Chapter Sixteen
Chase sat at the kitchen table, staring broodingly at the shiny black car parked behind Jessie’s in her drive. The cup of instant coffee cradled between his hands had long since cooled. He didn’t know why it should surprise him that Reyes had come running at the first sign of a problem, but it did. It also bothered the hell out of him. He didn’t want the man anywhere near Jessie. Or his baby.
He lifted a hand to rub tiredly at his eyes. It had been a long twenty-four hours and he wasn’t any closer to a solution now than he was when she’d first told him. If only he could believe she loved him, that this was just some huge cosmic accident. That she hadn’t done it deliberately.
Did the how and why even matter when it felt like his heart was being ripped out of his chest? Sure, Becky had trapped him the same way. But there was one big difference this time. He hadn’t loved Becky. Thinking about a life without Jessie in it was killing him.
A nd then there was the baby they had made together. A little boy, he decided, with Jessie’s eyes. Would she even let him see it? He didn’t think he could stand to have it so close and never hold it, never have the chance to be its father.
If only he could be sure of Jessie. He wanted to believe it was an accident, that she hadn’t lied to him. Wanted it with every breath he took, every beat of his heart. But that tiny demon of doubt in his head wouldn’t give him any peace.
He straightened when A my came into the room, and glanced at the clock. “A lmost time to leave, Pum’kin. You ready?” She dropped her bookbag on the table. “I want to run over to Jessie’s first and make sure the studio is going to be open today. I’m supposed to stop by for another lesson after school.”
“There’s not enough time. We need to go.”
“It’ll only take a second, Dad.”
“I said no, A my,” he snapped. “Leave Jessie alone.”
Her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates at his tone and he stifled a groan. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell. It’s just that we’ve kind of been monopolizing Jessie. Maybe we should give her a rest.”
“A re you and Jessie mad at each other?”
Chase ran a hand through his hair. How could he explain something like this to a ten-year-old when he wasn’t even sure he understood it himself?
“Not mad, exactly. I guess you could say we just had a disagreement.”
“Well, why don’t you apologize?”
“It’s not that simple, Pum’kin.”
She shrugged. “I don’t see why not. Haven’t you always told me that sometimes you have to apologize even when it’s not your fault? That people can get hurt because they don’t understand what you’re really saying, so it’s up to you to make it right?” He stared at her and wished things really could be that easy. “A my, why did you tell Carrie that Jessie was going to be your mom?” Her head dropped, hair swinging forward to hide her face. “I’m sorry. It’s just that Carrie is always talking about how great her mom is, and how I don’t have one. It kind of slipped out. I didn’t mean to lie.”
“So Jessie didn’t say anything to you about it?”
“No. The only time we ever talked about it, she told me I already had a mom. Is that what you’re mad at her for?”
“I’m not mad at her.”
“Then why can’t I go talk to her?”
He let out a heavy sigh. “She has company. Now grab your things and let’s go.”
* * * * *
Chase glanced up when Harley stuck his head tentatively around the door and peered in at him.
“For God’s sake, Harley. You don’t have to hover. I’m not going to take your head off.” The deputy stepped into the room. “Couldn’t prove it from the way you were acting yesterday,” he mumbled. “I was beginning to think a whip and chair were going to be standard issue.”
“Did you want something?” He arched a brow in question.
“Maggie sent me to tell you to go to lunch. She’s afraid to come back here.”
“I wasn’t that bad.”
“Like hell.”
Okay, maybe he had been. A nd he still wasn’t feeling too friendly. Especially after watching Reyes help Jessie out of the car and into the studio earlier. The man acted like she was made of glass. “I’m not hungry. Think I’ll skip lunch today. Why don’t you go?”
“Done been.” Harley leaned on the edge of the desk. “You’ll never guess what I heard.”
“What?” Chase looked absently at the paper he’d picked up.
“Bridget McMillan is getting married. To Howard Castle. They told his folks last night, and they aren’t wasting any time. Wedding is in two weeks at Jessie’s house.”
His head shot up and he stared at Harley. “ Bridget is getting married?” A groan escaped him. The Bridal Shoppe. It hadn’t been Jessie looking at wedding dresses. It had been Bridget. A ll he needed now to feel like a complete bastard was to find out Jessie really had been on the Pill.
He and Harley both looked around as the front door slammed shut and a male voice demanded to know if the sheriff was in.
“He’s in his office,” Maggie replied. “Hey! You can’t go back there!”
Harley’s hand dropped to his gun butt as Chase stood. But before he could move, Reyes stepped inside, Maggie hot on his heels.
Crap. This was really going to make his day.
“I’m sorry, Chase,” the dispatcher was sputtering. “I couldn’t stop him.”
Tiredly, he resumed his seat. “It’s okay, Maggie. Go back to work.”
“Need me to stay?” Harley still had his hand on his gun and Chase was tempted to let him use it.
“No. You may as well go back to work too.”
Reyes waited until the deputy was gone, then pushed the door closed with his foot and approached the desk.
“I’m going to assume you have a reason for pushing your way in here like this, Reyes, and restrain myself from throwing you into a cell, but you better start talking fast.”
“Oh, I’ve got a reason. Several of them as a matter of fact.” He put his palms flat on the desk and leaned forward.
“The first one is to tell you what a bastard you are. Do you even have a clue what you’ve done to Jess? “ His voice dripped anger.
“Why don’t you tell me?”
“Believe me, I intend to,” Reyes snarled. “In the ten years I’ve known her, I’ve seen Jess work eighteen hour days, work so hard her feet were almost bleeding, without a single complaint. There isn’t a hurtful bone in her body. She’d do anything to help the people she cares about. I’ve never known anyone like her before. She’s a very special lady. But yesterday, I saw a Jess I’ve never seen before.” He straightened, then turned and walked to the other side of the room while Chase wondered where this one-sided conversation was heading.
“You hurt her. Worse than I’ve ever seen her hurt before. She was on the verge of collapse by the time I got to her. She’d spent the entire day in bed crying. Jessie has never cried before, that I know about. A nd you know what the really sad part is?” He spun to face Chase again. “She didn’t want me talking to you. She defended you. Said she understood why you felt the way you did, why you didn’t think it was your baby. Well, I’ve got news for you, you SOB. There’s no one else whose baby it could be. Jessie has been in love with you all her life, although I sure as hell don’t know why.
“Do you know how many men she’s had any kind of a relationship with in the last ten years? Three! Two of them lasted all of four months. Only one guy managed to last six, and now I know why. Because he looked like you. A nd that was two years ago.”
“How long have you been in love with her?” Chase asked quietly.
For the first time, Reyes hesitated while he studied Chase. “Yeah, I admit I love her. I have since the first day I met her. But to her, I’ve never been anything but a friend.”
He took the seat across from Chase and crossed his legs. “It might interest you to know that I went to the doctor’s with her this morning.”
“Is she okay?” Chase couldn’t keep the thread of anxiety out of his voice. When he’d seen her arrive at the studio she’d looked pale and exhausted.
A tiny smile played at one corner of Reyes’ mouth. “She’s rundown, but otherwise okay. Seems the antibiotics she’d been taking for a sinus infection lessened the effect of her birth control pills. That’s how she wound up pregnant.”
“A ntibiotics?” It felt like all his blood was draining into his feet. It had been an accident. Jessie hadn’t lied to him.
The actor pushed himself to his feet. “You know, I suppose I really should be thanking you, Martin. If it weren’t for you, Jessie probably never would have married me. Now, I get not only her, but her child too.”
Fear slammed into him like a wrecking ball on a hundred-foot chain. “She’s agreed to marry you?” His heart was pounding so hard he could barely hear himself think.
Reyes smiled. “Not yet, but she will. It’s just a matter of time before she realizes she needs someone. A nd when she does, I’ll be there for her. Unlike you.” He reached for the door. “So I guess you’re off the hook, Sheriff. It might be a little strange having the baby’s biological father living next door, but we’ll get used to it, and there’s no need for my son to ever know the truth. See you later, Sheriff.” His son? His son? The hair stood up on Chase’s neck. Reyes would get Jessie over his dead body! She belonged to him and he was going to make damn sure Reyes and the rest of the world knew it.
“Harley!” The roar that erupted from him shook the whole building. This time, the deputy entered at a sliding run.
“What’s wrong?”
“There’s something I need you to do. Run over to the church and get Reverend Mills. Have him back here in an hour.” He jammed his hat on his head and stalked to the front of the office. “Maggie, get over to the school and pick up A my. Tell them it’s an emergency if you have to, just make sure she’s here in an hour.”
“Where are you going?”
“City Hall,” Chase snapped. “To get a marriage license.”
* * * * *
Jessie picked up a towel and wiped the sweat from her face as she watched Dom stroll back into the studio. “Where did you disappear to?”
“Just went for a walk. Wanted to get a firsthand look at Small Town, USA , maybe practice my acting skills a little.” He grinned at her.
Her eyes narrowed to slits as she studied him. “A nd just how did you find the opportunity to practice these so-called skills?”
“You’d be surprised how gullible some of these locals are.”
“I’m not going to have people beating down my door in outrage am I?”
“Nope. Not in outrage, anyway.”
“Dom, what have you done?”
“Moi?” He shot her a look of feigned innocence. “Not a thing. Just getting acquainted.”
“Yeah, like I believe that.” She tossed the towel to a chair.
“A re you sure you should be teaching right now? You still look exhausted.”
“You heard the doctor. I can do anything I normally do.” She turned toward the office. “Besides, keeping busy takes my mind off…other things, and I’ve got to play catch up for the day and a half I was off.”
“I could take your next class for you and let you get some rest.” He looked at Bridget. “What’s she got scheduled?” The redhead checked the appointment book. “A ballroom dance class in thirty minutes.”
“I can do that one.”
“Really, Dom, I’d rather—”
The words came to an abrupt halt as the studio door slammed open so hard it tore the bells from the wall above it. Jessie’s mouth dropped open.
“Chase?” One look at his face and she didn’t know whether to run or stay and fight. Fight, she decided, eyeing her bells.
“Just what do you think you’re doing? Do you know how much it’s going to cost to fix that wall?” Suddenly, she whipped her head around to stare at Dom. When had he put his arm around her? Better yet, why?
Silently, Chase stalked closer. “Take your hands off her.” The words, directed at Dom, were a low menacing growl.
“Will someone please tell me what’s going on here?” She looked from one man to the other, her anger building. With one shrug, she knocked Dom’s hand away and faced Chase, her chin squared for battle. “A nd why do you care who touches me? I’m not your property.” Without a word, he kept coming, his face grim. A larm trilled up her spine and she held out one hand. “Okay, just stop right there.” She took a step back. “Damn it, Chase. I said stop.”
Her rear end hit the desk. “What do you think you’re—”
A loud squawk erupted when he scooped up her up into his arms. “Shut up, Jessie.”
“You put me down this instant, you…you…”
“Neanderthal,” he supplied.
“Exactly!” She squirmed furiously but he only tightened his grip as he carried her into the street. A loud string of expletives burst from her mouth. “Damn it, Chase! Put me down! Oh, I am so going to get you back for this.” He used his foot to push open the door of the sheriff’s office. “Get me back after we’re married.” For a split second, Jessie went still and it felt like her heart sputtered to a stunned halt. “Married?”
“That’s right.”
The hot rage she’d been feeling turned to an icy calm. “I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last man on Earth.” His blue eyes were a steely cobalt when he looked down at her. “In your case, I am.” He opened the passageway to the cellblock and carried her to the same cell she’d been in the last time. Once inside, he put her on her feet and slammed the door, locking them both inside.
Immediately she put the width of the cell between them, the scent of pine cleaner and concrete floors rising around her like the tinge of hope rising in her chest.
“Did you really think I’d let you marry Reyes, Jess? That I’d let him raise my baby as his own?”
“A re you insane?” she ground out. “I have no intention of marrying Dom. Or you either for that matter. If I ever get married, it will be for love, not because I’m pregnant.”
“I love you.” His voice was so quiet she had to strain to hear it from across the cell.
“You most certainly do not,” she huffed indignantly. “Do you think I’m so stupid that I don’t know you’re only doing this because of the baby?” Her hands went to her hips as she glared at him. “Well, you can’t force me to marry you.”
“I’m hoping I won’t have to.”
The sound of voices filled the aisle outside the cell and Jessie watched in amazement as what appeared to be half the town trooped in. Her frantic gaze landed on a familiar face.
“Dom,” she pleaded. “You have to get me out of here. Please?”
“Sorry, Sweetheart. I didn’t come prepared for a jailbreak.” He tilted his head toward Chase. “A nd he’s got the keys.”
“Reverend Mills!” She turned to the minister. “You have to stop this. I refuse to marry him.”
“Chase?” The minister was looking uncertain.
“Where’s A my?” Chase was looking over the heads surrounding them.
“Right here.” Maggie pushed her way to the front, A my beside her.
“Dad, what’s going on?”
“We’re getting married.”
A my’s face lit up and her excited yell had everyone covering their ears as it echoed off the bare concrete walls.
“I refuse to be a party to this fiasco.” Jessie stomped to the bunk and sat down, arms crossed over her chest while she tried not to look at Chase. The kernel of hope that had bloomed in her chest became a lump of misery. There was nothing on Earth she wanted more than to marry Chase, but she’d live alone for the rest of her life if he were only doing it out of a sense of obligation.
Chase nodded at the minister. “Go ahead.”
Reverend Mills cleared his throat, then hesitantly began. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered…uh, here…today to join this man and woman in the bonds of holy matrimony. If anyone objects to this union, let him speak now or forever hold his peace.” Jessie jumped to her feet. “I object!”
“Too bad,” Chase drawled. He glanced back at the minister. “Keep going.”
“Uh, please join… Well, maybe that’s not such a good idea.” The minister sighed. “Did you want the traditional vows or do you want to use your own?”
“Our own.”
“Neither,” Jessie replied at the same instant.
“Our own,” Chase said firmly.
The minister nodded. “Then now would be the time.”
She watched suspiciously as Chase crossed the cell and stopped in front of her.
“A ll I’m asking is that you listen, Jess. If your answer is still no, I’ll let you out.” A fter a brief hesitation, she nodded. “It’s not like I’ve got a lot of choice.” The look in his eyes as he gazed down into her own sent a sudden tingle of expectancy through her, set her pulse to racing and her heart slamming into her ribs. Was it possible he really did love her?
He took a deep breath. “The last time we were in this cell I’d made an idiot of myself. I asked you that day if we could start again, and I promised you I’d try hard to make it work. I broke that promise, Jess. I’ve been worse than an idiot. You see, I knew even then that I was in love with you, but I was too stubborn to admit it. I kept letting the past get in the way of what I really wanted. It took thinking I’d lost you to make me realize that I couldn’t live without you.”
“Oh, Chase,” she whispered, her chin quivering. “Do you mean it?”
He smiled at her. “I’ve never meant anything more in my whole life. But I’m not done yet.” He reached for her hand. “Jessie, I’m asking you, in front of all these people, to marry me. Right here, right now. Give me one more chance. In return I promise to love you, cherish you, protect you and rub your feet every night for the rest of our lives.” He leaned over and whispered in her ear. “A nd I’d promise the same thing even if you weren’t carrying my baby. I love you, Jess. Please say yes.”
Tears streaked down her cheeks. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Cheers erupted from the assemblage in the hall. Reverend Mills wiped sweat from his forehead. “Thank heavens. Is there a ring?” Harley was suddenly patting his pockets frantically. “A ring. Did you tell me to get a ring?” He gazed around the crowd. “A nyone got a ring?”
“Never mind, Harley. I’ll take care of it later.” Chase turned back to Jessie. “Hold out your arm.” When she complied, looking at him in puzzlement, he took off his handcuffs and slapped one end around her wrist. Before she had time to blink, he’d attached the other end to his own arm.
“There. That should work just as well.”
Reverend Mills beamed happily. “Perfect. With the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” With their linked hands joined, Chase pulled her close and covered her mouth with his. By the time he released her, everyone was laughing.
Stunned, Jessie lifted her fingers to his mouth. “A re we really married?”
“Yes, Mrs. Martin. We’re really married.” He smiled down at her.
Her mouth formed an “O” of wonder as joy exploded though every fiber of her being. “I’m not an outlaw anymore.” His lips touched her ear as he leaned closer. “You’ll always be my outlaw, Jess. Forever.” Eyes misting over, she raised her lips to his. “I love you, Chase.”
About the Author
In real life, I’m Kathy to those who know me, since Katherine has always sounded snooty to my ears. Physically, I’m 5’5” with brown eyes.
The rest of me is subject to change at the whim of my caloric intake, exercise regimen (or lack thereof), and Miss Clairol. I’ve worked at everything from killing bugs to telephone operator. I have a degree in journalism that is stuffed in a drawer somewhere. I’ve been writing for seven years now and have sold seven novels, five most recently to Cerridwen Press. The Sweet Gum Tree won the PA SIC Book of Your Heart contest in 2002 in the single title category. I’ve been a member of Romance Writers of A merica since the day I started writing, and serve as judge for numerous chapter contests. I’ve been married to the same man for thirty-eight years now. We got married when I was two. That’s my story, I’m sticking to it.
Katherine welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave Publishing at 1056 Home A venue, A kron, OH 44310-3502.
Also by Katherine Allred
Second Time A round
The Sweet Gum Tree
What Price Paradise
Cerridwen, the Celtic goddess of wisdom, was the muse who brought inspiration to storytellers and those in the creative arts. Cerridwen Press encompasses the best and most innovative stories in all genres of today’s fiction. Visit our site and discover the newest titles by talented authors who still get inspired—much like the ancient storytellers did, once upon a time.
www.cerridwenpress.com