“Is he sick?” she asked, slipping off her sneakers to park her sock-covered feet in their usual position on the dash.
“If you’re asking if he had the runs, his poop looked normal enough to me.”
“That’s good.”
“I’ll say. The last thing we need is a sick baby.” He put the key in the ignition. “Ready?”
She nodded. “Let’s go find your sister.”
Apparently, the van had other ideas. Instead of turning over, the engine made a funny clicking sound, then nothing.
“Dammit,” Jed said, thumping the heel of his hand against the wheel.
“What’s wrong?”
Leaning his head back, he groaned. “Remember yesterday afternoon when you asked if the cab light was on?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I’m guessing it was.”
Chapter Ten
“Sheriff Franklin here,” a man said over the phone. Static on the line made him sound far away.
“Ditch. Thank goodness I got you!”
“Patti Schmatti?”
She cleared her throat. “I go by Patricia now, thank you very much.”
He chuckled. “Still touchy as ever, I see.”
“Yes, and if you could actually see me, my scowl would tell you I’m calling for a serious reason. Jed’s missing. And he’s got my babies.”
Ditch laughed. “Patti, Jed’s not missing. He’s looking for you. He asked me to check if you were at the cabin. I called to tell him you weren’t, but I guess he decided to take matters into his own hands—as usual.”
Fingering the pearls around her neck, Patti quickly told him what’d happened with Howie, and how he’d improved so much over the past twenty-four hours that his doctors were releasing him within the next few days. “I swear, sometimes I could throttle Jed,” Patti said. “Anyway, would you please, please run up to the cabin and see if he’s there? And if he is…” She imagined herself throttling her brother. “Tell him to get my babies home ASAP.”
“ARE YOU SURE you’ve got enough to drink?”
Jed brushed off Annie’s latest offer of a second water bottle with a quick kiss to her cheek.
“It’s only a twenty-something-mile hike back to the main road,” he told her for the third time. “From there, it’ll be easy to find a ride the rest of the way into town.”
“Be careful,” she said, cradling a blanket-wrapped Pia to her chest while Richard and Ronnie watched from their playpen, which had been set up temporarily on the sun-flooded front porch.
When he’d discovered the dead battery, Jed had felt like pitching the mother of all fits. But how could he when he had no one to blame for this latest disaster but himself?
“You be careful, too,” he said. “The last thing we need is—”
“I know, I know,” Annie mocked his deeper tone. “The last thing we need is a sick baby, or one getting hurt.”
Despite himself, he grinned. “You’d better watch that sass.”
She grinned right back. “Are you going to make me?”
“Don’t tempt me,” he said, “or I’ll just stay here forever and we’ll forget all our troubles and live off the land.”
“Hmm…” She put her index finger to her lips. “It’s tempting except for the fact that we’re down to a one or maybe two-day supply of diapers and formula, and since there’s no cow handy and I’m not exactly…” She looked down and blushed. “Good grief.” She landed a light swat to his arm. “Would you just get going?”
With one final wave, he set off down the road, tennis shoes crunching against frost-hardened dirt.
Even though he could see his breath, he was plenty warm once he got a half mile or so into his walk.
He’d made this hike for fun when he was a kid. Now, though, it was a major pain.
When Annie asked about that cab light, why hadn’t he at least checked it? It would’ve taken only a second. Wasn’t he the one who was supposed to be in control?
Right.
Not since the night his brother had died in that fire and he’d been helpless to save him had Jed felt more out of control.
And what kind of person was he wishing he could stay on this mountain with three adorable babies and one beautiful woman when Patti could be in serious trouble?
Not willing to answer his own questions, Jed marched on, losing himself in the scent of pines and the task at hand.
For now, he didn’t have to worry about anything more than putting one foot in front of the other. He had to get through this hike, then he’d worry about Patti. And after that he’d worry about how he wasn’t nearly good enough for Annie. But at the same time, he wasn’t nearly strong enough to let her go.
Not that he even had her.
But he wanted her.
And he wasn’t just talking about sex.
Since meeting her, for the first time in years, he’d thought about what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.
He wasn’t content to remain a bachelor forever, but with other women, he hadn’t known how to tame the controlling beast inside him.
It was obviously no big problem for Annie that he wasn’t always the most easygoing guy around, which made him think that despite his not deserving her, Annie saw something redeemable in him.
Knowing there might be light at the end of this latest tunnel quickened Jed’s step.
The sooner he got to town, the sooner he’d get back to Annie.
FAMOUS LAST WORDS.
Whether it was the altitude or that he wasn’t fit as he used to be, Jed felt like hurling, passing out or just plain collapsing—not necessarily in that order. Perhaps all that running hadn’t been such a good idea.
Making matters worse, he’d stumbled a ways back and dropped his water bottle. Just his rotten luck that it fell on a jagged rock that had punctured the plastic. He’d never admit it to her, but Annie had been right. He should’ve taken a second bottle.
He was hunched over, hands braced on his knees, when he heard the best sound ever—an engine headed his way.
Glory, freakin’ be.
He glanced up to see his good friend Ditch’s squad car. “Jed?” Ditch called from his window. “What the hell are you doing?”
“What’s it look like I’m doing?”
Ditch laughed. “Having a coronary on the side of my road. Get in.”
“Thanks.” Jed climbed in on the passenger side.
Reaching into a small cooler between the seats, Ditch pulled out a grape pop. “Want one?” he asked, holding out the dripping can.
“You still drinking this crap?”
“Are you turning me down?” Ditch asked, snatching it back.
“Not on your life.” Jed took the pop and opened it. “At this point, I’d be happy to drink motor oil as long as it’s cold.” He finished half the can in one gulp. “Damn lucky coincidence running into you. What’re you doing up here?”
“It’s no coincidence,” Ditch said, putting the car in gear and starting back up the mountain. “I heard from Patti this morning.”
Jed choked on his pop. “As in my sister, Patti?”
“One and the same.”
“Did she happen to tell you where the hell she ran off to, so I can hightail it over there to—”
“Whoa, bud. Cool down. It isn’t what you think.”
“Oh, that she ran off on her kids like—”
“Cool it, man. Like I told you, it’s not what you think.”
“Well, then, what is it? Did she go off with another man? She—”
“She’s been in the hospital.”
Jed’s stomach fisted. “What happened? Is she all right?”
“It’s not her, it’s Howie. He was trying to make it to his next town ahead of schedule when he fell asleep and slammed into an oak. Patti said she tried to call, but couldn’t get you. Then something happened with the hospital phone lines. Anyway, she’s safe. Howie’s on the mend. And she’s been beside herself trying to find out if her babies are all right
.” Eyeing Jed for a moment, Ditch said, “Look, knowing Patti’s reputation, I took the liberty of contacting your pal Ferris in Pecan and her story checks out. He’s been trying to call you because he found your truck at the Tulsa airport. Jed, she was telling the truth. This time she wasn’t just running away.”
Jed brought his hand to his aching forehead.
No.
No way this was happening.
No way could he have screwed up this badly.
Jed thumped his head against his window.
“So let me get this straight…” Ditch laughed so hard he started to snort. “You had to find her yourself, right? Didn’t trust anyone else to do the job?”
While his supposed friend continued to howl, Jed turned away.
“Well, one good thing came out of it. At least I got to see you. It’s been a while. Marthe’ll be thrilled. ’Course you’ll have to let her cook for you tonight. You know what a kick she gets out of feeding the world.”
“It’s not just me I dragged up here,” Jed said, head and heart pounding with regret.
“Well, sure, the babies are invited, too. Marthe would rather see them than either one of us, anyway.”
“There’s someone else,” Jed said.
“Oh, yeah?” Jed’s old friend shot him a sideways glance. “Well? Who? Did you hire some grandma to help out with the triplets?”
I wish. “Her name’s Annie. She’s a neighbor.”
“Oh? Grandma-type neighbor or hot neighbor?”
Hot. Very hot.
Jed shrugged. “Just a neighbor.”
Ditch started in again with his snorting. “That kind of neighbor, huh? Damn, looks like for once we’re going to have some decent entertainment round here.”
ANNIE’S NEW FRIEND Marthe put her feet up on the porch rail and sighed. “It’s sure good to have Jed back. Ditch never volunteers to do the dishes.”
“Oh?” Annie said, taking a swig of the peach wine cooler Marthe had brought. Marthe had indigestion and was drinking Sprite.
“If you ask me,” Marthe said. “He’s out to impress you.”
“No, Jed’s just being polite.”
Laughing, Marthe patted Annie’s knee. “I took you for smarter than that. Nope, I’ve known Jed all my life, and he’s never been that keen on housework. Billy!” Marthe shouted to her seven-year-old son. “Get off that stump right now!”
He didn’t.
“Excuse me,” Marthe said. “Time to get mean before he falls and we spend the rest of the night in the nearest emergency room.”
While Marthe stomped off the porch and through the small forest that was the front yard, Annie took another sip of her wine.
No, Jed wasn’t out to impress her with his offer to clean up after dinner. He was trying to compensate for dragging her all the way up here for nothing. Little did he know, this was the best time she’d had in years. The day had turned out to be truly enjoyable once she’d heard that Patti and her husband were okay.
Soon enough, they’d have time to head home.
Soon, she’d start her new job and spend her evenings redecorating instead of listening to Jed’s booming laugh—the one now drifting through the cabin’s open door.
What a wonderful sound.
The whole night had been filled with laughter, and this new playful side of Jed’s personality was potent. Was it the norm for him? Or was he on an artificial high after hearing that his sister was safe?
Marthe, Billy in tow, walked back up onto the porch. “You get inside and stay there until I say you can come out.”
“But, Mom, I—”
“Now,” Marthe said, hands on her hips. “I already have a stomachache. The last thing I need is to stand here arguing with you.”
Chin to his chest, the little boy did as he was told.
A wink, followed by a quick grin at Annie, showed the drill-sergeant mom was all bark and no bite. “Ditch is so lax in discipline. Seems like I’m always the bad guy.”
“Overall, though, both of your kids seem very well behaved. Especially Kayla. I can’t believe the way she’s looked after the babies all night.”
“Yeah, she loves little ones. Ditch and I have thought about having more, but financially, it’s all we can do to keep clothes on two. I’m not sure how we’ll manage when they start college. You and Jed ever talk about having your own brood?”
Annie was glad she’d already swallowed before hearing Marthe’s question, or the shock of it would’ve left her choking on peach-wine cooler. “W-we hardly know each other. We’re just neighbors.”
“That may be,” Marthe said, “but I’ve got a sixth sense about these things. You two are in it for the long haul.”
Not wanting to argue with Marthe, Annie decided to let her think whatever she liked. Marthe might have a sixth sense, but Annie had a keen sense of realism.
“I need a back rub after all that hard work,” Ditch said, strolling onto the porch, Jed behind him.
“Is that my cue?” Marthe asked, casting her husband an indulgent smile.
She stood, and took Ditch by the hand to guide him to her chair. Once he was seated, she began to rub his shoulders and neck.
Ditch closed his eyes and moaned.
Annie turned away. Somehow, the scene felt too intimate for her to watch. They were so obviously in love that it almost hurt to look at them.
She wanted what they had.
Jed stepped up beside Annie and she was suddenly very aware of his sheer size. He smelled of lemony dishwashing liquid and faintly of Marthe’s barbecue ribs. “Do you need a back rub?” he knelt to ask, his breath tickling Annie’s ear.
She shivered.
“Cold?”
No. More like disturbingly aware. No other man had ever made her feel such pleasure just by asking a question.
If only she didn’t doubt his intentions. If only she had the courage to ask him if what he’d said back at the giant corncob, about wanting to date her after they got home, was true. What if he said yes? And what if he didn’t want to wait until they got home? What if tonight, right here in this cabin, he kissed her long and leisurely until her toes curled with pleasure?
Had she really praised herself for being a realist a few minutes ago?
“Mom!” Billy cried. “Can I come out yet?”
Marthe laughed. “Oops.”
“You’d make a lousy cop,” her husband teased. “Imagine if you treated prisoners as badly as our poor, kids.”
“Oh, right,” she said, smacking him on his red-haired head. “Like the kids and I haven’t spent all afternoon decorating cookies for the Founder’s Day parade. And yesterday, I drove that cherub-cheeked little demon into Denver so he could have the right baseball cleats.”
“Watch out, Jed.” Ditch laughed. “Protect your bachelorhood at all costs. Or else you’ll end up like me—broke and completely whipped.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Jed said, laughing too as he and Marthe went inside.
“Mom?” Kayla met her mother by the door. “Can we pleeeeeease keep the babies? They’ll be good, and I promise to do everything for them. Hailey could come over and we could babysit together. It’d be good practice for when we’re allowed to babysit by ourselves.”
“Fine with me,” Marthe said, “but you’ll have to ask Jed. He’s their temporary daddy.”
Kayla turned her sweet smile and big brown eyes on Jed, and he was a goner. “Are you sure that’s what you want to do?” He asked. “They’re a real handful.”
She nodded solemnly.
Marthe winked, and said, “Besides, now that you don’t have to get back right away, this’ll give you two a much-needed breather before the trek home. Why don’t we take the van. We’ll stop by the store on the way home and get you stocked up on baby supplies. Tomorrow, all you have to do is drop by the house, grab the triplets, and then you’ll be ready to go.”
Jed scratched his head. “Sounds like a great plan, but I still say it’s an awful lot of work. Wha
t do you think, Annie?”
Annie gulped.
What do I think? That a night alone with you in this romantic setting could be trouble. “Um, maybe the triplets ought to stay here? They’ve got so much stuff.”
“Then I guess it’s a good thing Kayla and I brought our men,” Marthe said. “Billy, Ditch, help us load the van.”
Chapter Eleven
“That was nice,” Annie said after waving goodbye to their company. She carried the cup Billy had used for his soda to the sink.
“Yeah. Ditch and Marthe are good people.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe how those kids have grown.”
“That Kayla sure is a cutie.” She turned on the warm water, holding the cup under the flow while running a soapy dishrag around the rim. In a pitiful few seconds, the cup was rinsed and dried and tucked beside its friends in the cabinet, leaving Annie not quite sure what to do with her hands.
Jed knelt to grab a napkin from the floor. He put it in the paper sack they’d set up for trash. “Kind of strange around here without the babies, isn’t it?”
Yeah, Annie thought with a pang of sadness.
Look at us.
Without the triplets between them, they didn’t have anything in common. Nothing to talk about. Did that mean they weren’t supposed to be more than friends?
Jed chuckled. “Let me rephrase that. Strange in a good way. We never get the chance to finish a conversation with my niece and nephews around. When you were telling me this afternoon about your plans to decorate your new classroom like a giant underwater scene. I was going to say how cool that sounded but Ronnie interrupted, demanding his diaper be changed that second.”
“Really?” Annie said, busying her fingers with a stray curl. “I thought you just didn’t know a polite way to tell me my idea stinks.”
“Heck, no.” He braced his palms on the opposite side of the island. “In fact, if you don’t mind, I’d like to help out. I’m pretty good with tools. Maybe I could build one of those reading lofts you sometimes see in kindergarten classrooms. We could paint it to look like a coral cavern underneath.”
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