire and diamond engagement ring Uncle North had given her.

  Suddenly the minister was telling the two couples they were married, and that the grooms could kiss their brides.

  Kate felt a hot tear slide onto her cheek. When her mother turned to her, Kate handed her back the bouquet of delicate pink rosebuds and said, “May I be the first to wish you well, Mrs. Blackthorne?”

  “You may!” her mother said with a joyful laugh.

  She hugged her parents fiercely. “I love you both so much!”