“I’m good,” he told Garret.
“Come on. They have to check you over. Let them at least check your chest and your cuts. That water could have all kinds of bacteria.”
Winona stopped beside him and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Here, I’ll take Amy.” Amy had fallen asleep in Jake’s arms, but he didn’t have the energy to lift her. Winona scooped down and picked her up, but Jake stopped her from rising.
“Sit.”
She sat beside him. In the mud. Seemingly not caring. He perched his nose on hers, his forehead on hers, and inhaled deeply. Her warm breath sent shivers of fire across his skin. He closed his eyes, seeing nothing but raging dirty water channeling around him and taking him under. His head swam in a maelstrom of light and dark. Dizzy, he opened his eyes and met hers. Small beacons of light pinpointed them.
Her hair was stringy wet, but she’d never been more beautiful. He’d never felt more …
Garret nudged him. “Come on.”
“Go on,” Winona said, her soft voice finding reason within him. Reason to not sit here and take in her warmth, her body, her love. He had to take care of himself so he could enjoy her later.
He rose and followed Garret to the EMS helicopter. He didn’t know when it had landed, but it was parked beside the police chopper. Activity buzzed around him, but he was too tired to care. Winona took Amy under shelter where he could no longer see her. A black hole of loss welled within.
“Ben is still out there. Along with some other guys,” Jake said as someone slapped a blood pressure cuff over his arm.
“We have road blocks all over. We’ll catch them.”
“They were chasing us. Closing in.” The cuff tightened around him, like the fear that had tightened his chest when he lost sight of how to keep them safe and get them out of danger.
Garret didn’t bother mentioning that Jake should not have gone back for Lillian. Or even for Amy by himself. He appreciated that.
The nurse listened to his chest. Told him to breathe in and out.
“Is Lillian okay?” Jake asked as he let out a breath.
“Yes. She regained consciousness and is being checked over,” Garret said. “She’ll be taken to a hospital but then she’ll be taken into custody.”
“I appreciate every—”
“Don’t mention it. I’m just doing my job.”
“No, you’re not. You’re retired.”
Garret shrugged.
“You are retired, aren’t you?” Jake asked.
“Of course.”
“Reagan is going to kill you. But probably me first.”
“Nah. She knows this was only temporary, to help out a friend. Family.”
“She’s not afraid temporary might turn into something more permanent? That you’ll start loving this all over again and won’t want to leave?”
“She knows better. Especially because I just found out I’m going to be a father.”
“Oh shit, man. Congratulations. That means you risked more than your life trying to help me.”
“But I helped save lives in the process. So don’t think about it a moment more. If that had been my child out there”—he nodded in Amy’s direction—“I would have done the same thing you did.”
“Where’s Reagan?”
“She’s home. No way was I going to let her out in this weather.”
“What will happen to Amy now?”
“CPS will become involved. It’s possible family will take care of her until further proceedings. It’s also possible she’ll be put into a foster home.”
“No.” No, Jake couldn’t, wouldn’t, let that happen. He’d worked too hard, and he wouldn’t let it all be for nothing. Brandon was dead. He shouldn’t have to suffer more by having his only daughter be raised by a foster family. Not that he would know, but—no way.
“Who is her closest family?” Garret asked.
“Me.”
“Did Lillian have siblings? What about her mother?”
“She has a washed-out brother. Her mom is alive, but I don’t think she’s healthy enough to worry about raising another child. Lillian never knew her dad. Brandon’s mom died last year. But I know Brandon left it in his will for me to raise Amy.”
Garret nodded. “That’ll help.”
The nurse rubbed astringent on a sore on his shoulder. It stung like fiery bees from hell. “Ow. Motherfucker.”
His fears, dreads, skepticism mounted into curses. Ready for battle, he stood. Damn if he would let the state determine Amy’s future.
“Sir,” the nurse said. “Sir, I still need to disinfect some of these cuts, and we need to get you on the chopper and to the hospital.”
“I want to adopt Amy,” he told Garret. “I can’t let the state take her. I can’t.”
“It’s possible. But you’re a single man—”
“Not for long.” Jake glanced in Winona’s direction but couldn’t see her through the glow of lights and shimmery rain and wherever she’d found shelter. “I mean, I hope not for long. I haven’t asked her yet or anything.”
“Can’t say I’m surprised.”
“Mr. Inman,” the nurse said. “How long has it been since you’ve had a tetanus shot?”
“Hell, I don’t know,” he replied. Continuing on with Garret and ignoring the nurse, he said, “I don’t know how she feels about me. One moment, she hates me. The next … I don’t know. And I don’t know how she feels about Amy. She may not be ready for a child who isn’t hers.”
“Oh, she is. And she does.”
“She does what?”
“She loves you and Amy both.”
“Well, sure, man. So do you and Reagan. Doesn’t mean you want to marry me.”
“It’s written all over Winona’s face. Her body. She loves you and you love her, like I love Reagan. You’d be fools not to get married. But you have to think about your future, too. Don’t you travel a lot for your meets? And Amy will have school. Where will you live?”
“I want to live here,” Jake said. He spread out his arms and flinched when the nurse jerked him back. “I mean, not here. But in Tanyon.”
“Sir, we need to get you on the chopper and to the hospital. Along with your wife and daughter. You probably all need a tetanus shot. You also probably need stitches for this cut in your arm.”
Jake shrugged, continuing to ignore her and speaking to Garret. “I’d like to be a coach. Always wanted to be a coach. And we can travel in the summer. I can still participate in triathlons.”
The nurse sighed loudly, probably used to being ignored. He winked at her and smiled. “Sorry, ma’am. I appreciate everything you’re doing. And I promise I’ll go to the hospital.” He wanted to at least have Amy thoroughly looked over, so that was no lie.
Garret slapped him on the back. “All right, man. We’ll get you all to a hospital. Then we’ll get you home.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Chayton will kill me when he finds out about his Jeep.”
Winona sat with Jake, Garret, and Amy in the hospital, the distant buzz of a television in the background. The hospital had lent them a room, albeit reluctantly, so they could get cleaned up. An agent had brought them clean clothes and they’d all been checked over, given updated shots, and prescribed antibiotics. Now they sat in the waiting room, Amy curled on the floor beside Jake’s feet while licking a cherry-red lollipop.
She’d asked about her mom once. Lillian was holed up in a hospital bed with a concussion. She’d needed a few stitches and they wanted to watch her overnight. An officer remained outside her door, and she’d be detained for questioning once released from the hospital.
“The Jeep is insured,” Garret said. “But yeah, he’ll probably want to kill you.”
They were all still a little dirty. Although they’d managed to get washed off, they needed a shower. But they sat in the hospital lobby, too tired to move, waiting for the police, the doctors, and a slew of other rubbish they’d have to go through before leaving.
>
Thank God nobody else was here. They’d scare them away.
Garret’s phone rang and he left to take the call in private. Jake scooted closer to Winona and grabbed her hands.
“Thank you for everything,” he said as he kissed her hands, her fingers, her palms, and then her cheek.
“Uncle Jake?” Amy pulled on Jake’s shirt to get his attention. “Can I color?”
Jake spotted the crayons and coloring books in the corner. “Yeah, babe.”
She set her lollipop on the table. Jake grabbed it and tossed it in the trash. Amy settled in the corner with the coloring books, and Jake returned his attention to Winona.
“Amy is going to kill you when she finds out you threw out her lollipop. So at least you won’t have to face Chayton’s wrath.”
“I can’t let her lick that thing now. Not after being on the table. I’ll get her another one. Hell, I’ll give her a whole tub of chocolate.”
“Do you think she’d share?”
“Darling, you can have your own.” He cupped her neck and pulled her head forward. “So where was I?”
“Jake, you don’t have to thank me.”
“Yes, I do. And I have something else to say to you.”
“Oh? What’s that?”
He pulled away from her and looked into her eyes. “I love you.”
Her heart dipped and pulsed in her chest. “I …”
“You don’t have to say it right now if you don’t feel it. But I do feel it. I’ve been feeling it for a while. Fighting it, even. But this, and everything we’ve been through, I don’t want to fight it anymore.”
Winona traced Jake’s jawbone. “I love you, too, Jake. God, I love you so much. And I don’t want to fight it, either.”
Tears glimmered in his eyes as he smiled. He tangled his arms with hers and placed his forehead on hers. “I want to adopt Amy. I want to marry you. I know it isn’t the best proposal, but I have to know how you feel about Amy first.”
“I love Amy. We have a lot to talk about, obviously. But of course I think you should adopt her.” She nuzzled her nose on his and wrapped her feet between his legs. “And I think you should adopt me.”
“No. I think you should adopt me.”
“We’ll adopt each other. And we’ll adopt Amy together.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Jake said.
“Hey lovebirds,” Garret interrupted.
“What?” Jake untangled himself from Winona’s embrace and narrowed his eyes at Garret, as if irritated with the interruption.
Winona admitted to be irritated, too. Jake felt so warm right now. So good. She wanted to curl up in his arms forever.
Garret glanced over at Amy coloring, then sat next to Winona and Jake. “They caught the bad guys. They’re being arrested, and of course there’s a lot still to be played out. Ben has already confessed to killing Brandon and kidnapping Amy. Says Lillian hired him to do it. Wants to turn state’s evidence against this kidnapping ring in hopes he’ll get a lighter sentence.”
Winona watched Jake clench his jaw, his expression growing dark. His eyes narrowed, and he tried to relax by sitting back in the chair. He swiped a hand over his face and sat upright again.
“Okay. So what’s next?”
“You’ll need to write a statement on what happened, what you saw. Then we’ll get you home.”
“What about Amy?”
“I’ve managed to pull some clout. She’s coming home with us. Lillian will be arrested after the hospital releases her.”
Jake stood and shook Garret’s hand. Garret pulled him in for a hug, and Jake thumped his back. “Thank you, man. Thank you. I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”
Winona pulled on her still partially wet shoes and went to Amy as the men continued to talk. Kneeling, she watched the child outline a shape.
“Beautiful coloring, Amy,” she said.
“Thank you. My daddy taught me how to color. But he said there’s really no right way. I just need to use my imagination.”
“When you’re finished with that page, it’s time to go home.”
Amy chewed on her lip and peered at Winona, tears in her eyes. “What about my mom, uh, Lilly?”
“She’s staying in the hospital overnight. But she’s going to be okay.”
“Do I have to go home with her?”
“Do you want to go home with her?”
Amy stared at the floor and shook her head. “No.” She closed the coloring book and stacked it atop the others before standing. “I’m not sure where home is anymore.”
Winona glanced at Jake and smiled, warmth snuggling under her skin and snoozing in her belly. Might as well get used to it. She felt that way every time she looked at Mr. Sexy Eyes. Every time his cheeks dipped in that smile.
Winona clutched Amy’s hand. “With Jake. And me.”
Epilogue
Amy dashed through the yard, forking out her arms as baby Raina chased her. Raina guffawed as Amy fell in the grass, rolling and giggly. “You caught me!” she yelled as Raina jumped on her.
Winona chuckled and glanced at her belly, savoring her baby-flutters. The smell of barbecue had made her nauseated, so the girls had walked away from the pit and now sat under a large shade tree behind the house.
Winona wasn’t sure how much longer she could wait to tell the girls her news.
Naomi held six-month-old Michael and cooed to him as they watched the two girls.
“Isn’t Amy wonderful with the children?” Reagan asked, her eyes lighting on her eighteen-month-old daughter, who was now pulling at Amy’s pigtails and clapping with her as they sat in the grass.
“I sure hope so,” Winona said. “She’s going to have her hands full.”
Naomi chuckled. “You still have a few months to prepare yourself. Amy will get her practice with Raina and Michael.”
“Yep. She’s going to need practice with two, that’s for sure.”
Reagan glanced over and narrowed her eyes. Naomi tossed her head and squinted, studying her. “What do you mean?”
“I mean … we’re having twins.”
Reagan squealed, jumped up, and wrapped Winona in her arms. Michael chortled and kicked his legs, as if he understood exactly what they were talking about and wanted to say his piece.
“We told Amy this morning. She was ecstatic. She already has their American Indian names picked out, and we don’t even know the sexes yet.”
“What names did she give them?” Naomi asked. Amy had already named Reagan and Naomi’s babies. Michael was Earth Dancer and Raina was Valley of Rain.
“Thunder Warrior for him and Friend of the Storm for her. She’s convinced one is a boy and one is a girl.”
Reagan clapped her hands. “Oh my goodness, that’s so sweet. I can’t wait. Amy is adorable. And twins. That is so awesome. I’m just glad it’s you and not me.”
Winona laughed. “No kidding.”
“What if they’re both boys or both girls?” Naomi asked as she bounced Michael on her knee.
“We won’t care. Amy will come up with something like she always does.”
“I have some news for you guys, too,” Reagan said.
• • •
Meanwhile, by the barbecue pit, the men stood and surveyed the women and children.
“Winona must have just told them,” Jake said when he heard the squealing.
“Told them what?” Chayton asked.
“About our twins.”
“Twins? You’re having twins?”
Jake nodded, wearing a huge smile.
Garret slapped his back. “Congratulations.”
Chayton hugged him. “Holy hell, man. You’re going to need a bigger house.”
Jake glanced around the yard. They’d just completed their home, replete with swimming pool, outdoor kitchen, an archery station, and a hiking-biking trail for all their outdoor sporting activities.
“Maybe they’re squealing because Reagan told them her news,” Garret said. Just
then, the squeals grew louder, and Jake saw all three women jump up and down. His heart swelled in pride as he watched Amy and Raina frolic in the grass.
“What news?” Chayton asked, holding a can of soda to his lips as his eyed his brother.
“She’s pregnant.”
“Again?” Chayton croaked as he lowered the can, but the smile on his face belied the shock in his voice.
“Congratulations, man,” Jake said, pumping Garret’s hand.
“I didn’t know it was possible so soon,” Chayton said.
“Raina is eighteen months.”
“Yeah, but, God, I love Michael but couldn’t bear to think about having another one so soon. And he isn’t even running around yet.”
“Your time is coming, my brother,” Garret said.
“No. I’m using protection for the rest of my life.”
The men laughed, and Jake glanced around, surveying the property.
Life had been good to them all. Jake was now coaching a swim team and taught swimming lessons to children. Reagan and Garret had opened an art store, and she taught art to those who wanted to pursue the craft. Naomi had expanded Chayton’s ski shop to include apparel that shipped nationwide and was working toward her own line of clothing. Winona still helped Chayton with Air Dog and was a constant force in the pet shop’s expansion.
In reality, none of them needed to work, but they’d all found something that spoke to them. Jake would give it all up to have Brandon back, but this family was now his and he wouldn’t trade them for just about anything in the world.
They had all made peace with their families. Reagan and Naomi had developed a positive relationship with their mothers, and Jake had forgiven Lillian. She had served pen time, handed over evidence to help prosecute the remaining men, and Amy was now legally Jake and Winona Inman’s daughter.
As Jake drank from his glass and watched his women, he felt assured life couldn’t get much better than Amy’s homemade lemonade and the family surrounding him.
About the Author
During her senior year in high school, Angela Smith was dubbed most likely to write a novel, and that has been her dream ever since her mother read Brer Rabbit to her and her sister so often that they were able to recite it back to each other before actually learning to read. She’s always enjoyed stories about the adventure of love, and getting involved in the legal field developed her love of suspense. A certified paralegal, work gives her perfect fodder for her romantic suspense stories. When not caring for her small farm or spending time with her husband of two decades, she enjoys, crafts, reading, and off-roading. Discover more at www.loveisamystery.com.
Romance in Color Page 128